nttncked them nt Rephidim on their way through the desert, and strove to annihilate- them (Exod. xvii. 8-16); they lay in wait for them secretly and subtly, and smote the hindermost, the feeble, the faint and weary, and "feared not God" (Deut. xxv. 17-19). Their conduct was ungenerous, unprovoked, cruel, and utterly godless. 2. Special sine are perpetuated in families and nations and increase in i11tensity. The Amalekites were hereditary, open, and deadly foes of Israel (Num. xiv. 45; Judges iii. 13; vi. 3). They lived by plunder, and were guilty of unsparing bloodshed (ver. 33). Some fresh act of cruelty may have shown that they were "ripe for the- judgment of extermination." 3. Sinners long spared and persisting in lfagrnnt transgression bring upon themselves sudden, signal, and overwhelming destruction. If judgment is pervaded and limited by mercy, mercy has also limits beyond which, it does not pass, and they who despise it must perish. Men may forget what God· has spoken (Exod. xvii. 14); but he remembers it, and fulfils his word at the proper- time. "Injuries done to the people of God will sooner or later be reckoned for." Impenitent sinners II treasure up unto themselves wratl1 against the day of wrath " (Rom. ii.-·5t It accumulates like a gathering thunder-cloud or an Alpine avalanche (Luke xi. 50;-.51), and it frequently comes upon them by ways and means such as- they themselves have chosen. The Amalekites put others to the sword and spared' not; they must themselves be put to the sword and not be spared. The moral·· improvement of inveterate'sinners by their continuance on earth is sometimes hope- less, and their rem·oval by Divine judgment is necessary for the moml improvement and general welfare of other people with whom they are connected, and teacheer, valuable lessons to ·succeeding ages. III. FULLY EXPRESSED (vers. 3, 18). The will of God is made known in different forms and with various degrees of clearness, and some men, whilst acknowledging their obligation to obey it; have sought to justify themselves in the neglect of' particular duties on the ground of their not having been fully directed. But this could not be the case with Saul, whose commission was-1. lmperati·ve; so that there could. be no excuse for evasion. "Go nnd smite Amalek." 2. Plain; so that its meaning could not be mistaken, except by the most inattentive and negligent of men. 11 Utterly destroy (devote to destruction). Fight against them until they be consumed._" 3. Jlfinute; so that no room was ·left for the exercise of iliscretion as to the manner or extent of its fulfilment. It required simple, literal obedience, such as is now required in many things. "Whatsoever be saith unto you, do it." I\·. ZEALOUSLY COMMENCED (vers. 4, 5, 7). The "journey on which he was sent" (ver. 18) was entered upon by Saul with something of the same energy and zeal which he had formerly displayed against the Ammonites, but the deterioration which had since taken place in his character by the possession of power soon appeHed. 1. 'l'he work to which men are called in the way of duty sometimes bears a clase affinity to their natural temperament and disposition. 2. Men may appear to otliers, and even to themselves, to be very zealous/01· the 'Lord whilst they are only doing what is naturally agreeable to themselves. 11 Come with me,'' said Jehu, "and ~ec- rny zeal for the Lord" (2 Kings x. 16, 31 ). "But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel." Saul of Tarsus, like Saul of Gibeah, appeared to be fighting for God when he was really fighting against him. 3. T!ie real nature of thei,r zeal is manifested when the requirements of God come into collision with their convenience, pleasure, ambition, or self-inbirest. Then the hidden spring is laid: bM~ ' V. UNFAITHFULLY EXECUTED (vers. 8, 9). "Spared Agag, 1md the best of the sheep," &c., "and would not destroy them." "He bath turned back from following me, and hatb not performed my commandments" (ver. 11). 1. There may be tltefe,formance (If many things along with the neglect oi: refusal to perform others o equal or of .freater importance. Saul was" a type of th_oae who are.willing to do something- as against the world and on behalf of Christ, but by ·no means· willin/f to do all that they ought to do." Herod "did mnny things, and heard John gladly' (!\fork vi. :20), but he would not g·ive up his ruling passion. 2. Disobedience in one thing often manifests the spirit of disobedience in al) thingR. It shows that the he_art and will are not surrendered to the Lord, and without such a surrender all else 1s worthlrss. In Saul's epnring Ag·ag· and the best of the sheep, &c, we have "a melanri10ly ?80 THE FIIIST BOOK OF SAMUEL. [en. xv. 1-35.
exnr,1pl" of sparing sins and evils that should be slain, and sheltering and harhourirw then, under false l;'retences by unworthy pleas and excuses." 3. 1'/te love of ~elf i: the ~upreme motive of those who refuse to obey God. Saul was actuated l,v contousness (nr. 19), worldlJ•-mindedness (Matt. iv. 9; 1 John ii. 15 16) anil vainiadorious pride, which are only different forms of the love of self. "Behold he set him up a monument,_and (? g·one abou_t (as i!1 a triumphal procession), and pa~scd en, and go~e down ~o Gilgal (ver. 12), mtcndmg prob~bly to ~nake a display of the royal captive for lus _own ~-]ory; perhaps to 1_nake !um a tributary prmce and u source of profit. " Pnde ansrng from the consc10usness of his own strength led him astray. to break the .:-ommand of God. His sin was. open rebellion against the sonre!gnty of the God of Israel ; for he no longer desired to be the medium of the Rovere1gnty of Jehovah, or the executor of the commands of the God-king but simply wanted to reign according to hie own arbitrary will" (Keil).-D. '