The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 15

la~tlul portion, whilst the rest was give1~ back_t~ the worshipper. tl)at he and his family 1~11s-ht feast on it before the ~or<l._ Their festi~1ty "'.as-1. Religious. It was the fes• tinty of those who were rcce1:ed mto communion ,~1th God. They were guests at his table, an<l OYerslrndowed by Ins presence. It 1s said of the elders of Israel that they '·.saw God, and did eat and drink'.' (Exod: xxiv. 11). -;lnd if no such visible sign of Ins g!ory now appe~rcd, yet their consciousness of Ins prese_nce ( according to his promise, and symbolised by the ark of the covenant) would gwe solemnity to their repast, and pre,·ent improper indulgence and revelry, which were but too common in this_ c?rrup_t ~i~e (vc!·· 14; ~u?ges xxi. 19, 21). It should ever be the same when Chnst~ans JOm m social f~stlnty. 2. Joyous (Deut. xii. 12; xvi. 11). Its religious- ness d1? not detract fro~1 its gladness, but made it pure, elevating, and refreshing. "~he JOY of the Lord 1s your strength." 3. Participated in by the wliole famil'fl, ~h1ldren as well a~ adults. As the fathers the women and the children took part m idol feasts (Jer. v1. 18), so they should take part in "feasting before the Lord." 4. It also called f~rth expressions of affection (ver. 4). The kindness of God to all should lead to km_dness one toward another, and the example of kindness set by the hea~ of the family should be followed by all its members. Even the ordinary fam_1ly !Deal m.ay and oug:ht_ to be such a scene of sacred festivity, but the highest !·cahsat10n o~ 1t on ~arth 1s m "the Lord's Supper" (1 Cor. xi. 20). And how great 1s tl1e blessmg which rests upon the family, a!L the members of which r,artake together of the "cup of blessing," and are "all partakers of that one Bread. ' III. DISQUIETED DY DOMESTIC TROUBLE (vers. 5-8). It was natural that Hannah should feel disappointed at being childless. Her condition was deemed a reproach, and a sign of Di,inc displeasure. But her grief arose chiefly from the conduct of her ri,al, Peninnah. There was thus an element of discord and trouble in the family. This trouble-I. Existed where it might have been least expected. The family wao distinguished by earthly prosperity and genuine piety. But what home is there on earth wholly free from trouble? Beneath the fairest appearances there is seldom wanting a cause of disquiet, to check self-complacency and teach the soul its true rest. 2. Was occasioned by want of co11formity to a Divine ordinance. The introduction of a second wife by Elkanah was not according to the Divine appointment "in the beginning" (Gen. ii. 24; Mal. ii. 15; Matt. xix. 4). The violation of that appoint- ment had taken place at an early period (Gen. iv. 19); it was sanctioned by long usage; and it was permitted under the Law" for the hardness of their hearts,'' and until they should be educated up to a higher moral condition. But it was followed by per- nicious consequences (Gen. iv. 23; xxx. 8), as it always is in those families and nations where it obtains. Ignorance of the laws of God may mitigate or exempt from guilt; but it does not do away with all the evil consequences of their violation; for those Jaws are rooted in the fixed relations and tendencies of things. 3. Was immediately caused by the indulgence of improper feeling and unseemly speech. Peninnah may haYe been jealous of the special love shown to Hannah by her husband (ver. 5), She was proud and haughty on account of her own sons and daughters, and, instead of sympathising with her who had none, she made her defect a ground of insult; and trials ordained by Divine pr~vidence are peculiarly severe when they b~c?,me an oc?.~- sion of human reproach. Fmally, she gave free play to" an unruly evil (James m. 8), especially at those seasons when it should have been held under restraint. Such things are the bane of domestic life. 4-. Disturbed the proper performance of sacred duties. Peninnah could have little peace in her own breast, and be little prepared for Divine worship or sacred festivity. As for Hannah, although she did not angrily retaliate, but patiently endured the n,proaches cast upon her (affording an admirable example of meekness), yet" she wept and did not eat" (ver. 7), and her joy was t_urned into mourning. Domestic disturbances tend greatly to hinder prayerA (1 Pet iii. 7). 5. Was al,levuded by affectionate expostulation (ver. 8). "In Elkanah we have an example of a most excellent husband, who patiently tolerated the insu~ting humour of Peninnah, and comforted dejected Hannah with words full of _tender - affection, which was truly, in St. PEiter s words, to dwell with them accordmg to knowledge" (Patrick). Let each member of the family endeavour to soot~e and alleviate the sorrows of the rest, and all learn to find their own happiness m pro- moting the happiness of others. 6. Was over-ruled by Divine providence for great ,en. I. 1-8.] THE FIIlST BOOK OF SAMUEL. !)