The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 95

ii.:',-,), and also that an eYent should occ-nr at which "both the ears of every 01:e 1 li·,t henrethit shall ting·le" (<"h. iii. 11). The fulfilment of thi8 prediction wus, to 1he mind of Eli, certain, hnt the mcanH and occusion were uncertain. It was diffi- cnlt for the old man to conjecture how God would keep his word. The narrative reveals the unlooked-for coinciden~es which established the veracity of God. l. MEN ARE INJJUCED TO ADOPT A COURSE OF CONDUCT AT VARIANCE WITH 'l'HEIR F~L~L PRACTICE. The recent history of Israel proved them to ho utterly indifferent to rdig-ion. Tl1e vile conduct of ihe priests caused them tq abhor the sacrifices ol' tl,e Lord. In their conflicts with foes they had gone forlh at first without t li0 presence of symbols of religion; but now these same people, being left judi- ,·in!ly to tlu blind guidance of their corrupt hearts, lead forth to war the "ark nf God," and the priests in charge of it. In like manner the ordinary course of the Philistines would be to yield to the force of their knowledge of what wonders liad l)een achieved by the "ark of God" (vers. 6-8), and either refrain from fig·hting or flee at the first onset. But instead of that, by, doubtless, the subtle, secret action -0f God on their spirits, the ordinary course was deviated from, and the strongest sentiments of religious superstition were overborne by an urgent appeal to weaker sentiments. The last thing men do is to go in face of religious fears and historic facts. History furnishes parallel instances. The Jews, in their desire to get rid of Christ, although disgusted with Roman supremacy, took the strange course of plead- ing their loyalty as against his treason. In ordinary affairs, also; men are often found acting on new lines which perplex their opponents. II. GoD SOMETIMES DOES THINGS THAT ARE NOT ANTICIPATED. The Israelites little thought that God, whose symbols they paraded, would so act on the spirits of t!:ieir foes as to counteract the natural effect of their own expedient. M!ln is a ".ery imperfect judge of the ways of God. There are no doubt immutable laws of right- -eousness on which all his actions are based, and in many spheres we are enablEid by a careful study of things to say what is sure to happen. But we see only "parts of his ways." His " thoughts are not as our thoughts." He sometil'Oes does "a. new thing." Precedents are being created. An ordinary observer would not -have thought that the eternal God .would suffer his .covenant people to endure serfdom. It wns foolishness to the Greeks that a crucified One should be the Divinely-appoiQted -Saviour of the world. Ill. By THE COINCIDENCE OF UNEXPECTED HUMAN AND DIVINE ACTIONS THE PURPOSES OF GoD ARE SOMETIMES ACCOMPLISHED . . Had not Israel deviated from their usual -course in demanding the ark, the sons of Eli would have remained in Shiloh. Had not the Philistines striven hard to overcome religious fears, no defeat would have fallen on Israel. Had God exercised his power as in former times, the ark would not have been captured. But the reverse of these events occurred, and therefore, in accordance with prediction, Eli's sons were on the battle-field, and perished in one day, and "both the ears" of all the people were made "to tingle " with the awful tiding·s that the "ark of God" was taken. So is it true in other instances thnt, by the con• :eurrence of events not anticipated, and by the secret action of God along with the human events, his purposes are realised in judgment or in mercy. General lessons :-1. God holds a e-0mplete mastery over the spirits of men, and can, when it pleases him, so act on them as to secure the realisation of his designs without destroying their freedom. 2. The Church may look on with confidence to the fulfilment of all tliat is said of Christ's kingdom, since God can bring about the -desired conjunction of events. 3. Wicked men, emboldened by deferred judgments, may well tremble at the thought that the "day of the Lord" may come as a "th:er in the night." Vere. 12-18.- Victory in dffeat. Tl1~ fa~ts giv~n are-1. ~Ii, 3:w_are of the absence of the ark on the battle-field, awaits with anxiety the earliest hdmg-s of the issue of the conflict. 2. A fugitive relates to him and to the people of Shiloh the nature of the disaster that had befallen Israel. 3. The effect of the news on the ,('ity is a wailing cry of despair, and on Eli sudden death. By record a11d tr~dition the people were familiar with tlie disasters and sufferings oc~aaionally experienced by ancestors. Influenced by the prediction of the '' man of God" (eh. ii. 27), Eli, wliilo (II.,,·. 1-'.d.J THE FIHST BOOK OF SAMUEL. 91