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No Apologies Needed, May 21
1 Samuel 12
And he said unto them, The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed
is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand.
1
Samuel 12:5
.
The dissatisfied longing for worldly power and display, is as difficult to cure
now as in the days of Samuel. Christians seek to build as worldlings build, to
dress as worldlings dress—to imitate the customs and practices of those who
worship only the God of this world. The instructions of God’s Word, the counsels
and reproofs of His servants, and even warnings sent directly from His throne,
seem powerless to subdue this unworthy ambition. When the heart is estranged
from God, almost any pretext is sufficient to justify a disregard of His authority....
The most useful men are seldom appreciated. Those who have labored most
actively and unselfishly for their fellow man, and who have been instrumental
in achieving the greatest results, are often repaid with ingratitude and neglect.
When such men find themselves set aside, their counsels slighted and despised,
they may feel that they are suffering great injustice. But let them learn from the
example of Samuel not to justify or vindicate themselves, unless the Spirit of
God unmistakably prompts to such a course
The honor accorded him who is concluding his work is of far more worth
than the applause and congratulations which those receive who are just entering
upon their duties, and who have yet to be tested
How many retiring from a position of responsibility as a judge, can say in
regard to their purity, Which of you convinceth me of sin? Who can prove that I
have turned aside from my righteousness to accept bribes? I have never stained
my record as a man who does judgment and justice. Who today can say what
Samuel said when he was taking leave of the people of Israel, because they were
determined to have a king? ... Brave, noble judge! But it is a sorrowful thing
that a man of the strictest integrity should have to humble himself to make his
own defence
[148]
43
The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 2:1013
.
44
Ibid., 1014
.
45
Ibid., 1013, 1014
.
152