The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 249

for Christ. The tone of the apostles all througl1 their toils is one of cheer. The golden gateij of the eternnl city seem ever to shine before them, and they hea, already the new song. Every one on whom this true apo8tolic succession has corn, enters into sympathy with them, and no longer toils with dejected brow and despairing heart. General lessons .-1. There is abundant encouragement for Christian work in the J historically illustrated fact that God does accomplish great results through feeble and •· varied means. 2. It is a question with each of us whether we really believe that there "is no restraint with the Lord," and whether lack of faith in this great truth does not explain much in our life and labour which we deplore. 3. ,ve may ask ourselves whether there is anything in the present state of the Church and the world affording scope for our special exertion after the manner of Jonathan's. 4. It should be an inquiry as to whether we are open to receive and welcome an inspira- tion from the Lord to enter on some work involving self-denial and difficulty. 5. If we think we are inspired to undertake some difficult work for Christ, we should discriminate between sudden impulse and mature irresistible longing; and, seeking counsel of God, follow the signs of Providence. Vers. 13-23.-God's faithfulness to his own. The facts are-I. Jonathan and his servant ascend the precipice and slay, on a narrow strip of land, about twenty men. 2. A panic arising, from a combination of causes, the commotion attracts the attention of Saul's sentinels. 3. It being ascertained that Jonathan was engaged against the Philistines, inquiry is sought of God, by Saul, through the priest Ahiah. 4. The tumult among the Philistines increasing, Saul abruptly stops the inquiry and leads on his followers to battle. 5. The deserters and the fugitives fall on the rear of the retreating Philistines. The historiaR sums up the narrative of events in this section by the suggestive words, "So the Lord saved Israel that day.'' It was "thfr Lord," working through the instrumentality of a noble-hearted man and the events concurrent with his action-not withholding the reward of fidelity, notwithstanding the questionable conduct of the king. "It is the Lord," must be the verdict of history, not only of their deliverance, but of many others in all time. I. Gon's FAITHFULNESS IS SEEN IN PERFECTING THE WORK WHICH HE INSPIRES. There can be no doubt but that Jonathan received this "good and perfect gift" of inspiration, to seek the salvation of his country, from God. We have seen that it could not have been a mere human, earth-born impulse. There may be a point at which the human free aspiration becomes touched with a Divine power; but, as a whole, the impulse is of God. The narrative tells us how certainly God wrought for the perfecting of that which he saw in the heart. Not a step of his way did Jonathan find to be a practical denial of the truth of his inward prompting. Thus the life of the hue man of God is crowded with evidences of the Divine faithful- ness. He who begins a "good work" within us will carry it through. He is " not unrighteous to forget our work of faith and labour of love." He will "perfect that which concerneth us." "Loving his own," be loves "to the end." Abraham, under an inspiration from God, went forth, o.nd all through his pilgrimage he found Jehovah to be a covenant-keeping God. In our painful o.nd protracted endeavours, in obedi- ence to an aspiration born from above to rise to the heights of holiness and to bless others, we shall find him faithful who hath promised never to leave nor forsake us. JI. IN MAINTAINING HIS FAITHFULNESS 'l'O HIS PEOPLE Goo CAUSES VARIED INFLU- ENCES TO CONVERGE ON THE DESIRED RESULT OF El'l!ORT. The Divine faithfulness is not arbitrarily and absolutely manifested. It is seen i11 realising the desired end by a succession of events naturally connected. Jonathan's exertions were put forth as though all rested on the courage of his own heart and the strength of his own arm. The narrative shows us how an unseen hand upheld the brave soldier, and caused diverse things to converge on the one issue: e. g. the young soldier's skill, tact and courage; the folly of the defenders in allowing him a footing on the narrow pathway of the upper part of the precipice; the fear aroused througl.i ignorance of the full facts of the nssault ; the panic spread from post to post-strengthened, possibly, by a slight shock of earthquake; the omv11rd movement of Saul's troop;. l\nd the opportunity created for the rallying- of fugitives and deserters (vcrs. 21, 22}. 250 TIIE FIHST BOOK OF SA:\lUEL. [cu. XIV. 1-35,