The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 68

fulfilment of th~ promise_s o~ Go~ and the continuance of relig·ious privileges <lepei,d on tl1e etlucal relatwn m winch men stand toward him. His covenant with Le\'i was "for the fear with which he feared me" (Mai. ii. 6, 7) ; put when his <le~ccndants _lost that_ fear they_ "corrnpted the covenant," and ceased to have any clann upon its promised blessmgs. It was the same with the Jews who in after '1.1'·es ninly boasted that they were" the children of Abrnham." In the sight of the Holy One rigl1teo11sness is everything, hereditary descent nothing except in so ~ar as it is promoti,·c of righteousness. 2. Faitliful service is rewa;ded. HONOUR Fon H0lWUR. . "Th~m th_at honour me I will honour." Consider-(1) The ground: not merely lns relat10nslup as moral Go\'ernor but his beneficence in bestowino- the gifts of nature, providence, and grace. (2)' The metliod: in thought, word~ and <leed. (3) Tl_ie reward: his approbation, continued service, extended usefhlness, ~c._ _3. lirifaithful conduct is punished. "Promises and threatenings are made to md1ndu~ls because they are in ~ particular state of character; but they belong to all w_l10 are rn that state, for,' God 1s no respecter of persons' JI (Robertson). "He will give to every man accord mg to his works." IV_. ~ PROCLAMATION OF s_EVE~E RETRIBUTION upon the house of Eli (vers. 31-34). Consisting of-1. The deprivation of strength, which had been abused. Their power wo~ild _be broken (Zec!1, xi. 17). 2. Th~ shorten/ng of life, the prolonging of "·lnch m the case of Eh had been an occasion of evil rather than of good. "There shall not be an old man in thine house for ever; " the result of weakness; repeated in ver. 32. 3. The loss of prosperity; the temporal benefits that would otherwise l1a':e been recei.ed. "Thou shalt see distress of dwelling in all that brings pros~ penty to Israel" (Ed. of Erdmann). 4. The infliction of misery on those who -continue, for a while, to minister at the altar, and of violent death (ver. 33; xxii. 18 ). 5. Although these things would not take place at once, their commencement, as a sign of what would follow, would be witnessed by Eli himself in the sudden death of the two chief offenders "in one day JI ( eh. iv. 11 ). If anything could rouse the house of Eli to "flee from the wrath to come," surely such a fearful message as this was adapted to do so. Fear of coming wrath, although it never makes men truly religious, may, and often does, arouse and restrain them, and bring them under the influence of other and higher motives. The closing sentences contain- • V. A PREDICTION OF A FAITHFUL PilIESTHOOD in the place of that which had proved faithless (vers. 35, 36). "I will raise up a faithful priest," &c., i. e. a line of faithful men to accomplish the work for which the priesthood has been appointed, and to -enjoy the prhileges which the house of Eli has forfeited. In contrast with that house, it will do my will, and I will cause it to endure; and it will continue to live in intimate fellowship and co-operation with the anointed kings of Israel. It will also be so exalted, that the surviving members of the fallen house will be entirely dependent upon it for a "piece of bread." The prediction was first of all_ fulfilled in Samuel, who by express commission from God acted habitually as a priest; and afterwards in Zadok, in whom the line oi Eleazar was restored; but the true un- <lerlyiDg idea of a priest, like that of a king, has its full realisation in Jesus Christ alone. The gloomiest of prophetic messages generally conclude with words of promise and hope.-D. Ver. 30.-Honour and dishonour. Concerning the moral attitude assumed by men toward God, which is here described, observe- I. THAT IT IS PLAINLY OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE. "Me." Our relation to others is a light thiDg compared with wlrnt it is to him. This is everything; and lmow- 1edge, power, riches, reputation, &c. nothing. 1. Because of his _nature (" The~e is none holy as the Lord"), his government (moral, supreme, umversal), an~ his claims. 2. It is the effectual test of our character, what we are really and essen~1all.y. 3. It is the principal means of forming and strengthening it. What are we m his sight? What does he think of me 7 ,, , II. THAT IT IS NECESSARILY QNE OR OTHER OF TWO KI:KDS, "Honour me. ' De- spise me." 1. Honour; by reverence (the fundamental principle o~ the religious life), trust, prayer, obedience, fidelity, living to his glory. 2. Despise,· by_ forget- fulnesss, unbelief, self-will, pride, selfishness, disobedience, sin of every kind. 8, •CH. lI, 27-3t;.] Tim FIH8T BOOK OF SAMUEL. G3