patriarchs and prophets-第115章

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disrespect　for　him；　but　for　the　authority　of　God；　who　had　appointed　the
rulers　of　His　people。　Those　who　despise　and　reject　the　faithful　servant　of
God　show　contempt；　not　merely　for　the　man；　but　for　the　Master　who　sent　him。
It　is　God's　words；　His　reproofs　and　counsel；　that　are　set　at　nought；　it　is
His　authority　that　is　rejected。

The　days　of　Israel's　greatest　prosperity　had　been　those　in　which　they
acknowledged　Jehovah　as　their　Kingwhen　the　laws　and　the　government　which
He　had　established　were　regarded　as　superior　to　those　of　all　other　nations。
Moses　had　declared　to　Israel　concerning　the　commandments　of　the　Lord：　〃This
is　your　wisdom　and　your　understanding　in　the　sight　of　the　nations；　which
shall　hear　all　these　statutes；　and　say；　Surely　this　great　nation　is　a　wise
and　understanding　people。〃　Deuteronomy　4：6。　But　by　departing　from　God's　law
the　Hebrews　had　failed　to　become　the　people　that　God　desired　to　make　them；
and　then　all　the　evils　which　were　the　result　of　their　own　sin　and　folly　they
charged　upon　the　government　of　God。　So　completely　had　they　become　blinded　by
sin。

The　Lord　had；　through　His　prophets；　foretold　that　Israel　would　be　governed
by　a　king；　but　it　does　not　follow　that　this　form　of　government　was　best　for
them　or　according　to　His　will。　He　permitted　the　people　to　follow　their　own
choice；　because　they　refused　to　be　guided　by　His　counsel。　Hosea　declares
that　God　gave　them　a　king　in　His　anger。　Hosea　13：11。　When　men　choose　to　have
their　own　way；　without　seeking　counsel　from　God；　or　in　opposition　to　His
revealed　will；　He　often　grants　their　desires；　in　order　that；　through　the
bitter　experience

606

that　follows；　they　may　be　led　to　realize　their　folly　and　to　repent　of　their
sin。　Human　pride　and　wisdom　will　prove　a　dangerous　guide。　That　which　the
heart　desires　contrary　to　the　will　of　God　will　in　the　end　be　found　a　curse
rather　than　a　blessing。

God　desired　His　people　to　look　to　Him　alone　as　their　Law…giver　and　their
Source　of　strength。　Feeling　their　dependence　upon　God；　they　would　be
constantly　drawn　nearer　to　Him。　They　would　become　elevated　and　ennobled；
fitted　for　the　high　destiny　to　which　He　had　called　them　as　His　chosen
people。　But　when　a　man　was　placed　upon　the　throne；　it　would　tend　to　turn　the
minds　of　the　people　from　God。　They　would　trust　more　to　human　strength；　and
less　to　divine　power；　and　the　errors　of　their　king　would　lead　them　into　sin
and　separate　the　nation　from　God。

Samuel　was　instructed　to　grant　the　request　of　the　people；　but　to　warn　them
of　the　Lord's　disapproval；　and　also　make　known　what　would　be　the　result　of
their　course。　〃And　Samuel　told　all　the　words　of　the　Lord　unto　the　people
that　asked　of　him　a　king。〃　He　faithfully　set　before　them　the　burdens　that
would　be　laid　upon　them；　and　showed　the　contrast　between　such　a　state　of
oppression　and　their　present　comparatively　free　and　prosperous　condition。
Their　king　would　imitate　the　pomp　and　luxury　of　other　monarchs；　to　support
which；　grievous　exactions　upon　their　persons　and　property　would　be
necessary。　The　goodliest　of　their　young　men　he　would　require　for　his
service。　They　would　be　made　charioteers　and　horsemen　and　runners　before　him。
They　must　fill　the　ranks　of　his　army；　and　they　would　be　required　to　till　his
fields；　to　reap　his　harvests；　and　to　manufacture　implements　of　war　for　his
service。　The　daughters　of　Israel　would　be　for　confectioners　and　bakers　for
the　royal　household。　To　support　his　kingly　state　he　would　seize　upon　the
best　of　their　lands；　bestowed　upon　the　people　by　Jehovah　Himself。　The　most
valuable　of　their　servants　also；　and　of　their　cattle；　he　would　take；　and
〃put　them　to　his　work。〃　Besides　all　this；　the　king　would　require　a　tenth　of
all　their　income；　the　profits　of　their　labor；　or　the　products　of　the　soil。
〃Ye　shall　be　his　servants；〃　concluded　the　prophet。　〃And　ye　shall　cry　out　in
that　day　because　of　your　king　which　ye　shall　have　chosen　you；　and　the　Lord
will　not　hear　you　in　that　day。〃　However　burdensome　its　exactions　should　be
found；　when　once　a　monarchy　was　established；　they　could　not　set　it　aside　at
pleasure。

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But　the　people　returned　the　answer；　〃Nay；　but　we　will　have　a　king　over　us；
that　we　also　may　be　like　all　the　nations；　and　that　our　king　may　judge　us；
and　go　out　before　us；　and　fight　our　battles。〃

〃Like　all　the　nations。〃　The　Israelites　did　not　realize　that　to　be　in　this
respect　unlike　other　nations　was　a　special　privilege　and　blessing。　God　had
separated　the　Israelites　from　every　other　people；　to　make　them　His　own
peculiar　treasure。　But　they；　disregarding　this　high　honor；　eagerly　desired
to　imitate　the　example　of　the　heathen！　And　still　the　longing　to　conform　to
worldly　practices　and　customs　exists　among　the　professed　people　of　God。　As
they　depart　from　the　Lord　they　become　ambitious　for　the　gains　and　honors　of
the　world。　Christians　are　constantly　seeking　to　imitate　the　practices　of
those　who　worship　the　god　of　this　world。　Many　urge　that　by　uniting　with
worldlings　and　conforming　to　their　customs　they　might　exert　a　stronger
influence　over　the　ungodly。　But　all　who　pursue　this　course　thereby　separate
from　the　Source　of　their　strength。　Becoming　the　friends　of　the　world；　they
are　the　enemies　of　God。　For　the　sake　of　earthly　distinction　they　sacrifice
the　unspeakable　honor　to　which　God　has　called　them；　of　showing　forth　the
praises　of　Him　who　hath　called　us　out　of　darkness　into　His　marvelous　light。
1　Peter　2：9。

With　deep　sadness　Samuel　listened　to　the　words　of　the　people；　but　the　Lord
said　unto　him；　〃Hearken　unto　their　voice；　and　make　them　a　king。〃　The　prophet
had　done　his　duty。　He　had　faithfully　presented　the　warning；　and　it　had　been
rejected。　With　a　heavy　heart　he　dismissed　the　people；　and　himself　departed
to　prepare　for　the　great　change　in　the　government。

Samuel's　life　of　purity　and　unselfish　devotion　was　a　perpetual　rebuke　both
to　self…serving　priests　and　elders　and　to　the　proud；　sensual　congregation　of
Israel。　Although　he　assumed　no　pomp　and　made　no　display；　his　labors　bore　the
signet　of　Heaven。　He　was　honored　by　the　world's　Redeemer；　under　whose
guidance　he　ruled　the　Hebrew　nation。　But　the　people　had　become　weary　of　his
piety　and　devotion；　they　despised　his　humble　authority　and　rejected　him　for
a　man　who　should　rule　them　as　a　king。

In　the　character　of　Samuel　we　see　reflected　the　likeness　of　Christ。　It　was
the　purity　of　our　Saviour's　life　that　provoked　the　wrath　of　Satan。　That　life
was　the　light　of　the　world；　and

608

revealed　the　hidden　depravity　in　the　hearts　of　men。　It　was　the　holiness　of
Christ　that　stirred　up　against　Him　the　fiercest　passions　of　falsehearted
professors　of　godliness。　Christ　came　not　with　the　wealth　and　honors　of
earth；　yet　the　works　which　He　wrought　showed　Him　to　possess　power　greater
than　that　of　any　human　prince。　The　Jews　looked　for　the　Messiah　to　break　the
oppressor's　yoke；　yet　they　cherished　the　sins　that　had　bound　it　upon　their
necks。　Had　Christ　cloaked　their　sins　and　applauded　their　piety；　they　would
have　accepted　Him　as　their　king；　but　they　would　not　bear　His　fearless　rebuke
of　their　vices。　The　loveliness　of　a　character　in　which　benevolence；　purity；
and　holiness　reigned　supreme；　which　entertained　no　hatred　except　for　sin；
they　despised。　Thus　it　has　been　in　every　age　of　the　world。　The　light　from
heaven　brings　condemnation　on　all　who　refuse　to　walk　in　it。　When　rebuked　by
the　example　of　those　who　hate　sin；　hypocrites　will　become　agents　of　Satan　to
harass　and　persecute　the　faithful。　〃All　that　will　live　godly　in　Christ　Jesus
shall　suffer　persecution。〃　2　Timothy　3：12。

Though　a　monarchical　form　of　government　for　Israel　had　been　foretold　in
prophecy；　God　had　reserved　to　Himself　the　right　to　choose　their　king。　The
Hebrews　so　far　respected　the　authority　of　God　as　to　leave　the　selection
entirely　to　Him。　The　choice　fell　upon　Saul；　a　son　of　Kish；　of　the　tribe　of
Benjamin。

The　personal　qualities　of　the　future　monarch　were　such　as　to　gratify　that
pride　of　heart　which　prompted　the　desire　for　a　king。　〃There　was　not　among
the　children　of　Israel　a　goodlier　person　than　he。〃　1　Samuel　9：2。　Of　noble
and　dignified　bearing；　in　the　prime　of　life；　comely　and　tall；　he　appeared
like　one　born　to　command。　Yet　with　these　external　attractions；　Saul　was
destitute　of　those　higher　qualities　that　constitute　true　wisdom。　He　had　not
in　youth　learned　to　control　his　rash；　impetuous　passions；　he　had　never　felt
the　renewing　power　of　divine　grace。

Saul　was　the　son　of　a　powerful　and　wealthy　chief；　yet　in　accordance　with　the
simplicity　of　the　times　he　was　engaged　with　his　father　in　the　humble　duties
of　a　husbandman。　Some　of　his　father's　animals　having　strayed　upon　the
mountains；　Saul　went　with　a　servant　to　seek　for　them。　For　three　days　they
searched　in　vain；　when；　as　they　were　not　far　from　Ramah；＇*　SEE　APPENDIX；
NOTE　9。＇　the　home　of　Samuel；　the　servant　proposed　that　they　should　inquire
of　the　prophet　concerning　the　missing　property。　〃I　have　here　at　hand

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the　fourth　part　of　a　shekel　of　silver；〃　he　said：　〃that　will　I　give　to　the
man　of　God；　to　tell　us　our　way。〃　This　was　in　accordance　with　the　custom　of
the　times。　A　person　approaching　a　superior　in　rank　or　office　made　him　a
small　present；　as　an　expression　of　respect。

As　they　drew　near　to　the　city　they　met　some　young　maidens　who　had　come　out
to　draw　water；　and　inquired　of　them　for　the　seer。　In　reply　they　were　told
that　a　religious　service　was　about　to　take　place；　that　the　prophet　had
already　arrived；　there　was　to　be　an　offering　upon　〃the　high　place；〃　and
after　that　a　sacrificial　feast。　A　great　change　had　taken　place　under
Samuel's　administration。　When　the　call　of　God　first　came　to　him　the　services
of　the　sanctuary　were　held　in　contempt。　〃Men　abhorred　the　offering　of　the
Lord。〃　1　Samuel　2：17。　But　the　worship　of　God　was　now　maintained　throughout
the　land；　and　the　people　manifested　an　interest　in　religious　services。　There
being　no　ministration　in　the　tabernacle；　sacrifices　were　for　the　time
offered　elsewhere；　and　the　cities　of　the　priests　and　Levites；　where　the
people　resorted　for　instruction；　were　chosen　for　this　purpose。　The　highest
points　in　these　cities　were　usually　selected　as　the　place　of　sacrifice；　and
hence　were　called　〃the　high　places。〃

At　the　gate　of　the　city　Saul　was　met　by　the　prophet　himself。　God　had
revealed　to　Samuel　that　at　that　time　the　chosen　king　of　Israel　would　present
himself　before　him。　As　they　now　stood　face　to　face；　the　Lord　said　to　Samuel；
〃Behold　the　man　whom　I　spake　to　thee　of！　this　same　shall　reign　over　My
people。〃

To　the　request　of　Saul；　〃Tell　me；　I　pray　thee；　where　the　seer's　house　is；〃
Samuel　replied；　〃I　am　the　seer。〃　Assuring　him　also　that　the　lost　animals　had
been　found；　he　urged　him　to　tarry　and　attend　the　feast；　at　the　same　time
giving　some　intimation　of　the　great　destiny　before　him：　〃On　whom　is　all　the
desire　of　Israel？　Is　it　not　on　thee；　and　on　all　thy　father's　house？〃　The
listener's　heart　thrilled　at　the　prophet's　words。　He　could　not　but　perceive
something　of　their　significance；　for　the　demand　for　a　king　had　become　a
matter　of　absorbing　interest　to　the　whole