PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel
Robert Payne Smith [1818-1895] · 500,296 words · 562 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 241
3. In procuring for them the good which they desire-liberty, power, victory, pros- perity, honour, and glory (John xi. 47, 48; Rom. x. 2, 3). How completely do tl,e prospects that lure men onward in their self-chosen way vanish before them as they advance I II. THE MISERABLE SUBJECTION of those who forsake God. "They …
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prophet had made no lasting impres~ion on his mind. There was nothing profound about. the ma;1. He had no ~ontrollmg reverence f?r God, no abiding faith. So ho ?cted from hu:n~elf, only callmg on God to help 1nm in_ what he was going to do, mstead of wmtmg to lmov.: what th~ Lord would have bun t? do, and acting as …
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EXPOSITION. (JOOd; why should he not call another son , CHAPTER XIV. Ahimelech, the brother is king? lehovah's ·JONATHAN SMITES THE PHILISTINE GAR· priest in Shiloh. This refers to Eli, the RISON (vers. 1-15). Ver. 1.-Now it came regular rule in Heb1·ew being that all such to PBl!B upon e. day. Literally, "And there…
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gave hopes that by one of the long ledges we taking. God, he says, bade Gideon go to might be able to slide1 as it were, towards the the camp of the Midianites to obtain such a bottom. It is not likely that horses hnd si!pl as Jonathan looked for here (see Judges ever before been led along this ledge, or will vii. 11).…
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for supplies. The people. I. e. the camp reading ; for the verb rendered Bring hi- followers, 118 OP,posecl to the soldiers. All ther is never used of the ark, but only of these were temfiecl by the ge.rrison rushing the ephod ; nor was the ark userl for making down the pass, with tidings of the attack inquiry of God, …
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before them the words of the curse, and theless, the pursuit wn.s continued ns far ns nrndc them shout their consent. His object the _pass o! Aijalon, and though, owing to was to prevent any delay in the pursuit ; the mcreasmg weariness of the people· but but in 11is eagerness he forgot tl1at the few of the Philistin…
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upon the Philistine garrison. 2. He expresses to ·his armour-bearer his l,ope tliat God will help, irnrl also the ground of that hope. 3. He proposes to regard the first encouragement from tlie enemy to ascend the cliff as a sign of coming success. 4. "The sign appearing, Jonathan advances in confidence of victory. The…
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outwards in forms true to our own personality. There is far more individuality in the Christian Chui'ch than is at present developed. \Vhen a Christian is, as the result of brooding over things, so permeated with a conviction of his obligation to Christ a ~-earning to sav~ men from sin, and :t spir\t of. self-sacrifice…
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for Christ. The tone of the apostles all througl1 their toils is one of cheer. The golden gateij of the eternnl city seem ever to shine before them, and they hea, already the new song. Every one on whom this true apo8tolic succession has corn, enters into sympathy with them, and no longer toils with dejected brow an…
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~uch an historica) episode is o~ ~·reat _value to ns, as indicating in distinct, traceable 111c1dP_nts tlu, reality _of that _Divine wisdom and power whicl! ever presides over all the efforts of Cliristians to nd themselves and tl:e world of srn. It illustrates as on a picture the great formula of faith-" All thing~…
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the people to n strong temptntion to commit excess. Unw-ise zeal may be considered varioitsly. ·1. As to j1Y1°m. It nssumes diverse forms according to the circumstar,crs -of the case. (I) Sometimes the aim may be wrong, as when the Jews in apostolic times, in their zeal, not according to knowledge, sought most energ…
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 1-15. (GEBA, M.rcHMASH.)-The heroism</( Jonathan. "Come, and let us- go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised,' &c. (ver. 6). The character of Jonathan is one of the bravest, most generous, devout, and blameless in history. Of bis earliest years nothing is recorded. When firs…
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Vera. 16-23. (GIBEAH. )-Impatience in seeking Divine counsel. "Withdraw thine hand" (ver. 19). In order to ascertain the will of God two things are neces- sary :-1. A special method of communication. In ancient days it was "by dreams, Urim, and prophets" (eh. xxviii. 6). The Urim (light, illumination) and Thummim (perf…
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, ·III., OccASIONIN'G Gnrnvous SIN in tlrem (vers. 32-35), They avoided one offence- only to commit another with a rashness equal to that of Saul himself (Gen. ix. 4; Deut; xii. 16; Levit. iii. 17; vii. 27). He censured and checked them. W 0•1ld th,it he had also censured and checked himself I But men who severely cond…
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people condemn him by their silence. They morally wrong and an offence against religion had obeyed him ,vith ready devotion ; but to condemn that which God approved, and now they listen in teJTor to the rash and the people therefore set their oath against violent words which condemn to death the the king's oath, aud…
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HOMILETICS. Vere. 36-46.-Seeking counsel of God and keeping ones word. The facts are- 1. Saul, following his own impulse. desires to pursue the Philistines during the night, but is restrained by the priest advising to seek counsel of God. 2. No answer coming from God, Saul concludes that sin has been committed, and re…
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thongh o~en in ignorance, cries out for ~he living God (Prov. xvi. 9; Jer. x. 23). 2. T,lier~ is a rnet~od_ at hand._ The ~nm was not far ~rom Saul. By a study of God s will ns seen m Ins word, Ins providence, the yearnings of a sanctified heart. and the voice of his people, we may gain guidance in addition to that …
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11 truth in the ihwnrd parts." This quality ia essential to the most perfect social confidence; for it renders fraud, dece1t, selfishness, dissimulation, distrust impossible, and the reverse virtues real, whenever it is dominant in human nature. Attention to this,,in education is supremely important. Jill.' 'SAFETY I…
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possibility of conferring few or many, small or great, benefits on hie kind. The conditions_ ~f. rising to the hi~her grade of ~ervice are the possession of appropriate :1atural ab~htrn~ and_ an occ_as1011 for efl!ploying them. These conditions being given, 1t rests with his will to nse to the lugher level or to be …
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 36, 37. (AJJ..LON.)-Drawing near to God. Of the fallen house of Eli, one at least, Ahiah (Ahimelech-ch. xxi. 1), the grandson of Phinehas, appears to have been a faithful servant of God. When the people, having ended their pursuit of the Philistines and satit,fied their hunger, reste…
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Ver. 45. (AJALON.)-Co-operation with God. "He hath wrought with God this day." Apart from the power of God man can do nothing. In opposition to it he is defeated and crushed. Only in co-operation with it can he accomplish anything great or good. As in the material, so in the moral and spiritual world it is our wisdo…
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Samuel's antagonistic working preserved the principle of the theocracy, and Saul's kingdom departed from him (Dan. iv. 31). V. THE PERVERSITY OF MEN INVOLVES THEM IN SORE DISTRESS. "There was sore wnr,'' &c. (ver. 52). "Very different had been the state of things when Samuel ruled Israel (eh. vii. 13). And the people…
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CHAPTER XV. solemn address, reminding Saul that he wea Jehovah's anointed one, and therefore had DIVINE COMMAND TO PUNISH THE AMA• special duties towards him ; that be had also LEKITES, AND ITS EXECUTION BY SAUL been anointed by Samuel's instrumentality, (vers. 1-9). Ver. l.~amuel also said. and after earnest instru…
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with Telern (Josh. xv. 24), 11 place on the originally the name of the wall which ral\ southern border of Judah near the country from Pelu~ium past Migdol to Hero, and Jf the Amalekites. But as telaim means which gave to Egypt, as Ebers thinks, its "lambs," more probably beth, "house," is to name Mizraim, the enclos…
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<>I' events, but especially with San 1. In choos- \Yhile Saul's own conscienco was silent they i 11g him he had hoped that, in addition to high were proclaiming Iris disobedience. a11i litary qualities, he would possess a religious Yer. 15.-They have brought them. Ne ·rnd obedient heart. He had no,, obtained doubt t…
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BOlccted as the first-fruits for sacrifice. Saul spoil had been the people's doing. But was mar not have known that such· a sacrifice it not the king's duty to make the people wns forbidden (Deut. xiii. 15- I 7). The obedient to Jetovah's voice? As the theo- wor<ls, to sacrifice unto Jehovah thy God, cratic king, he…
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office better than thou hast done (comp. and ~he ~yrie.c omjts, probably from innbility Lnke x. 36). to give its meaning. Most commentators Yer. 29.-The Strength-better, as in the render cheei:fully, joyfully, forming it from. margin, the Yictory or Triumph-of Israel. the same root n~ Eil."en, the gn.rden of joy He…
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HOMILETICS. Vere. 1-7.-God's terrible acts. The facts are-1. Saul is reminded that though a king he is but the servant of God, and bound to carry out his declared will. 2. llaul is commanded to utterly destroy Amalek in retribution for former sins. 3. In prosecuting his duty Saul discriminates in favour of the Kenites…
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ascribed to God, or e\"en those known, without question 1 to result from his appoint• me!1ts: But some light ~hines around the "clou~s and darkness," and here iind there- i n nft m the awful co\"ermg appears. 1. There is an awf1tl as well. as a mild aspect qf th.e Dimne 1uu1tre. Christianity is no doubt mildness, te…
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mont of a people also plays an important part. This use of national judgments is constantly l'ecognised in the language of Scripture. "The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of e,II the nations" (Isa. Iii. 10). "Put them in fear, 0 Lord, that the n'otions may know themselves to be but men " (Ps. ix. 20). .At …
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tions it seems to linger. 2. It becomes us to inquire whether we by any conduct of ours are impeding the march of God's people. 3. We see how God remembers c>nd causes his se_rvants to remem?er, act_s of kindness rendered to the we11ry on thei; "·ay to the promised rest. 4. It IS a pamful duty to have to be executors o…
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haps light enough to indicate the wisdom and goodness of even a limit to God's patience. 1. The privileges of responsible beings imply a probation for their use. The primary notion of a responsible being is one blessed with privilege, and able to use or abuse it at will. But men are constituted so as to derive much wis…
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1 rcjcction of God. The important interview between the disobedient king and tl,o 11r0phd of God brings out seYcral great truths. I. :\IAN'S !'REFERENCE OF RIS OWN WILL TO THE CLEARLY-DECLARED WILL OF Goo JS POSITIVE REBELLION AGAINST THE SUI'REME AUTHORITY. Saul's sin wns known to himself as a preferenre of his o…
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·belie\'e on Christ, to become pure, and to submit in all things to the yoke of Christ, is as dreadful in the sight of God as being an idolater or a vile deceiver? It is this Divine estimate of sin which alone explains the "many stripes" with wl,ich they will be punished who, knowing the Lord's will with respect to t…
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wonld join him in an act_ of ~vorship, to '.vhich S_amuel complies. The decisive languag_e of the 1;>rophet, gIVen m a tone ,vh1ch adnuttcd of no mi1Jtake, aroused the- slumbenng conscience of Saul, and brought about his renrnrknble pleading for pity and )rnlp. We have here the case of a man guilty of a great sin, c…
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ment of his purposes. Saul as a king was ruined. His defective conviction was of no avail. It should be urged on all that a mere admission of sin and effort to h free from its punishment are of no avail. Loss of all that is deemed precious mu,5t -ensue. Only repentance of the heart will serve. Thie is sure to lead away…
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-9. (GIBEAH.)-.A probatwnary commission. 1. Tlte .fidelity of Saul h the principle of his appointment, viz. obedience to the, will of Jehovah, was one<'>· :ir.~ again put to the ~est. H_e ha_d been tried b_v: inaction, delay, and distresR, winch became the occasion of Ins bemg te…
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nttncked them nt Rephidim on their way through the desert, and strove to annihilate- them (Exod. xvii. 8-16); they lay in wait for them secretly and subtly, and smote the hindermost, the feeble, the faint and weary, and "feared not God" (Deut. xxv. 17-19). Their conduct was ungenerous, unprovoked, cruel, and utterly …
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V ~rs. 5, 6. (THE WILDERNESS OF JuDAH.) - Come out from among them. The Kemtes were descendants of Abraham (Gen. xxv. 2; Num. x. 29 • Judges i. 16) like the Amalekites, but they were unlike the latter in character and donduct. Many of them were incorporated with Israel; others, whilst standing in friendly relationship …
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·i,rnny things in Saul calculatecl to call it forth. 1. His good qualities, exaltr,l position, nncl intimate relationship to the prophet. 2. llis grievous sin (vern. 11, J~. 23), exceecling his previous transgressions. 3. IJi,s great danger-falling from 1i1~ !high dignity, failing to acco'\1plieh the purpose of his a…
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Vers. 12-21. (GILGAL.)-EXC'ltSes for disobedience. 1. Samuel met Saul at Gi'.lgal. It was a sacred spot, and a we11-known scene of important events in former time and in more recent years. There the kingdom had been established (eh. xi. 15) . 'snd Saul "had solemnly pledged him and the people to unconditional obedie…
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hud spared. And "it is no new thing for the plausib!e pretensions and prote~tations of hypocrites to be contradicted and disproved by the most plain and undeniable evidences." 2. Checks tlte multiplication of vain excuses. "Stay" (ver. 16); pro- ceed no further in thy endeavour to justify thyself. "And I will tell thee…
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I. THE rARAMonn WORTH OF OBEDIENCE, considered in relation to offerings and tiacrifices and other external forms of worship (ver. 22). 1. It is often less regarded l,y men than such forms. They mistake the proper meaning and purpose of them entertain false and ~uperstitious notions concerning them, and find it easie…
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true; and witchcraft wl1en we adore false gods, knowing them to he wicker! an<""r fnlse-the heiglit ,,f idolatry. And yet we see, though these be true degrees, S,11n11e! teucheth us that they arc nil of a nature, when there is once a receding from tlic word of God" (Bacon, 'Advancement of Learning'). "All conscious diR…
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II. ITS CONSEQUENCES. In the language and conduct. of Samuel there was-1. .A reiteration of the sentence of rejection. Thrice it was declared that Jehovah had -determined that Saul should no lo11ger reign under his sanction and hy his aid (vers. 26, 28). Although he may not have known all that the sentence invoked, h…
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, Ver. 29/ (GiLGAL.)-The uncltanyeable One of Israel. " And also the Strength of Israel v.;11 not Ii£ nor reprnt : For he is not a man, that he should repent ' •fhe word rendered Strength in the A. V. (netsach, here used for the first time) has a -varied signification (splendour, victory, truth, confidence, perpetuit…
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earth pa8s," &c. (Matt. ~- 18). 3. The purposes of. his hem·t, f?rmed in perfect- knowledge of all that will take place, and effected m harmony with the principles- before mentioned. Some of these purposes are hidden (Deut. xxix. 29). Others aro revealed, and include the general conditions of peace and happiness, an…
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their king. "Such a sinking age could be saved from imminent dissolution only by extreme severity. He who, however kindly disposed in other respects, was most direct and inexorable in carrying out what seemed urgently needed, he alone could now become the true physician of the times, and the successful founder of a …
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recalled from him ; the intercourse of the God of Israel came to an end because Saul, ~inking step by step away from God, had by continued disobedience and increasing: im12e!1itence _given up communio~ with God" (Erdmann). 11 Had he spared tl11s spmtual child, when to spare 1nm W?uld have been contrary to .the fund…
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Consider tl1e way of duty, trodden by the good man, as- I. PRESCUIDED BY Goo, whose will is the rule of human life, and is-1. Indicate,! in many ways-the word of truth, providential circumstances, reason, and conscience, and "that awful interior light which the dying Saviour promised, and which the ascending Saviour b…
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Ver. 35. (RAMAH.)-Samuel a man of sorrows. "Nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul." There are many kinds of sorrow in the world. One is natural such as is felt by f!len _in tempor_al ~ffiiction. An.other is spiritua?, _such as is felt by a peni- tent for Ins sm. A tlurd 1s sympathetic, benevolent, D1vme, such as is f…
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to both the spirit and the letter of the Racred writings. The king is for God, not God for the king. The king is for the people, not the people for the king. The voice of the people may not always be the voice of God, but the good of the people is always the will of God. 2. The test to which the king was now subject…
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EXPOSITION. DAVID ANOI~TED AS THE FUTURE KING, AND HIS FIRS'!' INTRODUC'fION TO SAUL, (ea. XVI.) CH.APTER XV I. anarchy would return, and Israel become even more hopelessly a·prey to its former troubles. CHOICE OF DAVID AS SUCCESSOR TO SAUL Samuel, therefore, is to go to Bethlehem (vers. 1-13). Ver. 1.-How long w…
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he woul,l hnve been a faithful and loyal ser- the town, and with them Jesse ar,d his elder vant to the Inst. It was Saul really who sons, would be present by the prophet's invit- thrust the kingdom upon David. As regards ation. It is plain that such sacrifices were Samuel's fears; headstrong as Saul was, he not unusua…
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aeven are recorded in 1 Chron. ii. 13-15, were bth of his _institution, as orderly ele- whereas these "ith David make eight. To ments of the Jewish state; he also trained all these seven the Di\'ine voice within the man who more nearly than any other Samuel gave no response, and he said unto approached unto the idea…
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ethical, nncl lies in the contrasted moral state rightly they saw that evil as well as good of the two men, as shown in the two parallel must come from the Almighty, inasmuch as statements: "the Spirit of Jehovah came all things are in his hand, and whatever is upon David;" "the Spirit of Jehovah de- must be by his …
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q11es(io!;, "Whose son is this stripling i" nnts;" This, an,l his being appointc,l one,( (.-h. xn1. 56) seems to imply that he had a San! s armour-bearers, happened only al'l,i,,1 s,wt of confused idea about him, without the lapse of some timo. The armour-bear.ii l,,•ing able exactlv to recall wl10 he was. like th~ …
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goal of human existence. A careful survey shows, that as the wholesome economy of the globe is preserved and its ultimate issue being attained amidst and even by the storms of life, so there is a wise and merciful Providence working on in unbroken lines towards the realisation of the promise made to Abraham: "In thy se…
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ch?sen of God, inquiry is made con?erni,!g the absent one. 4. On the young·e~ hemg brought, Samuel at once recogmses !um as the chosen of God and in obedience to _tl_1e voice of God, anoints hii:11 in the midst of the family. 5. H~nceforth the Spmt of the Lord rests on David. We have here the introduction of an enti…
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buried in oblivion. Have not the most costly monuments been raised to warriors? le not the world's idea of "glory" that of conquering by force of arms, or the enjoy• ment of wee.Ith and splendour? The judgment of God is not thus. Be looks on the bee.rt of things. True greatness lies in saving, healing, curing, eleva…
848 wordsSource & rights
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.