The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 123

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Yer. 10-ch. ~·ii. 1. (BETH-SHEMESH and KIRJATH-JEARrn.)-:l'!te 1·eturn of the ark. On the taking of the ark Israel sank to the lowest point of degradation. But "when the night is darkest then dawn is nearest." And the return of the sacred symbol was the first gleam of returning day. It was- I. Rr:~TOR.ED BY DIYINE FAVOUR (vers. 10-12), which was-1. Exceeding abund- <:,nt (1 Tim_. 1. 14). The people of Israel do not appear to have made any effort for its restoration, but God remembered them, and for their sake constrained their enemies to send back the precious treasure. " That is free love which never has been desired, ne,er has been deserved, and never can be requited." 2. Shown in an ext-raordinary manner. It wa.s brought by creatures acting contrary to their natural instincts, under a Di.ine impulse, in a direct line to the nearest border-city of Israel-Beth-shemesh (the house of the sun); a sign to Israel as well as the heathep. "Two kine knew their owner as (Isa. i. 3) Hophni and Phinehas knew him not" (Lightfoot). God's fa,our often comes by the most unlikely agencies and means. His po,wer is universal, and all things serve him. 3. Unexpected and snrprising (ver. 13). It was tlie time of harvest, and the men of Beth-shemesh were pursuing their ordinary secular occu- pations, thinking nothing of the ark, when they suddenly lifted up their eyes and beheld it approaching. It was found by them like II the treasure hid in the field .." 4. Distinguishing. Shown toward Beth-shemesh beyond other cities, and toward Joshua beyond any other man ; for some reason, perchance, in the people as well as in the locality. The city we know was a priestly city (Josh. xxi. 10). "We shall probably be doing them no wrong if we suppose that they regarded its presence as an honour to themsekes. It distinguished their township above all the cities of Israel." II. RECEIVED WITH GilEAT JOY (vers. 13-18). We can imagine how promptly they put aside their haITest work and gathered with one accord around the sacred object. Their joy was the joy of-1. Gratitude £or the favour shown toward them (1 Kings Yiii. 62-66; Ezra vi. 16, 17). 2. Devotion (vers. 14, 15). "They offered bumt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices (peace offerings) unto the Lord." 3. Hope; for in it they saw a proof of the power of God over the heathen, and a promise of their own freedom and prosperity. 4. And the day of their abounding joy was commemorated by means of the great stone on which the ark and the coffer containing the jewelR of gold were set, "which remaineth unto this day." III. REGARDED WITH IRREVERENT CURIOSITY (vers. 19, 20). 1. Their conduct con- sisted of II looking into ( or upon) the ark." Whether they actually pried into it is uncertain. \Vhatever may have been the preciHe nature of their conduct, the spirit in wbich tl,ey acted was their chief offence in the sight of him who 11 .looketh at the heart." There may be much sin in a look. 2. Their sin waH great; exhibiting wa'1t of reverence and godly fear, preHumption, perhaps rationalism, recklessness, pro• fanity (Levit. x. 3). .A spirit of intelligent curiosity and inquiry is of unspeakable worth, being the principal means of discovering truth and promoting human pr?- gress; but it should be ever joined with humility and reverence, as it has been 11\ the greatest minds. "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread." ~he fac~ th~t Bet!i- shemesb was a city of the priests would lead us to expect better thmgs of its mh9:b1t- ants. 11 It is not improbable that in their festive rejoicing they may have fallen mto intemperance, and hence into presumptuous irreverence, as it is thought was the case with Na dab and Abilm " (' Sp. Com.'). 3. Their punishment was severe ; for" o_f fifty tl,ousand men, seventy died a sudden death" (Hengstenberg; ver. 19). What 1s sent as a blessing is often tnrned by men themselves into a curse. 4. The effe?t w0;11 morally beneficial on tl,e 1wople generally. " Who is able to stand before this holy err. v1. 1-21.J THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMuEL. 11 ~