The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 499

or jmlgment on the impenitent" (Kmtz). 3. Fervent enti·eaty of an enemy t<>· a 1,(llid7.n/1iaS unjust, unpitying, and 1tnworthy d~signs. "Now, therefore," &c. (ver. 20). 1 lns speech of David was thoroughly smted to sharpen Saul's conscience and lend him to give up h;~ enmity, if he st!ll l~ad an ear for the_ voice ~f tr~th" (Keil). 4. Conjiaently appeahng to the peifectyustice of God and Ins merciful inter1:10sition nn his behalf. "The Lord render to every man," &c. (vers. 23, 24). This is not the language of boastfulness or self-righteousness, but" the answer of a good con- i,cience to,rnrd God." He desired that God would deal with him as he had dealt witll oth_ers _(Ps. :ii. 4, 5), and fully Yin~icate his "righteousness and faithfulness" by dehvermg 1nm "out of all tr_1b1_tlation." ~nly one who wa~ consciously upright in, heart could speak thus: and s1m1lar express10ns often occur m the Psalms (Ps. xvii .. 1-5) .. "The Psalmist is not asserting his freedom from sin, but the uprig·htness and gmle\essness of his heart toward God. He is no hypocrite, no dissembler; he is not c?nsc10usly doing wrong" (Perowne ). In addit.ion to the eight psalms previously ment10ned as referred by their inscriptions to the time of Saul's persecution, there- are two others, viz., Ps. LXIII., 'Longing in the wilderness for the presence of God in the sanctuary' (see inscription; vers. 19, 20) : - " 0 God, thou a.rt my God ; early will I seek thee. My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh pineth for thee, In a dry and weary laud where no water is." Ps. xvm., 'An idealised representation of the experience of Divine deliverances ( see inscription; 2 Sam. xxii. ). Other psalms have also been referred by many te> the same period as cc the fruitful soil of David's psalm poetry," viz., Ps. vi., xi., xii., xiii., X'l"ii., xxii., xxvii., xxxi., xxxv., xl., lvi., lviii., lix., lxiv., lxix., cix., cxx., cxl., cxli. II. THE UNCONSCIOUS INSINCERITY OF AN EVIL IIEART. cc And Saul said, I have sinned," &c. (vers. 21, 25). He acknowledged the sin and folly of his past conduct (though not with tears, as before), invited David to return, and promised no more to do him harm, uttered e. benediction upon him, and predicted that he would "do great things and prevail" ( omitting, however, any allusion to his royal dignity, as on the former occasion)-" at once a vindication of David's conduct in the past, and a fore- cast of his glory in the future." He doubtless meant at the time what he said, but it is to be observed that-I. The rn/!St corrupt heart is capable of good impressions, emotions, and purposes. History and observation afford innumerable instances of the fact. 2. It is apt to be the subject of them under special circumstances (eh. xxiv. 16-22), and particularly when convinced of the futility of sinful endea'\"ours, and restrained by a power which cannot be effectually resisted. "Behold, thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest" (Jer. iii. 5). So long as the power to do evil things is possessed, it is exercised; but when it is taken away men often seem sincerely penitent and fully determined to do good. But how seldom does the "goodness " exhibited in such circumstances prove really sincere and enduring I 3. The experunce of them is no certain evidence to a man himself or others of a right state of heart. They are liable to deceive, and can only be depended upon when expressed e.nd confirmed by corresponding and continuous acts. Strong feeling is often tern porary and never transformed into settled principle. 4. The removal of the influences by which they are produced, and the occurrence of favourable opportunities for the manifestation of the true character, commonly prove its utter insincerity. It was thus with Saul. He did not repent in deeds of righteousness, nor " bring forth fruits meet for repentance." On the contrary, he soon afterwards renewed his per- secution, and ceased not until David was wholly beyond his power (eh. xxvii. 1).. " They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow" (Hosea vrl. 16). He was under the dominion of an evil disposition e.nd depraved will, and wita every broken promise of amendment his moral condition became worse, until he Ban.it Lnto despair. "The only good thing in the world is a good will" (Kant), "But ill for him who, bettering not with time, Corrupts the strength of heaven-descended Will, And ever weaker grows through acted crime, Or seeming genial venial fault, Recurring and suggesting still I -CH. XXVI. 1-25.] THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. fi09