patriarchs and prophets-第177章
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familiar spirits； and the wizards； out of the land： wherefore then layest
thou a snare for my life； to cause me to die？〃 Then 〃Saul sware to her by
the Lord； saying； As the Lord liveth； there shall no punishment happen to
thee for this thing。〃 And when she said； 〃Whom shall I bring up unto thee？〃
he answered； 〃Samuel。〃
After practicing her incantations； she said； 〃I saw gods ascending out of
the earth。 。 。 。 An old man cometh up； and he is covered with a mantle。 And
Saul perceived that it was Samuel； and he stooped with his face to the
ground； and bowed himself。〃
It was not God's holy prophet that came forth at the spell of a sorcerer's
incantation。 Samuel was not present in that haunt of evil spirits。 That
supernatural appearance was produced solely by the power of Satan。 He could
as easily assume the form of Samuel as he could assume that of an angel of
light； when he tempted Christ in the wilderness。
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The woman's first words under the spell of her incantation had been
addressed to the king； 〃Why hast thou deceived me？ for thou art Saul。〃 Thus
the first act of the evil spirit which personated the prophet was to
communicate secretly with this wicked woman； to warn her of the deception
that had been practiced upon her。 The message to Saul from the pretended
prophet was； 〃Why hast thou disquieted me； to bring me up？ And Saul
answered； I am sore distressed； for the Philistines make war against me； and
God is departed from me； and answereth me no more； neither by prophets； nor
by dreams： therefore I have called thee； that thou mayest make known unto me
what I shall do。〃
When Samuel was living； Saul had despised his counsel and had resented his
reproofs。 But now； in the hour of his distress and calamity； he felt that
the prophet's guidance was his only hope； and in order to communicate with
Heaven's ambassador he vainly had recourse to the messenger of hell！ Saul
had placed himself fully in the power of Satan； and now he whose only
delight is in causing misery and destruction； made the most of his
advantage； to work the ruin of the unhappy king。 In answer to Saul's
agonized entreaty came the terrible message； professedly from the lips of
Samuel：
〃Wherefore then dost thou ask of me； seeing the Lord is departed from thee；
and is become thine enemy？ And the Lord hath done to him； as he spake by me：
for the Lord hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand； and given it to thy
neighbor； even to David： because thou obeyedst not the voice of the Lord；
nor executedst His fierce wrath upon Amalek； therefore hath the Lord done
this thing unto thee this day。 Moreover the Lord will also deliver Israel
with thee into the hand of the Philistines。〃
All through his course of rebellion Saul had been flattered and deceived by
Satan。 It is the tempter's work to belittle sin； to make the path of
transgression easy and inviting； to blind the mind to the warnings and
threatenings of the Lord。 Satan； by his bewitching power； had led Saul to
justify himself in defiance of Samuel's reproofs and warning。 But now； in
his extremity； he turned upon him； presenting the enormity of his sin and
the hopelessness of pardon； that he might goad him to desperation。 Nothing
could have been better chosen to destroy his courage
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and confuse his judgment； or to drive him to despair and self…destruction。
Saul was faint with weariness and fasting； he was terrified and
conscience…stricken。 As the fearful prediction fell upon his ear； his form
swayed like an oak before the tempest； and he fell prostrate to the earth。
The sorceress was filled with alarm。 The king of Israel lay before her like
one dead。 Should he perish in her retreat； what would be the consequences to
herself？ She besought him to arise and partake of food； urging that since
she had imperiled her life in granting his desire； he should yield to her
request for the preservation of his own。 His servants joining their
entreaties； Saul yielded at last； and the woman set before him the fatted
calf and unleavened bread hastily prepared。 What a scene！In the wild cave
of the sorceress； which but a little before had echoed with the words of
doomin the presence of Satan's messengerhe who had been anointed of God
as king over Israel sat down to eat； in preparation for the day's deadly
strife。
Before the break of day he returned with his attendants to the camp of
Israel to make ready for the conflict。 By consulting that spirit of darkness
Saul had destroyed himself。 Oppressed by the horror of despair； it would be
impossible for him to inspire his army with courage。 Separated from the
Source of strength； he could not lead the minds of Israel to look to God as
their helper。 Thus the prediction of evil would work its own accomplishment。
On the plain of Shunem and the slopes of Mount Gilboa the armies of Israel
and the hosts of the Philistines closed in mortal combat。 Though the fearful
scene in the cave of Endor had driven all hope from his heart； Saul fought
with desperate valor for his throne and his kingdom。 But it was in vain。
〃The men of Israel fled from before the Philistines； and fell down slain in
Mount Gilboa。〃 Three brave sons of the king died at his side。 The archers
pressed upon Saul。 He had seen his soldiers falling around him and his
princely sons cut down by the sword。 Himself wounded； he could neither fight
not fly。 Escape was impossible； and determined not to be taken alive by the
Philistines； he bade his armor…bearer； 〃Draw thy sword； and thrust me
through therewith。〃 When the man refused to lift his hand
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against the Lord's anointed； Saul took his own life by falling upon his
sword。
Thus the first king of Israel perished； with the guilt of self…murder upon
his soul。 His life had been a failure； and he went down in dishonor and
despair； because he had set up his own perverse will against the will of
God。
The tidings of defeat spread far and wide； carrying terror to all Israel。
The people fled from the cities； and the Philistines took undisturbed
possession。 Saul's reign； independent of God； had well…nigh proved the ruin
of his people。
On the day following the engagement； the Philistines； searching the
battlefield to rob the slain； discovered the bodies of Saul and his three
sons。 To complete their triumph； they cut off the head of Saul and stripped
him of his armor； then the head and the armor； reeking with blood； were sent
to the country of the Philistines as a trophy of victory； 〃to publish it in
the house of their idols； and among the people。〃 The armor was finally put
in 〃the house of Ashtaroth；〃 while the head was fastened in the temple of
Dagon。 Thus the glory of the victory was ascribed to the power of these
false gods； and the name of Jehovah was dishonored。
The dead bodies of Saul and his sons were dragged to Beth…shan； a city not
far from Gilboa； and near the river Jordan。 Here they were hung up in
chains； to be devoured by birds of prey。 But the brave men of Jabesh…gilead；
remembering Saul's deliverance of their city in his earlier and happier
years； now manifested their gratitude by rescuing the bodies of the king and
princes； and giving them honorable burial。 Crossing the Jordan by night；
they 〃took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of
Beth…shan； and came to Jabesh； and burnt them there； And they took their
bones； and buried them under a tree at Jabesh； and fasted seven days。〃 Thus
the noble deed performed forty years before； secured for Saul and his sons
burial by tender and pitying hands in that dark hour of defeat and dishonor。
（683）
Chapter 67
Ancient and Modern Sorcery
The Scripture account of Saul's visit to the woman of Endor has been a
source of perplexity to many students of the Bible。 There are some who take
the position that Samuel was actually present at the interview with Saul；
but the Bible itself furnishes sufficient ground for a contrary conclusion。
If； as claimed by some； Samuel was in hea
