WHATEVER may have been Saul’s feelings about leaving Samuel we do not know; but we do know that there was once a little company of people who had to part with One dearer than all the world to them, and this filled them with sorrow. But He would send them another Comforter, after He had departed from them to be with the Father, and He, the Spirit, would fill their hearts with a sense of Christ’s presence, such as they could not possibly have known had He continued to walk with them here on earth. But when the Spirit came He would not only cheer and encourage the hearts of His people, but he would also be their Teacher. And, oh, let us remember, dear children, that we have One, who, though unseen, has come to take Christ’s place, to testify of Him, until He Himself comes and takes us to be with Himself where He now is in heaven. And this One is our Teacher. When He comes and makes His abode with us, then it is that we begin to learn and know the things that are freely given to us of God. (1 Cor. 2:1212Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (1 Corinthians 2:12).) You know that when we go to school, if we would make progress as students, we must be subject to our teacher, and diligent in our studies. And similarly, if we would rapidly grow in the things of God, as His anointed ones, we must be subject to the Spirit and diligent to search the word of God. And, oh, if this be the case with us, what wondrous things will be revealed to us, and what precious lessons we shall learn.
Well, we have seen that Saul was anointed by Samuel, and now he was about to leave him; not, however, to wander about as he did when seeking the lost asses, but now he was informed as to where he should go, and, also, what would befall him on the way. And this, no doubt, is full of meaning to us; for are not the children of this world just wandering about, not knowing where they go, seeking those things which only have to do with this present life? But those who know Jesus, and have Him as an object in heaven, do they not know where they are going? Yes, they do know, and more than that, they have the blessed Spirit to guide them and “show them things to come.”
ML 01/11/1903