A Brighter Day Begins with His Word.

PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel

Robert Payne Smith [1818-1895] · 500,296 words · 562 reading sections

SECTION 541

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 541

facts are incorporated with an incidental setting of circurnstancP,~; and it is singular thnt its occasional detail is never contradicted by well-established fact, but, on t;.e other hand, is being constantly confirmed by discoveries concerning rn;inners, customs natural productions, and international relations. ' …

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SECTION 542

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 542

Yers. 21-31.-Tlie law of service. The facts are-1. On returning to the men who ha<l remained at ~esor, some of Davi~'s followers ?ppose his intention to give them a ~hare_ <?f the spoil,_ and 11;re even _des1rou~ of sending them_ away. 2. David resists tlns spmt as bemg rncons1stent with gratitude to God for !us car…

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SECTION 543

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 543

David's men gave occasion for the exercise of l,is authority in a right royal manner, -and issued in the establishment of an ordinance in relation to service in his cause which became a liiw in Israel, and fitly foreshadows the principle on which all service in Messiab's kingdom is based. David would not allow the men …

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SECTION 544

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 544

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-10. (ZIKLAG.)-Confidence in God. "But David encouraged himself in the Lord bis God" (ver. 6). Delivered from their embarrassing position in the Philistine army, David and his men set out early in the morning, and by forced marches ( evident from the exhaustion of one third of th…

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SECTION 545

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 545

·22), and to learn what little confidence could be put in man (Ps. cxlvi. 3). He was left almost alone. 4. The upbraiding of conscience for past sin. Trouble is a powerfnl means of bringing sin to remembrance (1 Kings xvii. 18). 5. The threat- enin&' of danger; the presence of" the king of terrors" (Job xviii. 14). …

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SECTION 546

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 546

defeated (Yer. 17). 3. That which has been lost is recovered (ver. 19). 4. Much more than has been expected is gained (ver. 20). "A few days after bavid's own people were about to stone him- on the ruins of Ziklag the royal crown was laid at his feet." Observations :-1. Wl1en good men transgress they must expect to…

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SECTION 547

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 547

but experience had made him fearful and suspicious of men, and therefore he said, '' Swear unto me by God," &c. (ver. 15). He had a sense of religion, and believed thnt Divine justice would avenge the violation of an oath, though it should be taken to a slave. 3. With efficient and faithful performance of his engagemen…

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SECTION 548

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 548

benevolent purpose of God. "The equity of this law appears from hence-that by common consent these 200 men ~vere left behind_ to look after the baggage ; were part of the same body of men, lmked together m the same common society• hin- dered by mere weariness from going to fight, which otherwise they would have done, t…

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SECTION 549

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 549

for the purpose of the Lord must stand, the word of the Lord must be fulfilled. Now those who believe in Christ have the promise of eternal life in him. In hours o:f relaxed diligence they perhaps let it slip; but under real pressure faith revives and grasps the promise again. They slrnll not perish. They may be humble…

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SECTION 550

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 550

, cised" heathen. Abuse me. This verb is they were in course of time developed. We 'translRted rnock in Jer. xxniii. 19. "Mal- now return to the narrative of the battle 1111<1 treat" would be a better rendering in both its immediate consequences. As the spoiling places, and also in Judges xix. 25, where, was deferre…

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SECTION 551

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 551

HOMILETICS. Vers. 1-6.-Judgment at last. The facts are-I. In the battle at Gilboa the m:m of Israel suffer a defeat from the Philistines. 2. His sons being slain, the con- flict presses hard on Saul. 3. Dreading to fall by the hand of a Philistine, and failing to finrl death through the hand of his armour-bearer, he f…

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SECTION 552

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 552

III._ A SAD ~ND OF LIFE IN KEEP!NG_wri:a ITS onDINARY COURSE. There is n singular blending of diverse thought and motive m the last utterances and acts of Saul. Ho knew his doom was at hand; and yet, partly under a sense of utter wretchedness ~vhich made him willing to die, and partly from the patri0tic feeling that hi…

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SECTION 553

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 553

p_e1ons r~i~n. But the panic wh!~h _came on Israel on S:tul's death and the occupa- trnn of c1t1es by the detested Pluhslme must have made clear to the most prejudiced that his public career was disastrous and unrighteous. The issue of a monarch's reign should be tl,e moral and material elevation of the people, the im…

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SECTION 554

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 554

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-6. (GILDOA.)-The death of Saul. "So Saul died" (ver. 6; 2 Sam. i. 1-16; 1 Chron. x.). While the e'l"ents mentioned in the preceding chapter were taking place in the south, and even before their occurrence, "the great drama so closely connected with them was being played out" in …

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SECTION 555

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 555

but they are paid without stint sooner or later; the fatal conser:tuences mr,y not always equally appear, bnL they never fail in some form or other." 2. Altho1wh inflicted by the free act of man, it is not less the result of the operation of retribnti~e justice. "Saul took tho sword and fell upon it;" bnt he "died for …

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SECTION 556

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 556

evil of life-practical religion, belief in the providence of God, confidence in his wisdom, hope in his goodness" (Dymond,' Essays'). "Nor love thy life, nor hl\te; but whl\t thou liv'st Live well, how long or short, permit to Heaven"(' Par. Lost,' bk. x.). Ill. THE EVIL EXAMPLE OF MEN IN HIGH STATION IS ONLY TOO FA…

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SECTION 557

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 557

When the end c1mo David stood ready to occupy the throne, and, after a hrief period of conflict and confusion, the whole nation, fought by experience, gladly received him as its ruler. This is the theocratic "argument" of the greater portion of tl1e Book. In the terrible defeat of Israel we see-- I. TIIEIR IDOL DRO…

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SECTION 558

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 558

Vers. 11-13. (BETHSHAN, JABESH-GILEAD.)-Gratitude. The first victory of Saut (eh. xi.) is connected with his death by the noble exploit of the men of Jabesh. It was due partly to loyalty and patriotism ; chiefly to gratitude for benefits formerly con- ferred upon them. It is seldom that any one closes his earthly co…

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SECTION 559

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 559

conferred a benefit upon you in the best way you can; be thankful, especially to God, for all his benefits towards you. "Nothing more detestable does the earth produce than an ungrateful man" (Ansonius). 3. Seek above all things to obtain in life and death the honour that comes from God. "This Book began with Samuel's …

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SECTION 560

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 560

bccn-t.l1e trne David, restorer and enlarger of the true kingdom of God upon earth " (Stanley). lll. lNRTRUCTION. 1. Religions advantages and eminent positions are of no renl benefit unless they be rightly used. 2. 'l'he nntural qualities which make one man a power for evil, make another, when sanctified, a· power …

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SECTION 561

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 561

'Transitions 3 Light Withheld ... 67 Domestic Troubles 5 Lowly Instruments 70 A Hebrew Family 7 Call to Higher Service 71 Public Worship 9 Privileges and Cares 73 'l'he Lord of Hosts 10 Diverse Experiences 74 Trial Sanctified 13 The Old Priest and the Child-Prophet 76 Dharacter Misjudged 15 Samuel's Call to the Pr…

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SECTION 562

The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 562

!IBEIIE PAOE THY.ME • .AGE Painful Duties 277 David's Life e.t Court 349 A l'rolJationary Commission 278 True Frirndship ... 350 Come out from e.mo11g them 280 Divine Friendship 352 .Samuel's Intercession for Saul 280 Envy 353 Excuses for Disobedience .•. 282 Simplicity 354 The Sentence of ,Rejection .. . 283 Love and …

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Public domain historical Pulpit Commentary. Source page identifies the volume as Public Domain; text extracted from its historical PDF.

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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.