Vers. 26, 27. (MIZPAH and GrnEAH.)-Friends and opponems in godly enter- p:.Se. • It was a saying of Socrates that every man in this life has need of a faithful friend and' a bitter enemy.:._the one to advise him, the other to make him look around hfm. This saying was more than fulfilled in Saul, who, on being chosen king, ,vas followed by a band of faithful _friends, and despised and opposed by " certain worth• les·s 'men:" The same thing often ba.ppens, under different circumstances, to other men, and especially to the servants of God when they enter upon some new enterprise which has for its aim the furtherance of his kingdom, and deeply affects men's interests and passjons. In relation to ~uch an enterprise we have here an illustration of- • • • •. • • I. THE DIVERSE DISPOSITi'oNs OF MEN, as-1. Often existing when not suspected, and notwithstanding all that is done to harmonise them. When the people shouted, "Long live the king," .the dissatisfaction that lurked in many breasts was little sur- mised. Samuel did all that lay iri his power to bring about a complete llilion of the tribes ; but his efforts did not altogether succeed. Reason and persuasion, though they ought to be employed to the utmost, frequently fail to conciliate men because of the different disposition of their hearts. 2. Commonly manifested by special events. 'rhe honour conferred upon the leader of a new movement, or the decisive action taken by him, serv_es to "re,veal the thoughts of many hearts." A siagle circum- Rtance sometimes, like a flash of lightning in the darkness, suddenly lays bare to the yiew what was previously hidden. 3. Clearly distinguished as belQnging to one or other of two classes: "the host'" (sons of strength, LXX.) 11 whose hearts God bad tou<:hed," and II sons of worthlessness," ".He that is not with me is against me" (Matt. xii. _30). The demands of certain. enterprises, like those of Christ himself, i·ender neutrali~y impossible...
. "Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide, . Jp, ~h~ strife of truth with falsehood, for the good or evil side ; Some great cause, God's new Messiah, offering each the bloom or blight, Parts the goats upon the left hand, and the sheep upon the right, A~d the choice goes by for over 'twixt that darkness and that light" (Lowell).
lJ. TI,IE INESTLUADLE WORTH OF FRIENDS. Their worth is always great; but it is cspe,ially,,so in a time of need, when new and responsible positions have to be occ11pied, ard\l\)US duties to be performed, numerous enemies to be encountered. 'fheir couT1,8el and support are indispensable ; their very presence is a mighty etL- courageroent. "Whom whei;i Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage" (Acts µviii. 15 ). Their worth depends upon-1. Their hearty sympathy ;n spirit and aim. A merely formal adherence is.of little value; and if there be an inward and ardent devotion, i~ is "from the Lord" (Ps. ex. 3). And when God impels a man to usefol service be does not leave him without those who sympathise with him. 2. Their per- fect unanimuy in arrangement and method. 3. Their practical co-operation in labour and conflict. They II went with him," formed his body-guard, and stood ready to defend and help him. In this manner their sympathy proved itself to be genuine, and rendered most effectual service. Would that all who are favourable to noble enterprises, and all members of Christian Churches, rallied thus around their "leaders I" (Phil. i. 27). Hlri 1IlE FlRSl' BOOK OF SAMUEL. [CH. X, 17-27.
II I. Tim nnrnENT TREAnlENT OF OPPONENTS. "How shall this man save us?" "~hall San] reign over l)S?" (eh. xi. 12). It is :r:iot improbable t!rnt they who thus spoke ])('longe,1 to the pnnces of Judah and Ephraim, and were envioits at his election. Th<'~' "·ere certainly m11:Jelievinr,, neither recognising the hand of God therein, nor loo!,ing- further than man for ':lelivera~ce. They were cont~mptuous, deeming him 11nht to rnle over them. "Tlus man. And they were disloval and disobedient. The la\\' ~aid, "Thou shalt not revile the gods (= God, or the fudges) nor curse the rnlcr of ~!1~:people" (Exod. xxii. 28); but the_y "desJ?is~d him, and b;ought him no presents, hke others, as an expression of their subm1ss1on. They might therefore have been jnstly punished ~s traitors .. Yet "he was as though he w~re deaf;'~. although he heard them, he did not retaliate, but went on his way in silence. This is often the ~est way of tre~ting opponents, and i~ d_isplays-1: Great self-control. 2. li!uch wisdom 071,fl, foresight . . To atte!Ilpt at tins time to pum?h these men might have produced civil war. It 1s sometimes necessary that gamsayers should be- ans\\·ered, but in most cases they do least mischief by being let alone and are soonest silenced by silence. 3. Strong confidence in Divine help, and the ~uccess which it insures. In contending against those whom God calls to do his work men contend against him, and faith calmly leaves them in his hands, to be dealt with as he may think fit (Acts v. 39; Rom. xii. 19). Concfosion.-1. Expect to find opposition in the way of duty. 2. Let the for- bearance of God toward his enemies teach you forbearance towards yours. 3. Be thankful for the sympathy and help of earthly friends, and still more for the sympathy and help of the Lord.-D.