Vers. 11-13.-Saul at Ms best. Self-control, promptitude, courage, capacity, ascription of praise to God, forbearance towards men, these are all exhibited by the young kiug. Alas, that from such heights he fell I I. SELF-CONTROL, Though hailed as king at Mizpah, Saul was in no haste to assume regal state. He resumed his country life at Gibeah, waiting till the Lord should call him forth in some emergency to take command of the army of Israel. In this he followed the example of the judges, who, so to speak, won their spurs before they wore them-first wrought some deliverance for their country, and then assumed the government. II. PROMPTITUDE, News of the doom which threatened the town of Jabesh reached Saul as he returned home from the field, following his oxen with a farmer's slow and heavy step. In a moment he was another man, no more a seeker of asses, or a follower of oxen; but a leader of men, prompt and resolute. And such energy did he show that in a few days he had rallied a large army to his standard. III. COURAGE AND CAPACITY. Saul had no time to train or discipline his forces, but he managed to gain an advantage for them. He lulled the enemy to security, and then, surprising their camp by night, fell on them with impetuous fury. So com- pletely were they dispersed tlrnt, as the graphic historian says, "two of them were not left together." 208 THE FIRST BOOK 01' ~AMUEL. [CH, XII. 1-25'
IV. ASCRIPTION OF PRAISE TO Goo. After the victory Saul showed no disposition, to vain boasting. Nothing could be better than his Te Deuin laudamus-" To-day Jehovah hath wrought salvation in Israel." V. FORBEARANCE TOWARDS MEN. Saul was urged by the exultant people to put to- death those who had opposed his elevation; but he would not have the lustre of his- ,ictory darkened by such a deed of vengeance, and, not only ruling his own spirit well, but checkin~ the intolerance of others, he said, " There shall not a man be put to death this day. ' Yet from this moral elevation Saul miserably fell. He who seemed to be the rising hope of Israel became one of the most hapless and tragical personages in all his nation's history. He who showed at first patience and self-control became a restless, jealous king. His great fault was wilfulness, leading to the most foolish impatience, and wretched enry. He who executed his first military exploit so skil- fully, and with such complete success, became notorious for his failures. And, at last, he who had shown such fearless readiness to set upon the Ammonites was afraid to encounter the Philistines (eh. xxviii. 5). Not that his natural courage had died out of him, but the sustaining faith in God was gone. "God is departed from me, and answereth me no more." He who was so averse to shed the blood of dis- affected subjects shed the blood of many faithful men, as of the priests of the Lord, and hurled the javelin from his own hand again and again at the worthiest of all his subjects, hating him without a cause. 1. The. true character of a man will show itself. No veil will cover it; no prudential consideration can bind it. Sooner or later it will have its way. 2. The higher the promise of virtue, the greater the momentum of him who falls from his integrity, the farther he goes into evil. 3. The path of the wilful and proud is one of waning light and 'thickening darkness; but " the path of the just is as the shining light, which shines more and more until the perfect day. "-F.
EXPOSITION.
CHAPTER XII. act as the prophet, and Saul as Jehovah'9 king. SAMUEL'S EXHORTATION TO THE PROPLE The address divides itself into three parts: AT GILGAL. This speech of Samuel is not -1. The testimony to Samuel's integrity as to be regarded as a farewell address made judge (vers. 1-5), 2. The reproof of the upon his resignation of his office ; for though people for their disobedience and ingratitude· e. new power had been introduced, aud (vers. 6-17). 3. The Divine testimony to. Samuel's sons excluded from the succession, Samuel's uprightness and teaching (vers. yet it was only gradually that a change was 18-25). made in his own position. He was still judge (eh. vii. 15), and on extraordinary SAMUEL'S INTEGRITY (vers. 1-6). Ver. 1.-I have hearkened unto your voice. See- occasions came fonvard with decisive author- ch. viii. 7, 9, 22. ity (eh. xv. 33). But as Saul gathered men Ver. 2.-The king walketh before you. of war round him (eh. xiv. 52), the moral I. e. you have now one to _protect and le:td power possessed by Samuel would be over• the nation, whereas my b_usmess was to m1se shadowed by the physical force which was at its religious and moral hfe. The metaphor is taken from the position of the s~epherd Saul's command. But no formal change in the East, where he goes befor~ !us flock was made. It had been the weakness of the to guide and guard them. On this account office of the judges that their power was the word shepherd or pastor is 1;1_sed in ~\1_0 irregular, and exercised fitfully on special Bible of the temporal ruler (J er. u. 8 ; . x_xm. occasions. Such a power must fall into 4, &c.), and not, as with us, of the s_pn:itual guide. My sons are with you. _This 1s 110 abeyance in the presence of the regular mere confirmation of the fact Just stated authority of a king surrounded by armed that he was old, but a direct challenge of men. Without any direct deposition, there- their dissatisfaction with his sons' conduct, fore, or even still retaining the form of his as far at least as concerns any connivance on office, Samuel would henceforward chiefly his part, or support of them in their covet• CH. XII. 1-25.] THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL.