Said — While they were assembled together in Gilgal. And this is another instance of Samuel's great wisdom and integrity. He would not reprove the people for their sin, in desiring a king, whilst Saul was unsettled in his kingdom; lest through their accustomed levity, they should as hastily cast off... [ Continue Reading ]
Walketh — Ruleth over you. To him I have fully resigned my power, and own myself one of his subjects. Old — And therefore unable to bear the burden of government. My sons — Or, among you, in the same states private persons, as you are; if they have injured any of you, the law is now open against the... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold — I here present myself before the Lord, and before your king, ready to give an account of all my administrations. And this protestation Samuel makes of his integrity, not out of ostentation; but for his own just vindication, that the people might not hereafter for the defence of their own ir... [ Continue Reading ]
Righteous acts — Heb. the righteousnesses; that is, mercies or benefits the chief subject of the following discourse; some of their calamities being but briefly named, and that for the illustration of God's mercy in their deliverances.... [ Continue Reading ]
This place — In this land: in which Moses and Aaron are said to settle them; because they brought them into, and seated them in part of it, that without Jordan; because they were, under God, the principal authors of their entering into the land of Canaan; inasmuch as they brought them out of Egypt,... [ Continue Reading ]
Forgat — That is, they revolted from him, and carried themselves, as if they had wholly forgotten his innumerable favours. This he saith to answer an objection, that the reason why they desired a king, was, because in the time of the judges they were at great uncertainties, and often exercised with... [ Continue Reading ]
Bedan — This was either Samson, as most interpreters believe, who is called Bedan; that is, in Dan, or of Dan, one of that tribe, to signify that they had no reason to distrust that God, who could raise so eminent a saviour out of so obscure a tribe: or, Jair the Gileadite, which may seem best to ag... [ Continue Reading ]
Your king — That is, when God was your immediate king and governor, who was both able and willing to deliver you, if you had cried to him, whereof you and your ancestors have had plentiful experience; so that you did not at all need any other king; and your desire of another, was a manifest reproach... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye have chosen — Though God chose him by lot, yet the people are said to chuse him; either generally, because they chose that form of government; or particularly, because they approved of God's choice, and confirmed it. The Lord — He hath yielded to your inordinate desire.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then, &c. — Heb. then shall — ye — be, (that is, walk, or go) after the Lord; that is, God shall still go before you, as he hath hitherto done, as your leader or governor, to direct, protect, and deliver you; and he will not forsake you, as you have given him just cause to do. Sometimes this phrase... [ Continue Reading ]
Your fathers — Who lived under the judges; and you shall have no advantage by the change of government, nor shall your kings be able to protect you against God's displeasure. The mistake, if we think we can evade God's justice, by shaking off his dominion. If we will not let God rule us, yet he will... [ Continue Reading ]
Wheat — harvest — At which time it was a rare thing in those parts to have thunder or rain; the weather being more constant in its seasons there, than it is with us. Rain — That you may understand that God is displeased with you; and also how foolishly and wickedly you have done in rejecting the gov... [ Continue Reading ]
Samuel — Who had such power and favour with God. By this thunder and rain, God shewed them their folly in desiring a king to save them, rather than God or Samuel, expecting more from an arm of flesh than from the arm of God, or from the power of prayer. Could their king thunder with a voice like God... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy God — Whom thou hast so great an interest in, while we are ashamed and afraid to call him our God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Fear not — With a desponding fear, as if there were no hope left for you.... [ Continue Reading ]
Turn aside — After idols; as they had often done before; and, notwithstanding this warning, did afterwards. Vain things — So idols are called, Deuteronomy 32:21; Jeremiah 2:5, and so they are, being mere nothings, having no power in them; no influence upon us, nor use or benefit to us.... [ Continue Reading ]
His name's sake — That is, for his own honour, which would suffer much among men, if he should not preserve and deliver his people in eminent dangers. And this reason God alledgeth to take them off from all conceit of their own merit; and to assure them, that if they did truly repent of all their si... [ Continue Reading ]
Only, &c. — Otherwise neither my prayer nor counsels will stand you in any stead.... [ Continue Reading ]