The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 548

benevolent purpose of God. "The equity of this law appears from hence-that by common consent these 200 men ~vere left behind_ to look after the baggage ; were part of the same body of men, lmked together m the same common society• hin- dered by mere weariness from going to fight, which otherwise they would have done, their will was accepted for the deed; and they were in the same common danger' for if the 400 had been routed their enemies would have soon cut them off ,I (Patrick). "The members should have the same care one for 1mother" (1 Cor. xii. 25). 5. Grateful acL"'IWwledgment of friendly aid during his "wanderings in the wilderness." "He sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, his friends," &c. (vera. 26-31). They had suffered from Amalekite raids, but it was not to make restitution for their losses so much as to testify his gratitude and strengthen their attachment. His victory enabled him to display a princely munificence. "It is a remarkable proof of the grateful nature of David, and his fidelity to his early friendships, aa well as a curious instance of undesigned coincidence, that we find among those em- ployed by David in offices of trust in the height of his power ao many inhabitants of those obscure places where he found friends in the days of his early difficulties" (' Sp. Com.'). 6. Commendable J_Jolicy-wise, generous, patriotic, and religious. "Behold a present" (blessing, gift) "for you of the spoil of the enemies of Jehovah." The elders of Judah and others looked to him as their future theocratic ruler. He himself felt that the time of patient waiting was nearly gone, and the time of active effort for the fulfilment of the Divine purpose concerning him well-nigh come, if, indeed, the tidings of the death of Saul had not already reached him. He also foresaw that he must look for his chief support in his own tribe, and adopted the best method of securing it. "Piety without i:)Olicy is too simple to be safe ; policy without piety is too subtle to be good." "This was already a royal act in vivid anticipation of his impending accession to the throne. .Already the crown of Israel was unmistakably though dimly visible above his head" (Krummacher). "Whilst Saul's star sinks in the north, the star of David rises in the south, and there begins the long line of fulfilments of the prophecy concerning the Star that should come out of Jacob" (Num. xxiv. 17) (Erdmann).-D. Ver. 6.-Faith reviving in di-stress. I. CORRECTION. David, being a true bnt faulty child of God, was corrected by the rod. Quickly fell stroke after stroke. First he had to bear the galling scorn and suspicion of the_ Philistine lords. This was all he had gained by cajoling their king. Next he had to see Ziklag plundered and burnt. This was all he had gained by attackinY. the .Amalekites and concealing the deed. Next, and in some respects most trying uf all, he saw the loyalty of his own followers swept away in their passionate grief. "The people spake of stoning him." This was all he had gained by all his unworthy devices to save his own life. All refuge failed him. So God in loving-kindness scourges his children now when they have faltered in faith, and, mistrusting his defe~ce, have betaken them.selves to some Ziklag, some position unworthy of them. Their new confidences reJect them, and they have to sit like David in dust and ashes. • II. ITS HAPPY ISSUE. Faith revived. When all refuge failed him, David returned to his Divine stronghold. "He encouraged himself in Jehovah his God." Mark the contrast with Saul. When that unhappy king was stricken he departed £rum God more and more, hardened his heart in pri?e, found no place of repentanc~, and at last betook himself to unhallowed and forbidden arts. So we find Saul pass111g from gloom int0 thhker and blacker shadow, whil~ David emerges in~o the s_unsh_ine .. Sueh is the happy experience of many of the children of God. Faith revives rn distress, and darkness turns to li"ht. This, too, aa the New Testament teaches ua, always by the gracious operation ~f the Holy, Spirit, revivin&" childlike t~ust,. rel~indling h~ly courage. The way in which David s recovered faith wrought 111 !um 1s full of m- struction for ua. 1. Revived faith rests on the Divine word of _promue. . D,_, vid had let the promise of the kingrlom made to him through Samuel shp frum h1a m!nrl when he began to despair of bis life; and it is remarkable that he gave way to tl11s fear at. a time when there was a lull in the persecution directed against him. Dut ,~lien real dano·er was upon him when he had lost all and his own followerb turned agamat h11n, ,Lis fu.ith agni11 caugli't hold of the Divine promise. He could not die then and there, OH. XXX. 1-31.] THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. 561