All Articles For Day of Shadows

So have the people of Israel, as admonished by Samuel and terrified by the Lord’s thunder, finally confessed their great sin of asking that a king be set over them. Concluding that they were about to be consumed by God’s anger, they cried to Samuel beseeching him that he pray for them that they die not. The seer told them that they had nothing to fear if only they would serve the Lord with all their hearts. Samuel having’ finished his discourse to the people, Saul now came forward. He chose him three thousand men of Israel and this for...

The time for going on our vacation is here. We go to the store and read a sign telling us that this store will be closed for a week while the employer and employees take their vacation. We come to church and read on our bulletins that our pastor is taking his vacation and we will be led in our worship by a visiting pastor. Far be it from us to condemn vacations as such. In most instances they are beneficial and in some instances even necessary. When today we live in such a commercial life with all its hustle...

As was stated, the people of Israel, as admonished by Samuel and subsequently as terrified by the Lord’s thunderings, finally confessed their great sin of asking that a king be set over them. Samuel having finished his discourse to the people, Saul now came forward. He chose him three thousand men of Israel for purposes of war; and, as was proved, in these men he put his trust. At this time the people of Israel were hopelessly in bondage to the Philistines, as we saw. The military might of the Philistines was tremendous (I Sam. 13:5). And the people of...

So has Saul not kept the commandment of his God. He chose the way of disobedience, thus of death and ultimate destruction. In punishment of his sin, his kingdom will not be established. No son of his will succeed him on the throne. As to Samuel, having pronounced over the king the sentence of God, he was silent though he had come to the king with divine instructions for the war with the Philistines that is pending. What these instructions were is not revealed; but it is certain that the execution had called for implicit faith in God in that...

From their vantage point the watchmen of Saulsee the Philistine host rapidly diminishing, as it were melting away. They can even see the Philistines beating down one another. Their outlook is that close; Saul, to whom the watchmen doubtless report, suspects that Jonathan has much to do with that wild commotion in the camp of the Philistines. He is mindful of the spirit of his son, knows the feats of daring which he is capable. So the king orders the people that are with him numbered, and it is found that Jonathan and his armor bearer are missing. The whole...

Turning to the Book of Exodus, the ninth chapter, the sixteenth verse, we read; “And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to show thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout the earth.” So speaks the Lord by the mouth of Moses to Pharaoh. The events that led up to the Lord’s speaking these words to Pharaoh—the Pharaoh of the oppression—can be briefly stated. The Lord brings His people into Egypt. And by the permission of the Pharaoh friendly to Joseph, they settle in Goshen.

So is Jonathan rescued out of the hands of Saul by the people. Saul shall have to reap the consequences of his vile adjuration. His curse in its flight will be made to return to him. For the military might of the Philistines is not broken; and the result will be that the Philistine’s will triumph over Saul in the end.

The meaning of the Lord’s repenting him that he set up Saul to be king has been explained. “Saul”, to quote the Lord’s own words, “is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments.” In the beginning of his career he did so, yet not truly but only outwardly’. His obedience was not motivated by love of God but by love of self.

Saul has disobeyed the voice of the Lord in the matter of the Lord’s war with Amalek. In punishment of his sin the Lord rejects him from being king of His people; and accordingly will rend the kingdom from Saul to give it to a neighbor that is better than he. The Lord’s having rejected Saul from being king means that He deprives Saul of the right to reign, so that his status is now that of a king deposed of God. Accordingly, the Lord has no new tasks for Saul to perform; and Samuel comes no more to see...

When we last left David, he had hastened into the army, and was asking his brethren peace, that is, saluting them. As he talks with them, Goliath comes forth and repeats his challenge. And the Israelites flee when they see the man, and are sore afraid. Some of the refugees come to the place where David converses with his brethren. He hears them say what Saul will do by the man who kills the giant. David speaks to the men and has them repeat Saul’s promises of reward.