The Death of Saul | Page 3

and explain his tragic death on Mount Gilboa. With him, nearly 3,000 years ago, commenced the Monarchical government of the Israelites, who had previously been governed by a Theocracy. The Prophet Samuel, who anointed Saul, was the last of the High Priests or Judges under this Theocracy, which existed for 800 years, and died out with the acceptance of Saul, by the Israelites, as "King of all the tribes of Israel." The incidents touched upon range from the proclamation of Saul as King, by Samuel (1095 B.C.), to the fall of the hapless Monarch at the battle of Gilboa, 40 years afterwards.
Death of Saul
As through the waves the freighted argosy?Securely plunges, when the lode star's light?Her path makes clear, and as, when angry clouds?Obscure the guide that leads her on her way,?She strikes the hidden rock and all is lost,?So he of whom I sing--favoured of God,?By disobedience dimmed the light divine?That shone with bright effulgence like the sun,?And sank in sorrow, where he might have soared?Up to the loftiest peak of earthly joy?In sweet foretaste of heavenly joys to come.?Called from his flocks and herds in humble strait?And made to rule a nation; high in Heaven?The great Jehovah lighting up the way;?On earth an upright Judge and Prophet wise?Sent by the Lord to bend his steps aright;?Sons dutiful and true; no speck to mar?The noble grandeur of a proud career;?Yet, from the rays that flickered o'er his path,?Sent for his good, he wove the lightning shaft?That seared his heart, e'en as the stalwart oak,?Soaring in pride of pow'r, falls 'neath the flash,?And lies a prostrate wreck. Like one of old,?Who, wrestling with the orb whose far-off light?Gave beauty to his waxen wings, upsoared?Where angels dared not go, came to his doom,?And fell a molten mass; so, tempting Heaven,?Saul died the death of disobedient Pride?And self-willed Folly--curses of mankind!?Sins against God which wrought the Fall, and sent,?As tempests moan along the listening night,?A wail of mournful sadness drifting down?The annals of the world: unearthly strains!?Cries of eternal souls that know no rest.
Episode the First.
THE ISRAELITES DEMAND A KING, AND SAUL IS GIVEN TO RULE OVER THEM.
"God save the King!" the Israelites exclaimed, (_a_)?When, by the aged Prophet summoned forth?To Mizpeh, all the tribes by lot declared?That Saul should be their ruler. Since they left?The land of Egypt and its galling stripes,?Till then, the only living God had been?Their King and Governor; and Samuel old,?The last of Israel's Judges, when he brought?The man they chose to be their future King,?And said: "Behold the ruler of your choice!"?Told them of loving mercies they for years?Had from the great Jehovah's hand received,?And mourned in sorrowing tones that God their Judge?Should be by them rejected: and they cried?"A King! give us a King--for thou art old (_b_)?"And in those ways thou all thy life hast walked?"Walk not thy sons: lucre their idol is--?"And Judgment is perverted by the bribes?"They take to stifle justice: give us, then,?"A King to judge us. Other nations boast?"Of such a chief--a King, give us a King!"?So Saul became the crowned of Israel--?The first great King of their united tribes.
Episode the Second.
SAUL DISAPPOINTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF JEHOVAH, AND?IS VISITED WITH THE ALMIGHTY'S DISPLEASURE.
Brave is the heart that beats with yearning throb?Tow'rds highest hopes, when, wandering in the vale,?Some snowy Alp gleams forth with flashing crown?Of golden glory in the morning light.?Brave is the heart that lovingly expands?And longs the far-off splendour to embrace.?Thus yearned the heart of Saul, when from his flocks?The Prophet led him forth, and, pointing up?Tow'rds Israel's crown, exclaimed: "See what the Lord?Hath done for thee!" But Saul upon the throne?Grew sorely dazed. Though brave the heart, the brain?Swam in an ecstasy of wildering light--?A helmless boat upon a troubled sea.?Men nursed in gloom can rarely brook the sun;?And many a life to sombre paths inured?The sunshine of Prosperity hath quenched,?As dewdrops glistening on the lowly sward?Like priceless jewels ere the morning breaks,?Melt into space when light and heat abound,?As though they ne'er had been. Relentless fate!?This ruthless law the world's wide ways hath fringed?With wreckage of a host of peerless lives;?And Saul is numbered 'mongst the broken drift.?Saul, though the Lord's anointed, saw not God:?But--curse of life! ingratitude prevailed.?His faith waxed weak as days of trial came:?And when, deserted by his teeming hosts?At Gilgal, he the Prophet's priestly right?In faithless haste assumed, the Prophet cried?"The Lord hath said no son of thine shall reign?O'er Israel!" (_c_) Yet, heedless of the voice?Of warning which a patient God vouchsafed,?With disobedience lurking in his heart,?He strove to shield the King of Amalek--?He whom the Lord commanded him to kill--?Seizing his flocks and herds for selfish gain?Beneath the garb of sacrificial faith--?Sin so distasteful to the Lord that Saul?Sat in the dark displeasure of his God. (_d_)?And out from this