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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>F I R S T S A M U E L</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. VII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter we have,
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I. The eclipsing of the glory of the ark, by its privacy in
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Kirjath-jearim for many years,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+7:1,2">ver. 1, 2</A>.
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II. The appearing of the glory of Samuel in his public services for the
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good of Israel, to whom he was raised up to be a judge, and he was the
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last that bore that character. This chapter gives us all the account we
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have of him when he was in the prime of his time; for what we had
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before was in his childhood
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+2:1-3:21"><I>ch.</I> ii. and iii.</A>);
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what we have of him after was in his old age,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+8:1"><I>ch.</I> viii. 1</A>.
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We have him here active,
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1. In the reformation of Israel from their idolatry,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+7:3,4">ver. 3, 4</A>.
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2. In the reviving of religion among them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+7:5,6">ver. 5, 6</A>.
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3. In praying for them against the invading Philistines
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(ver. 7-9</A>),
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over whom God, in answer to his prayer, gave them a glorious victory,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+7:10,11">ver. 10, 11</A>.
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4. In erecting a thankful memorial of that victory,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+7:12">ver. 12</A>.
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5. In the improvement of that victory,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+7:13,14">ver. 13, 14</A>.
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6. In the administration of justice,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+7:15-17">ver. 15-17</A>.
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And these were the things for which God was preparing the designing
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him, in the early vouchsafements of his grace to him.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="1Sa7_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa7_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Ark at Kirjath-jearim.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1099.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And the men of Kirjath-jearim came, and fetched up the ark of
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill,
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and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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2 And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjath-jearim,
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that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the
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house of Israel lamented after the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here we must attend the ark to Kirjath-jearim, and then leave it there,
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to hear not a word more of it except once
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+14:18"><I>ch.</I> xiv. 18</A>),
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till David fetched it thence, about forty years after,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+13:6">1 Chron. xiii. 6</A>.</P>
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<P>
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I. We are very willing to attend it thither, for the men of
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Beth-shemesh have by their own folly made that a burden which might
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have been a blessing; and gladly would we see it among those to whom it
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will be a <I>savour of life unto life,</I> for in every place where it
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has been of late it has been a <I>savour of death unto death.</I>
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Now,</P>
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<P>
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1. The men of Kirjath-jearim cheerfully bring it among them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+7:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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<I>They came,</I> at the first word, <I>and fetched up the ark of the
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Lord.</I> Their neighbours the Beth-shemites, were not more glad to get
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rid of it than they were to receive it, knowing very well that what
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slaughter the ark had made at Beth-shemesh was not an act of arbitrary
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power, but of necessary justice, and those that suffered by it must
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blame themselves, not the ark; we may depend upon the word which God
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hath said
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+25:6">Jer. xxv. 6</A>),
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<I>Provoke me not, and I will do you no hurt.</I> Note, The judgments
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of God on those who profane his ordinances should not make us afraid of
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the ordinances, but of profaning them and making an ill use of
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them.</P>
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<P>
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2. They carefully provided for its decent entertainment among them, as
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a welcome guest, with true affection, and, as an honourable guest, with
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respect and reverence.</P>
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<P>
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(1.) They provided a proper place to receive it. They had no public
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building to adorn with it, but they lodged it in the house of Abinadab,
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which stood upon the highest ground, and, probably, was the best house
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in their city; or perhaps the master of it was the most eminent man
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they had for piety, and best affected to the ark. The men of
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Beth-shemesh left it exposed upon a stone in the open field, and,
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though it was a city of priests, none of them received it into his
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house; but the men of Kirjath-jearim, though common Israelites, gave it
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house-room, and no doubt the best-furnished room in the house to which
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it was brought. Note,
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[1.] God will find out a resting-place for his ark; if some thrust it
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from them, yet the hearts of others shall be inclined to receive it.
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[2.] It is no new thing for God's ark to be thrust into a private
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house. Christ and his apostles preached from house to house when they
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could not have public places at command.
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[3.] Sometimes priests are shamed and out-done in religion by common
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Israelites.</P>
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<P>
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(2.) They provided a proper person to attend it: <I>They sanctified
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Eleazar his son to keep it;</I> not the father, either because he was
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aged and infirm, or because he had the affairs of his house and family
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to attend, from which they would not take him off. But the son, who, it
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is probable, was a very pious devout young man, and zealously affected
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towards the best things. His business was to keep the ark, not only
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from being seized by malicious Philistines, but from being touched or
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looked into by too curious Israelites. He was to keep the room clean
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and decent in which the ark was, that, though it was in an obscure
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place, it might no look like a neglected thing, which no man looked
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after. It does not appear that this Eleazar was of the tribe of Levi,
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much less of the house of Aaron, nor was it needful that he should, for
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here was no altar either for sacrifice or incense, only we may suppose
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that some devout Israelites would come and pray before the ark, and
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those that did so he was there ready to attend and assist. For this
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purpose they sanctified him, that is, by his own consent, they obliged
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him to make this his business, and to give a constant attendance to it;
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they set him apart for it in the name of all their citizens. This was
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irregular, but was excusable because of the present distress. When the
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ark has but recently come out of captivity we cannot expect it to be on
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a sudden in its usual solemnity, but must take things as they are, and
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make the best of them.</P>
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<P>
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II. Yet we are very loth to leave it here, wishing it well at Shiloh
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again, but that is made desolate
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+7:14">Jer. vii. 14</A>),
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or at least wishing it at Nob, or Gibeon, or wherever the tabernacle
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and the altars are; but, it seems, it must lie by the way for want of
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some public-spirited men to bring it to its proper place.
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1. The time of its continuance here was long, very long, above forty
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years it lay in these fields of the wood, a remote, obscure, private
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place, unfrequented and almost unregarded
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+7:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>):
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<I>The time that the ark abode in Kirjath-jearim was long,</I> even
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till David fetched it thence. It was very strange that all the time
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that Samuel governed the ark was never brought to its place in the holy
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of holies, an evidence of the decay of holy zeal among them. God
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suffered it to be so, to punish them for their neglect of the ark when
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it was in its place and to show that the great stress which the
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institution laid upon the ark was but typical of Christ, and those
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<I>good things to come which cannot be moved,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+9:23,12:27">Heb. ix. 23; xii. 27</A>.
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It was a just reproach to the priests that one not of their order was
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sanctified to keep the ark.
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2. Twenty years of this time had passed before the house of Israel was
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sensible of the want of the ark. The Septuagint read it somewhat more
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clearly than we do; <I>and it was twenty years, and</I> (that is, when)
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<I>the whole house of Israel looked up again after the Lord.</I> So
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long the ark remained in obscurity, and the Israelites were not
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sensible of the inconvenience, nor ever made any enquiry after it, what
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has become of it; though, while it was absent from the tabernacle, the
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token of God's special presence was wanting, nor could they keep the
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day of atonement as it should be kept. They were content with the
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altars without the ark; so easily can formal professors rest satisfied
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in a round of external performances, without any tokens of God's
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presence or acceptance. But at length they bethought themselves, and
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began to lament after the lord, stirred up to it, it is probable, by
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the preaching of Samuel, with which an extraordinary working of the
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Spirit of God set in. A general disposition to repentance and
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reformation now appears throughout all Israel, and they begin to
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<I>look unto him whom they had slighted, and to mourn,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+12:10">Zech. xii. 10</A>.
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Dr. Lightfoot thinks this was a matter and time as remarkable as almost
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any we read of in scripture; and that the great conversion, Acts 2 and
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3, is the only parallel to it. Note,
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(1.) Those that know how to value God's ordinances cannot but reckon it
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a very lamentable thing to want them.
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(2.) True repentance and conversion begin in lamenting after the Lord;
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we must be sensible that by sin we have provoked him to withdraw and
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are undone if we continue in a state of distance from him, and be
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restless till we have recovered his favour and obtained his gracious
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returns. It was better with the Israelites when they wanted the ark,
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and were lamenting after it, than when they had the ark, and were
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prying into it, or priding themselves in it. Better see people longing
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in the scarcity of the means of grace than loathing in the abundance of
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them.</P>
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<A NAME="1Sa7_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa7_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa7_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa7_6"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>3 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye
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do return unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> with all your hearts, <I>then</I> put away the
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strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your
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hearts unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and serve him only: and he will deliver you
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out of the hand of the Philistines.
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4 Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and
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Ashtaroth, and served the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> only.
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5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray
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for you unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and
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poured <I>it</I> out before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and fasted on that day, and said
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there, We have sinned against the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>. And Samuel judged the
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children of Israel in Mizpeh.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We may well wonder where Samuel was and what he was doing all this
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while, for we have not had him so much as named till now, since
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+4:1"><I>ch.</I> iv. 1</A>,
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not as if he were unconcerned, but his labours among his people are not
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mentioned till there appears the fruit of them. When he perceived that
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they began to <I>lament after the Lord</I> he struck while the iron was
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hot, and two things he endeavoured to do for them, as a faithful
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servant of God and a faithful friend to the Israel of God:--</P>
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<P>
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I. He endeavoured to separate between them and their idols, for
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<I>there</I> reformation must begin. He <I>spoke to all the house of
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Israel</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+7:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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going, as it should seem, from place to place, an itinerant preacher
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(for we find not that they were gathered together till
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+7:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>),
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and wherever he came this was his exhortation, "<I>If you do indeed
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return to the Lord,</I> as you seem inclined to do, by your
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lamentations for your departure from him and his from you, then know,
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1. That you must renounce and abandon your idols, <I>put away the
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strange gods,</I> for your God will admit no rival; put them away from
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you, each one from himself, nay, and put them <I>from among you,</I> do
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what you can, in your places, to rid them out of the country. Put away
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Baalim, the strange gods, and Ashtaroth, the strange goddesses," for
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such also they had. Or Ashtaroth is particularly named because it was
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the best-beloved idol, and that which they were most wedded to. Note,
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True repentance strikes at the darling sin, and will with a peculiar
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zeal and resolution put away that, the sin which most <I>easily besets
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us.</I>
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2. "That you must make a solemn business of returning to God, and do it
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with a serious consideration and a stedfast resolution, for both are
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included in <I>preparing the heart,</I> directing, disposing,
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establishing, the heart unto the Lord.
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3. That you must be wholly for God, for him and no other, <I>serve him
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only,</I> else you do not serve him at all so as to please him.
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4. That this is the only way and a sure way to prosperity and
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deliverance. Take this course, and <I>he will deliver you out of the
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hand of the Philistines;</I> for it was because you forsook him and
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served other gods that he delivered you into their hands." This was the
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purport of Samuel's preaching, and it had a wonderfully good effect
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+7:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>):
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<I>They put away Baalim and Ashtaroth,</I> not only quitted the worship
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of them, but destroyed their images, demolished their altars, and quite
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abandoned them. <I>What have we to do any more with idols?</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+14:8,Isa+30:22">Hos. xiv. 8; Isa. xxx. 22</A>.</P>
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<P>
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II. He endeavoured to engage them for ever to God and his service. Now
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that he had them in a good mind he did all he could to keep them in
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it.</P>
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<P>
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1. He summons all Israel, at least by their elders, as their
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representatives, to meet him at Mizpeh
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+7:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>),
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and there he promises to pray for them. And it was worth while for them
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to come from the remotest part of the country to join with Samuel in
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see king God's favour. Note, Ministers should pray for those to whom
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they preach, that God by his grace would make the preaching effectual.
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And, when we come together in religious assemblies, we must remember
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that it is as much our business there to join in public prayers as it
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is to hear a sermon. He would pray for them that, by the grace of God,
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they might be parted from their idols, and that then, by the providence
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of God, they might be delivered from the Philistines. Ministers would
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profit their people more if they did but pray more for them.</P>
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<P>
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2. They obey his summons, and not only come to the meeting, but conform
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to the intentions of it, and appear there very well disposed,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+7:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.</P>
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<P>
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(1.) <I>They drew water and poured it out before the Lord,</I>
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signifying,
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[1.] Their humiliation and contrition for sin, owning themselves as
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water spilt upon the ground, which cannot be gathered up again
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+14:14">2 Sam. xiv. 14</A>),
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so mean, so miserable, before God,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+22:14">Ps. xxii. 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
The Chaldee reads it, <I>They poured out their hearts in repentance
|
|
before the Lord.</I> They wept rivers of tears, and sorrowed after a
|
|
godly sort, for it was before the Lord and with an eye to him.
|
|
|
|
[2.] Their earnest prayers and supplications to God for mercy. The soul
|
|
is, in prayer, poured out before God,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+62:8">Ps. lxii. 8</A>.
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[3.] Their universal reformation; they thus expressed their willingness
|
|
to part with all their sins, and to retain no more of the relish or
|
|
savour of them than the vessel does of the water that is poured out of
|
|
it. They were free and full in their confession, and fixed in their
|
|
resolution to cast away from them <I>all their transgressions.</I>
|
|
Israel is now <I>baptized from their idols,</I> so Dr. Lightfoot.
|
|
|
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[4.] Some think it signifies their joy in the hope of God's mercy,
|
|
which Samuel had assured them of. This ceremony was used with that
|
|
signification at the feast of tabernacles,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+7:37,38">John vii. 37, 38</A>,
|
|
|
|
and see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+12:3">Isa. xii. 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
Taking it in this sense, it must be read, <I>They drew water after they
|
|
had fasted.</I> In the close of their humiliation they thus expressed
|
|
their hope of pardon and reconciliation.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) <I>They fasted,</I> abstained from food, afflicted their souls, so
|
|
expressing repentance and exciting devotion.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(3.) They made a public confession: <I>We have sinned against the
|
|
Lord,</I> so giving glory to God and taking shame to themselves. And,
|
|
if we thus confess our sins, we shall find our God <I>faithful and just
|
|
to forgive us our sins.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
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|
|
|
3. Samuel judged them at that time in Mizpeh, that is, he assured them,
|
|
in God's name, of the pardon of their sins, upon their repentance, and
|
|
that God was reconciled to them. It was a judgment of absolution. Or he
|
|
received informations against those that did not leave their idols, and
|
|
proceeded against them according to law. Those that would not judge
|
|
themselves he judged. Or now he settled courts of justice among them,
|
|
and appointed the terms and circuits which he observed afterwards,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+7:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
Now he set those wheels a-going; and, whereas he began to act as a
|
|
magistrate, to prevent their relapsing into those sins which now they
|
|
seemed to have renounced.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa7_7"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa7_8"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa7_9"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa7_10"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa7_11"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa7_12"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Israelites Attacked by the Philistines; Samuel's Intercession for Israel.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1099.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>7 And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel
|
|
were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines
|
|
went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard
|
|
<I>it,</I> they were afraid of the Philistines.
|
|
8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry
|
|
unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> our God for us, that he will save us out of the
|
|
hand of the Philistines.
|
|
9 And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered <I>it for</I> a burnt
|
|
offering wholly unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: and Samuel cried unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> for
|
|
Israel; and the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> heard him.
|
|
10 And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the
|
|
Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
|
|
thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines,
|
|
and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.
|
|
11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the
|
|
Philistines, and smote them, until <I>they came</I> under Beth-car.
|
|
12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set <I>it</I> between Mizpeh and
|
|
Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath
|
|
the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> helped us.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here,
|
|
|
|
I. The Philistines invade Israel
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+7:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>),
|
|
|
|
taking umbrage from that general meeting for repentance and prayer as
|
|
if it had been a rendezvous for war, and, if so, they thought it
|
|
prudent to keep the war out of their own country. They had no just
|
|
cause for this suspicion; but those that seek to do mischief to others
|
|
will be forward to imagine that others design mischief to them. Now see
|
|
here,
|
|
|
|
1. How evil sometimes seems to come out of good. The religious meeting
|
|
of the Israelites at Mizpeh brought trouble upon them from the
|
|
Philistines, which perhaps tempted them to wish they had staid at home
|
|
and to blame Samuel for calling them together. But we may be in God's
|
|
way and yet meet with distress; nay, when sinners begin to repent and
|
|
reform, they must expect that Satan will muster all his force against
|
|
them, and set his instruments on work to the utmost to oppose and
|
|
discourage them. But,
|
|
|
|
2. How good is, at length, brought out of that evil. Israel could never
|
|
be threatened more seasonably than at this time, when they were
|
|
repenting and praying, nor could they have been better prepared to
|
|
receive the enemy; nor could the Philistines have acted more impolitely
|
|
for themselves than to make war upon Israel at this time, when they
|
|
were making their peace with God. But God permitted them to do it, that
|
|
he might have an opportunity immediately of crowning his people's
|
|
reformation with tokens of his favour, and of confirming the words of
|
|
his messenger, who had assured them that if they repented God would
|
|
<I>deliver them out of the hand of the Philistines.</I> Thus he makes
|
|
man's wrath to praise him, and serves the purposes of his grace to his
|
|
people even by the malicious designs of their enemies against them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+4:11,12">Mic. iv. 11, 12</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Israel cleaves closely to Samuel, as their best friend, under God,
|
|
in this distress; though he was no military man, nor ever celebrated as
|
|
a mighty man of valour, yet, being afraid of the Philistines, for whom
|
|
they thought themselves an unequal match, they engaged Samuel's prayers
|
|
for them: <I>Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+7:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
They were here unarmed, unprepared for war, come together to fast and
|
|
pray, not to fight; prayers and tears therefore being all the weapons
|
|
many of them are now furnished with, to these they have recourse. And,
|
|
knowing Samuel to have a great interest in heaven, they earnestly beg
|
|
of him to improve it for them. They had reason to expect it, because he
|
|
had promised to <I>pray for them</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+7:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>),
|
|
|
|
had promised them deliverance from the Philistines
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+7:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
|
|
|
|
and they had been observant of him in all that which he had spoken to
|
|
them from the Lord. Thus those who sincerely submit to Christ, as their
|
|
lawgiver and judge, need not doubt of their interest in his
|
|
intercession. They were very solicitous that Samuel should not cease to
|
|
pray for them: what military preparations were to be made they would
|
|
undertake them, but let him continue instant in prayer, perhaps
|
|
remembering that when Moses did but let down his hand ever so little
|
|
Amalek prevailed. O what a comfort is it to all believers that our
|
|
great intercessor above never ceases, is never silent, for he <I>always
|
|
appears in the presence of God for us!</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. Samuel intercedes with God for them, and does it <I>by
|
|
sacrifice,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+7:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
He took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a <I>burnt-offering, a whole
|
|
burnt-offering, to the Lord,</I> and, while the sacrifice was in
|
|
burning, with the smoke of it his prayers ascended up to heaven for
|
|
Israel. Observe,
|
|
|
|
1. He made intercession with a sacrifice. Christ intercedes in the
|
|
virtue of his satisfaction, and in all our prayers we must have an eye
|
|
to his great oblation, depending upon that for audience and acceptance.
|
|
Samuel's sacrifice without his prayer would have been an empty shadow,
|
|
his prayer without the sacrifice would not have been so prevalent, but
|
|
both together teach us what great things we may expect from God in
|
|
answer to those prayers which are made with faith in Christ's
|
|
sacrifice.
|
|
|
|
2. It was a burnt-offering, which was offered purely for the glory of
|
|
God, so intimating that the great plea he relied on in his prayer was
|
|
taken from the honour of God. "Lord, help thy people now for thy name's
|
|
sake." When we endeavour to give glory to God we may hope he will, in
|
|
answer to our prayers, work for his own glory.
|
|
|
|
3. It was but one sucking lamb that he offered; for it is the integrity
|
|
and intention of the heart that God looks at, more than the bulk or
|
|
number of the offerings. This one lamb (typifying the Lamb of God) was
|
|
more acceptable than thousands of rams or bullocks would have been
|
|
without faith and prayer. Samuel was no priest, but he was a Levite and
|
|
a prophet; the case was extraordinary, and what he did was by special
|
|
direction, and therefore was accepted of God. And justly was this
|
|
reproach put upon the priests because they had corrupted
|
|
themselves.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. God gave a gracious answer to Samuel's prayer
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+7:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>The Lord heard him.</I> He was himself a <I>Samuel, asked of
|
|
God,</I> and many a Samuel, many a mercy in answer to prayer, God gave
|
|
him. Sons of prayer should be famous for praying, as <I>Samuel was
|
|
among those that call upon his name,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+99:6">Ps. xcix. 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
The answer was a real answer: the Philistines were discomfited
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+7:10,11"><I>v.</I> 10, 11</A>),
|
|
|
|
totally routed, and that in such a manner as highly magnified the
|
|
prayer of Samuel, the power of God, and the valour of Israel.
|
|
|
|
1. The prayer of Samuel was honoured; for at the very time when he was
|
|
offering up his sacrifice, and his prayer with it, the battle began,
|
|
and turned immediately against the Philistines. Thus <I>while he was
|
|
yet speaking God heard,</I> and answered in thunder,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+65:24">Isa. lxv. 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
God showed that it was Samuel's prayer and sacrifice that he had
|
|
respect to, and hereby let Israel know that as in a former engagement
|
|
with the Philistines he had justly chastised their presumptuous
|
|
confidence in the presence of the ark, on the shoulders of two profane
|
|
priests, so now he graciously accepted their humble dependence upon the
|
|
prayer of faith from the mouth and heart of a pious prophet.
|
|
|
|
2. The power of God was greatly honoured; for he took the work into his
|
|
own hand, and discomfited them, not with great hail-stones, which would
|
|
kill them (as
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+10:11">Josh. x. 11</A>),
|
|
|
|
but with a great thunder, which frightened them and put them into such
|
|
terror and consternation that they fainted away, and became a very easy
|
|
prey to the sword of Israel, before whom, being thus confounded, they
|
|
were smitten. Josephus adds that the earth quaked under them when first
|
|
they made the onset and in many places opened and swallowed them up,
|
|
and that, besides the terror of the thunder, their faces and hands were
|
|
burnt with lightning, which obliged them to shift for themselves by
|
|
flight. And, being thus driven to their heels by the immediate hand of
|
|
God (whom they feared not so much as they had feared his ark,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+4:7"><I>ch.</I> iv. 7</A>),
|
|
|
|
then,
|
|
|
|
3. Honour was put upon the hosts of Israel; they were made use of for
|
|
the completing of the victory, and had the pleasure of triumphing over
|
|
their oppressors: <I>They pursued the Philistines, and smote them.</I>
|
|
How soon did they find the benefit of their repentance, and
|
|
reformation, and return to God! Now that they have thus engaged him for
|
|
them none of their enemies can stand before them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
V. Samuel erected a thankful memorial of this victory, to the glory of
|
|
God and for the encouragement of Israel,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+7:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
He set up an <I>Eben-ezer, the stone of help.</I> If ever the people's
|
|
hard hearts should lose the impressions of this providence, this stone
|
|
would either revive the remembrance of it, and make them thankful, or
|
|
remain a standing witness against them for their unthankfulness.
|
|
|
|
1. The place where this memorial was set up was the same where, twenty
|
|
years before, the Israelites were smitten before the Philistines, for
|
|
that was beside Eben-ezer,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+4:1"><I>ch.</I> iv. 1</A>.
|
|
|
|
The sin which procured that defeat formerly being pardoned upon their
|
|
repentance, the pardon was sealed by this glorious victory in the very
|
|
same place where they then suffered loss; see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+1:10">Hos. i. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. Samuel himself took care to set up this monument. He had been
|
|
instrumental by prayer to obtain the mercy, and therefore he thought
|
|
himself in a special manner obliged to make this grateful
|
|
acknowledgement of it.
|
|
|
|
3. The reason he gives for the name is, <I>Hitherto the Lord hath
|
|
helped us,</I> in which he speaks thankfully of what was past, giving
|
|
the glory of the victory to God only, who had added this to all his
|
|
former favours; and yet he speaks somewhat doubtfully for the future:
|
|
"Hitherto things have done well, but what God may yet do with us we
|
|
know not, <I>that</I> we refer to him; but let us praise him for what
|
|
he has done." Note, The beginnings of mercy and deliverance are to be
|
|
acknowledged by us with thankfulness so far as they go, though they be
|
|
not completely finished, nay, though the issue seem uncertain.
|
|
<I>Having obtained help from God, I continue hitherto,</I> says blessed
|
|
Paul,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+26:22">Acts xxvi. 22</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa7_13"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa7_14"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa7_15"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa7_16"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa7_17"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Defeat of the Philistines.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1092.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into
|
|
the coast of Israel: and the hand of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> was against the
|
|
Philistines all the days of Samuel.
|
|
14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel
|
|
were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the
|
|
coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the
|
|
Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
|
|
15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
|
|
16 And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and
|
|
Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.
|
|
17 And his return <I>was</I> to Ramah; for there <I>was</I> his house;
|
|
and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the
|
|
L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We have here a short account of the further good services that Samuel
|
|
did to Israel. Having parted them from their idols, and brought them
|
|
home to their God, he had put them into a capacity of receiving further
|
|
benefits by his ministry. Having prevailed in that, he becomes, in
|
|
other instances, a great blessing to them; yet, writing it himself, he
|
|
is brief in the relation. We are not told here, but it appears
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+35:18">2 Chron. xxxv. 18</A>)
|
|
|
|
that in the days of Samuel the prophet the people of Israel kept the
|
|
ordinance of the passover with more than ordinary devotion,
|
|
notwithstanding the distance of the ark and the desolations of Shiloh.
|
|
Many good offices, no doubt, he did for Israel, but here we are only
|
|
told how instrumental he was,
|
|
|
|
1. In securing the public peace
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+7:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>In his days the Philistines came no more into the coast of
|
|
Israel,</I> made no inroads or incursions upon them; they perceived
|
|
that God now fought for Israel and that his hand was against the
|
|
Philistines, and this kept them in awe, and restrained the remainder of
|
|
their wrath." Samuel was a protector and deliverer to Israel, not by
|
|
dint of sword, as Gideon, nor by strength of arm, as Samson, but by the
|
|
power of prayer to God and carrying on a work of reformation among the
|
|
people. Religion and piety are the best securities of a nation.
|
|
|
|
2. In recovering the public rights,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+7:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
By his influence Israel had the courage to demand the cities which the
|
|
Philistines had unjustly taken from them and had long detained; and the
|
|
Philistines, not daring to contend with one that had so great an
|
|
interest in heaven, tamely yielded to the demand, and restored (some
|
|
think) even Ekron and Gath, two of the capital cities, though
|
|
afterwards they retook them; others think some small towns that lay
|
|
between Ekron and Gath, which were forced out of the Philistines'
|
|
hands. This they got by their reformation and religion, they got ground
|
|
of their enemies and got forward in their affairs. It is added,
|
|
<I>There was peace between Israel and the Amorites,</I> that is, the
|
|
Canaanites, the remains of the natives. Not that Israel made any league
|
|
with them, but they were quiet, and not so mischievous to Israel as
|
|
they had sometimes been. Thus <I>when a man's ways please the Lord he
|
|
maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him</I> and give him no
|
|
disturbance,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+16:7">Prov. xvi. 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
3. In administering public justice
|
|
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+7:15,16"><I>v.</I> 15, 16</A>):
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<I>He judged Israel;</I> as a prophet he taught them their duty and
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reproved them for their sins, which is called <I>judging,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+20:4,22:2">Ezek. xx. 4; xxii. 2</A>.
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Moses judged Israel when he <I>made them know the statutes of God and
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his laws</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:16">Exod. xviii. 16</A>);
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and thus Samuel judged them to the last, even after Saul was made king;
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so he promised them then, when Saul was inaugurated
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+12:23"><I>ch.</I> xii. 23</A>),
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<I>I will</I> not cease to <I>teach you the good and the right way.</I>
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As a magistrate, he received appeals from the inferior courts and gave
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judgment upon them, tried causes and determined them, tried prisoners
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and acquitted or condemned them, according to the law. This he did all
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his days, till he grew old and past service, and resigned to Saul; and
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afterwards he exercised authority when application was made to him;
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nay, he judged even Agag, and Saul himself. But when he was in his
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prime he rode the circuit, for the convenience of the country, at least
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of that part of it which lay most under his influence. He kept courts
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at Beth-el, Gilgal, and Mizpeh, all in the tribe of Benjamin; but his
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constant residence was at Ramah, his father's city, and there he judged
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Israel, thither they resorted to him from all parts with their
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complaints,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+7:17">v. 17</A>.
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4. In keeping up the public exercises of religion; for there, where he
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lived, he built an altar to the Lord, not in contempt of the altar that
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was at Nob, or Gibeon, or wherever the tabernacle was; but divine
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justice having laid Shiloh waste, and no other place being yet chosen
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for them to bring their offerings to
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+12:11">Deut. xii. 11</A>),
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he looked upon the law which confined them to one place to be for the
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present suspended, and therefore, being a prophet, and under divine
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direction, he did as the patriarchs did, he built an altar where he
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lived, both for the use of his own family and for the good of the
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country that resorted to it. Great men should use their wealth, power,
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and interest, for the keeping up of religion in the places where they
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live.</P>
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