Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/260

 God gave  him,  so  that  he  began  to  trust  in  himself  and  did  not  give glory to  God. Being proud  and  arrogant,  he  no  longer  obeyed  God’s commands, but  kept  back  the  best  of  the  flocks  of  the  Amalekites. Pride leads  to  disobedience. When Saul,  by  his  grievous  sin,  had  forsaken God,  then  God  forsook  him. “God resisteth  the  proud,  and giveth grace  to  the  humble”  (James  4,  6).

Obedience to  God.  To  Saul’s  excuse  that  the  flocks  and  herds  had been kept  to  offer  as  sacrifices,  Samuel,  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost, replied: “Obedience  is  better  than  sacrifice”,  i.  e.  sacrifices  of  beasts  are good and  pleasing  to  God  if  they  are  offered  with  a right  intention; but still  better  and  more  pleasing  to  God  is  obedience,  whereby  a man offers to  God  the  spiritual  sacrifice  of  his  own  will,  on  the  altar  of  his heart. By sacrifices  man  gives  to  God  something  which  he  possesses; by obedience  he  offers  himself,  and  his  free  will,  the  noblest  of  all  his possessions. He who  loves  God  will  love  and  do  His  holy  will.

Jesus Christ  or  the  Anointed.  In  the  Old  Testament  kings,  as  well as High  Priests,  were  the  anointed  of  the  Lord. In the  New  Testament Jesus, being  both  High  Priest  and  King,  is  indeed  the  Christ,  i.  e.  the Anointed.

The kingdom  of  Israel  belonged  to  God.  It  was  a theocracy  which means that  hitherto  the  Lord  God  had  been  the  immediate  King,  Lawgiver and  Leader  of  His  people. Now it  was  His  will  to  give  them an earthly  king  to  be  His  representative,  and  to  govern  them  in  His name, and  according  to  His  laws. He did  not  let  them  choose  their own king,  but  set  over  them  one  whom  He  chose,  in  order  to  show  the Israelites that  He  Himself  still  remained  their  supreme  King  and  Lord. He established  the  kingdom  of  Israel  in  order,  firstly,  to  bind  the  twelve tribes into  a closer  unity  than  had  existed  under  the  Judges;  secondly, to show  the  people  that  even  under  kings  they  could  prosper  only  if they  observed  the  laws  of  God; and  thirdly,  to  foreshadow  the  kingdom of the  Messias. Kings, princes,  and  all  heads  of  States  reign  “by  the grace of  God”:  because  they  receive  the  power  from  Him  and  govern in His  name;  therefore  their  subjects  ought  to  honour,  love  and  obey them, as  the  representatives  of  God. “Fear God;  honour  the  king” (1 Petr.  2,  17).

APPLICATION. Ask yourself  whether  you  are  proud  or  self-willed ? Do you  give  glory  to  God  when  you  succeed  in  anything ? Do you  boast? Are you  fond  of  talking  about  yourself? Do you take pleasure  in  praising  others,  or  is  it  more  pleasing  to  you  to find  fault  with  them? No other  virtue  is  of  any  value  in  God’s sight, without  humility. You owe  to  God  everything  that  you are, or  have,  or  can  do; therefore,  thank  God  and  do  not  offend Him by  pride. Be very  careful  to-day  to  utter  no  word  in  self-praise. Do not  tell  an  untruth  nor  feign  piety  as  Saul  did.