the whole a series of men for superior, not now, in his mediatorial office as prophet, he ,merely to the judges and the monarchs in carries thither the nation's petition. -0ld time, but to any European dynasty. Ver. 22.-Hearken unto their voice. The Divine consent is now given for the third Vers. 19, 20.-The people refused to obey- time to their request (see vers. 7, 9). For litemlly, to hearken to-the voice of Samn~!. the will of God ever leaves the will of man 'The words of Samuel were no doubt formally free, even when overruling it to the carrying considered by the elders, and we may be sure out of some higher and fore-ordained pur- that there would not be wanting men to urge pose. Everything was ripe in Israel for the attention and obedience to his warning ; but change, but it was due to the moderation when the decision had to be made, whether and disinterestedness of Samuel that the by vote or ac~lamation, the majority -persisted revolution was made without bloodshed or in their choice, and for a reason which com- armed struggle. Ordinary rulers too often pletely justified Samuel's displeasure; for resist a. popular demand, and stem back the .they say- That we also may be like all flowing current of thought till it breaks the nations. Their wish was not to develop through the opposing barrier, and sweeps and perfect their own institutions, but to with resistless violence all opposition away. revolt from them, and escape from the rigour S'!.muel yielded, and the nation trusted him cf the Mosaic law. It is remarkable that so thoroughly that they left the choice of their nearest neighbours and most inveterate the king entirely to him, permitted him to enemies, the Philistines, had no king, but settle the terms and limits of the monarchy, an oligarchy of five princes. Probably it or, as we should say, to give the nation a coi1- had been argued, in the assembly of the stitution (eh. L 25), and treated him through- elders, that if the whole power of Israel were out the rest of his life with the deepest gathered into one hand it would be more respect. He was deprived neither of his than a match for the Philistines, whose prophetic rank nor of his judicial functions, energy must often have been diminished by for "Samuel judged Israel all the days of discords among its rulers. ThBt our king his life" (eh. vii. 15), i. e. he remainccl to may judge-i. e. govern (eh. vii. 17)-us, and the last a co-ordinate power by the side of a fight our battles. Here the people had king so self-willed and energetic even as reason on their side. Both the internal Saul Go ye every man unto his city. Pru- administration of justice and the defence of dence forbade a hasty choice. It woul<l be the country would be better managed under well to let the agitation subside, or othemisc a permanent and regular authority than some busy intriguer among the elders might under the judges, whose rule was extempor- have managed to get himself selected by the ised to meet difficulties, and had no inherent popular voice. We gather from eh. x. 27 stability. that there were leading men who felt ,ig- Ver. 21.-All the words. The elders had grieved when the choice fell on none of of course reported to Samuel all the argu- them. But how wonderful is the confidence ments used in the assembly, and just as reposed in Samuel by the nation, when thus previously he had carried his own distress at it left to the ruler whom virtually it was \he national discontent with his government setting aside the choice of the person to to Jehovah's footstool in prayer (ver. 6), so whom he should cede his powers.
HOMILETICS. Vers. 1-9.-Discontent with God}s methods. The facts are-1. In Samuel's old age his sons, being judges over Israel, abuse their office by accepting bribes. 2. This fact is adduced by the people as a reason for asking Samuel to make them a king. 3. Samuel in his grief seeks counsel of God. 4. Samuel is instructed to yield to their request, while protesting against it. 5. The conduct of the people is declared to be an expression of the perverse tendency characteristic of their history. The order of government under which Israel was living had received the special sanction of God, and had, also, grown naturally out of their circumstances. Though often sinful and foolish, it had never before entered into their minds to seek, apart from God, a change in the political settlement inherited from the times of Moses. The deputation which waited on Samuel, asking for a king, was not the expression of a sagacious patriotism, or of profound concern for the spiritual interests of the commonwealth, and ultimately of the world; but of a restless desire for what God would give in his own time, mingbi with a dissatisfaction with the syst.em which God then was sanctioning ( eh. v. 20, '21 ). Practically, to Samuel, it meant, We can suggest and we demand now a course more agreeable to cur views of life and our aspirations than that yon represent 1 SAM. L 146 THE FIRST DOOK OF SAi\lUEL.