Saul.
1 Sam. 9:26.
THE morning of the second day had now arrived when Samuel had promised to let Saul go on his way. He had detained him only a day and a night, and we may safely say that Saul never spent a more profitable season than he did with Samuel during that brief, time Could there be anything more profitable than to be with a man who is able to tell us about God?
Many children have parents who are able to tell them about the Lord, for they have learned of Him in His word. They teach the little ones the way of the Lord, and seek to bring them up in His fear. Dear children, do you rightly value this teaching, and do you realize how highly favored you are that God has given you parents who fear Him, and who seek to instruct you in His will? Think of the many children who never hear the Lord’s name, except, perhaps, when it is blasphemed in their homes; and would you like to exchange places with them? I’m sure you would not.
But neither Samuel nor our parents are able to tell us all about God. There was only one person that ever lived in this world who could tell us all about God, and that one was Jesus.
“No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.” (John 1:18). And He had a message from God’s bosom to tell the world, which the prophets never had, and that message was that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.
We are told that Samuel and Saul arose early in the morning. But Samuel evidently arose first and then called Saul up. This shows us that Samuel had something before him, which preserved him from taking too much ease. The work of the Lord would not suffer him to sleep longer than to get enough rest for the body. But Saul seemed more inclined to indulge himself, and we see a lack of purpose for the Lord throughout his whole life.
In speaking of early rising, we do not want to be too severe on those who are of young and tender years. Very often young boys and girls need more sleep than they are permitted to take; and sometimes they take more sleep than they really need. But, dear children, the lesson we want to learn from this is that of DILIGENCE, as against slothfulness and idleness. God has said that the diligent soul shall be made fat, and He has repeatedly warned us in His word against being idle and lazy. We gee many people, who belong only to this world and have no hope beyond it, daily straining themselves to prosper and accumulate riches. But God says that they rise up early and sit up late only to eat the bread of sorrow. (Ps. 127:2.)
On the other hand, we who know the Lord and have hope of eternal life, (Titus 1:2), how diligent we should be in all things, since we are serving the Lord Jesus. The precious moments that are swiftly passing away should not be spent in idleness, nor should we be seeking mere self-indulgence. But we should endeavor to improve our time FOR THE LORD. We know that children need exercise and play, but even in these things we are not to forget the Lord, but seek to do everything in His name. None of us know how long the Lord may be pleased to leave us here in this world. For He calls the young ones home, as well as the old ones.
As His little servant s, we may be working for Him in His vineyard, as He has a place for each one of us. We may arise each morning with the precious thought that we are to be serving Jesus throughout the entire day. We should make each day, as it comes to us, a little life complete in itself; for when the evening comes our opportunities for serving Jesus may be at an end, for He may call us home to be with Himself. We have no promise of the morrow. and therefore, we should be careful about making plans. And if we can do anything for Jesus today, let us not put it off till tomorrow, for God says that we know not what a day may bring forth. (Prov. 27:1.)
ML 10/05/1902