Chapter 28:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Ruth 2 Samuel
1 Samuel 28
Concise Complete
Achish puts confidence in David, Saul's fear. (1-6)
Saul consults a witch at Endor. (7-19) Saul's terror. (20-25)
Verses 1-6 David
could not refuse Achish without danger. If he promised assistance, and then
stood neuter, or went over to the Israelites, he would behave with ingratitude
and treachery. If he fought against Israel, he would sin greatly. It seemed
impossible that he should get out of this difficulty with a clear conscience;
but his evasive answer, intended to gain time, was not consistent with the
character of an Israelite indeed. Troubles are terrors to the children of
disobedience. In his distress, Saul inquired of the Lord. He did not seek in
faith, but with a double, unstable mind. Saul had put the law in force against
those that had familiar spirits,
exodus 22:18. Many seem
zealous against, sin, when they are any way hurt by it, who have no concern for
the glory of God, nor any dislike of sin as sin. Many seem enemies to sin in
others, while they indulge it in themselves. Saul will drive the devil out of
his kingdom, yet harbours him in his heart by envy and malice. How foolish to
consult those whom, according to God's law, he had endeavoured to root out!
Verses 7-19
When we go from the plain path of duty, every thing draws us further aside, and
increases our perplexity and temptation. Saul desires the woman to bring one
from the dead, with whom he wished to speak; this was expressly forbidden,
deuteronomy 18:11.
All real or pretended witchcraft or conjuration, is a malicious or an ignorant
attempt to gain knowledge or help from some creature, when it cannot be had from
the Lord in the path of duty. While Samuel was living, we never read of Saul's
going to advise with him in any difficulties; it had been well for him if he
had. But now he is dead, "Bring me up Samuel." Many who despise and persecute
God's saints and ministers when living, would be glad to have them again, when
they are gone. The whole shows that it was no human fraud or trick. Though the
woman could not cause Samuel's being sent, yet Saul's inquiry might be the
occasion of it. The woman's surprise and terror proved that it was an unusual
and unexpected appearance. Saul had despised Samuel's solemn warnings in his
lifetime, yet now that he hoped, as in defiance of God, to obtain some counsel
and encouragement from him, might not God permit the soul of his departed
prophet to appear to Saul, to confirm his former sentence, and denounce his
doom? The expression, "Thou and thy sons shall be with me," means no more than
that they shall be in the eternal world. There appears much solemnity in God's
permitting the soul of a departed prophet to come as a witness from heaven, to
confirm the word he had spoken on earth.
Verses 20-25
Those that expect any good counsel or comfort, otherwise than from God, and in
the way of his institutions, will be as wretchedly disappointed as Saul. Though
terrified even to despair, he was not humbled. He confessed not his sins,
offered no sacrifices, and presented no supplications. He does not seem to have
cared about his sons or his people, or to have attempted any escape; but in
sullen despair he rushed upon his doom. God sets up a few such beacons, to warn
men not to stifle convictions, or despise his word. But while one repenting
thought remains, let no sinner suppose himself in this case. Let him humble
himself before God, determined to live and die beseeching his favour, and he
will succeed.
Chapter 28:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Ruth 2 Samuel
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
