The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 432

I. That MISIXTERTRETATION AND MISCALCULATION ARE comrnN IN THE AFFAIRS oF· MEN. It is a truism that men make mistakes ; but making mistakes is not alway~ identical with misinterpretation of human conduct, and the false reckoning proceed- ing therefrom. There is a too prevalent opinion among certain classes of men that the)' do understand their fellows, and, by the exercise of keen observation, can avoid the error of referring actions to wrong motives. On the other hand, there are in- genuous minds that imagine that no one will ever think of referring their conduct to· an origin other than that which is so clear and pure to their own conscience. Such persons need to be instructed. The question may be raised whether, even in the· most holy 1md blessed society of intelligent beings, there is ever a sufficient capacity in one mind to unravel and ascertain perfectly the secret springs of action in others. "" e each, some time or other, have to bear the frown and condemnation of our fellow-· creatures, because what we do is not associated, in their judgment, with the motives which are clear in our consciousness; and in so far as they have to calculate on the· issue of the conduct misjudged, error is inevitable. The Bible affords notable in-· stances of misinterpretation and miscalculation. We have seen how Hannah's heart was misread by Eli ( eh. i. 14). The Apostle Paul was supposed by false brethren to display zeal for Christ for reasons utterly alien to his nature. The rejection or Christ by the Pharisees was the practical form of their interpretation of his words. and deeds. Some of the bitterest trials of private life consist in generous, true- hearts having to bear the consciousness that suspicion and distrust are meted out to. them when, were all kno-wn, love and confidence would abound. In like manner the false reckoniiigs of men are manifold. Every one calculates amiss when he hns. laid a false foundation in a partial or WTong reading of character. True prophecy, in relation to wbat will come of the conduct of those we criticise, can only proceed from a just estimate of their moral position. Saul was a false propl,et when be predicted that God -would now deliver David into his hand. No laws exist for bring- ing events to pass so that they shall harmonise with our estimate of men. "God hath forsaken him," may be said of a David; but the false judgment of his desert will not destroy the loving-kindness which endureth for ever. On the basis of their interpretation of Christ's character and conduct men esteemed him "smitten of God and afflicted," and calculated that the silent tomb would put an end to bis influence· in the world. Those who contend with a holy, Christ-loving people, whose spiritual principles are not appreciated, forget that they are embarked in a war against the mightiest forces that operate in the universe. II. That MOST OF THE MISINTERPRETATIONS AND MISCALCULATIONS OF LIFE ABE TO· BE REFERRED TO A DOUBLE ORIGIN. The source of these evils is partly intellectual and partly moral. Saul understood not David and miscalculated the issue of his entering Keilab because of his defective knowledge of human nature and of tl1e order of Providence. In his case, however, apart from radical narrowness of mental range, bis mind was injured, with respect to the normal exercise of bis intellect, by the moral disturbance consequent on his dreadful alienation from God. He furnishes a typical instance of what may be regarded as the power of the moral state over the- intellectual faculties-fearfully suggestive of what demented, shrivelled beings men may become should they in another life still be under the domination of a masterful a.ersion to God. The liability of every man to fall into the evils of misinterpret- ation should induce attention to the twofold cause in ourselves. The intellectual cause is often seen in a radically defective knowledge of human nature and its possi- bilities; in a structure in the mind of rigid lines of conduct, baRed on a ~arrow experience; and in a partial acquaintance with the actual facts connected with t~e case on which judgment is exercised and reckonings are made. The moral cause 1s often more subtle in operation, and therefore more difficult of detection ; but fre- quently it appears in the morally wrong act of applying our limited power to q~es- tions not fairly within their reach, in the obstinate tendency to make the possibly imperfect governing principles of our own life the infallible tests by which all con- duct is estimated, in the embittered spirit with which we contemplate the course of events, and in the active presence of envy, jealousy, suspicion, and selfishness. As u rule, moral causes have more influence in determining our judgments of_ conduct and character, and in calculating the issues of action, than intellectual. It 18 easy to r.IT. x-xm. 1-13.J THE FIRST BOOK OF SA:\IUEL.