- Foreword
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- June 23, 1892
- June 30, 1892
- July 7, 1892
- July 14, 1892
- July 21, 1892
- July 28, 1892
- August 4, 1892
- August 11, 1892
- September 1, 1892
- September 22, 1892
- September 29, 1892
- October 13, 1892
- October 20, 1892
- October 27, 1892
- November 10, 1892
- November 17, 1892
- December 8, 1892
- December 15, 1892
- December 22, 1892
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- January 5, 1893
- January 19, 1893
- February 2, 1893
- February 9, 1893
- March 2, 1893
- March 9, 1893
- March 23, 1893
- March 30, 1893
- May 4, 1893
- May 18, 1893
- May 25, 1893
- June 1, 1893
- June 8, 1893
- June 15, 1893
- June 22, 1893
- June 29, 1893
- July 13, 1893
- July 20, 1893
- July 27, 1893
- August 3, 1893
- August 10, 1893
- August 17, 1893
- August 24, 1893
- August 31, 1893
- September 7, 1893
- September 14, 1893
- September 21, 1893
- November 9, 1893
- November 16, 1893
- November 23, 1893
- November 30, 1893
- December 7, 1893
- December 14, 1893
- December 21, 1893
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- January 4, 1894
- January 11, 1894
- January 18, 1894
- January 25, 1894
- February 1, 1894
- February 8, 1894
- February 15, 1894
- March 1, 1894
- April 26, 1894
- May 3, 1894
- May 10, 1894
- May 17, 1894
- May 24, 1894
- May 31, 1894
- June 7, 1894
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- June 28, 1894
- July 5, 1894
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- July 26, 1894
- August 2, 1894
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- August 16, 1894
- August 23, 1894
- August 30, 1894
- September 6, 1894
- September 13, 1894
- September 20, 1894
- September 27, 1894
- October 11, 1894
- October 18, 1894
- October 25, 1894
- November 8, 1894
- November 22, 1894
- November 29, 1894
- December 6, 1894
- December 13, 1894
- December 20, 1894
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- January 3, 1895
- January 10, 1895
- January 31, 1895
- February 7, 1895
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- August 1, 1895
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- September 5, 1895
- September 19, 1895
- September 26, 1895
- October 10, 1895
- October 17, 1895
- October 24, 1895
- October 31, 1895
- November 7, 1895
- November 21, 1895
- November 28, 1895
- December 5, 1895
- December 12, 1895
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- January 2, 1896
- January 9, 1896
- January 16, 1896
- January 30, 1896
- February 6, 1896
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- March 12, 1896
- August 20, 1896
- August 27, 1896
- September 24, 1896
- October 8, 1896
- October 15, 1896
- October 22, 1896
- November 5, 1896
- November 5, 1896
- November 12, 1896
- November 26, 1896
- December 3, 1896
- December 24, 1896
- December 31, 1896
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- January 7, 1897
- January 21, 1897
- January 28, 1897
- February 4, 1897
- February 11, 1897
- February 25, 1897
- March 4, 1897
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- April 1, 1897
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- June 10, 1897
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- July 1, 1897
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- August 5, 1897
- August 5, 1897
- August 12, 1897
- August 19, 1897
- August 26, 1897
- September 2, 1897
- September 9, 1897
- September 16, 1897
- September 23, 1897
- September 30, 1897
- October 7, 1897
- October 14, 1897
- October 21, 1897
- October 28, 1897
- November 4, 1897
- November 11, 1897
- November 18, 1897
- December 2, 1897
- December 9, 1897
- December 16, 1897
- December 23, 1897
- December 30, 1897
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- January 6, 1898
- January 13, 1898
- February 3, 1898
- February 10, 1898
- February 17, 1898
- March 24, 1898
- March 31, 1898
- April 7, 1898
- April 14, 1898
- April 21, 1898
- April 28, 1898
- May 5, 1898
- May 12, 1898
- May 19, 1898
- May 26, 1898
- June 2, 1898
- June 30, 1898
- July 7, 1898
- July 14, 1898
- July 21, 1898
- July 28, 1898
- August 4, 1898
- August 11, 1898
- August 18, 1898
- August 25, 1898
- September 1, 1898
- September 8, 1898
- September 15, 1898
- September 22, 1898
- October 13, 1898
- October 20, 1898
- October 27, 1898
- November 3, 1898
- November 10, 1898
- November 17, 1898
- November 24, 1898
- December 1, 1898
- December 8, 1898
- December 15, 1898
- December 22, 1898
- December 29, 1898
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- March 30, 1899
- April 6, 1899
- April 13, 1899
- April 20, 1899
- April 27, 1899
- May 4, 1899
- May 11, 1899
- May 18, 1899
- May 25, 1899
- June 8, 1899
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- June 22, 1899
- June 29, 1899
- July 13, 1899
- July 20, 1899
- July 27, 1899
- August 3, 1899
- August 10, 1899
- August 17, 1899
- August 24, 1899
- August 31, 1899
- September 14, 1899
- September 21, 1899
- September 28, 1899
- October 5, 1899
- October 12, 1899
- October 19, 1899
- October 26, 1899
- November 2, 1899
- November 9, 1899
- November 23, 1899
- November 30, 1899
- December 7, 1899
- December 21, 1899
- December 28, 1899
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- January 4, 1900
- January 11, 1900
- February 1, 1900
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- February 15, 1900
- February 22, 1900
- March 1, 1900
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- April 5, 1900
- April 12, 1900
- April 26, 1900
- May 3, 1900
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- June 7, 1900
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- June 28, 1900
- July 12, 1900
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- July 26, 1900
- August 2, 1900
- August 16, 1900
- September 6, 1900
- September 13, 1900
- September 20, 1900
- September 27, 1900
- October 4, 1900
- October 11, 1900
- October 18, 1900
- October 25, 1900
- November 1, 1900
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- December 6, 1900
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- December 27, 1900
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- January 3, 1901
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- October 3, 1901
- November 21, 1901
- December 5, 1901
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- January 16, 1902
- January 23, 1902
- February 6, 1902
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- February 27, 1902
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- May 1, 1902
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- June 12, 1902
- June 26, 1902
- July 3, 1902
- July 10, 1902
- July 24, 1902
- July 31, 1902
- August 21, 1902
- September 11, 1902
- October 2, 1902
- October 9, 1902
- October 23, 1902
- November 6, 1902
- December 4, 1902
- December 11, 1902
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- January 1, 1903
- January 22, 1903
- January 29, 1903
- February 12, 1903
- February 19, 1903
- March 5, 1903
- March 19, 1903
- March 26, 1903
- April 9, 1903
- April 16, 1903
- April 23, 1903
- May 14, 1903
- May 21, 1903
- June 4, 1903
- June 25, 1903
- July 9, 1903
- July 16, 1903
- August 6, 1903
- August 20, 1903
- September 1, 1903
- September 8, 1903
- September 22, 1903
- September 29, 1903
- November 24, 1903
- December 1, 1903
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December 1, 1898
The First King of Israel—No. 4
The Final Test
During this time, Saul, in discontent and fear, had been sitting with his six hundred men under a pomegranate-tree. Now he said “unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there. And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel. And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand. And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold, every man's sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture.”YI December 1, 1898, par. 1
When they came to the place of conflict, lo, they saw the men in the Philistine army fighting one another, and not discerning that they were fighting their own army. And there was a very great battle.YI December 1, 1898, par. 2
“Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp from the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan. Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in Mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in battle. So the Lord saved Israel that day.”YI December 1, 1898, par. 3
Saul now became very zealous, and gave command, saying, “Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.” This rash oath of Saul's was a human invention. It was not inspired of God, and God was displeased with it. Jonathan and his armor-bearer, who, through God, had wrought deliverance for Israel that day, had become weak through hunger. The people also were weary and hungry.YI December 1, 1898, par. 4
“And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground.” This honey was of God's own providing. He desired that the armies of Israel should partake of this food, and receive strength. But Saul, who was not under the direction of God, had interposed his rash oath, saying: “Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies.... And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground. And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath.”YI December 1, 1898, par. 5
Jonathan had not heard his father's charge to the people; and “he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.” His whole system was strengthened to do the work before him.YI December 1, 1898, par. 6
“Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day.... Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey. How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?”YI December 1, 1898, par. 7
After this lesson, another test was prepared for Saul. The time had come for the Lord to punish the Amalekites, and Samuel brought Saul the message that Amalek was to be utterly destroyed. God gave commandment unto Saul: “Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.”YI December 1, 1898, par. 8
But Saul did not do the work which the Lord had given him to do. He brought in his own human judgment against God's commandments. “And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah. And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley. And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye showed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt. And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.”YI December 1, 1898, par. 9
God had commanded Saul to go and smite the Amalekites, and utterly destroy all their possessions; and he was watching his course to see if Saul could be trusted with his work as king of Israel. But Saul only partially obeyed the command; he destroyed the inferior cattle, but reserved the best, and spared the wicked king. And God said to Samuel, “It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments.”YI December 1, 1898, par. 10
This message grieved the prophet, and he cried unto the Lord all night. He saw that the people of Israel were to have their trial very soon after coming under the rule of a king. Samuel had concluded that because of Saul's stature and beauty of countenance, he would be in favor with God; but the displeasure of the Lord was kindled against Saul because of his lack of keen perception to distinguish between sacred and profane things, to recognize the requirements of God as supreme,—because, when tried, he showed that he did not properly estimate the word given through God's faithful servant.YI December 1, 1898, par. 11
The next day Saul met the prophet Samuel with flattery and self-congratulations. Said he, “Blessed be thou of the Lord: I have performed the commandment of the Lord.” But the prophet immediately answered, “What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?”YI December 1, 1898, par. 12
Saul was confused, and sought to shirk responsibility by answering: “They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.”YI December 1, 1898, par. 13
Samuel reproved the king, reminding him of the explicit command of God to destroy all things belonging to Amalek. He pointed out his transgression, and declared that he had disobeyed the Lord. But Saul refused to acknowledge that he had done wrong; he again excused his sin by pleading that he had reserved the best cattle to sacrifice to the Lord.YI December 1, 1898, par. 14
The prophet was grieved to the heart by the persistency with which the king refused to see and confess his sin. He sorrowfully asked: “Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to harken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.”YI December 1, 1898, par. 15