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I Hear the Sheep, May 31
1 Samuel 15
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.
1
Samuel 15:11
.
While Saul and his army were marching home in the flush of victory, there
was deep anguish in the home of Samuel the prophet. He had received a message
from the Lord denouncing the course of the king.... The prophet was deeply
grieved over the course of the rebellious king, and he wept and prayed all night
for a reversing of the terrible sentence.
God’s repentance is not like man’s repentance. “The Strength of Israel will
not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.” Man’s repentance
implies a change of mind. God’s repentance implies a change of circumstances
and relations. Man may change his relation to God by complying with the
conditions upon which he may be brought into the divine favor, or he may, by
his own action, place himself outside the favoring condition; but the Lord is the
same “yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (
Hebrews 13:8
). Saul’s disobedience
changed his relation to God; but the conditions of acceptance with God were
unaltered—God’s requirements were still the same, for with Him there “is no
variableness, neither shadow of turning” (
James 1:17
).
With an aching heart the prophet set forth the next morning to meet the
erring king. Samuel cherished a hope that, upon reflection, Saul might become
conscious of his sin, and by repentance and humiliation be again restored to the
divine favor. But when the first step is taken in the path of transgression the
way becomes easy. Saul, debased by his disobedience, came to meet Samuel
with a lie upon his lips. He exclaimed, “Blessed be thou of the Lord: I have
performed the commandment of the Lord.” The sounds that fell on the prophet’s
ears disproved the statement of the disobedient king
Saul denied his sin even while the lowing of the oxen and the bleating of the
sheep were publishing his guilt
[158]
61
Ibid., 629, 630
.
62
Letter 12
a, 1893.
162