Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 2:9
He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
9. It is Jehovah who guards His chosen ones from stumbling in their walk through life (Psa 56:13; Psa 91:12); It is He who leaves the wicked to languish in adversity (Job 5:14) or perish miserably (Psa 31:17; Psa 55:23); for apart from Him or in opposition to Him human strength is impotence (Zec 4:6).
his saints ] Rather, His beloved, or, His chosen. The Heb. word means ( a) one who is the object of mercy, and does not in itself imply holiness of character, but is used of Israel as the covenant people, the objects of Jehovah’s lovingkindness: ( b) in an active sense, merciful, of God (Jer 3:12): of men (2Sa 22:26).
shall be silent ] “Shall be silenced,” or, “perish.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
1Sa 2:9
He will keep the feet of His saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
The security of the saints and the ruin of the wicked
I. The security of the saints of God.
1. The title, saints, although used by a profane world as a term of contempt, is of all names the most honourable. It literally signifies the Holy Ones. And must not that be indeed an honourable title which associates the servant of God with his Maker, whose name is Holy? with his Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel? and with the Holy Ghost?–not to mention those holy angels, who veil their faces before his throne.
2. The security of all such is here declared: He will keep the feet of his saints.
(1) It is a security from outward distress. Like the three children, they may enter the fiery furnace: but the Son of God will be with them in the fire.
(2) It is a security from spiritual evil, which forms their greatest privilege.
II. The certain rule of the wicked. They shall be silent in darkness.
1. The persona here intended are manifestly all such as do not come under the former description of saints.
2. Awful portion! They shalt be silent! Here on earth, the wicked have a great deal to say for themselves, but in the world to come all their present high language will be mute as death. Moreover, they shall be silent in darkness. And what is darkness? It is the absence of light–of comfort,–of hope–of all possibility of deliverance. (J. Jowett, M. A.)
Heavenly preservation
Alpine guides often blindfold the traveller who seeks to ascend to those awful heights where dwell eternal frost and ice. When the danger is past the bandage is removed, and the traveller sees for the first time the slippery path along which he has been led. In like manner our Heavenly Father mercifully conceals the future, with its trials and dangers, till we are safely past. All that He hides is hidden in mercy; and all that He reveals is revealed in love. I would not know all, my Father. It is known to Thee, and that is enough. We walk by faith, and not by sight. (C. Perren.)
The custody of God over His people
I. The state and condition of the persons consisting of two branches. He will keep the feet of His saints. And first of all to consider it in spirituals, ye shall see Gods custody of His people in protecting them from those sins and temptations, and snares which they are subject unto. (Psa 121:7.) (2Ti 4:18.) (Psa 37:28.) For the opening of this a little unto us we may take it in these explications. First, by the prevention of evil and sinful occasion, God keeps the feet of His people. Secondly, by preventing of the occasions of sin, so by fortifying and strengthening the heart and mind against closing with them. (Luk 22:32.) (2Co 12:9.) There are four graces amongst the rest, which are especially conducing hereunto. First of all, the grace of fear, and spiritual watchfulness. Blessed is the man that feareth always. Secondly, the grace of faith, thats another supporter likewise. Faith lays hold upon all the promises of assistance, and strengthening. (1Pe 1:5.) Thirdly, God keeps the feet of His saints from progress and proceedings in sin, when they fall. Thus (Psa 94:18). Lastly, He keeps the feet of His saints from relapse, and returning to sin again. Now to make this point pertinent indeed to ourselves, we must have a care of two things. The first is the qualification of our persons. Observe here whose feet it is that He here keeps. They must be saints whose feet God will keep. Saints, and His saints too, saints of His making, and saints of His calling, and saints of His owning. Secondly, it is not enough for us to be right for our persons in the general qualifications of them; but we must be right likewise for our carriage and the behaviour of ourselves. Those which are the saints of God may sometimes by their own wilful heedlessness provoke God for a time at least to suspend this safeguard of them. But so much of the first reference of these words, as they may be taken spiritually, and in relation to the inward man. Now further, secondly, we may likewise take them in reference to temporals, and Gods Providence as to the things of this life. First, He will bless them in their ways. Take notice of that. This is one way to keep their feet. (Psa 121:8.) Again, further, He names the feet, as those which are most exposed to danger, and hurt of all other. Secondly, in regard of their works, whatsoever they do. This is said of a godly man. (Psa 1:3.) (Gen 39:8.)
II. The second is the state of the wicked in these. But the wicked shall be silent in darkness. As theres a difference betwixt the wicked and the godly in regard of their disposition, so is there likewise in regard of their condition. First, a state of darkness. First, for this life present as the way. Wicked men they are here in darkness. First, in the ignorance of their minds. (Eph 4:18.) Secondly, in the inordinancy of their affections, theres darkness in them from thence also. (1Jn 2:11.) Malice shades the mind, and so any other unruly passion in them. Thirdly, in the practice of all other sins whatsoever, besides works of wickedness, are works of darkness, and so they are still called. The unfruitful works of darkness. (Eph 5:11.) Lastly, in that spiritual blindness which they are given up to. The second is the darkness of the end. That darkness which they are subject unto in another world. This is of two sorts, either the darkness of death, or judgment. The second is the state of silence, in order to this darkness. They shall be silent in darkness. First, that grief, and horror, and perplexity of mind, which shall seize upon them in this condition. Silence is an attendant upon grief and atonement in the extremities of it. Secondly, silence is a note of conviction. They shall be silent, that is, they shall have nothing to say for themselves. Wicked men, as they shall be full of grief, so likewise of confusion. Thirdly, it is a note of abode and of continuance in this miserable condition. They shall be kept and bound up in it. Now (to join them both together) they are such as do very fitly agree to such kind of persons. Both darkness and also silence in it are very suitable to wicked men. First, the darkness of condition answerable to the darkness of sin. Wicked men they abhor the light, because their deeds are evil. Secondly, silence in evil, answerable to silence from good: Wicked men they care not to speak anything which may be to the honour of God. We begin with the first, viz., as it refers to the first clause. He shall keep the feet of His saints, that is, by taking it exclusively, He and He alone. Well reduce it briefly to three heads. First, the strength of body and human power with the appurtenances thereof. Secondly, the strength of parts and the improvements of wit and understanding, the strength of grace in the mere purpose of it. Therefore, let none trust to this, whosoever they be. Secondly, not by strength against Him, in reference especially to the second clause. The wicked shall be silent in darkness. Ungodly men shall not escape punishment, because they cannot be too strong for God, who is a God of power and might. First, thankfulness and acknowledgment of the great mercy and goodness of God to us in this particular. Secondly, as to matter of faith, we are to improve it to that likewise, having had experience of Gods goodness hitherto, to be ready to expect as much from Him for time to come. Thirdly, and specially, to fruitfulness and obedience. God having done so great things for us, we should endeavour to do somewhat for him. Now further, secondly, for the wickeds silence in darkness, in the disappointment of his enemies, we may observe the parallel in this also. Here was both darkness and silence in darkness. Darkness there was in the very letter. It was a work in the dark. And that both as to place, and time, in which it was wrought. (T. Herren, D. D.)
The conduct of the Lord towards saints and sinners
I. The Lord will keep the feet of his saints.
1. The word saint signifies a holy one.
2. Saints are on a journey through this world of sin and sorrow to a better country. (Heb 11:14-16.)
3. The Lord Himself keeps their feet. He guides and directs them by His counsel. (Psa 73:24.)
II. The wicked shall be silent in darkness.
1. The wicked are without God in the world. (Eph 2:12.)
2. These are noisy and clamorous, boasting of themselves, and prone to speak evil of God and religion; but the time is at hand when they shall be put to silence. (Psa 31:17.)
3. Darkness shall encompass them about on every side. They are sometimes brought into darkness in the present world, by the judgments of God. (Isa 8:22.)
III. For by strength no man shall prevail. Wicked men fight against God, and truth, but they cannot prevail. (Sketches of Four Hundred Sermons.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 9. He will keep the feet of his saints] He will order and direct all their goings, and keep them from every evil way.
The wicked shall be silent in darkness] The Targum understands this of their being sent to the darkness of hell; they shall be slain.
By strength shall no man prevail.] Because God is omnipotent, and no power can be successfully exerted against him.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The feet, i.e. the steps or paths, their counsels and actions, he will
keep, i.e. both uphold, that they may not fall, at least, into mischief or utter ruin; and direct and preserve from wandering, and from those fatal mistakes and errors that wicked men daily run into.
Shall be silent; shall be put to silence: they who used to open their mouths wide against heaven, and against the saints, shall be so confounded with the unexpected disappointment of all their hopes, and with Gods glorious appearance and operations for his people, that they shall have their months quite stopped, and sit down in silent amazement and consternation: see Isa 15:1; Jer 8:14; 47:5,6.
In darkness; both inward, in their own minds, which are wholly in the dark, perplexed by their own choice and counsels, not knowing what to say or do; and outward, in a state of deepest distress and misery.
By strength shall no man prevail, to wit, against God, or against his saints, as the wicked were confident they should do, because of their great power, and wealth, and numbers; whereas Gods people were mean, and impotent, and helpless. And particularly, Peninnah shall not prevail against me by that strength which she hath, or thinks to have, from her numerous offspring. But it is to bc observed, that although Hannah takes the rise of this song from her own condition, yet she extends her thoughts and words further, even to the usual methods of Gods providence in the government of the world.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
He will keep the feet of his saints,…. Now follow promises and prophecies of future things respecting the Israel of God, either in a literal or spiritual sense. By “his saints” are meant not angels, though they are his Holy Ones, but men, and a body of them; who though unholy in themselves, nor can they make themselves holy, yet are made so by the grace of God, in consequence of electing grace, by which they are chosen to be holy, from Christ the source and spring of all holiness, by the Holy Spirit of God, as the efficient cause, and which is done in the effectual calling; hence they live holy lives and conversations, though not altogether without sin in the present state. The word also signifies such to whom God has been kind and gracious, and on whom he has bestowed blessings of goodness, and who are bountiful and beneficent to others. These are the Lord’s, whom he has set apart for himself, and has sanctified in Christ, and by his Spirit; and of these he is keeper, not angels, nor ministers of the word, nor themselves, but the Lord himself is the keeper of them; and who is an able, faithful, tender and compassionate, constant and everlasting keeper of them; and particularly he keeps their “feet”; he indeed keeps their whole persons, their bodies and souls; the members of their bodies, and the powers of their souls, their head, their heart, their affections, from turning aside from him; he guides, directs, and orders all their actions and goings; he keeps their feet in his own ways, where he has guided them; he keeps them in Christ the way, and in all the paths of faith, truth, righteousness, and holiness, and in the way everlasting: he keeps them from falling; for though they are liable to fall into sin, and by temptation, and from a lively exercise of grace, yet not totally and finally; they are secured from it by his love to them; the promises he has made them; his power exerted on their behalf; their being in the hands of Christ, and the glory of all the three Persons concerned herein:
and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; sin has spread darkness over all human nature; every man is born and brought up in darkness, and walks in it: a state of unregeneracy is a state of darkness, in which wicked men continue; and they are in the dark about God, the perfections of his nature, his mind and will, word and worship; about Christ, and the way of life, peace, and salvation by him; about their own state and condition by nature, and the danger they are in; about the nature and necessity of regeneration; and about the Scriptures, and the doctrines of the Gospel; and living and dying; in such a state, darkness, blackness of darkness, is their portion forever: so the Targum,
“the wicked in hell in darkness shall be judged:”
and it is said they shall be “silent” in it; they are quiet, easy, and content in the state of natural darkness in which they are; they neither do nor will understand; they do not care to come to the light, but shun the means of light and knowledge; they have nothing to say of God, of Christ, of the Spirit of God, or of divine things; they can talk enough of evil things, and pour them out in great plenty, but not of any good; and when their evils are charged upon them by the law, their mouths are stopped, and they pronounced guilty, and have nothing to say why justice and judgment should not take place; and so they will be silent and speechless at the great day of judgment. Some interpret it, they shall be “cut off in darkness”; so Kimchi and Ben Melech; that is, by death, by the hand of God, by the sword of justice:
for by strength shall no man prevail; which is a reason both why God will keep his saints, and why the wicked shall be silent, or cut off and perish: with respect to good men, they are not saved, kept, and preserved by their own strength; they are not saved without a righteousness, without regeneration, without repentance towards God, and faith in Christ; neither of which they can perform in their own strength: nor can a saint keep himself from, or prevail over his spiritual enemies of himself, not over sin, nor Satan, nor the world; but it is by the power of God that he is kept through faith unto salvation: and with respect to wicked men, these shall not prevail by their strength over good men, or the church, who are built upon a rock, against which the gates of hell cannot prevail; nor can the wicked so prevail by their strength as to hinder their being cut off, and cast into outer darkness; they have no power over the spirit to retain it in the day of death; and whether they will or not, they shall be cast into hell, and go into everlasting punishment.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(9) He will keep the feet.This was the comforting deduction Hannah drew from the circumstances of her life: this the grave moral reflection the Spirit of the Lord bade her put down for the support and solace of all true servants of the Eternal in coming ages. Seeing that Jehovah of Israel governs the world, the righteous have nothing really to fear; it is only the wicked and rebellious who have reason to be afraid. The Babylonian Talmud has the following comment on these words:If any man has passed the greater part of his years without sin, he will sin no more. If a man has been able to resist the same temptation once or twice, he will sin no more; for it is said (1Sa. 2:9), He will keep the feet of his saints.Treatise Yoma, fol. 38, Colossians 2.
By strength shall no man prevail.The same thought is expressed very grandly by the prophet, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts (Zec. 4:6). The Holy Ghost, in one of the sublime visions of St. Paul, taught the suffering apostle the same great truth, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness (2Co. 12:9).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
9. The feet of his pious ones he will guard That they may not wander into fatal errors.
Shall be dumb Filled with confusion of face, confounded, and destroyed.
Not by strength shall a man become mighty Not by his own strength, whether it consist in great physical force, deadly weapons, wealth, or influence among men. Goliath assumed to be mighty in himself, but David’s mightiness was in Jehovah. 1Sa 17:45.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
She Glories In The Power Of YHWH And In His Coming King ( 1Sa 2:9-10 ).
1Sa 2:9-10
“He will keep the feet of his chosen ones,
But the wicked will be put to silence in darkness,
For by strength will no man prevail,
Those who strive with YHWH will be broken to pieces.
Against them will he thunder in the heavens,
YHWH will judge the ends of the earth,
And he will give strength to his king,
And exalt the horn of his anointed.”
Hannah finishes her words with an expression of confidence in the fact that YHWH will keep the feet of His chosen ones, while disposing of the wicked who will be put to silence in darkness. They will end up in Sheol. For no man can prevail by his own strength, which is why His chosen ones need Him to keep their feet from failing, while the unrighteous will end up in darkness and those who strive with Him will be broken in pieces. Indeed He will thunder against them in the heavens. Again we can compare David and Saul.
The word for ‘chosen ones’ means ‘those who are the objects of His covenant love’. It refers to those who walk in faithful response to His covenant, and therefore enjoy His covenant love.
The final three lines may simply represent a general expectation. YHWH will rule over (judge) the ends of the earth, and in that role will give strength to any He appoints as king, and exalt the power of any whom He sets aside and anoints. But it is far more likely that it has in mind the expectation of God’s world wide rule, when He will be the ‘Judge’ of all the earth and establish and give strength to the promised king of Gen 49:10 and exalt his power as His ‘anointed’ (the one whom He has set apart for His service). It should be noted that the fact that YHWH has established him as king would necessarily be seen as signifying that he would be anointed. That was what happened to kings at this time (Jdg 9:8). Thus ‘His anointed’ simply means ‘His appointed King’. The words bring out that even at this stage after the vicissitudes of the Judges period Israel still had great expectations. Then they had had no king and it had been reflected in how they had lived. Every man had done what was right in his own eyes. But Hannah knew that as Abraham’s descendants they were intended to bring blessing to the whole world (Gen 12:3), and be a kingdom of priests to an earth that belonged to YHWH (Exo 19:6; compare Deu 10:14). Thus in the future a kingship was envisaged, a kingship in which the king would rule wisely under YHWH (Deu 17:14-20). That was partly why God had brought them back to Canaan and given them their own land, so that they might minister to the nations. So she was confident that one day Shiloh would surely come and would triumphantly gather the peoples to him so as to bring it all into effect (Gen 49:10). It was then that God would establish His rule over the nations.
This certainly found part fulfilment in the accession and triumphs of David. Indeed many must have thought of him as Shiloh. But the writer is careful at the end of his book to remind us that there were great deficiencies in David’s rule (2 Samuel 24). He wants us to recognise that the future yet awaits a greater David Who will establish His everlasting kingship (2Sa 7:13; 2Sa 7:16).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
(9) He will keep the feet of his saints, 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.
These are very precious expressions, and all evidently referring to the mercies of the gospel. Here for the first time, we meet with the title of the Lord Jesus, as the Anointed of the Father: one of the most lovely, and distinguishing characters of the Redeemer; the Messiah, that is, the sent, the Sealed, the Anointed. Reader! it is the peculiar joy, and triumph of the followers of the Lord Jesus, that he is the Christ of God. And what a sweet thought is it, that our Christ is God’s Christ. Our chosen is God’s chosen. Our Holy One, is God’s Holy One. So that Jehovah, and the sinner here join issue, and meet together. Hannah certainly knew this, and under the full triumph of it, positively declares that the Lord will keep the feet of his saints. And if the feet, surely, the heart, the head. And well must they be kept, whom the Lord keeps. Oh! precious assurance, founded in a precious anointed Redeemer. But this is not all. While the Lord keeps his people, his, and their adversaries he will destroy. Jesus is our King, and all enemies shall he put under his feet. So that here is assurance, that the same Anointed Lord, will save his people, and utterly consume his foes. So let all thine enemies perish, O Lord! was the close of Deborah’s song, as it is here prophesied in the close of Hannah’s song: while them that love him, shall be as the sun, when he goeth forth in his might. Jdg 5:31 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Sa 2:9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
Ver. 9. He will keep the feet of his saints. ] This is a lower love and courtesy than to keep their hands. Joh 13:5-6 He keepeth them from utter prolapsion, from devoratory evils, as Tertullian speaketh, so as that either they fall not at all, – stumble they may, but they get ground by their stumbling, – or if they fall, they shall arise; for the Lord putteth under his hand. Psa 37:24 There is still a supporting grace, below which they cannot possibly fall.
The wicked shall be silent in darkness.
For by strength shall no man prevail.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
wicked = lawless. See App-44.
man. Hebrew. ‘ish. App-14.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
will keep: Job 5:24, Psa 37:23, Psa 37:24, Psa 91:11, Psa 91:12, Psa 94:18, Psa 121:3, Psa 121:5, Psa 121:8, Pro 16:9, 1Pe 1:5
his saints: Deu 33:3, Psa 37:28, Psa 97:10, Pro 2:8, Jud 1:1, Jud 1:3
be silent: Job 5:16, Ecc 5:17, Jer 8:14, Zep 1:15, Mat 8:12, Mat 22:12, Mat 22:13, Rom 3:19, 2Pe 2:17, Jud 1:13
by strength: 1Sa 17:49, 1Sa 17:50, Psa 33:16, Psa 33:17, Ecc 9:11, Jer 9:23, Zec 4:6
Reciprocal: Exo 15:16 – still 1Sa 25:29 – bound 1Sa 26:20 – let not my 2Sa 22:37 – feet 2Ch 14:11 – man Psa 7:9 – but Psa 8:2 – still Psa 9:19 – let not Psa 12:7 – thou shalt Psa 17:5 – Hold Psa 26:1 – I shall Psa 26:12 – My Psa 31:17 – them Psa 31:23 – for the Psa 51:15 – O Lord Psa 55:22 – suffer Psa 56:13 – wilt Psa 66:9 – suffereth Psa 73:2 – feet Psa 86:2 – Preserve Psa 115:17 – go down Psa 119:133 – Order Pro 3:26 – shall keep Pro 4:19 – General Isa 27:3 – do keep Isa 47:5 – silent Zep 1:7 – thy Luk 1:51 – he hath scattered Joh 10:28 – they Jam 4:10 – he
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Sa 2:9. He will keep the feet of his saints That is, will both uphold their steps or paths, and direct their counsels and actions, that they may not fall into ruin, nor wander into those fatal errors into which wicked men daily run. The wicked shall be silent in darkness They who used to open their mouths wide in speaking against heaven and against the saints, shall be so confounded with the unexpected disappointment of all their hopes, and with Gods glorious appearance and operations for his people, that they shall be put to silence, and have their mouths quite stopped: and this in darkness, both internal, in their own minds, not knowing what to do or say; and external, through outward troubles, distress, and calamities. For by strength shall no man prevail Namely, against God, or against his saints, as the wicked are ready to think they shall do, because of their great power, wealth, and numbers.