The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 507

he trt under a cloak of-seeming goodness? The real clue to his misconduct lies here- that he lost hold of Goel and fell through unbelief, allowed himself to doubt whether God would or could keep him in some strait, anrl took to trusting and keeping himself. So he fell into unworthy company, or betook himself to unworthy devices; and the end is what you see-dishonesty, duplicity, prevarication. Remember that nothing is so hard to be extirpated from the heart as unbelief. In his book of the Holy War Bunyan shows that when the town of Mansoul was in the devil's power, lncrerlulity was first made alderman, then lord mayor. When Immanuel took the town, Incre- dulity (unbelief) was doomed to execution, but managed to break out of prison, and lurked in hiding-places where he could not be found. When the devil a.ssa1ilted tl,~ town in hopes to retake it, "Old Incredulity" reappeared, and was made general of the army. After the assailing army was defeated, and many of the officers allfl soldiers in it were put to death, Unbelief still evaded capture. He did yet dwe1l in Manson!, though he "hid in dens and holes." Application :-1. Let believers beware. It is easy to slip off the way of faith and it may seem to answer well for a time. You may get your Ziklag to dwell in, and find it more comfortable than the hold at Engedi or the hill of Hachilah, but you are in a state of declension from God, and on the way, as David was, to commit presumptuous sin: Matthew Henry remarks in his sententious way, "Unbelief is ;i sin that easily besets even good men. When without are fightings and within are fears, it is a hard matter to get over them. Lord, increase our faith I" 2. Let un- believers be warned. If unbelief be so damaging when it prevails even temporarily over a servant of God, what ruin must it :work in those who lie always under its power I " He that believeth not in the Son of God shall not see life; but the wro.th of God abideth on him."-F. Vers. 1, 2. (THE WILDERNESS OF ZIPH.)-IJespondency. 11 I shall now perish one <lay by the Land of Saul" (ver. 1). It is seldom (at least in a climate like ours) that a clay passes in sunshine without clouds. And human life is as varied as the aspects of the sky. The best of men are liable not only to adversity as well as prosperity, but also to seasons of spiritual depression as well as of spiritual elation ; and the one often follows the other very closely. These seasons of depression ought nut, indeed, to be attributed to a Divine, sovereign, and uncontrollable influence. 'fhey are due to certain causes in men themselves which ought to be watched against. Yet who resists them constantly, effectually, and completely? Here is David, who recently said. 11 Let the Lord deliver me out of all tribulation," and heard Saul say, "Blessed be thou, my son David," &c. ( eh. XXYi. 24, 25), talking to himself in a desponding mood, and coming to the conclusion that there is nothing -better £or him than to flee into the land of the Philistines. It may be preferable for a man to II commune with his own heart" of his fears and doubts, rather than pour them indiscriminately into the ears of other people ; but his proper course is nut to continue brooding over them, or surrender himself to their power, but to'' inquire of the Lord," and "hope in God" (Ps. xiii. 11). "More of these nb man hath known than myself, which I confess I conquered not in a martial posture, but 011 my knees" (Sir T. Browne). Concerning the state of mind which this language expresses, consider- !. WHEREIN IT CONSISTS. 1. Fear of approaching danger. Saul had renewed hi~ persecution, and David thought that he should be" consumed." There was apparently no more reason why he should think so now than there had been before ; but the desponding mind projects its Rhadow over all things, and magnifies ordinary into extraordinary peril. Imaginary evils are often occasions of greater trouble and temptation than real evils, and more difficult to overcome. 2. Distrust of IJiviM care. This is its chief element. If his faith had been in vigorous exercise he would have said, "Whom shall I fear?" (Ps. xxvii. 1). But it seems to have com- pletely failed, leaving him a prey to overwhelming anxiety and fear. "My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God" (Isa. xl. 27). "Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost" (Ezek. xxxvii. 11). 3. IJe1n-es1riOA of personal energy. He has lost heart, and thinks it impossible to continue s,ifely in the land of Judah, to which the prophet had formerly recalled him, and wh,re 518 TIIE FIRST BOOK OF S.Ul C'EL.