Vere. 14-16. (GIBEAH.)-lnquisitiveness. Inquiry after truth is a necessary and fovaluable exercise. But inquiry, when it is directed to matters in which we Lave ~Q proper concern, degenerates into vain curiosity, or mere inquisitiven~ss. And tins often appears both in relation to Divine affairs (Gen. iii. 6 ; D~ut. :xx1x. 29 ; 1 Sam. vi. 19; Luke xiii. 23; Acts i. 6) and lmman affairs (John xx.1. 21). Of th~ latter we have here an illustration. Saul, having reached his home,was asked b_y 11!us uncle concerning his journey and interview with Samuel. "Whither went ye? "T_ell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said to you. 11 'fhia man was ~oubtless acquamted with the popular agitation about a king, but what his precise motives were we are not told. Such inquisitiveness as he displayed- !. MANIFESTS A WRONG DISPOSITION. 1. An unrestrained desire of knowledge. "There must be self-restraint in this desire as in every other; else it leads to reckless- ness, irreverence, and pride. 2. An unj~st disregard of the rights of others. The CH. X. 17-27.] THE FIHST BOOK OF SAMUEL. 187
cl11i1ns of family relationship are sometimes exaggerated so as to ignore or interfere with those rights. It is imagined that they justify the expectation of an answer to any inquiry, however little it affects the inquirer. 3. Uncharitable and suRpicious thoughts about the conduct of others, expressed in impertinent and annoying q uestiom, which naturally cause resentment and discord. It may be added, that persons who are "busybodies in other men's matters" (1 Pet. iv. 15) are seldom so diligent am! faithful in their own as they ought to be. The proper province of every man affords plenty of scope for his attention and effort (2 Thess. iii. 11 ; 1 Tim. v. 13). II. REQUIRES TO BE PROMPTLY CHECKED, 1. Out of due regard to higher claims. What Samuel said to Saul was intended for him alone, and to divulge it would be a breach of duty. 2. Lest the information given should be used to the duiadvanlage of him who gives it. Who knows how Saul's uncle would have employed the knowledge of his having been appointed king by the prophet? He might have done irreparable mischief. Many excellent projects have been frustrated by an untimely disclosure of them. 3. For the good of the inquirer himself. The gratification of bis curiosity tends to increase his inquisitiveness, the mortification thereof to its cure. It was for the• benefit of the Apostle Peter that the Lord said, "What is that to thee? Follow thou me.'' III. SHOULD BE CHECKED IN A RIGHT MANNER. Judiciously, discreetly, and, more particularly-!. With strict truthfulness. "He told us plainly that the asses were found" (ver. 16). Saul spoke the truth, but not the whole truth; nor was he in the circumstances described under any obligation to do so. "A fool uttereth all his mind; but a wise man keepeth it till afterwards'? (Prov. xxix. 11). 2. With due courtesy. By a blunt refusal and rude repulsion Saul might have alienated his uncle, and turned him into an enemy. " Honour all men." "Be courteous." 3. With few words or resolute silence. "But of the matter of the kingdom whereof Samuel spa.ke he told him not. 11 There is a "time to keep silence 11 ( Eccles. iii. 7 ; Amos v. 13). " Then he (Herod) questioned him with many words ; but he answered him nothing 11 (Luke xxiii. 9). Our Lord himself is thus an example of silence to us when addressed with questions which it would not be prudent or beneficial to answer. " Silence is golden." Conclusion.-!. Check the tendency to curiosity in yourselves, so that it may not be checked, disappointed, and reproved by others. 2. In checking it in others seek their improvement rather than your own dignity and bonour.-D.
EXPOSITION. PUBLIC SELECTION OF SAUL AS KING (vers. theirs. What they we.nted was national 17-24). Ver. 17.-Bamuel called the independence freed from this condition, and people together unto Jehovah to lrlizpeh. secured by an organisation of their military For the reason why Mizpah (so the no.me resources. should be spelt) was chosen as the place of Ver. 19.-Samuel, therefore, protests unto meeting see eh. vii. 15. Unto Jehovah. them, Ye have this day rejected your God, Because in some wo.y the Divine presence becaUBe what you want is o. divorce or your there was indicated ; possibly by the high national well-being from religion. Never- priest having been summoned thither with theless, God granted their 1·equest, it being ,i the Urim and Thummim. law of his providence to leave men free to Ver. 18.--Aud said . . . Samuel first choose. The king ,vns, however, to be ap- points out in his address to the assembled pointed by him, the selection being by lot. people that Jehovah alwnys ho.d done for By your thousands. The nntnrnl subJivi- them the very thing for which they desired sion of o. tribe is into families; but when a king. They wishecl for deliverance from Moses distributed the people into thousands, the Philistines,, and Jehovah he.d delivered hundreds, fifties, o.nd tens (Exod. xviii. ~5\ them out of the hand of the Egyptians, the numel'ical arrangement was probably and .out of the hand of all kingdoms that made to yield as far as possible to th,, oppreBBed them (the A. V. wrongly inserts natural, so that &bout o. thousand men mord "and of them''). But their delivemnce by or less of the same kin should be classed as "' Jehovah had been made dependent upon family. Hence the terms are synonymous their own conduct ; they were required to here, o.nd iu Num. i. 16 • x. 4; Josh. :uii. repent them of their sins, and purge the 14, &c. land from idolatry, beforn victory could be Ver. 21.-The family of lrlatri, or of the 188 THE FrnST BOOK OF SAMUI~L. [CH, X. 17-21.