Saul.
1 Sam. 40:26.
AT the breaking of the day Samuel arose and called Saul to the top of the house, saying, “Up, that I may send thee away.” (v. 26.) The day before this he had said, “Tomorrow I will let thee go.” What are we to learn from these two expressions? We remember that Saul had come to Samuel while he was on his way seeking the lost asses, and had come to the prophet simply that he might know the way that he should take. And so Samuel spoke to him as though he regarded him as one who was seeking his own way. Saul no doubt expected to pass on, but Samuel detained him a little, telling him that on the morrow he would let him go. But after he had been with Samuel a short time, he discovered that God was about to take him up, and honor him by making him king over His people. And Samuel was the instrument that God was using to bring Saul into this exalted place. When the morrow had come, Saul realized that he was no longer following his own way seeking the lost asses, but that he was now to be subject to Samuel. He was to go in the way that God had chosen for him. We see, then, how beautiful the change of expression becomes when Samuel speaks of SENDING Saul away.
Many people come to Jesus for some personal advantage, not really feeling their need of Him as their Saviour; and, when they have gained what they desired, they continue to go right on in their old way. The Scripture speaks of multitudes in the days of Jesus who came to Him merely to be fed or healed, and then left Him and went their own way. And today are there not many who associate themselves with Christians, and profess to serve Christ, who are really only looking out for what personal advantage it may give them? They judge that it is better for their business. and social standing in the world to, at least, call themselves Christians. As for this class, dear children, they never receive any real virtue Prom Christ, although they are the multitude that throng Him.
And they are the ones that are “let go” to pursue their own way. They do not care to continue with Christ, nor would they, indeed, if pressed to do so.
But whoever came to Christ feeling that they must have Him as a Saviour and Friend, and were turned away empty? No, dear children, Christ is for poor, helpless sinners, who cannot help themselves; and when such come to Him, they are won to His blessed Person and have no desire to get out of His presence. Christ never says to such, “I will let you go,” as if they were under restraint when with Him, and wanted to go their own way. For when they come to Him, their own way is ended, and now, henceforth, if they go away at all, it must be Himself that SENDS them. And He does send them away, He being their Lord and they being His willing servants. He sends them into the world to shine as lights there for Him, and to be His witnesses.
But we must not overlook the place to which Samuel called Saul in the morning before he sent him away. It was the “house-top”; and we saw that, the night before, this was the place of communion. What, then, is the lesson that we may gather from this. If Saul was called to the place of communion before Samuel sent him away, is it not also true that, if Jesus has sent us into the world, we are to be there in communion with Him? Or, in other words, if we are to be good servants for Him in the world, does it not depend upon our being in communion with Him? Yes, dear children, it is blessedly true that when the Lord sends us away He supplies us with everything needful for us to glorify Him. He gives us His Word and His Spirit that we may walk in communion with Him, and thus “Show to all where once He trod,
Nothing but Christ, the Christ of God.”
ML 10/12/1902