The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 287

earth pa8s," &c. (Matt. ~- 18). 3. The purposes of. his hem·t, f?rmed in perfect- knowledge of all that will take place, and effected m harmony with the principles- before mentioned. Some of these purposes are hidden (Deut. xxix. 29). Others aro revealed, and include the general conditions of peace and happiness, and the results. of their observance or neglect (promises and threntenings), also particular evente occurring either independently of the free action of men, or in connection with it'. whether in the way of opposition or co-operation, aa, e. g., the setting up of a theo'. cr3:tic king~om, the advent and death of the Messiah (Acts iv. 27, 28), and his umvers~I reign. "Th~ counsel o~ the Lord standeth for ever" (Pa. xxxiii. 10, 11 ;. ProY. x1x. 21; Isa. xlv1. 10; Jer. 1v. 28). "I am Jehovah, I change not· therefore· ye sons of Jacob are not consumed" (Mai. iii. 6). "When we find pr;dictions in Scripture not executed, we must consider them not as absolute, but conditional or as. the civil law ca1ls it, an interloc_utory sentence. God declared what would follow\y natural causes, or by the demerit of man, not what he would absolutely do himself. And though in many of these predictions the condition is not expressed, it is under- stood" (see Jer. xviii. 7, 8; Ezek. xxxiii. 13, 14; Jonah iii. 4; iv. 2). III. INCITES TO HUMAN CONSTANCY in-1. Faith. He never disappoints the trust that is reposed in him. His covenant with his people is firm and sure· "for the- mountains shall depart, and the hills be removAd," &c. (Isa. Iiv. 10). '" .All the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen" (2 Cor. i. 20). What an in- centive is thus afforded to each believer, and the whole Church, to " abide in him " I' "Whoaefaith follow, &c. Jesus Christ (is) the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever; (therefore) be not carried about (like a ship driven by varying winds) with di,ers and strange doctrines ; for it is a good thing that the heart be established wit!• grace" (Heh. xiii. 7-9). 2. Love. Only the unchangeable One can be a trnr, satisfying, and enduring rest of the affections; for all earthly objects change arnl pass away, and must leave the immortal spirit desolate. His unchanging love shoula keep our love to him and to each other burning with a steady flame (John xiii. I, 34; Jude 21). 3. Ri[Jltteonsn&~s. (1) Which consists in conformity to the constant obedience of Christ to the righteous and unalterable will of the Father. (2) Which is faithfully assured of enduring blessedness (Rev. xxii. 14). "He that doeth the "-ill of God abideth for ever" (1 John ii. 17). (3) But without which there will be w irre,ocable loss of the most glorious crown ond kingdom. The persistently rebellious dash them~elves to pieces against the unchangeable holiness and justice of God.-D. Vere. 32, 33. (GILGAL.)-The execution of .A.gag. Agag was put to death, perhaps, by the hand of Samuel; more probably by other hands under his order, for it is common to speak of official persons doing what they simply command to be done- (John xix. 1). "In ancient time persona of the highest rank were employed to execute the sentence of the law (Jether, the eldest son of Gideon, Doeg, Benaiah). Sometimes the chief magistrate executed the sentence of the law with his own hands" (Paxton's 'Illustrations,' iv. 171). The act was one of great severit,v. It should, however, be remembered that-I. The Amalekite king had committed great atrocities ( ver. 33), and was the chief representative of ~rue) and !rreconcilable enemies of Israel. 2. Amalek lay under a ban of extermination which had been pronounced by Jehovah (Exod. xvii. 14; Num. xxiv. 20), arid was now required to be fully carried into effect. Samuel acted in obedience to a higher will than his own; not from personal revenge, but in his public capacity, doing what Saul (from !"o feel- ings of humanity) had failed t? do, and g~ving honour ~o ~e!1oval! before Ins altar. "There must indeed have been madequate ideas of the individuality of man and of the rights of human life before a dispensation could have been received wl~ich enforced wars of exterminatio11-wars which wou!d now be contrary to morality; for the reason that our ideas on the subject of human individuality ond the rights of life are completely changed, and that we have been enlightened on t~ese snbje~ts, upon w1,ic:h the early ages of mankind were in the dark" (Mozley, 'Ruln)g Ideas m Early Ages,' p. 161). 3. The peculiar circumstances of the case neces~1toted some such exhibition of the authority and justice of Jehovah for the mamten~nce of. the tl,eocracy, and the reproof and warning of the people who had shared m the em of  ;;n. XV. 1-35.] Tirn FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. 289