The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 522

3. The foreboding of approaching d-Oom. Conscience II exerts itself magisterially, ar,d approves or condemns, ... and if not forcibly stopped, naturally and always, of c·,Htrse, goes on to anticipate a higher and more effectual sentence, which shall here- after second and affirm its own" (Butler). 11. IMPELLED TO SEEK DI\'INE COUNSEL. 11 And Saul inquired of Jehovah" (ver. u ). It is not recorded that he had ever done so since he "a8ked counsel of God" and "he answered him not" (eh. xiv. 37). His communication with Heaven had evidently been long interrupted. But under the influence of fear he felt the urgent need of it, as other men who have neglected to seek God often do in times of danger, and he expected that it w0uld come at his bidding, as a matter of course, when he made use of the recognised means of obtaining it, apart from a proper state of heart, therein exhibiting the same blindness as of old (eh. xiii. 9). Cherishing a spirit of envy and hatred, how could it be expected that he should be visited by the Divine Spirit in dreams of good? Having slain the hig·h priest, and compelled his son to flee to Da,,id "with the ephod" and the Urim, how could it be expected that he should obtain counsel through another whom he had appointed in his stead, or, having alienated the prophets, that he should gain it through them? Divine aid is often sought through proper channels in vain because-I. It is not sought at the right time,-" When thou mayest be found" (Ps. xxxii. 6). "Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer" (Prov. i. 24-33),-which takes place not merely as a just punishment for long neglect, but aiHo on account of the in.creased hardness of their hearts thereby induced, and rendering them incapable and utterly unworthy of holding communion with God. "If we do not hear God's voice when it goes well with us, God can and will refuse to hear our voice when it goes ill with us" (Starke). 2. It is not sought in a right spirit-with humility, penitence, self-renunciation, and faith. Of these principles there is no trace in the inquiry of. Saul. 3. It is not sought with a right purpose, but with some earthly and selfish end in view, rather than the Divine honour. "As the ev,3nt proved, Saul did not really inquire of the Lord in the sense of seeking direction from Lim, and of. being willing to be guided by it. Rather did he, if we may so e:g:press it, wish to use the Lord as the means by which to attain his object. But that was essentially the heathen view, and differed only in detail, not in principle, from the inquiry of the familiar spirit, to which he afterwards resorted" (Edersheim). "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss," &c. (James iv. 3; Ps. I.xvi. 18; Isa. !xvi. 4; Ezek. xiv. 4; xx. 31). Ill. DENIED THE DESIRED RESPONS~ .• "Jehovah answered him not," &c. (ver. 6). " I am sore distressed ; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more" (ver. 15). 11 Saul received from God no answer more, except for judgment.'' 1. What dreadful silence and loneliness are hero revealed I " We read of the silence of the desert, the silence of midnight, the silence of the churchyard and the gi-ave; but this is something more profound and appalling -the silence of God when appealed to by the sinner in his extremity. It is not the silence of indifference, nor of inability to hear, nor of weakness, nor of perplexity; but of refusal, of rejection, of displeasure, of abandonment " (Bonar, ' Bible Thoughts'). "Ephraim ie joined to idols: let him alone" (Hosea iv. 17). 2. What utter helplessness I 3. What intolerable darkness and distress I (Heh. x. 27). Consider-I. That if "inquiry of the Lord" be left unanswered, the reason of it is to be sought in the moral condition of the inquirer. 2. That nothing but the offering of the sacrifice of II a broken And a contrite heart " can prevent despe.ir. 3. That the boundless mercy of God should awaken hope even at "the eleventh l10ur."-D. Vers. 7-10. (GILBOA, ENDOR).-Rcsorting fo superstitious practices. "Seek mo a woman that bath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her" (ver. 7). 1. The religion of Saul (like that of many others in Israel) was largely per- vaded by auperstition. He regarded Jehovah as an_ objec~ of d~ea~ r~t~er th~n. of trust and love, and observed the outward forms of lus service not 1n a spmt of willing and heaiiy obedience, but because he thought that they would of themselves procure for him the Divine favour. Hence liis zeal in putting away "those that had familiar -epirits" ( Oboth=spirits of the departed, supposed to be called up froro the unseen world OH, XXVIJI. 1-25.) 'l'Irn FlllST T3OOK OF 8,Dlt.;EL. 533