The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 517

at the request of such a man as Saul, and through an agency condemned in the Bible, Now on this difficult subject it may sulJice for our purpose to observe-I. A revela- tion of God's purpose towards mankind in connection with and by means of the history of a race is natural only in so far as it embraces what the chief figures of the history act?tally did, and especially in their relation to him, be it good or bad. That -San! actually did as here recorded is evident on the face of the whole narrative, for never was there a more perfect air of truthfulness on a record. The very unreason- ableness of bis conduct in applying to a witch for suc-h a purpose, and after executing the law against witchcraft, is quite reasonable when we reflect on the otter mental and moral confusion involved in his despair. Compare his unreasonable act of seeking a blessing through a sinful act ( eh. xiii. 8-14; xv. 21-23). The record, therefore, -0f such a transaction is reasonable in an inspired book. 2. There are cases in which -God allows.bad men to have their desire without the advantage they expect from its being grantP,d, Quails were given to men to their grief. A king was desired con- trary to God's will, and one was given, much to the affliction of the nation. There is so .far a similarity in this instance, that the granting of the desire to see Samuel was only to seal Saul's doom, not to give the guidance anticipated, and which had been hitherto refused (ver. 6). 3. There was a manifest .fitness in Samuel being permitted to declare the fixity of Saul's fate and its equity. He bad instructed and warned Saul at first in private ( eh. ix. 25, 26), and subsequently ( eh. xv. 26-31 ). All through be bad looked with sorrowful pity on this poor wayward, sinning man. With Sc1ul's belief in the existence of the spirits of good men after death, it was the most natural thing to wish, if possible, to see this wise, kind, and faithful friend, and in his utter despair appeal to his pity ; and considering that there evidently still lurked in his mind a last hope that the old, long-deferred prediction of downfall might yet be averted, with a feeling that it was very bard, and perhaps unjust, for him to be thus left in misery, there seems to be a blending of Divine temlerness and judgment in this kind and faithful friend being permitted once more to be seen and heard, and at • the same time to vindicate the justice c,f God in the doom about to be accomplished. · The Divine tenderness and judgment which had borne with and chastised Saul all through his perverse life were now conspicuous in the irrevocable sealing of his doom. He would rather hear bis sentence from Samuel than any other being, if it is to be pro nounced. 4. There is no evidence that the woman had an.vthing to do with the appear- ance of Samuel. He came forth before she called, and hence her wild shriek. That she subsequently played her part as a witch was consistent with the character of such persons. That Saul should suppose her to be the cause of the appearance does not touch the question. He .was not in a mental condition to discriminate. That God should allow an invisible being to become visible under such conditions is to be settled by history, for-5. There is no moral principle violated in God allowing a being from the invisible world to become visible. There is here no sanction of witchcraft, no ad• . mission of its powers. Kindness and judgment only are displayed in relation to Saul. The whole difficulty, therefore, resolves itself in a visible appearance of a dead man. Will any one say that God cannot cause a Samuel to appear as truly as a Moses and Elijah? Does the incredulity lie in the £net that we never see the departed, or that God does not cause them to appear to others? By what law is God bound to make a specific exercise of bis power .common? Will the case be improved by saying it is such an exercise of power as we should not deem wise and useful? What is that but saying· we make our method of government a standard by which God's reported acts shall be judged? ls it not wiser to submit to the force of historical testimony, and admit that his ways are not our ways? God does strange things in tho earth, at which me11 marvel, but never unholy things. There is nothing incredible in the existence of departed spirit~. nor in their employment when God bas a fit purpose to accomplish through them. III. '!'HE PERMANENCE 01' RELIGIOUS SENTIMENTS. It is noteworthy that although Saul bad lived so long in impenitence, and had become even hardened in his sinful -c01irse, he still retained an awe and reverence for the supernatural and invisible. His very folly and sin in having reco111se to a witch revealed the strength of the feeling which could not rest without some help from the unseen world. If God cannot be found men will seek out a substitute. Idolatry and all forms of religious super- 528 THE FIRST DOOK OF SA'.\IUEL. [CH. XXl'IJI. l-26:.