The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 97

A·eutrali..sed 11.•l'_tirlness. There is deep pathos and much instruction in the words- of the sacred historian as he closes the references to Eli: "And he had judged Israel forty years." A man eligible for so honourable a position, havino- rendered' varied serYice to his people, dies in a state of blended consternation, grief, shame, and remorse. Not the calm, joyous end of the righteo11s ; not the end cheered' by views from Pisgah's peak of a glorious inheritance; but an end amidst a horror of great darkness. ".And he had Judged Israel forty years I" Oh, the exquisite· pathos of the Bible I l. The POSITIVE GOOD OF A MAN'S LIFE MAY DE LARGELY NEUTRALISED BY HIS WEAK• NESSES. The tenor of the narratfre suggests that as a whole Eli's life was good. Forty years' discharge of important functions indicates a long series of holy desires and beneficent acts. The natural effect of this would be only for the formation of a sound national character. For in those times, as seen in the instance of Moses an<f Joshua and others, the moral and material welfare of a people was more entirely dependent ou force of individaal character in the leader and ruler than on the mani~ fold influences which prevail in modem times. But negative qualities hindered the effect of the goo,l. Thus it is not enough for a man-ruler, pastor, or parent-to be religious at heart, attentive to routine duties, and "harmless" in conduct. These may fail in their desired issue unless accompanied with the energy and resoluteness of a will that rests only in seeing right done, God feared, and life made holy. The good that some men do with one hand they undo with another. A little sin destroys much good. II. It MAY llE A LONG THIE llEFORE THIS NEUTRALISATION OF POSITIVE GOOD 18 FULLY mscoH!lED. Eli was not blind to the fact that for years past the condition of the people and priests had degenerated; but some men are slow in detecting their own part in a given result. As he gave more heed to causes outside his own conduct and bearing, so do men still overlook their own contributions of a negative character to the formation of opinion and habit in their too exclusive thought of what proceeds from otherb. A weak ruler wonders how it is the people are dissatisfied, and perhaps rebellious. A weak parent deplores that his words and deeds are so little heeded at home. Each of these is conscious of sincere motive, upright purpose, and actual toil ; but it is only by slow degrees that he comes to see the neutralising process. III. The ISSUE THAT REVEALS THE NEUTRALISATION MAY DE OF THE NATURE OF A JUDGMENT. In Eli's case the catastrophe which fell upon the nation and himself was the means of revealing to him, in unmistakable terms, the trnt.h that the element of indecision and moral cowardice in his character had rendered comparatively useless his " forty years " of office. The death of sons and desolation of the Church of God tell of years of honourable care and toil spoiled by irresolution to visit the guilty with punishment and purge the sanctuary of the vile. There are crises in tl1e lii-es of communities and individitals. The effect of these is to bring into clearer light the causes of failure. "The day Mhall declare" "every man's work,"" be?au~e it sl1all be revealed by fire.'' The ruin which comes to a business, a Church orga111sat10n, 11 home, or a reputation, exposes the weak parts of an el~borate superst~ucture. Although the catastrophe may come about in a natural way, 1t nevertheless 1s under Divinely-ordained law, and therefore is the judgment of God. , IV. The POSITIVE GOOD IN PERSONAL CHARACTER MAY SURVIVE DISASTER TO LIPE 8 WOBK. The last act of Eli's life was one of homage to religion. The better side of his character asserted itself in his dying moments. His horror and shame and grief on the mention of the capture of the ark of God revealed his loyalty of hea~t to spiritual religion. The poor old man reaped in pain and death the reward of h11:1  cCR. IV. 1-22.] THE FIRST BOOK OF SA~IUEL. 93