Correspondence.

G.B.— Luke 22:36, 3836Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. (Luke 22:36)
38And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough. (Luke 22:38). In these verses and the context the Lord was preparing the disciples for His departure and its consequences to themselves. While He was with them He was their Good Shepherd, and they had not wanted. Even when sent out without purse or scrip or shoes (Luke 10:44Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. (Luke 10:4)) they lacked nothing. But when the Shepherd was smitten, the sheep would be scattered, and they would be left to care for themselves. There would be no miraculous interposition to preserve them from the malicious persecution of the world. Hitherto the Lord had sheltered them, as He said, “If ye seek me, let these go their way.” But in view of His absence on high, the Lord counsels them to provide themselves with money and other necessaries. They were not to expect to be again fed in the wilderness by a miraculous multiplication of loaves and fishes. Besides their enemies would be so bitter and violent and numerous, that a sword would even be more necessary than a garment. “He that hath no sword let him sell his garment, and buy one.” That the Lord is not to be understood literally, we may gather from His own words to one who fell into this error, — “Put up again thy sword into its place, for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword” (Matt. 26:5252Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. (Matthew 26:52)). And here to those who produced a couple of weapons, He said, “It is enough.” He did not chide or upbraid for lack of wisdom in comprehending His words. “It is enough,” He said, dismissing the subject. What they knew not then, they should know when the Spirit of Truth came.
C.D.A.— How to reconcile 1 Sam. 15:11, 35,11It 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. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the Lord all night. (1 Samuel 15:11)
35And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the Lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel. (1 Samuel 15:35) and 29? When Jehovah said He repented of having made Saul king, it referred to the change of His dealings in consequence of Saul’s rebellious disobedience. It was because the son of Kish failed that the kingdom was taken from the house of Saul and given to the house of David. Now God had not promised the throne to Saul and his seed forever, as He did to David subsequently. Hence Saul’s line is set aside. But it is of the word of the Lord that Samuel speaks when he says, “The Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man that he should repent.” Jehovah had actually said He had rent the kingdom from Saul. Saul must not expect Him to recall that word. The Lord had said and would not repent. Verses 11 and 35 therefore refer to the change of outward plan that Jehovah was about to make in giving Saul’s crown to David. This in no way conflicts with verse 29, which solemnly warns of God’s unchanging word and purpose.