1 Samuel 2

1 Samuel 2:1-10

11. 12. Ibid. 13. Amos viii. 11. 14. Heb. Sloben. Jury. vii. 9. 15. Chap. iii. 16. 17. Ibid. 18. 21. 19. Lev. xii. 3. 20. Chom. xiii. 21. 22. Cor. xii. 23. Col. i. 24. Heb. x. 25. 26. Oly, They all Samuel before he know the Lord, and before, dec. Atti. xii. 2.

Justly provoked with the ill conduct of the priests, God had withdrawn his gracious appearances from them. Darkness now reigns in the desolate sanctuary, and neither vision nor dream, for a long time, had been vouchsafed; but God having raised up Samuel for extraordinary services, and early prepared him, by his exemplary piety, for communion with his blessed self, begun, whilst he is yet a youth, to manifest himself to him in Solihah. Now, Early piety is usually favoured with especial communications of divine consolations. We have,

1. The time when God appeared to him, in the night, when Eli, sinking under age and infirmities, was retired for repose, and Samuel in some room near him, to be ready at Eli’s call; the lamp of God yet bursting, which seems to intimate, that it was towards morning. Now, We have to bless God for the best of repose, on which we can sleep in peace, and still more if with refreshing dreams he makes that repose doubly profitable for our souls as well as bodies.

2. The manner in which he appeared. By an audible voice, calling Samuel by his name; either awakened with the sound,

or

Saham Chud of awake before, and employed in holy meditation before the morning light, he answers immediately, foregoing it Eli’s voice, and runs to his chamber, to enquire what he wanted. Eli assures him he did not call, and bids him lie down again. Note, (1.) A willing servant runs at his master’s voice, happy, and therefore in halls, to serve him. (2.) They who for their servants officious to please them, ought, in return, to blow themselves tender of them, and to confute their comfort and repose.

3. Repeated calls are given, and Samuel returns to Eli, persuaded the voice was his; for he was a child, and had not as yet been used to any such extraordinary manifestation of God’s presence, nor had received any prophecal revelation from him. At first Eli finds him back to his bed, but after a second and third call, he began to reflect, and to conclude the voice divine; he therefore bids him lie down again, and at the next call to answer, Speak, Lord, for thy servant bearers, as attentive to the notice, and ready to obey the command. Hereupon, no sooner was he composed on his bed, than the Lord should before him, probably in a human form, as he afterwards appeared in earnest, and called him Samuel, Samuel; Samuel, according to Eli’s instructions, answers, Here am I. Note, (1.) When God deigns to call a soul, he will open his ears to hear, and repeat those calls to often, that amidst all our murders and errors, they shall at last become effectual to lead us in the right way. (2.) We may expect some gracious manifestation from God, when our obedient ear is attentive to the Divine call, and out of his word we are enquiring, Lord, what will thou have me to do. (3.) Such as are elder, and more experienced in the ways of God, should delight to instruct the younger, who are training up in the same ways. (4.) They who are careful to observe the good instructions they receive, will find the blessing of so doing.

4. ¶ And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, ‘I will do a thing in Israel,’ at which both the ears of every one that beareth it shall tingle. 12. In that day, ‘I will perform against Eli, all things which I have spoken concerning his house: + when I begin, I will also make an end. 13. For I have told him, that I will judge his house for ever, for the iniquity which he knoweth: because his sons made themselves + vile, and he is restrained them not. 14. And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that ’the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever. 15. ¶ And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD: and Samuel feared to throw Eli the vision. 16. Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel my son, And he answered, Here am I. 17. And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me, of all the things that he said unto thee. 18. And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: “let him do what seemeth him good.

5. 11—18. As the former warning seems not sufficiently to have wrought its effect on Eli, another was needed to rouse him to a former correction of his ungodly children. We have, 1. The short but terrible message Samuel receives from God concerning his judgments, and particularly on Eli’s house. With what terror would every Israelite hear the ark was taken, and Eli’s concern how aggravated in the loss of both his sons? They had made themselves vile indeed, and Eli, by his negligence to correct them, because he did not even rouse upon them, though he knew their abomination, was become a party in their crime; therefore God confirms, with an oath, his former denunciations; judgment shall proceed against them, God will begin, and that soon, in the death of Hophis and Phinehas, and make an end in the utter disgrace and desolation of his family in the days of Solomon; no sacrifice or offering could be accepted for them, the decree was gone forth, and it was too late to cry for mercy. Note, (1.) They who made themselves vile by sin, God will make them vile by suffering, when they shall be cast off from his presence, and become an abhorring to all sin. (2.) They who for sin, especially magistrates, masters, and parents, without just rebukes, are chargeable with the guilt of the evil they connive at. (3.) When God arises to judgment, and pronounces the sinner’s final sinners, Or as saying, ‘Or, it will be a sound that will ring with terror in their ears, through a miserable eternity. (4.) Though the sacrifice of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin, yet there may be a time when God hath given up the sinner to a reprobate mind, and having left all feeling to pray for himself, God forbade us also to pray for him, I John v. 16. 2. Though Samuel was afraid to speak to Eli, Eli’s solicitude to know extents from him the dreadful message. (1.) He lay till morning; struck, no doubt, with the awful apprehension of this approaching judgment, and meditating on the strange manifestations which had been made to him, at early dawn arising, he applies himself to his wonted talk of opening the doors of the Lord’s house; not thinking himself, because called to be a prophet, above being a door-keeper in the house of the Lord: unwilling to be the messenger of evil, he conceals from Eli the vision. Note, (1.) Unless our thoughts be lifted up to God his dangerous to lie awake. (2.) The rising more should meet us at the gates of God’s temple in prayer. (3.) They who are called to the highest honours in God’s house think themselves happy to be employed in the meanest service for him. (4.) We should be tender and careful not to grieve our dear friends, and rather, if we can, conceal from them what might burden their hearts with sorrow. (5.) Eli was as solicitous to know the vision as Samuel to hide it from him; perhaps suspecting that it looked him no good, and willing to know the world, that he might prepare for themselves: no sooner was Samuel therefore stirring than Eli calls him, and observing, probably, some reluctance to communicate what had passed, assures him to conceal nothing from him. Note, They who have God’s message entrusted to them much faithfully deliver it, nor, because it may be grating or terrible to the sinner’s ears, through fear conceal it from them, lest thereby their judgment should lie at our door, and then blood be required at our hands. (3.) Samuel faithfully relates, and Eli as piously and humbly acquiesces in the Divine will, terrible as it must be to nature. He knew, as it was of God, it must be soft, and he acknowledged the equity of the forerene; and as the oath of God had established it, it must be irreverable; he dares not pray for a change, but prepares to submit, with holy resignation of himself into the Lord’s hands. Note, (1.) Acquiescence in the justice of the divine judgments, is the best symptom of a truly humbled soul. (2.) Resignation to the Divine will is the way to lighten our bravest burdens; the half of our himerness is removed, when we can say, It is the Lord, let him do as seemeth him good.

6. ¶ And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and ‘did let none of his words fail to the ground.’ 10. And all Israel, from Dan even to Beertheba, knew that Samuel once established to be a prophet of the LORD. 11. And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh; for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh, ‘by the word of the LORD. 12. 19—21. As Samuel increased in years he grew more distinguished by Divine manifestations, and more esteemed by the people of God. 1. The Lord appeared to him again, by the word of the Lord, the incarnate word, whose voice had spoken to him before; and all his predictions were verified in the accomplishment, and all his words weighty and profitable. Note, (1.) They who improve one gracious visit from God, shall not be long without a second. (2.) God will not suffer the words of his ministers to be split as water on the ground, or drop as an arrow to the earth, ere it hath reached the mark, but will cause his word in their mouth to be clothed with power, and to accomplish the thing whereunto he sendeth it. 2. The people knew and honoured the rising prophet; his fame spread throughout the land, and his piety made him as distinguished as his prophecy. Note, Though we are not to seek our own honour, yet we should esteem it a valuable acquisition to possess the esteem and respect of good men.

1 Samuel 2:27-36

In this chapter we have, 1. Hannah’s song of thankgiving, ver. 1—10. 2. Their return home with Eli’s feasting, ver. 11, 20. The increase of their family, ver. 21. Samuel’s growth and improvement, ver. 11, 18, 21, 26. and the care Hannah had to clothe him, ver. 19. 3. The great wickedness of Eli’s sons, ver. 12—17, 22. 4. The ever-mild respect that Eli gave them for it, ver. 23—25. 5. The ruin of his family threatened for the wickedness of his sons, ver. 27—36.

AND Hannah prayed, and said ‘My heart rejoices in the LORD,’ mine born is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies: because I rejoice in thy salvation. 2. There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. 3. Tells no more so exceeding proudly, let not arrogance come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and be born actions are weighed. 4. The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girt with strength. 5. They that were full, have hired our themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and the that hath many children is waxed feeble. 6. The LORD kilteth and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. 7. The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and kilteth up. 8. He raifeth up the poor out of the dust, and kilteth up the beggar from the dunghi, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and he hath set the world upon them. 9. He will keep the feet of his faints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. 10. The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces: out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth, and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.

1. 10. 1—10. The grateful Hannah, big with praise, out of the abundance of her heart, utters this unmumbant song. Very like it is that of Mary, Luke 1. 40.

2. She opens with expressions of her joy in God. Not her son, not her husband, not all the worldly blessings she enjoyed, are to be compared with the sense of his favour and regard. It is this revives her dropping heart, and raises her horn on high, her head in triumph, and her voice in praise. Her enemies now shall lick the dust, Peninnah’s lips be silent in

VOL. I.

shame, or prophetically she foresees the confusion of Israel’s enemies; therefore will she rejoice in God’s salvation, in his present mercy, and much more in hope of his eternal glory through the great Redeemer Jesus. Note, (1.) Praise is comely for the upright. (2.) To possess a grateful heart, is the sure way to secure continuance of our mercies. (3.) The great joy of the believer in the salvation by Jesus Christ’s compared with this, all beside is counted but excise, dung and loss.

2. She exalts God’s glorious perfections. A God of immaculate holiness, like to whom there is no other, neither men nor angels: the one Jehovah, the only God, inherit in power, a rock of ages, an everlasting refuge to all who trust upon him, in wisdom unfeasible, in his will mind at one view comprehending the past, the present, and the future; clearly discerning the characters of men, and from whom nothing is had, nothing is secret. He weighs men’s actions in the scale of impartial justice, and renders to every man according as his work is. Note, (1.) The consideration of God’s attributes falls the believing soul with wonder and praise. (2.) Is he holy? seek to be like him. Is he almighty, trust on him in all difficulties. Is he wise? depend on him for direction. Is he just? then confidently expect the reward of glory, since he is the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus.

3. She adores him for his providential dispensations in the disposal of the affairs of mankind; influencing, in various particulars, where he makes his interposition appear. The locus of the mighty are broken: they who seemed sure of victory, bow under their prisoners; whilst they now stumbled, were so weak that they were ready to despair, are supported by the almighty arm, are girt with thought. This is gloriously true of our spiritual enemies: they were too mighty for us, but Jesus hath broken their powers, and we who stumbled, and were unable to resist their furious attacks, are out of weakness made strong, yea, more than conquerors. The full bows heed out themselves for bread. So quick is often the crucifixion from affluence to want, when God blows upon our possessions; whilst, on the other hand, the hungry ensued, replenished with the abundance of God’s providential gifts. Note, (1.) In poverty or riches, let God’s hand be acknowledged. (2.) The rich, the full of their own righteousness and self-sufficiency, will know a change in the day of God, when they will be sent empty away; whilst the hungry, the humble soul, that craves the bread of life, Christ Jesus, and thirsty after his righteousness, shall be filled with the present blessings of grace, and by and by receive the fullness of glory, when he shall hunger no more, and thirst no more. The increase and diminution of families is from God; her own experience can speak it to his praise: she asks our barren, hath born seven. Seven, a perfect number used to express many, she having, besides Samuel, few children afterwards, given of the Lord; in confidence of which increase she now rejoices: and she that hath many children is waxed feeble, meaning perhaps Peninnah, who now ceased to bear children, or by death had lost some of her numerous offspring. This should reconcile us to the lack of children, that it is the Lord’s doing, and make us rejoice in those he adds, as his gift, and to be educated for his glory. The Lord kilteth and maketh alive. The issues of life and death are in his hands; his decree fixes the boundaries of life. The most likely to live he often smites secretly and faithfully; whilst he delivereth those appointed unto death. Yes, in the same person we see strange changes; brought to the gates of the grave, more eminently to appear a monument of mercy. And spiritually also he kilteth, cutting the sinner into eternal death, or maketh alive, quickening his dead soul by his spirit, and raising up his dead body in the day of glory. Note, (1.) Death never comes by chance, but by a fixed decree. (2.) They have matter of everlasting thankfulness, that by experience know God’s quickening power on their souls, and who are passed from death unto life. He resists up the poor out of the dust, and kilteth up the beggar from the dunghi, to set them among princes, and made them inherit the throne of glory. Such wondrous changes we see in the world of nature; but how much more frequently and gloriously do they appear in the world of grace, where the poor in spirit, and the destitute of all help, confess their wants and wretchedness; and the rich and sovereign grace of God is extended towards them: so that they are raided up among God’s princes, and made to inherit that throne of glory which fades not away. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s; his upholding power and providence are seen in all these instances. Or, figuratively, the pillars may signify the princes mentioned before, and intimates his sovereignty in the disposal of the different estates of men. Let great men consider this, and think who raised them to their high estates, and to whom they are responsible for their conduct.

4. She prophetically foresees the prosperity of God’s people, and the perdition of his enemies, which literally and spiritually hath been, and will be, fulfilled in its season. 1. Literally, Under Samuel’s administration, the Philistines, the adversaries of the Lord, were broken to pieces: the thunder destroyed them, See chap. vii. Saul and David were anointed by him,

4 E and John Chaff

27. 9. And there came a man of God unto ‘Fli, and said unto him, Thus faith the LORD, ‘Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house? 28. And ‘did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, as I offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephra of before me? and ‘did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel? 29. Wherefore ‘kick ye at my sacrifice, and at ‘mine offering, which I have commanded to my habitation, and ‘honoureth thy sons above me, to make yourselves far with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people? 30. Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, ‘Be it far from me; for ’them that honour me, I will honour, and ’they that despise me, shall be lightly esteemed. 31. Behold, the days come that ‘I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father’s house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house. 32. And thou shalt see ‘an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever. 33. And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to continue thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age. 34. And ’this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophri and Phinehas: ‘in one day they shall die both of them. 35. And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart, and in my mind: And I will build him a fine house, and he shall walk before mine Anointed for ever. 36. And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house, shall come and crouch to him for a piece of River, and a morsel of bread, and shall lay, Put me (I pray thee) into one of the priest’s offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.

Because Eli was so remiss in reproving his sons, God, by the mouth of a prophet, sends him a sharp rebuke.

v. He reminds Eli of the peculiar briefings he enjoyed. God had appeared to Aaron, his great progenitor, in Egypt; had conferred on his family, on their delivery from thence, the distinguished honour of the priesthood, and annexed thereto that liberal provision from the sacrifices, which might support the dignity of their office. It was therefore the more culpable in him who enjoyed these favours, to act with such negligence. Now, (1.) Where God hath shewn peculiar menses, he justly expects especial returns. (2.) The honour of mindering before God is great, and his provision an engagement to our fidelity; how criminal then to neglect this service, more to to devoid the wages, and never do the work; and most of all, by open immoralities, to bring a scandal on the holy profession. For these things God will visit.

2. The charge alleged is the abuses committed by his sons, his own concurrence at these abominations, to the difference of God, instead of turning them out of their office, and his partaking with them in the meat thus scandalously obtained. Now, (1.) Our children’s sons are our own, when committed under our eye without immediate correction. (2.) They who feed themselves to the full, will quickly kick at God’s service. (3.) A fat luxurious priest seems consecrated rather to eat than pray, and to sacrifice to his belly rather than any other god.

3. The punishment denounced on such a disobedient conduct, exclusion from the high-presthood, and the perpetual ignominy and desolation of his family. (1.) Exclusion from the high-presthood. How it came settled in the house of Ithamar, from whom Eli descended, instead of Eleazar, in whose family it had at first been, is not recorded; but had they continued faithful, to walk before God, it had not again reverted to the line of Eleazar. Now the mercy is forfeited, and the honour gone, though not immediately transferred, yet the sentence is palied, and it was fulfilled in Zadok, whom Solomon appointed in the room of Abraham. And the reason of his determination God gives, that that honour me I will honour, but they who depose me shall be lightly esteemed. Now, (1.) They who are a dishonour to the priesthood should be degraded from it. (2.) Though godliness may be now despised, and prosperous iniquity in honour; yet admittance costs him, and certainly hereafter, God will exalt the horn of his people, and come their enemies with shame and confusion. (3.) All God’s proceedings will shortly appear to be directed by the most perfect wisdom, and guided by impartial justice. (4.) The desolation and ignominy of Eli’s family are threatened. Their power and authority should be destroyed, their days shorried, dying in

the flower of youth, their possessions moulded away, the art, before which they ministered, be in the hand of the enemy (or perhaps us, and abuses to the translation of the priesthood in their rivals) which the few who remained of his posterity should be a grief and bitterness to those who began them, and he reduced to low as to beg admittance into the meanest offices of the tabernacle, that they might not fasten through want, for 1 Kings xi. 26, 27. The beginning of these forms his own eyes should see, in the death of his two sons Hophri and Phinehas, in one day, and this should be the sign of the fulfilment of all the rest. Now, (1.) Let every ungodly minister read the doom of Eli’s house and tremble. (2.) They who abused their power are justly punished with infamy, and those reduced to want who lived in wantonness. (3.) Better see a child in the grave than living in wickedness. (4.) To serve in the priest’s office merely for bread, is miserable service indeed. (5.) They who have been companions in iniquity may expect to perish together.

4. God promises to raise up to himself a faithful priest, and to preserve to him an enduring priesthood, to minister before God’s anointed, as were the kings of Israel. This was literally fulfilled in Zadoc, whose posterity continued in this office till the captivity in Babylon, if not till the coming of the Messiah. Spiritually it was accomplished in Chrift, who put an end to the Levitical priesthood, and cernivards a priest for ever. Now, (1.) Though some are unsatisfied to the truth of the ministry, God will take care his church shall not be left utterly destitute. (2.) Every believer is one of that free house which, in Chrift, the great high-prest, is established before God for ever.