The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 351

of rri'.ef. "As it shows itself in hatred it strikes at the person envied• but as it afl'~cts a man in th~ nature of grief it recoil~ and does execution upon 'the envier. It lies at _the_ l:eart h_ke n worm, always g·nawing and corroding and piercing it with n l'ecret, 1m,s1b)e stmg and rois?n" (South, 'Sermons,' !viii.). In Saul it produced unrest of soul, mcreased subJect10n to the power of evil-" it came to pass on tlie 'llioi-row," &_c. (,·er. 10); ungovernable rage-" he poised the javelin" twice; ere.ft and hypocrisy_; fear_ (vers. 11, _16); continual enmity (ver. 21); deliberate avo:wal of murderou_s rnten t10ns (c)1. x1x. 1); open and unceasing persecution; despair and self-destr1;1ct1_on. ' 1 W~en m the last judgment envy is placed at the bar of God wl:at an md1ctment will b,e laid against the evil spirit I The. insulting anger 9f Elm b, _the cruelty of J o~eph. s brethren, the murderous wrath of Cain, and the greatest share m the greate~t crime m the :''orld-the crucifying of the Lord of glory-,.,-will be char1?,·ed _upon 1nm. To cast tins demon out of our bosoms before that final con- demnation 1s one purpose of Jesus, and with all our hearts we should pray for bis complete 9:nd speedy victory" (C. Vince). . Conclusion :-In order to the cure _o~ preventioll of this evil passion, seek a renewed }ear~; dwel~ much on the D1vme love "fflat spurns all envying in. its bounty; es_timate aright temporal advantag·es ; entertain lowly thoughts of self• lear°: to admire ~xcellence in others, and regard it as if it were your own ; check th; first impulse of Jealous or envious feeling; and II commit thy way unto the Lord." "0 man ! why place thy heart where there doth need Exclusion of participants in good 1 Heaven calls, And, ro11Dd about you wheeling, com-ts your gaze With everlasting beauties. Yet your eye Tnrns with fond doting still upon the earth. ' Therefore he smites you who discerneth all" (Dante, 'Purg.' xfv,).-D. Vers. 17-30. (GIBEAH.)-Simplicity. There is a simplicity which springs from ignorance, and is displayed in folly and presumption (Prov. xxii. 3). There is also a simplicity which is the fruit of innocence, truthfulness, and goodness, and appears in an ingenuous mind, a guileless disposition, and straightforward speech and conduct. In its best sense (simplicitas-without fold or twist) it is opposed to duplicity, de- ception, and "cunning craftiness" (Rom. xii. 8; xvi. 19; 2 Cor. i. 12; xi. 3); and it was exemplified, in an eminent degree, by David, especially in his earlier inter~ course with Saul; for, through familiarity with court life, and much more in conse- quence of the straits to which he was reduced by the craft and persecution of the- king, the simp1e-minded, open-hearted ahepherd youth once and again turned aside from the right path (eh. :xxi. 2). Consider simplicity as- I. BESET BY THE WORKING OF CRAFT. Having given way to envy, and in a violent fit of madness threatened the life of David, Saul continutd to hate and fear him (Mark xi. 18), and sought to get rid of him, though indirectly from restraint of con- science and secretly from fear of the people (Markvi. 20; Luke :xxii. 2). Sin works in the dark. Malicious craft often-I. Seeks to accomplish ends which it mny not dare to avow. Springing from jealousy for personal position and renown, it aims at the depreciation of every one by whom they seem to be endangered ; and at his removal, whether accidentally by the hands of• others, or by hie committing some overt act which may justify his open punishment (vers. 17, 21, 25). And toward these ends it works with ever greater directness and lees concealment ; for that which is bidden in the heart must sooner or later come to light. 2. Makes use of fair frofessi,ons, and uses pretexts which are specious, false, and hypocritical. Davi was assured that no harm was really meant him, and made II captain over R thousand" (ver. 13) ; whereas he was removed from the presence of the king because- he was hated and feared, and that be might be exposed to greater danger. His not receiving the fulfilment of Sanl's promise (eh. xvii. 25) was probably accounted for by his lack of wealth and social status (ver. 25) ; but the promise was repeated it1• sincerely. "Only he thou valiant/or me" ( expose thyself to every hazard)," and.fight the Lord: s battles" (with zeal for Jehovah, which I know thou hast), and (sub voce) '' let not my hand be upon him," &c. (ver. 17). On the loss of Merab he was cone9le.d en. xvm 1-30.J 'l'HE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. .'355