The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 41

51-53). Of the eleva.tion of tl,e despised, celebrated here and in Ps. cxiii., how many illustrations in ea.creel story I ,Joseph, Moses, Gideon, before the time of Hannah; a.nd afterwards, David, and the great Son of David, the Man Christ Jesus, and his Galilean apostles. This fact is not to encourage contempt of, or impatience under, earthly dignities; but it is to cheer those who are or may be depressed by worldly disadvantage of poverty or obscurity. God's grace is no appanage of the rich or powerful. Was not Martin Luther a poor miner's son? David Brainerd a small farmer's son? John Bunyan a tinker's son, brought up to follow the same craft? Were not the good missionaries Carey and Knibb apprentices, the one bound to a cobbler, the other to a printer ? And are not such men among the princes of God's people? The house of Elkanah was of no eminence in Israel; but thence God was raising up this child Samnel, whom Hannah brought to his courts, to be, if not king, king-maker, and to stand at the head of a line of prophets who should be the guides of the kings and the people so Jong as the kingdom stood. II. ANTICIPATION OF BETTER THINGS TO coMg, The end of this prayer-song has a prophetic strain (vers. 9, 10). Hannah was confident of God's preservation of his saints, and of the correlative truth of the perdition of ungodly men. Not that he has any pleasure in their death ; but that if men will fight against eternal order and righteousness, they must fail in the struggle, they must perish. "As for Jehovah, those who contend against him are broken." The prophetic element shows itself in the closing expressions of the song. The government of Israel at the time may be described as that of a commonwealth, so far as concerns human administration. It was a theocracy, as it had been from the time of the exodus; but the actual administration was carried on through leaders, or judges. The eye of Hannah opened on a new epoch, foresaw a king to whom Jehovah would give strength as his Anointed. It is the first mention of a Messiah in Holy Writ. No doubt Hannah's words are a prediction of David, whose horn of power the Lord was to exalt, giving him a career of victory over all his enemies. But whether or not it was clear to Hannah's. mind, the Spirit who rested on her signified a King greater than David, and a more illustrious kingdom. It is he of whom the angel said to Mary, "He shall be great," &c. (Luke i. 32, 33). We see not yet his kingdom. We see not all things put under him. But we see Jesus crowned with glory and honour; and we wait for his appearing and his kingdom. The longings of many generations, the hopes of many Hannahs, the visions of many seers and prophets, 0 may they come to pass speedily 1-F. Ver. 2. (SHILOH.)-The Rock of lttrael. "Neither is there any rock like our God.•• The figurative representations of God whi<"h are given in his word enable us to attain exalted, varied, and most impressive views of his character. They are derived from objects with which the lands of the Bible abounded; and no other lands on earth were equally adapted to be the theatre of a Divine revelation for men universally. O.f these representations, this is one of the most common. It was first employed by Jacob (Gen. xlix. 24-stone, eben, or rock), with allusion, perhaps, to Gen. xxviii. = 11, 22; afterwards by Moses (Deut. xxxii. 4, 18, &c.-rock, tzur what is solid, firm, enduring; a support, foundation, as in the text), who was so familiar with the rocks and mountains of Sinai; frequently by David (2 Sam. xxii. 3-roclr, sela = height, cliff or crag, resorted to as a refuge) and the prophets. Notice- . I. l-11s CHARACTER IN ITSELF. 1. His power. "To know thy power is the root of !~morta)ity." 2. His unchangeableness and faithful!less. ." I change not " (~al. m. 6), with reference to his merciful covenant. 3. His eternity. "From everlastmg to everlasting." These attributes are ascribed to Christ: 11 all power" (Matt. xxviii. 18); "the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever" (Heb. i. 8-12; xiii. 8). "That Rock was Christ" (1 Cor. x. 4). He is the highest and the only perfect manifesta- tion of God. "Jesus is that Divine Being to whom we can draw near without pride, and before whom we can be abased without despair" (Pascal). II. His SUPERIORITY TO OTHKRS. They are-1. Weak. Their very strength is weakness compared with His infinite power. 2. Changeable. "All m<'n are liars," fal~e, unworthy, and disappointing objects of trust. 3. Transitor!/· They and their works pass away, whilst the rock endures for ever (see Swmnock,-" the- D2  THE :FIRST liOOK OF RAMUEL. Len. 11. 1-10.,