1 Samuel 22

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XXII.—What terrible disasters attend earthly promotions! But God will certainly take care that his persecuted people may always have some friends; and such as suffer with them shall be glorified together! Yea, God often puts the greatest honour upon the most unlikely objects. And Jesus will in no wise cast out any that come to him. How unsettled is the life of the saints on earth! and often their trials are reserved for old age, when there is least strength to endure them. But it bodes well when children prefer the safety of their parents to their own; and when in trials we expect good at the Lord’s hand, and readily take the advice of his servants. How jealousy torments a man’s self with its groundless suspicions! It represents the most faithful as seditious, and accuses them of meditating the worst designs. It is very 1 unsafe to trust to wicked men: our most benevolent actions may by them be turned into the worst of crimes; and truth may be reported in a manner more malignant than gross calumny and falsehood. But generous is that mind which will not hurt the character of another, even when truth admits and safety requires it. What a terrible plague is a tyrannical king! What barbarous monsters do some render themselves! But it is painful to a good man to be in any wise the occasion of mischief to others. Here likewise let us observe that, even through this wickedness and rage of Saul, God exactly fulfils his threatenings against Eli; and destroys the remnant of his house. Let us wonder at the depths of his providence, and the faithfulness of his word!