The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 98

sinful weakness; but while gathering the bitter fruit, he showed his profound interest in the honour and glory of Jeh?v~h b,r being so sensitive_ to the reproach brought on the sacred name. We must d1strngu1sh between the ruin of a man's work am! the ntin l{ !tis soul. In the former there is a grievous chastisement for carelessness a1ml avoid,ible ignorance; in the latter there is an abandonment to the essential anr\ pre- ferred wickedness of the heart. Eli's heart was right with Goel, but his will "·a~ weak to work as he ought. Those who by faith are on the one Foundation are sal'p_ They may build up a superstructure in personal qualities and in deeds for o,h81·-·. much of which may perish in the fire which tries every man's work while tl,e, may be "saved yet so as by fire" (1 Cor. iii. 11-15). ' • Practical lessons :-1. We should seek self-knowledge if we would avoid errors in conduct and make the best use of a Christian life. 2. When the results of effort ue not satisfactory, strict attention should be given to causes within self. 3. When constitutional or acquired weakness is discovered, it may be coullteracterl by a care to exercise as much as possible the opposite positive virtue. Vers. 19-22.-Icliabod. The facts g-iven are-I. The wife of Phinehas, hearinf; the sad tidings of Israel's disaster and of the death of her husband and of Eli, suffers premature labour. 2. The loss of the ark of God contributes more to her anguish of -spirit than does the sudden death of her nearest relatives. 3. She deliberately refuses the most natural of all consolations. 4. When dying she gives a namii to her child that shall express her sense of the calamity fallen on Israel. The record furnishes us with three typical references to persons greatly affected by the tiding·s brought from the field of battle. 1. The superstitious populace of the city, who utter a cry of consternation and despair. 2. The public functionary, good but blame- worthy, who sees in the event a just judgment, and, being sensible of his personal offence, pays dying homage to the sacred cause with which his life had been identi- fied. 3. A very spiritually-minded individual in private life, whose dying worch manifest her extraordinary piety. In the brief reference to the wife of Phinehas we .see- !. The, NATURE OF SUPREME CALAMITY. Opinions of men differ with respect to what it is that constitutes the greatest calamity that can fall to the lot of nations, Churches, and individuals. The dying experience of the pious Hebrew mother thro"-s useful light on this question. The ark of God was goue; and also, as its moral cause, the righteousness of the people. Hence, as a people's " glory " lies in the enjoyment of the highest distinction God confers, and the happiness resulting there- from, it follows that the greatest calamity falls on a people when that distinction and consequent happiness are taken away. The nature of t!te s1tpreme distinction mjoyed depends on the capacitie.s and vocations of those concerned. 1. Israel. The supreme distinction of Israel was the enjoyment of all that was suggested by the presence of the ark of God. By virtue of its structure, its contents, and uses, the ark was the outward sign of an inestimable good. It meant that Israel was chosen above all people for a holy and far-reaching purpose, in which all nations should be blessed, and that great covenanted blessings were theirs. To them the ark was favour, noble destiny, protection and enrichment, knowledge, holy influence, fellow- ship with the Eternal. And, in so far as its continued presence was connected with their possession of a character conformable in some degree to its purpose and their • own destiny, its abode among them would suggest that they had not become utterly corrupt and unfit for the end for which they were chosen. When, then, the ark of God was allowed to be taken away, there happened, so far as the outward sign wa, still a correct index to its original and ordinary intent, the direst calamity concei,·- able. The evidence of being the people of Jehovah was gone I The tables of covenant were lost I The mercy-seat was inaccessible by the appointed means ! And, also, the righteousness of life appropriate to the continuance of such blessings and honours was lacking I Marvel not- that a wail of woe arose from at least one true heart-" lchabod I" Loss of men, of commerce, of political influence, of home, of health, of all, was not to be compared with this. For what is Israel worth, what Israel's function in tl1e world, without DiYine favour and blessing? 2. Nation&. Taking nations generally in their relation to God and one another, their crowning  THE FIHST IlOvK ')F SAMUEL. [en. tv. 1-22.