1 Samuel 13:14

_BUT NOW THY KINGDOM SHALL NOT CONTINUE: THE LORD HATH SOUGHT HIM A MAN AFTER HIS OWN HEART, AND THE LORD HATH COMMANDED HIM TO BE CAPTAIN OVER HIS PEOPLE, BECAUSE THOU HAST NOT KEPT THAT WHICH THE LORD COMMANDED THEE._ Now thy kingdom shall not continue. Saul had for some time been swerving from his proper and bounden allegiance to Yahweh as king of Israel, by acting as an autocrat in appointing a standing army (1 Samuel 13:2) - a great innovation-and now in not patiently waiting the time fixed for celebrating the solemn rites of religion. He seems to have been desirous of exercising independent authority, like the pagan rulers in the neighbouring countries, and to have become imperious and self-willed, giving unmistakeable indications that, under his government, the divine law, as established by Moses, would soon have been superseded, had not Yahweh, in this first stage

8-14 Saul broke the order expressly given by Samuel, see ch. 1 Samuel 10:8, as to what should be done in cases of extremity. Saul offered sacrifice without Samuel, and did it himself, though he was neither priest nor prophet. When charged with disobedience, he justified himself in what he had done, and gave no sign of repentance for it. He would have this act of disobedience pass for an instance of his prudence, and as a proof of his piety. Men destitute of inward piety, often lay great stress on the outward performances of religion. Samuel charges Saul with being an enemy to himself. Those that disobey the commandments of God, do foolishly for themselves. Sin is folly, and the greatest sinners are the greatest fools. Our disposition to obey or disobey God, will often be proved by our behaviour in things which appear small. Men see nothing but Saul's outward act, which seems small; but...

Verse 1 Samuel 13:14. _THE LORD HATH SOUGHT HIM A MAN AFTER HIS OWN HEART_] That this man was _David_ is sufficiently clear from the sequel. But in what sense was he _a man after God's own heart_? Answer: 1. In his strict attention to the law and worship of God. 2. In his admitting, in the whole of his conduct, that God was King in Israel, and that he himself was but his vicegerent. 3. In never attempting to alter any of those laws, or in the least change the Israelitish constitution. 4. In all his _public official conduct_ he acted according to the Divine mind, and fulfilled the will of his Maker: thus was he _a man after God's own heart_. In reference to his _private_ or _personal moral_ conduct, the word is never used. This is the sense alone in which the word is used here and elsewhere; and it is unfair and wicked to

SAUL'S PROBATION AND FAILURE (CHS. 13-15.). EXPOSITION WAR AGAINST THE PHILISTINES (verse 1-14:46). 1 SAMUEL 13:1 Saul's age and length of reign. SAUL REIGNED ONE YEAR. This verse literally translated is, "Saul was one year old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years over Israel." In its form it exactly follows the usual statement prefixed to each king's reign, of his age at his accession, and the years of his kingdom (2 Samuel 2:10; 2Sa 5:4; 1 Kings 14:21;...

BUT NOW THY KINGDOM SHALL NOT CONTINUE,.... That is, in his family, nor in his tribe, but be removed to another: THE LORD HATH SOUGHT HIM A MAN AFTER HIS OWN HEART: who was David; though as yet Samuel knew him not, he knew by divine revelation that there was another one chosen, to whom the kingdom would be given; a man every way agreeable to the will of God, and who would fulfil his will, though he knew not particularly who he was: AND THE LORD HATH COMMANDED HIM TO BE CAPTAIN OVER HIS PEOPLE; that is, had appointed him to be king over Israel. God's decrees have the force of a law in them, and must be fulfilled; and cannot be resisted so as to be frustrated: BECAUSE THOU HAST NOT KEPT THAT WHICH THE LORD HATH COMMANDED THEE; it matters not whether the thing commanded is greater or less, it is disobedience to the command that is the sin, and is resented: this might seem a small thing,...

6. THE FIRST FAILURE OF SAUL AND ITS RESULTS CHAPTER 13 _ 1. The failure of Saul (1 Samuel 13:1)_ 2. Samuel's sentence (1 Samuel 13:10) 3. Israel's deplorable condition (1 Samuel 13:15) Omit the first verse of this chapter as it does not belong into the text. In self-confidence Saul has dismissed the greater part of the people; only 2000 remained with him and 1000 with his son Jonathan. Saul is now passing through a test. Hath he true faith which counts and depends on God? Is he obedient to His word as given by the prophet? Jonathan appears here for the first time. His name means “the Lord hath given.” He is the opposite from his poor father; the son is a man of real faith

1 SAMUEL 13, 14. SAUL'S EARLY STRUGGLES WITH THE PHILISTINES. (J), chiefly from the ancient narrative concerning Saul. Editorial notes, or additions from other sources, are 1 Samuel 13:1; 1 Samuel 7_ b,_ but as for Saul. Benjamin, 1 Samuel 13:15_ a_; 1 Samuel 13:19; 1 Samuel 14:47. 1 SAMUEL 13:1. If the present Hebrew text were regarded as correct and complete, the translation (_cf.mg._) would be, And Saul was a year old when he became king, and he reigned two years over Israel. Both periods are absurd. The edi

MAN, &c. Hebrew. _'ish_. App-14. Quoted in Acts 13:22. OWN HEART. his own pleasure. Compare Psalms 89:20; Psalms 89:21. CAPTAIN. leader, or representative....

Saul's disobedience and its penalty 8. _the set time that Samuel had appointed_ It seems clear that the historian intends to refer to Samuel's injunction in 1 Samuel 10:8, although in all probability the interview there recorded had taken place many years before. But the command may have been repeated now, and in any case the spirit of it survived. Chosen by Jehovah expressly to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, Saul was not at liberty to begin the war of independence upon his own authority, but was to wait until duly commissioned to do so by Samuel....

A MAN AFTER HIS OWN HEART— A variety of able writers amongst us have lately fully explained and vindicated this expression from the insults of free-thinkers. We will refer at the end of the note to some of them, while we produce Bishop Warburton's Exposition, which appears to us extremely just. "David was a man of so opposite a character to Saul with regard to his sentiments of the law, that it appears to have been for this difference alone that he was decreed by God to succeed the other in the kingdom. Now David sojourned some time in Naioth, which was the _academy of the prophets,_ chap. 1 Samuel 19:18. And here it was, as we may reasonably conclude, that he so greatly cultivated and improved his natural disposition of love and zeal for the law, as to merit that most glorious of all titles, _the man after God's own heart:_ for, till this time, his employment and way of life ha