The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 240

remorse, temptations, true, often-baffled, never-ended struggle of it be forgotten? . . . Dand's life and history, as written for us in those Psalms of his, I consider to- be the truest emblem ever given of a man's moral progress ·and warfare here below. All earnest souls will ever discern in it the faithful struggle of an earnest human soul towards what is good and best; struggle often baffled, down as into entire wreck, yet a struggle never ended; ever with tears, repentance, true, unconquerable purpose- begun anew" (Carlyle, 'Heroes ').-D: Vera. 16---23. (MicHMASH. ) - Under tile heel of the opprelJsor. "Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel" (ver. 19). The invasion of the- Philistines produced great fear and distress among the people. Many hid themselves in caves, and thickets, and cliffs, and vaults, and pits; others fled across the Jordan; those who followed Saul did so with trembling (vers. 6, 7); his army melted away-- some deserted to the enemy, or were pressed into their service (eh. xiv. 21); their homes and fields were plundered by marauding bands (ver. 17; eh. xiv. 22), which went forth from Michmash without fear of resistance, for the people had been dis- armed and deprived of the means of making weapons of war, and even of sharpening their implements of husbandry (2 Kings xxiv. 14) when they became blunt (lit~rally, "there was bluntness of edges; " A. V., "they had a file"), except at the pleasure of their oppressors (ver. 21). 11 The result of the burdensome necessity of going to the Philistines was, that many tools became useless by dulness, so. that oven this poorer sort of arms did the Israelites not much service at the brealung out of the war" (Bunsen). How long this state of things continued is not recorded; but it was sufficiently long for those who remained with Saul and Jonathan (v?i:· 22) to- be left without II sword or spear," or any regular armament. Their C?nd1t10n was thus one of nelplessness, dependence, and wretchedness, and affords a picture of that to which men are reduced by error and sin. In it we see- I. THE MANIFEST FAILURE of a self-chosen way. 11 Nay; but we will have a king over us" (eh. viii. 19). They have a king ~elf-willed like themsel~es; but their way fails, as the way of those who prefer their own pl:i,ns to th? guidance of G~d -nust ever fail. 1. In delivering them from the evils of which they complain (eh.viii. 5), or which they fear ( eh. ix. 16). 2. ~!1 preserving to ~hem ~he advantages- which they possess. 11 Ye dwelled safe' (eh. xn. Jl). Where 1s their safety now? OB. XIII, 1-23.] THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL.