When the end c1mo David stood ready to occupy the throne, and, after a hrief period of conflict and confusion, the whole nation, fought by experience, gladly received him as its ruler. This is the theocratic "argument" of the greater portion of tl1e Book. In the terrible defeat of Israel we see-- I. TIIEIR IDOL DROKEN IN PIECES. "So Saul died," &c. "The men of Israel fled, and Saul and his sons were dead," &c. (vers. 6, 7). Men are apt to imagine that something else beyond what God has ordained is necessary to their welfare, to be impatient of his time, to attach an undue value to the expedients which in their imperfect knowledge and sinful desires they devise, to set their hearts upon earthly and visible objects, and depend upon them rather than upon "him who is invisible.' This tendency finds expression in many ways, and embodies itself in many forms. And although God may permit such ulols to continue for a time, lie always over- throws them. When Israel made an idol of the ark it was given into the bands of the Philistines, and when they made an iclol of "a king" (eh. viii. 5) he was slain. Their hope in him was bitterly disappointed, and inasmuch as he was (according to Divine prescience, though not by absolute necessity nor without personal guilt) a representation and reflection of their sin (worldliness, formalism, self-will), they were severely punished in him and by his instrumentality. How little did they gain, how much did they lose, by having their own way I II I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath" (Hosea xiii. 11). "Cease ye from man," &c. II. TIIEIR CITIES FORSAKEN. "And when the men of Israel that were by the side of the plain " ( west of the central branch of the valley of J ezreel, " opposite to the place of conflict, which the writer assumed as his standpoint "-Keil), "and by the -side of the Jordan" ( east of the plain, between Gil boa and the Jordan)," saw that the men of Israel" (who were engaged in the battle)" fled," &c." they forsook the cities; and the Philistines came" (from that time onward) 11 and dwelt in thE>m" (so that the whole of the northern part of the land fell into their hands). Instead of over- .coming their enemies, they were overcome by them, driven from their homes, reduced to the most abject condition, and without any prospect of regaining by their own strength their lost possessions. "Your country is desolate," &c. (Isa. i. 7). The peaceful g·overnment of Samuel gave them prosperity (eh. vii. 13, 14); but the war- 'l.ike rule of Saul, which they preferred, ended in their overthrow. "Sore distressed," Hke him (eh. x:xviii. 15), whither should they turn for help? l\ien are deprived of all hope in themselves that they may II set their hope in God.'' III. TIIEIR ENEMIES TRIUMPHANT. '' And it came to pass on the morrow" ( after the battle, which ended at nightfall)" when the Philistines came," &c. "And they cut off his ltead(as in the case of Goliath of Gath, and afterwards deposited it in the temple of Dagon, in Ashdod, 1 Chron. x. 10; eh. v. 1), and sent (messengers bearing his heod and armour) into the land of the Philistines round about, to proclaim the good tidings in their idol temples (to their idols) e.nd among the people (2 Sam. i. 20). And they put his armmtr in the house of Ashtaroth (in Askelon), and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan" (Judges i. 27). It has been remarked of the Philistines that "so implacable was their enmity to the Israelites, that one would be almost tempted to think that they had been created on purpose to be a thorn in their sides" (Russell, 'Connection,' History of the Philistines). Their victory was the victory of their gods; the defeat of Israel the dishonour of Jehovah. Rather than sanction sin in his people, God not only suffers them to be overthrown by their enemies, but even his own name to be for a while despised and " blasphemed among the heathen." But the triumph of the wicked is short (2 Sam. v. 17-25). IV. THEIR TRUE STRENGTH UNDESTROYED. It consisted in the presence and power of their Divine and- invisible King; his benevolent and unchangeable purpose con- cerning them (eh. xii. 22); his faithful, praying, obedient subjects in their midst, who had been long looking to David as his chosen 11 8ervant," and were now rallying round him daily until his following became II a great host like the host of God" (1 Chron. xii. 22). There was an " Israel after the fleRh" ( constituting the State), and there was an Israel "after the spirit" (constitJ1tiJ1g the Church); and in the latter lay" the power of an endless life." Judgment might sweep over the nation like a destroying hailstorm, and leave it like a tree bereft of all its leaves, and even ' 1cut it down" to the ground. But its true life would be spared, would be tric1l and 570 THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. [en. XXXI. 1--13.
pur~ficd by affliction, and become a source ?f !·enewed power and greater glory. 11 Ait- a te1l tree, and ns an oak, whose substance 1s m them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof" (Isa. vi. 13; i. 9; !xv. 8). Obsei·vations :-1. That which is wrongly desired as an instrument of good becomes. when obtained an instrument of evil. 2. Men may have their own way apparently in opposition to the way of God, but his purpose does not change, and he knows how to carry it into effect. 3. The people who sanction the sins of their rulers jus!ly shar~ their punis~ment.. 4. :When th~ people o~..God expect to prevail against th~1r enemies by adopting their smful pohcy (eh. vm. 20), they are certain to be ultimately defeated. 5. The suffering and humiliation that follow sin are the most effectual means of its correction. 6. The hope of a nation in the day of trouble lies i!' its praying, believing, godly men. 7. God over-rules all things, including the s_1_ns and sorrows of his people, for the establishment of his kingdom upon earth (eh. 11. 10).-D.