6<\/strong>. these uncircumcised<\/em> ] A frequent epithet of abhorrence for the Philistines. Here it has a special significance, for it indicates that Jonathan’s hope of success was based on the reflection that the Philistines stood in no covenant-relation to Jehovah, as Israel did.<\/p>\n there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few<\/em> ] See ch. 1Sa 17:46-47<\/span>; Jdg 7:4<\/span>; Jdg 7:7<\/span>; 2Ch 14:11<\/span>, and the noble words of Judas Maccabaeus before the battle of Beth-horon ( 1Ma 3:16-21 ): “With the God of heaven it is all one to deliver with a great multitude or with a small company; for the victory of battle standeth not in the multitude of an host; but strength cometh from heaven.” These were among the heroes who “through faith waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens” (Heb 11:34<\/span>).<\/p>\n It is remarkable that the epithet uncircumcised, used as a term of reproach, is confined almost exclusively to the Philistines. (Compare 1Sa 17:26<\/span>, 1Sa 17:36<\/span>; Jdg 14:3<\/span>; Jdg 15:18<\/span>, etc.) This is probably an indication of the long oppression of the Israelites by the Philistines and of their frequent wars.<\/P> <\/p>\n 1Sa 14:6<\/span><\/p>\n There is no restraint to the Lord, to save by many or by few.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/em><\/p>\n Jonathans faith<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>This faith of Jonathan was reasonable. Some think faith mere assumption, or the result of ignorance. It is not so. Faith rests on reason. We know we can do nothing of ourselves in an emergency like that which had overtaken the children of Israel. We know God has infinite power, and He has said that He will help those who trust Him. He has the power and He is willing, then is it not in reason to trust Him?<\/p>\n 2. <\/strong>Jonathan believed that it was the height of wisdom to give God the opportunity to reveal His mighty arm. God needs our faith. God is necessary to us, and we, in a sense, are necessary to God. We need God that we may have ground for our faith, and He needs our faith to call out His help. We trust too much in ourselves. Said one to me, the churches are growing so weak. I would to God that they were weak enough to lean on God. I do not doubt that there are church members who can get up at five oclock, swing in and out with the multitude at Moody and Sankeys meetings, but how few are willing to go up alone against the Philistines. There is an inspiration in a multitude, but it is not always the inspiration that comes through faith in God. The Philistines commenced slaying each other. So it often is when God comes down to help the Church, sinners assist the work in their confusion. Then the Israelites who had hid in caves, when they saw that the army of the Philistines had met disaster, helped on the victory. When God manifests His power, backsliders return. Every man can do something in the Churchs work.<\/p>\n 3. <\/strong>Remember, lastly, that if such faith and such labour glorified God, then they can do it again. Is the Church in straitened circumstances? Are the enemies clamorous? There is need of the faith of Jonathan and of his armour bearer. Give God an opportunity, by trusting in Him, to reveal His strength. Defeat comes through a lack of faith. Let no ones heart be faint. (Metropolitan Pulpit.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n God and we<\/strong><\/p>\n Richter says that we should all make as much of ourselves as can be made out of the stuff. The stuff we are made of may be particularly poor, for we know that we have been able to make little or nothing out of it. Suppose we take it to its Maker and ask Him to do something with it? On the keystone of a bridge over a stream in a beautiful Scotch parish are the words, God and We, teaching all who read them that nothing can be built without the help of the great Architect. It is so with the edification or building up of ourselves. It is not God alone, which would mean human idleness; or We alone, which would mean human presumption; or We and God, which would be almost blasphemy; but God and We.<\/p>\n Divine and human cooperation<\/strong><\/p>\n We may often be cheered by this recollection of a beautiful reciprocity in things human and Divine. If God promises His unfailing help to us. He has also conditioned much of the success of His cause on our help rendered to it. Sun, moon, and stars are mutual helpers in sustaining the equilibrium of Natures forces. When the earth, sun, and moon join their attractions in a right line the tides rise to the full; but when these worlds exert their forces at right angles then the tides sink to their lowest. So when we place ourselves in the right attitude of harmony with the Divine powers, then we exert the most beneficent influence. The Divine Spirit is the great and all-sufficient source of help for human souls. Science gives us a beautiful illustration. A strong man cannot very long hold up a heavy weight. His arm grows weary and he feels weak. But if a current from a magnetic battery or an electric machine be applied to the tired arm the muscles instantly regain strength, and the weight is held up with ease. So it is with the invisible current of the Divine power of the Spirit applied to our weary souls. (Christian Commonwealth.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Strength in quiet assurance<\/strong><\/p>\n Pelopidas, when informed that the number of the enemy was double that of his own army, replied: So much the better. We shall conquer so many the more. His intelligent self-possession was more than a thousand spears. The battle of Gilboa was lost before Saul began it. In quietness and confidence shall be your strength. (E. P. Thwing.<\/em>)<\/p>\n Verse 6<\/span>. Let us go over<\/B><\/I>] Moved, doubtless, by a Divine impulse.<\/P> <\/P> There is <\/B>no restraint to the Lord<\/B><\/I>] This is a fine sentiment; and where there is a promise of defense and support, the weakest, in the face of the strongest enemy, may rely on it with the utmost confidence.<\/P><\/p>\n These uncircumcised; <\/B>so he calls them, partly in contempt, and principally to strengthen his faith by this consideration, that his enemies were enemies to God, and without any hope in God, or help from him; whereas he was circumcised, and therefore in covenant with God, who was both able and engaged to assist his people. <\/P> It may be; <\/B>he speaks doubtfully; for though he found and felt himself stirred up by God to this exploit, and was assured that God would deliver his people, yet he was not certain that he would do it at this time, and in this way. <\/P> The Lord will work, <\/B>to wit, great and wonderful things. <\/P> There is no restraint to the Lord; <\/B>there is no person nor thing which can hinder God from thus doing. <\/P> <\/p>\n 6. it may be that the Lord will workfor us<\/B>This expression did not imply a doubt; it signifiedsimply that the object he aimed at was not in his own powerbut itdepended upon Godand that he expected success neither from his ownstrength nor his own merit.<\/P><\/p>\n And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour<\/strong>,…. A second time, as Abarbinel thinks; the young man giving no answer to him the first time, perhaps through fear, he repeats it, and enlarges upon it for his encouragement:<\/p>\n come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised<\/strong>; as these Philistines were, whereas several of the other nations, though Heathen, were circumcised; as the Edomites, Arabians, and others; and this Jonathan observes to the young man, in hope that they being such the Lord would deliver them into their hand:<\/p>\n it may be that the Lord will work for us<\/strong>; a sign, as the Targum, a miracle, as indeed he did; and of which Jonathan was persuaded in his own mind, though he did not choose to express himself in a confident way; not knowing in what manner, and whether at this time the Lord would appear, and work salvation and deliverance; and yet had a strong impulse upon his mind it would be wrought, and therefore was encouraged to try this expedient:<\/p>\n for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few<\/strong>; he is not limited to numbers, and can easily work salvation by a few as by many. It is no difficult thing to him to save by few, nor can anything hinder him, let the difficulties be what they will, when he has determined to deliver his people.<\/p>\n (6) And Jonathan said.<\/strong>This companion in arms answered to the esquire of the knight of the middle ages. Gideon, Joab, David, and others of the famous Israelite warriors, were constantly accompanied in a similar manner by an armour-bearer.<\/p>\n Come, and let us go over.<\/strong>Although in this history of the great deed of Jonathan there is no mention of the Spirit of the Lord having come upon him, as in the case of Gideon (Jdg. 6:34<\/span>), Othniel (Jdg. 3:10<\/span>), Samson, and otherswho, in order to enable them to accomplish a particular act, were temporarily endowed with superhuman strength and courage and wisdomthere is no shadow of doubt but that in this case the Spirit of the Lord descended on the heroic son of Saul. All the circumstances connected with this event, which had so marked an influence on the fortunes of Israel, are evidently supernatural. The brave though desperate thought which suggested the attack, the courage and strength needful to carry it out, the strange panic which seized the Philistine garrison, the utter dismay which spread over the whole of the Philistine forces, and which caused them to fly in utter confusion before the small bands of Israelites, all belong to the same class of incidents so common in the earlier Hebrew story, when it is clear that the Glorious Arm of the Eternal helped them in a way it helped no other peoples.<\/p>\n The term uncircumcised is commonly applied to the Philistines, and to other of the enemies of Israel. It is used as a special term of reproach. The enmity between Philistia and Israel lasted over a long period, and was very bitter.<\/p>\n It may be that the Lord will work for us.<\/strong>These words explain the apparent recklessness of Jonathans attempt. It was Another who would fight the armed garrison on those tall peaks opposite, and bring him safely back to his people again.<\/p>\n For there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.<\/strong>O Divine power of faith, which makes a man more than men. The question is not what Jonathan can do, but what God can do, whose power is not in the means, but in Himself. There is no restraint in the Lord to save by many or by few. O admirable faith in Jonathan, whom neither the steepness of the rocks nor multitude of enemies can dissuade from such an assault.Bishop Hall. 6<\/strong>. <\/strong> No restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few <\/strong> Jonathan was confident in the arm of Jehovah. He seems to have made this adventure a subject of prayer, as Abraham’s servant did the matter about which his master had sent him. Gen 24:12<\/span>.<\/p>\n 1Sa 14:6<\/span><\/em><\/strong>. <\/strong>Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour<\/em><\/strong><\/strong> We are to consider this whole exploit as undertaken and carried on by the immediate impulse of God. Josephus supposes that Jonathan went away in the night. Do all that is in thine heart, <\/em>in the next verse, signifies, whatever thou devisest and approvest. And I am with thee, according to thy heart, <\/em>means, in every thing in which thou canst desire or command my concurrence. See Chandler’s Review, p. 87 and the note on 1Sa 14:14<\/span> of the foregoing chapter. <\/p>\n DISCOURSE: 296 1Sa 14:6<\/span>. And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.<\/em><\/p>\n SO frequent are the wonders recorded in the Scripture, that we scarcely notice them; yet so great are they, that it is rather owing to our inattention, than to any real exercise of faith, that we do not reject them as altogether incredible and fabulous. This account of Jonathan is inferior to few, either in the strangeness of his feats, or the magnitude of their results. That we may have a clear view of the matter, we shall shew,<\/p>\n I.<\/p>\n The state to which the Israelites were reduced<\/p>\n The consequences of their choice began now plainly to appear II.<\/p>\n The means by which their deliverance was effected<\/p>\n When nothing but utter destruction could be expected, God was pleased to interpose for them. He stirred up the minds of Jonathan and his armour-bearer to go and attack a garrison, that, humanly speaking, was invincible even by a considerable force; and that too even in open day. They climbed up the rock in the very sight of their enemies, slew about twenty of them on the spot, spread terror through the whole camp of the Philistines, gave an opportunity for Saul and his adherents to pursue the fugitives, and would have utterly destroyed the whole Philistine army, if the rashness of Saul had not deprived his men of that refreshment which their exhausted strength required. 1.<\/p>\n That God can work by the weakest means<\/p>\n [Nothing can be conceived more inadequate to the occasion than the means that were here used But God delights to magnify his own strength in his peoples weakness, and to interpose for their deliverance in their greatest straits. It is for this very purpose that he often waits, till we are reduced to the lowest extremity [Note: Deu 32:36<\/span>.]. It was for that end that he reduced the hosts of Gideon from two and thirty thousand to three hundred; that the glory of their victory might be all his own [Note: Jdg 7:2-8<\/span>.]. Whatever straits then or difficulties we maybe in, we should consider that God is all-sufficient; and that the things which are impossible to man, are possible with him.]<\/p>\n 2.<\/p>\n That a hope of his aid should encourage our exertions<\/p>\n [Two things encouraged Jonathan; the one, There is no restraint to the Lord to save, whether by many or by few; and the other, It may be that the Lord will work for us. And what greater encouragement can we want? for, if God be for us, who can be against us? When therefore we are tempted, from a view of our own weakness, to say, There is no hope, we should call to mind the great and precious promises which God has given to us in his word, and the wonderful deliverances he has vouchsafed to his people in every age. In dependence upon him we should go forth, fearing nothing [Note: Psa 27:1-3<\/span>.]. Being strong in the Lord and in the power of his might, we should gird on our armour, or even go forth with a sling and a stone against every enemy, not doubting but that, like Goliath of old, he shall ere long fall before us.]<\/p>\n 3.<\/p>\n That faith in him will ensure to us the victory<\/p>\n [Who ever trusted in him and was confounded? See what wonders have been wrought by faith in former ages [Note: Heb 11:32-35<\/span>.]; and shall it have less efficacy now? Will it not still, as formerly, bring Omnipotence to our aid? Only have faith as a grain of mustard-seed, and all mountains shall melt before you. Whilst faith is in exercise, we need not be afraid of viewing the obstacles that are in our way. Be it so, the enemy is entrenched on an almost inaccessible rock, and we cannot even get to him but in such a way as must expose us to instant death: be it so, that we have no one on our side, except perhaps a single companion as helpless as ourselves: be it so, that our enemy is not only prepared for our reception, but laughing to scorn our feeble attempts against him: it matters nothing; the victory is ours, if we go forth in faith; and not only shall the devil flee from us, if we resist him thus in faith, but all his hosts also shall be put to flight, and Satan himself shall be bruised under our feet shortly [Note: Rom 16:20<\/span>.].<\/p>\n Let those then who are ready to give way to desponding fears remember on what a Mighty One their help is laid [Note: Psa 89:19<\/span>.], and let them be strong in faith, giving glory to God [Note: Rom 4:20<\/span>.].]<\/p>\n<\/p>\n “There is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few” 1Sa 14:6<\/span><\/em> .<\/p>\n <\/em><\/p>\n Jonathan here takes a right view of the situation. This is the view which all Christian workers and warriors must take, or they will certainly fail in the fight of life. Beautiful is the picture that God enthroned in heaven is watching the battles which are being fought in his name, and is from hour to hour communicating strength, stimulus, inspiration to the hearts of those who go forth to war under his holy banner. Whilst men look upon their swords as their weapons, God looks upon men as his instruments of war. Soldiers light with steel, God fights with living men: where the living men are full of the Spirit of God one counts for a thousand; numbers indeed are no longer calculated, it is courage, quality, strength of purpose, that is set down among the statistics of God’s resources. God does not say, How many men have I on my side? but, What is their quality? Are Are they men full of faith and love? they surcharged with the very Spirit of God? Have they given up their minds to conquer or die in this tremendous conflict? Some men are to be numbered, others should be weighed. Now it is a question of arithmetical strength, and now it is a question of moral and spiritual force. The Lord could save without any helpers; it is his condescension that accepts co-operation, not his necessity: we are honoured by being called upon to fight in God’s cause: to wear his epaulettes, to wield his sword, to bear his shield, this is the supreme honour of mortal man. We cannot too frequently remind ourselves that life is not a luxury, but a battle; not a dream, but a fierce conflict, needing continual watchfulness and continual equipment. “Take unto you the whole armour of God.” When you count up the statistics of the Church, and speak of thousands and tens of thousands of men, always remember that every number is small in relation to him who is infinite, and that however stupend us may be the resources placed at his disposal they are but so many ciphers until he stands at their head and transforms them into positive value. This is the hope and confidence of the Church. Statistics are all against us. Confucius has more followers than Jesus Christ. The Son of God is almost, indeed, the lowest on the poll of competitive saviours and teachers of the world. But our strength is not in ourselves; we believe in the living God, and that he will bring all things to pass which he has written in his book or uttered on his oath. The promise is that the heathen shall be Christ’s inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth his possession; and it is in the darkest hour, when the whole day is filled with storm, that faith is enabled to say, “There is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.” It is always well to place victory on the side of right, wisdom, truth. It is comforting to know that conquest has no relation to mere brute strength or overwhelming numbers; moral problems are answered by moral means, and moral victories are won by moral weapons; to heaven we look for heaven’s strength and heaven’s benediction.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/em><\/p>\n 1Sa 14:6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for [there is] no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.<\/p>\n <\/em><\/p>\n Ver. 6. Unto the garrison of these uncircumcised.<\/strong> ] Strangers to the covenant, and therefore we shall the sooner prevail against them. By the consideration of the sacraments we should strengthen our faith against all adverse power; this being one special use of them. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n It may be that the Lord will work for us.<\/strong> ] A promise God had made, that Saul should save them out of the hand of the Philistines; 1Sa 9:16 but whether at this time, and by this means, he submitteth to God’s holy will, saying, “It may be that the Lord,” &c., which is not spoken by way of doubting, saith Pellican, but of praying and exciting himself and his armour bearer to trust in God all-sufficient. a<\/em> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n for there is no restraint to the Lord.<\/strong> ] He is magnus in magnis, nec parvus in minimis,<\/em> b<\/em> and hath promised to help his people “with a little help,” Dan 11:34 that through weaker means they may see his greater strength. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n a<\/em> Magis orantis quam trepidantis affectu.<\/em> <\/p>\n b<\/em> August.<\/p>\n the LORD (Jehovah) will work. Note the language of faith. Compare 2Ch 14:11. <\/p>\n Come: This action of Jonathan’s was totally contrary to the laws of war; no military operation should be undertaken without the knowledge and command of the general. But it is highly probable, that this gallant man was led to undertake the hazardous enterprise by an immediate divine impulse; and by the same influence was kept from informing the soldiers, and even from consulting his father, who might have opposed his design. <\/p>\n uncircumcised: 1Sa 17:26, 1Sa 17:36, Gen 17:7-11, Jdg 15:18, 2Sa 1:20, Jer 9:23, Jer 9:26, Eph 2:11, Eph 2:12, Phi 3:3 <\/p>\n it may be: 2Sa 16:12, 2Ki 19:4, Amo 5:15, Zep 2:3 <\/p>\n for there is no restraint: Where there is a promise of defense and support, the weakest, in the face of the strongest enemy, may rely upon it with the utmost confidence. Deu 32:30, Jdg 7:4-7, 2Ch 14:11, Psa 115:1-3, Zec 4:6, Mat 19:26, Rom 8:31 <\/p>\n Reciprocal: Gen 18:14 – Is Gen 34:14 – uncircumcised Lev 26:8 – General Num 31:4 – a thousand Jos 5:9 – I rolled away Jos 14:12 – if so be Jos 23:10 – One man Jdg 1:4 – Lord Jdg 7:2 – too many Jdg 7:7 – General Jdg 14:3 – uncircumcised Jdg 15:15 – slew 1Sa 7:13 – against 1Sa 17:32 – thy 1Sa 17:47 – the battle 1Sa 26:6 – Who will go 1Sa 31:4 – uncircumcised 2Sa 1:22 – the bow 2Sa 8:6 – garrisons 2Sa 10:12 – Be of good 2Sa 23:10 – the Lord 2Sa 23:14 – garrison 1Ki 20:11 – Let not him 1Ki 20:15 – two hundred 1Ch 10:2 – Jonathan 1Ch 10:4 – uncircumcised 1Ch 19:13 – of good 2Ch 20:12 – we have 2Ch 25:8 – God hath power Psa 44:7 – But Isa 37:4 – It may Jer 21:2 – according Act 10:7 – two<\/p>\n 1Sa 14:6. The garrison of these uncircumcised So he calls them, to strengthen his faith by this consideration, that his enemies were enemies to God; whereas he was circumcised, and therefore in covenant with God, who was both able and engaged to assist his people. It may be He speaks doubtfully; for though he felt himself stirred up by God to this exploit, and was assured that God would deliver his people, yet he was not certain that he would do it at this time, and in this way. That the Lord will work Great and wonderful things. There is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or few From this it appears that Jonathan had a true faith in the power of God, being fully persuaded that he could do every thing, and needed not the help or co-operation of natural causes.<\/p>\n 14:6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these {b} uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for [there is] no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.<\/p>\n (b) That is, the Philistines.<\/p>\n And Jonathan said to the young man that bore his armor, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for [there is] no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few. 6. these uncircumcised ] A frequent epithet … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 14:6”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7526","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7526","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7526"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7526\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7526"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7526"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7526"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible <\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
<\/em><\/p>\nFuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
JONATHANS VICTORY OVER THE PHILISTINES<\/strong><\/p>\n
[They had desired a king, and had persisted in their request, notwithstanding all the expostulations of Samuel; and God had complied with their request. But Saul had not possessed the throne of Israel two years, before his kingdom was overcome by the Philistines, and brought into a state of the basest servitude. The Philistines would not so much as suffer the Israelites to have a smith of their own, lest he should make arms for them: so determined were they to keep the Israelites in the lowest state of subjection. Yet whilst they were in this state, Saul was imprudent enough to smite a garrison of the Philistines, and thereby to give his enemies a plea for utterly destroying the whole nation. Accordingly the Philistines called all their forces together, thirty thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and foot soldiers as the sands on the sea-shore for number; whilst Saul had but six hundred men, and not a single sword to be found amongst them all. To make their situation still more deplorable, Saul presumed to invade the priestly office, and to offer sacrifices to God without waiting the full time for Samuel that he had been expressly enjoined to wait; and thus he provoked God to take away from him the kingdom, and to transfer it to a person who should prove more worthy of it. Thus speedily was the nation reduced to ruin under that government which they had been so anxious to obtain.]
And such consequences may justly be apprehended by all who are bent upon their own wishes, in opposition to the mind and will of God
[There is the same self-will in all of us: we do not like that God should choose for us: we think that we can contrive better for ourselves than he has done. If we feel any evil in existing circumstances, we do not so much consider how we may obtain his favour, as how we may ward off the effects of his displeasure. But inordinate desire of any kind will bring its own punishment along with it: and we shall all find at last, that our truest happiness consists, not in the accomplishment of our own will, or the gratification of our own desires, but in the favour and protection of Almighty God Perhaps there is not a man to be found, who must not after mature reflection acknowledge, that, if God had suffered him in some particular instance to attain his own wishes, or execute his own desires, he would have rendered himself the most miserable of the human race ]
But, if we see Gods hand in their punishment, much more do we in their deliverance. Let us therefore consider,<\/p>\n
Wonderful was this victory, and most instructive: in contemplating it we cannot but SEE,<\/p>\n
<\/strong><\/p>\nFuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The People’s Bible by Joseph Parker<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"