The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 121

III. U!l:LAWFc:L CURIOSITY. A debased condition is not recovered from suddenly. Despite the repentance for past sin and gratitude for return of God's favour the. low tone of life consequent on former practices remained. As a consequence of the singular combination of good and bad qualities at this hopeful turn in affairs the joy of the day was marred by a wicked, profane curiosity. This was the ~ore. culpable because the inhabitants were chiefly Levites, who must have been acquainted "·ith the very strict prohibition to manifest any rude curiosity in reference to the ~acred symbols (Exod. iiL 5; xix. 21; Num. iv. 20). 1.•0uriosity,tlwuvh useful in the acqui,sition of bwwledge, is sometimes wicked. (1) In human a.ffai,·s, as when it consists in an idle intrusion into the secret busine!ls or i;iorrows of others, or endeavour to obtain information with malicious intent. (2) In Divine things, as when it consists in a restless craving to know the secret purposes oj God ; or an endeavour to subject the Divine nature to the same kind of criticism and analysis as the work of bis hand ; or a fruitless endeavour to solve the mystery of his sove- reignty in relation to the existence of evil; or a rude, irreverent uttempt to penetrate into the great" mystery of godliness,'' the person of Obrist. 2. The wickedness of such curiosity is evident, because of-(1) The relation of man to God. God is the infinite, eternal, holy One, of whom all that is is but the dim shadow. No idea8, no beings, not even the totality of the material and spiritual universe, are comrnen- Rurate with him. On the other hand, man is only one among many creatures, limited in power, defective in nature, and incapable even of knowing the mysterie,i within his own breast. The moral evil in man unfits him for the vision of God even so far as that ie possible to holy beings. The reverence due to God is due also in measure to man from man when justice and fellow-feeling bar the way to secret things. (2) The habit is destructive to all that is good. In no instance is evil better known by its fruits than in that of curiosity carried into Divine and human things. It is the ruin of reverence, which is the essence of worship, the guardian of all that is good in life, the crowning grace of conduct, and the spring of manifold virtues. It, when prevalent, renders man distrustful of his fellows, and· loosens the bonds of home. No society can exist where all reverence is dead, and unbridled curiosity is its death. IV. An IMPORTANT DISCOVERY. The five lords of the Philistines witnessed the restoration of the ark and the joy of the men of Beth-shemesh, and they became wiser men. They carried back the information that Jehovah was indeed the De- etroyer of Dagon, the Controller of disease, the Lord of the brute. creation, and unchanged Friend of Israel. ThuR in defeat there was a triumph. Thus have we an indication of what will yet be. The foes of the Church of Christ will learn that he does hold the mastery over all. Ebbs there may be in the prosperity of the Church, hut the power will reassert itself, and men will marvel both at the mea~s and th6 fact. A great discovery will be made to all creatures when, after the conflict of ages with the worldrpower, the true Isra!'l of God shall rejoicP in the perfect and everlast.- ing presence of their Lord. 'CU. VI. 1-21.] Tm; 1''1HST BOOK OJ!' S.\~IUEL. 117