Saul, the First King of Israel, a Scripture Study

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1853 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VI. "WHAT MEANETH THIS BLEATING OF THE SHEEP IN MINE EARS ?." 'And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the Lord: I have performed the commandment of the Lord. And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing oi the oxen which I hear ?"--1 Sam. xv. 13,14. Men sometimes speak of God as though He were harsh and unrelenting. They invest Him-- and if ever men do Satan's work, it is when this is their employment--they invest Him with those attributes of character which belong to a person in a state of excitement or of irritation; and they are ready to ascribe the destruction which is the portion of the sinner, rather to some defect in the Being who inflicts the penalty, than to any guilt which attaches to the rebel on whom the sentence falls. They represent God as being less merciful than man; the Creator as being less indulgent, less forbearing, than the creature. But is it so? There is one order of dispensation which contradicts such a HARSH THOUGHTS OF GOD. Ill view, and with a most decided emphasis; and it is this course of dealing on the part of God to which we are conducted by that portion of the narrative of Saul which comes next in order before us. Do harshness and relentlessness show themselves in granting space for repentance where offence has been committed-- where it has been repeated--where it has evidently passed into the habit of wrong-doing-- in giving a further opportunity for obedience-- one trial more--which, thankfully embraced and humbly employed, might issue in proof being furnished of true repentance, and so might afford ground for the reversal of the sentence which had already been announced and fully deserved? Yet such is the course of Divine...