The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 441

,shame, and death. In his rase we see how the higher the service, the wider its ran,U'e, and the more pure am! blissful its issue, the deeper were its sorrow~. To him th;ro was no contrariety between tl1e bitterness of the cup provided and the love unspectk- a ble and unmeasured. Not every one is fitted to enter folly into the l,igher form of service. Many sons of Zebedee long for the honour apart from the cost. The loftier views of the Apostle Paul enabled him to regard the manifold sorrows of his lifo as a;-. honourable and to-be-coveted participation of the su:ffenngs of Christ. Tl,e --power of spiritual service lies not in knowierlge, not in culture of mere intellect, bnt in more perfect purity of spirit and a high development of the spiritual powers of faith, love, and free, cheerful absorption of will in the will of God ; and such is human nature at its best, that only tribulation, it may be increasing tribulation, can so check our unspiritual tendencies as to enable us to serve God on the highest plane. A rough and rugged wilderness may fall to our lot not only while God loves and cares for us, but possibly as a further means of developing in us those high spiritual ,qualities which in days to come will fit us to minister psalms of comfort and cheer ·to the saints of God, and occupy positions of influence in the invisible Church corre- ·sponding in the spiritual sphere to that held by David in Israel when he swayed a royal sceptre over the land. I!. PROVIDENCE BRINGS SPECIAL SOLACE IN SEASONS OF INCREASING SORROWS. \Vhat ihough David exchange the prospecti,·e comfort of a stay in Keilah for a fugifrn, 1ife in the wilderness, what though his heart for the moment find it II too harrl" to ·solve the strange problem of his chequered course; just then that same Providence which directed his steps from Keilah was mercifully operating in the heart of the noblest man at the court of Saul to bring him sweetest consolation. There are m,iny lines of influence at work under the unifying hand of God for the defence and guidance of his people; and though in his first feeling of disappointment on leaving Kcilah David could only see one line, the subsequent appearance of Jonathan where he least expected him made it clear that others were in existence and found their -centre in God. God never really impoverishes those who trust and serve him. Our -course when faithful is one of progressive enrichment, and will be till we enter on the perfected inheritance above. It is contrary to the laws of a spiritual life for ,i true servant of God to be worse off to-day than yesterday. The ordinary springs of comfort open to David-meditation on God's past faithfulness, the conviction that he was working out a high and Divine purpose, and the pouring out of his heart in prayer-were now supplemented by the presence and love of his dearest earthly friend. And so God never takes away what seems to be a g·ood, and never lays any new burden on us but that he gives us a corresponding blessing. Abraham sorrowed for kindred in a distant home, but had God for his portion and exceeding great reward. Our health fails, our material possessions vanish, or our loved ones die, and we turn our hearts more truly and passionately toward him who never fails, who is 11n everlasting portion, and who "gathers into one" the living and dead. Oh, blessed discipline I How tenderly the g-reat Father cares for his sorrowing ones I With what precision does he follow them II whithersoever" in the order of duty they go, to raise up streams in the desert and cause them to feel, as the Apostle Paul in his sorrows felt, that God is able to supply all their need and never does forsake his saints. III. In the unfolding of the GENERAL PURPOSES OF Goo's KINGDOM there is a Sl'BORDINATION OF SERVICE in which, however, the HIGHER is DEPENDENT FOR COM• PLETEST EFFECTIVENESS ON THE LOWER. In Israel at that time God's merciful pur- poses toward mankind were being wrought out through the agency of servants occu- pying in the execution of the Divine will positions of relative subordination. Samuel, David, Jonathan were each working out the same results. But the part which Jonathan played in the sum of events comprised in the period covered by the history was inferior to that of David. As a spiritual man he had his work to do, and it wa■ as important in its place as was that of Samuel and of Dn,·id; yet we can see how wisely he formed nn esti!"r.ate of his position and service for the one great end, when he regarded David 11s superior in calling and in the honours and responsibilities ha would have to bear. Jonathan by visiting David and ministering to his comfort recognised tl1is unity 11nd diversity of service. And it is instructive, to notice how 448 THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL rce. xxm. 14-2tt