Ver. 13.-Saul's sin. What was Saul's sin for which he was slain? He followed God just so far as suited his convenience; when it interfered in any way with his own interests he cast him off. He destroyed the Amalekites-so far he obeyed God's word, because he had no interest in doing otherwise; but he saved Agag and part of the cattle and the chief things of the Amalekites, because they were of advantage to himself. 'l'his is the sin of this day. We serve God so far as it does not interfere with personal advantage, present or future; but when God comes in and demands a full surrender at any cost, we cast him off. Self-interest and advantage are our god in reality, though it may be very convenient to us, and even help us to the attainment of our ends, to acknowledge Jesus Christ. But Saul committed a twofold sin against God, He sought in a time of perplexity to know God's will. The Lord was silent. He was left in darkness. Probably it was only in form that he sought God. God had given bis will in the matter of Agag, and he had refused to act upon it. If we go deliberately against God's will in any matter, we must expect God to be silent. It is the punishment for our sin. Instead of repenting and again seeking God, be had recourse to a witch. This was forbidden by the Law, and Saul knew it. It mattered not. It was for his advantage; and Saul, true to his character, cared little for the law or o.ny- thiog else when it stood in his way. Nay, worse than all, be bad put down necromancy. Ho had issued penalties of death upon it, and now he is actually seeking it himself! What tremendous inconsistency I Ah, but Saul would do as King of Israel what he would not do as an individual. He could carry out God's will when it did not interfere with himself in any way; but when it did, he would trample it under his feet. It i3 the picture of thousands.-W.
Vers.13, 14.-Saul's death. As we look at the account of Saul's death (vers. 2-4), how natural it seems-just in the ordinary course of battle I No eye looking at it could put any other interpretation upon it. But mark the Divine testimony-" GoJ slew him." The battle and the archers and all the second causes are simply but the drapery behind which the Divine hand was carrying out its purposes of removing Saul to set up David. 'l'hus must we look at everything that passes bol'ore the eye. It is the province of faith to look behind all the drapery and see the Divine hand. 'l'o this moral elevation none can reach but they who are habitually in communion with God. Not the "archers," not the armour-bearer's "sword "-not these, but "God slow him," and "turned the kingdom unto David." And observe the identification of the Lord's word here with the Lord himself. 'l'o sin against the Word is the same as to sin against God. So it is said of Jonah when he disobeyed the Lord's Word, "he rose up to flee from the presence of the Lord." Let us ever learn that the Lord's Word is God himself, and the despite done to one is done to the other.-W.
Ver. 2.-Innocent sharing in calamity. The judgment that came upon King Saul could not be limited to him; it included his sons, his family, his dynasty. Saul's sin was distinctly personal. Re committed acts of wilfulness; he foiled in the complete- ness ctf his obedience (1 Sam. xiii. 8-14 ; xv. 8, 9). And yet his sin could not be personal only-no man can secure that his sin shall be, while he comes into relations 110 THE FIRST DOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [ea. x. 1-14,