The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 50

goodness, also aggravates their guilt when sin is committed. Power, when used Rinfully, means magnified sin. A professed Christian sinks relatively very low when h~ does "·hat other men do. A pastor by one act may come under a condemnation from which on earth he will ne,·er recoYer. A judge who sells justice is the most despised of men. A statesman who barters truth and peace for personal greed is- "'ol"1!e _than ,i common forger. Holiness is to be loved and sought for its own sake, yet 1t 1s helpful to ask," \\'hat manner of persons ought we to be,'' who stand out in society as rulers, m~&·is~rates, pastors, teachers, parents? If the ordinary sinner cannot escape tl1e swift Jndgment of God, where shall they appear who by virtue of. exal!ed position become intensely and g-rievously sinful when they sin? _n. THE NATURE o! THE EFFECTS .. Some sins, like the falling of heavy bodies in still water, produce wider and more violent effects than do others. The effect is- always pernicious, but when prominent men and professed servants of God sin, the· consequences are painfully and conspicuously injurious. The sons of Eli by their crimes not only debased their own nature and/ell to lower depths of shame, but they brought the holiest services into disrepute, alienated from the sanctuary the feelings- of the people, caused intense anguish in the minds of the pious Jews, gave encourage- ment to wicked men more freely to transgress, and thus did mcire than others could do to exterminate morality and religion from the land. It is a serious question for esvery one, and especially ministers and all persons in positions of influence, how jar tlie neglect of religion by multitudes is the natural effect of their own short-comings. It is a mark of a weat sinner when, by reason of his conduct, the "wicked blas- pheme." Also, our Lord bas branded those as great sinners who wantonly cause offence to "one II of his "little ones." If scepticism and antagonism to Christianity are most lamentable esvils, it is a matter of grave consideration how far the presence of these evils is due to the formality, the greed, the gross inconsistencies of those professing to exhibit and losve the religion of Christ. It behoves all to see to it that they lift up" holy hands," and speak a "pure language." Otherwise the terrible woes pronounced by the Saviour over would-be religious men may find an application to modern gTeat sinners. Arising from this subject we may notice certain Practical lessons.-1. The extreme importance of every one forming, by the aid of Scripture and of conscience, a proper estimate of the responsibility of his position as a professed Christian, a parent, a minister of the gospel, a teacher, or civil ruler. 2. The possibility of undergoing a process of spirit1tal decay by which the .finer sensibilities of earlier days shall become afowst annihilated, and deeds be done with impunity which once were most abhorrent. 3. The need of frequent self-examina- tion, to ascertain whether the elements of religious degeneracy may be unconsciously at worlc in the soul ; the more so as it is characteristic of spiritual declension to make us blind to the fact of declension. 4. The necessity of much prayer, lest, trusting to early privileges and official services, the elements of decay should enter the spiritual life, and, consequently, the duties of self-scrutiny and watchfulness be shunned. Youthf1tl piety. It is not without significance that the sacred hi?torian breaks the thread of his ordinary narrative by frequent references to the child Samuel (vers. 11 18, 21 26; cf. iii. I, 18). The contrast with ungodly priests is striking. ".But Sa~mel ministered before the Lord, being a child. 11 "The child was young." "The child grew before the Lord.'' Beautiful progression I "Following on" to "know tl1e Lord." "The path of the just" grows brighter. Here in face of evil is ~he "perseverance of the s_aints." The case of Sa_muel m~y be reg:irded .as a typical instance of youthful piety. The frequent allus10ns t_o !um, c~mbmed w1th_the tenor of his subsequent life, go to prove that he was a rehg:10us child from earliest days. Humanly his piety was the product of his mother's rntense earnestness. _Hannah had faith to believe that a child may be God's from the very dawn of hfe. In essential features his piety was the same as that of all God's people. Th~re were special reasons for its assuming the form it did in that entire and early separat10n from home. 1. A mother's prevision had respect to a new and liigher office to be created and duly authenticated. 2. Extraordinary preparation was needful for the great work to be finally entered on, and such as separation to the hallowed service of 1he 01. 11. 11-26.] THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. 45