The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 109

history lrnve a prophetic significance for future ages. The record is "for our· ndmonition, 011 "·horn the ends of_the world have come." There i8 another bondage 1hnn thnt of Egypt, another co11fhct than that of Dagon and the ark. Here nrc twc, powers in collision, and we haYe gfren ns- I. A FORESBADOWI~G OF THE FALL OF HRATHE:--1~)1. 1. 'l'he fact is establislied that heathenism is doomed lo JJer-isli. The occm-rencc in the house of Dagon is a single- instance, in palpable form, of what has taken place in many lands, and will recur till ewry idol is abolislH'd. No prediction in Scripturn is more clear than that the day will come "·hen pagani~m will cease to exist (Ps. ii. 8; Isa. ii. 18; xi. 9). Events daily point on to it. Dagons fall in many lands. History is really but the com- pletion of processes set in operation by God in ages past. Destruction is inherent in the essential falsehood of heathenism. The truth of God cannot be converted into a permanent lie (Rom. i. 25). It is a mercy that God has so ordained things that only true worship can endure. 2. Heathenisrn is doomed to perisli by contact witk Goa s truth. Dagon might stand erect and receive the homage of men when he and they are left to themselves; but in presence of the ark, the visible manifestation of' God's will to the world, he must fall on his face to the earth. Doubtless corruption in men, if left long enough on earth, would cause them to become extinct, because in the nature of things it tends to utter ruin of morals, sociery, health, and life. It is, however, the purpose of God to extinguish it without exting·uishing the race of men and that too by his revealed truth. Events prove that this has been the process'. Britain ceased to be idolatrous when the light of life came to her shores. Hence the- missionary enterprise; hence the need of "holding forth the word of life." 3. 'l'he dou-nfall qf heathenism is brought about by the secret, silent power of God exercised: thr011gh his truth. There is suggestiveness in the hint that the fall of Dagon occurred during the silence of night. The fall was through the unseen power of God, operating by ways men could not trace, and that revealed its existence in its effects. The conquests of the gospel are instrumental. It is not history, though pure and impressi1"e; nor precept clear and useful ; nor sublime thought for the in1e!lert: nor mere i11fluence of character, though holy and elevating; but the quick-- ening Spirit, v.·ho, in the depths of human nature working by means of the instrument,. turns men to God. There is a profound secrecy and mystery in every soul's regenera- tion. 4. The final dowii/all of lteathenism by means of the truth is brought about after repeated efforts to revive it. They placed Dagon on his seat again, and rejoiced once more in his sufficiency; but the Unseen Power wrought on with greater energy, till the head and hands, the seat and instruments of power, were cut off. Beautifully does Scripture thus indicate 11,e ebbs and flows of the stream of truth in process of subjugating every principality and power to Christ. A thousand yenrs with God. are as one day. He gives free scope to men and principles. Yet the truth will prevail until the earth is "filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the deep.'' II. The FRUSTRATIO:s' OF ALL EFFORTS TO DISHONOUR Goo's REVELATION OF HIMSELF. The placing of the ark in 1he presence of Dagon was intended to indicate a belief in· it as a power among men, but as a power inferior to that exercised by the Philistines' god. Jelwvah was a deity, but yet a conquered deity. Hence the glory due to Dngori. Now the ark represented at that time the specific revelation which God' lwd ginn for bringing to pass his purpose in the deliverance of the world from the curse of sin. The practical effect, therefore, of the Philistines' conduct was to rob, revelation of its supremacy. The tendencies of human nature are constant; and now that the full revelation has been given in Christianity, tl1ere is the same effort to di~honour and discredit it before men by placing it in unwarrantable positions. 1. The insult offered to Christianity. There are two forms of insult. (1) That -Al'ered by persons wLo r,imply recognise Cliristianity as one among tlie man'!/ an~ equally authorised powers for promoting the good of mankind. Human society 1s regarded as a whole, need:11g, for its intellectual, moral, and material develOJ?TJ?ent,. a wise use of various edu,:ational appliances which God has provided. Rehg10ns,. pliilosophies, statecraft, productions of men of genius, are all of God, and equally deman i thE: raspect and dc-ference of men. An inspiration from the A 111,igHy ru " tlirnugli them all, since tl:0y are his agents. Hence Christianity is just u11e of th;~ CIT. V. 1-12.] THE FIHST BOOK OF SAMUEL.