The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 85

mnnent an<l irrevocable. "For ever." "I lrnvc s"·orn," &c. (ver. 14). 3. It was very 1?rihtf11l to Samuel hc~ausc it was diredc-<l "agains~. Eli" (ver. 12-as well as his house), J or whom he entertfune<l a <lec-p and tender affection. The" burden of the Lord" wus, l,eaYy for a cbild to bear. It was his first experiPnce of the prophet's cross but it pri'pare<l him for his future work. "Woe to the man who 1·eceives n messag~ from the g:ods.'' 4. It put his character to a severe test, by leaving to his discretion the- use ,Yhich he should make of so terrible a communication. Wisdom and grace arc as ""!eh needed in using God's communications as in receiving and responding to his- \ ,nre. IV. THE DISCLOSURE by Samuel to Eli. 1. It was not made hastily or rashly (_wr. 15). "~e lay dowi:i, till the morning," pondering the communication; he suf- krc<l 1t not to mteifere with the duty that lay immediately before him, but rose and " opened the doors of the house" as usual, though with u l1eavy heart; and exhibited great calmness, self-control, discretion, and considerate reserve. He "feared to show Eli the "ision " lest he should be grieved, or take it in a wrong manner. 2. It r.as only made under strong pressure (vers. 16, 17). "Samuel, my son" (B'ni), said Eli ; and "how much is expressed by this one word I" (Thenius). He asked, he- demanded, he adjured. 3. It was made trutlifully, faithfully, and without any reserve (ver. 18). 4. It was followed by a benefi,cial effect. Not, indeed, in rousing the high priest to strenuous efforts for the refonnation of his house, which he probably deemed impossible, but in leading him to acknowledge that it was the Lord who had spoken, and to resign himself to his will. No such effect followed the warning pre- ~•iously addressed to him. A similar spirit was shown by Aaron (Levit. x. 3), by Job (i. 21), by David (2 Sam. xviii. 14, 15, 32, 33), by Hezekiah (2 Kings :u:. 19), and, above all, by tbe great High Priest himself (Matt. xxvi. 42). No other Divine message came apparently to Eli or his house. Henceforth there was only the silence that precedes the thunderstorm and the earthquake.-D. Ver. 10.-Thefaitliful servant. "Speak; for thy servant heareth." The well- known picture by Sir Joshua Reynolds, representing the child Samuel in the attitude of prayer, aptly expresses the spirit of his whole life. His own language in response to the call of God does this still more perfectly, and II contains the secret of his strength." It also teaches us how we should respond to the Divine call which il'l- :tddressed to us, and what is the spirit which we ought ever to possess. For God speaks to us as truly as he spoke to Samuel, though in a somewhat different manner. He speaks to us often, and calls each of us to special service for him; and there can- not be a nobler aim than that of possessing the mind, disposition, and character of a "faithful servant'' (Matt. :u:v. 21) here portrayed. This implies- !. CoNscrousNESB oF TRE MASTER'S PRESENCE. 1. Peculiar; not merely a general belief in his omnipresence, such as most persons have, but a realisation of his presence- here · not as in a dream but in full waking thought; not as if he were at a distance- from' us, but "face to f~ce." "Thou God seest me." 2. Intense; filling the soul with the light of his glory and with profound reverence (Job xlii. 6). 3. Ha:bitual; abiding with us at all times, carried with us into every place, and pervadmg and influencing all our thoughts, words, and actions. II. AcKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE MASTER'S CLAIMS. 11 Thy servant." His claims oro -1. Just· because of-(1) What he has done for us. He has gil'en us our being, and all th~t makes it a blessing (eh. i. 11). He has purchased us at o great price (1 Pet. i. 18). "Ye are not your own" (1 Cor. vi. 19, 20). (2) Our consecration to him (eh. i. 28). "I am the Lord's" (Isa. xliv. 5). (3) Our acceptance by him: 2. Supreme. All other claims are inferior to his, and must be regarded as subordmate to them. 3. Universal; extending to all our faculties, possessions, &c. "My gracious Lord, I own thy right To ewry service I can pay, And call it my supreme delight To hear thy dictates and obey. Wh11t ill my being but for thee, It1 sure support, its noblest end ; CII. III. 1-21.J THE FinST BOOK OF S.i\?.IUJ<:L. &i