Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/259

 When Samuel  had  come  to  the  camp  of  Israel,  Saul  said  to him:  “I  have  fulfilled  the  word  of  the  Lord.”  Samuel  answered: “What meaneth,  then,  the  bleating  of  the  flocks,  and  the  lowing of the  herds  which  I hear?”  Saul  tried  to  excuse  himself,  saying that the  people  had  spared  the  best  flocks  and  herds,  to  sacrifice them to  the  Lord. Samuel, being  angry,  spoke  to  him  in  the name of  the  Lord:  “Doth  the  Lord  desire  holocausts  and  victims, and not  rather  that  the  voice  of  the  Lord  should  be  obeyed? For obedience  is  better  than  sacrifices; and  to  hearken  better  than to offer  the  fat  of  rams. For as  much,  therefore,  as  thou  hast rejected the  word  of  the  Lord,  the  Lord  hath  also  rejected  thee from being  king  over  Israel. The Lord  hath  rent  the  kingdom from thee  this  day,  and  has  given  it  to  one  who  is  better.”  Then Samuel departed,  and  beheld  Saul  no  more  till  the  day  of  his death.

God’s Providence directed  that  the  asses  should  be  lo6t  and  that Saul, while  seeking  them,  should  meet  Samuel. By God’s  command Samuel anointed  Saul  king,  and  presented  him  as  such  to  the  people. God commands  and  directs  everything  as  He  wills.

God's Goodness  to  the  Israelites  is  shown  by  His  granting  their request to  have  a king. It was  Saul,  however,  whom  he  especially loaded with  proofs  of  His  love. Saul acknowledged  his  unworthiness  in the  words  which  he  used  to  Samuel:  “I  am  of  the  least  tribe  of  Israel, and my  kindred  the  least  among  all  the  families  of  the  tribe  of  Benjamin l”  And  yet  God  chose  him  to  be  king  over  His  people,  turned the hearts  of  the  Israelites  towards  him,  and  gave  him  the  victory  over all his  enemies. — What more  could  God  have  done  to  ensure  Saul’s unbounded gratitude  and  willing  obedience?

The Justice  of  God.  Saul  was  ungrateful  and  disobedient  to  God, and therefore  the  punishment  of  divine  justice  fell  on  him. He was rejected by  God;  God’s  blessing  left  him;  and  his  throne  passed,  not to his  son,  but  to  David.

Pride. Saul’s  misfortunes  sprang  from  pride. He became  proud on account  of  his  high  dignity,  and  on  account  of  the  victories  which