The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 157

ll. THAT THE POPULAR DESIRE IS NOT UNFREQUENTLY AN oecABION OF GREAT, TR(>UllLE TO A GODLY MAN (vers. 6-9). "The thing was evil in the eyes .of Samuel.". lie saw th11t it was wrong, felt disappointed and grieved, and was- at first altogether. ,,pposed to it, and disinclined to listen to those by whom it was exriressed, "because," 8ays Josephus, "of his inborn sense of justice, because of his hatred of. kings, as s~ for inferior to the aristocratic form of g·overnment which conferred a godlike clrnrnc- ti-r on those who li,·ed under it." "For kings are many, and the good are few" (Dante). I. As a g·ood man has no greater joy than to see the people seeking what is :igl_,t and good, so he has no greater sorrow than to see them" going after vain things which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain" (eh. xii. 21). Abrnham (Gen. xviii. 2~). Moses (Exod. xxxii. 18, 31), Elijah (1 Kings xix. 10). The Psalmist (Ps. ex.ix. l::J8), Jeremiah (Jer. ix. 1), Paul at Athens (Acts xvii. 16). 2. The grief he feels is of the noblest kind. (1) Unselfish. Samuel did not resent or complain of what was :-aid concerning his old age or his sons' misgovernment; and if he was not abso- 1ntely indifferent to the injustice done to himself, yet his trouble arose chiefly from other and higher considerations. (2) Patriotic.. (3) Divine.- He was concerned, above all things, for the honour and glory of God. His own loyalty to him made J,im quick to resent tLe disloyalty of others, and his sympathy with his purposes Jilled him with holy jealousy lest they should be defeated or in any way hindered. He felt in some degree as God himself feels. 3. His resource in trouble is prayer to God. "And Samuel prayed to the Lord" (ver. 6); probably all night, as on n subsequent occasion ( eh. xv. 11 ). Such had been the resource of his devout mother in her distress. Nor is there any other so effectual (Ps. Iv. 22; Phil. iv.. 6). 4. In commnnion with God he finds abundant consolation and help. God takes upon him- self the burden of his servant who has laboured and suffered for his sake (Ps. lxix. 7). '· They ha,e not rejected thee, but they have rejected me." He assures him that i~ is "no strange thing that has happened unto him." "According to all the works which they have done," &c. (ver. 8). He removes his perplexity, tells him what to <lo, and gives him strength to do it. "Hearken unto their voice," &c. (ver. 9). All questionings cease when the Divine voice speaks, and, with the morning light, -Samuel goes forth humbly, fearlessly, and cheerfully to deliver his message.to the €1ders. III. THAT THE POPULAR DESIRE, WHEN IT IS WRONG, SHOULD BE REBUKED, AND ITS EVIL EFFECTS DECLARED (vers. 10-18). It may not be allowed to pursue its course with- out warning on the part of those who feel that it is wrong, and to whom a Divine message comes. 1. This message consists of-(1) A testimony against its sinfulness. "Hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly (testify) unto them" their sin, and the displeasure of Heaven. (2) A declaration of the evils involved in its fulfilment. "Show them the manner (mislipat) of the king that shall reign over i:hem," i. e. his regal rights, claims, privileges, and prerogatives; not what might be de jure, according to" the manner of the kingdom" (eh. x. 25; Deut. xvii. 14), but ·would be de facto, according to the custom of the kings of the heathen nations whom they wished to resemble. ,ve have here a picture of "the dark side of the inst\tu- tion" in contrast with the theocracy :-(a) Its ruling motive-personal aggrandise- ment and indulgence. "He will take for himself, his chariots, his horses," &c., whilst for your welfare he will care nothing. (b) Its arbitrary and oppressive character. "He will take your sons II to be his personal attendants (ver. 11) for military and agricultural service (ver. 12), your daughters for domestic servic~ (ver. 13), yo~r land to give to his attendants (ver. 14), a tenth of your corn and wme to reward his ,officers (imposing heavy taxation-ver. 15), your servants and cattle "to put them to Lis work" (ver. 16), and a tenth of your sheep; "a great retinue, 11 great table, 11 standing army, great favouiites, great revenues 11 (M. Henry); and you yourselves will lose your political and soda! liberty, and become his slaves (ver; 17). (c) Its },elpless and hopeles~ misery (ver. 18)- brought upon yourselves, causmg you to cry uut to God for help, "and the Lord will not hear you in that day." "The yoke once :issumed you must bear for ever" (1 Kings xii. 4). 2. The message must be dP-clared faithfully and fully, whether men will bear or forbear. "And Samuel told all tl,e words of the Lord to the people" (ver. 10). 3. The purpose of such declar11,• t;un being tu lead them to consideration and repentance, and, if they Htill .persist, to Cll. \ Ill 1-22.) TIIE FIIlST BOOK OF SAMUEL. 155