1 Samuel 31:7-13

The final issues of life a criterion of worth.

The facts are—

1 . The defeat of Saul is followed by the general flight of the men of Israel from the neigbbouring cities, and the occupation of these by the Philistines.

2 . The bodies of Saul and of his sons being found, the Philistines strip the king's of his armour, publish the fact in the houses of idols, and dishonour him on the wall of Beth-shan.

3 . The men of Jabesh-Gilead, hearing of this, rescue the bodies and bury them at Jabesh amidst much mourning. The historian closes the narrative concerning Saul's reign by a reference to the immediate result of the defeat on the adjacent cities, and to the barbarous treatment of Saul's body. The people who had demanded a king, and who were proud of his powerful bodily presence, were now to learn in saddest form how much better it is to wait the time of God, and to trust rather to righteousness of national life than to physical force and martial display. The people and the king were at fault, and the judgment falls on both. We here see—

I. THAT LIFE 'S WORTH IS TESTED BY ITS FINAL RESULT . The public life of Saul at one time promised well for himself and Israel. Every aid which wise advice and holy influence could render had been freely bestowed by Samuel, the man of God, and the promise of Divine help was given on condition of obedience to the Divine voice. Although troubles came in consequence of disobedience, and thus indicated that his life was proving a failure, there were doubtless men so blind to the signs of the times as to refer the troubles to accidents and unforeseen circumstances, and to hope still that there would be a turn in the tide of affairs which would insure a prosperous reign. But the panic which came on Israel on Saul's death and the occupation of cities by the detested Philistine must have made clear to the most prejudiced that his public career was disastrous and unrighteous. The issue of a monarch's reign should be the moral and material elevation of the people, the improved administration of law, the greater security of life and property, a prevalence of the blessings of internal peace and freedom from foreign oppression, and a higher degree of national influence. The reverse of this was the outcome of Saul's life. By thus looking at the result of life's labours we may form an estimate of the worth of monarchs, statesmen, merchants, and professed Christians. Have men blessed their fellow creatures with permanent good? Is the great enemy, sin, more in occupation of country, home, and the soul at the end than at the beginning? The day is coming when every man's work will be tried of "what sort it is" ( 1 Corinthians 3:13 ). Can we face that test? Will the end be better than the beginning? Dare some men try to answer this question in relation to their spiritual condition and the spiritual effect of their personal influence.

II. THAT THE APPARENT TRIUMPH OF THE WICKED IS ONE OF THE SADDEST CONSEQUENCES OF THE SINS OF GOD 'S PEOPLE . The triumph of the "uncircumcised" was complete when, stripping the body of Israel's king, they carried his head in savage delight to the house of Dagon ( 1 Chronicles 10:10 ), nailed his corpse to the wall of Beth-shan, and proclaimed their victory in honour of their gods. It was this result following on the death of Saul and defeat of Israel that seemed to be an occasion of so much sorrow and dread to David ( 2 Samuel 1:20 ). The fond hopes cherished by the pious on the solemn day of repentance and consecration at Mizpeh and Ebenezer ( 1 Samuel 7:9-12 ) were now rudely destroyed. Heathenism gloried in its strength; while Israel, smitten with fear, mourned in bitterness of soul. Ignorance, barbarity, idolatry took a new lease of power, and Jehovah's name was dishonoured in the eyes of the nations. The death of a king is comparatively a small matter, the wasting sweep of war over fair fields and flourishing cities is a material calamity; but for irreligion to flourish, debasing religious rites to manifest all their vileness, and the cause of purity, truth, and righteousness to be made.to suffer even apparent defeat, this was the most fearful consequence of Saul's unhappy reign. All actions in public and private individuals are to be judged by their bearing on the honour of God's name and the extension of the kingdom of Christ. Does a monarch's or a statesman's policy give greater scope for whatever is alien to the supremacy of Christ in heart, conduct, and home? If so it is very criminal. Does our private life give occasion for the enemies of the cross to blaspheme? He who so lives and dies as to strengthen the hold of ignorance, superstition, immorality, and anti-Christian principles on the world is the enemy of his country and of God. When men professedly in the Church of God, as Saul was in Israel, so become unfaithful to their privileges as to give an apparent triumph to the irreligious and profane, they, in whatever degree this is true, perpetrate an injury, the spiritual issues of which are beyond all calculation.

III. THAT THE MOST TERRIBLE TRIALS MAY GIVE RISE TO OCCASIONAL DEEDS OF HEROISM . Various were the effects of Saul's death on Israel. On all there must have come that inexpressible anguish which in some degree David sought to express in his beautiful "song of the bow" ( 2 Samuel 1:18-27 ). But there were faithful men who could not yield to inaction while God's name was being dishonoured and Israel, in the person of the king, covered with ignominy. The men of Jabesh-Gilead had not forgotten the day when, in the prime of his strength, and bidding fair to defend his country in the fear of God, Saul had come to their rescue and had aroused the patriotism of the nation ( 1 Samuel 11:4-11 ). To them he was more than king; he was hero and friend, and doubtless their children had used his name as a household word. And now dead, forsaken, mutilated, the tall, majestic form exposed to heathen scorn—should they suffer it? Never! "All the valiant men arose." With set purpose, at risk of life, they bring away the mangled remains, and sorrowfully lay them low in the place that witnessed his early heroism. Thus do we see how misfortune, sorrow, and death call forth the nobler qualities of men, and bring to light hidden sympathies and secret friends. There was some hope for Israel yet. The terrible disasters of life stir up the energies of the faithful few, and though they cannot at once redeem all that others have lost, they can reassert the supremacy of love and the nobler sentiments of life, and so pave the way for a better order of things. Men in Israel revived a little from despair when they heard of this heroism and affection. Was there not a darker night and more complete apparent defeat of Israel's high purpose in the world when another and more sacred body was exposed "a spectacle to angels and to men"? Then also one was found who dared to identify his reputation and all that was dear with respect and love for that holy body. Joseph of Arimathea was morally more heroic than the men of Jabesh-Gilead. In similar ways the disasters of life have drawn forth the heroism of many who could not endure to see the "uncircumcised" triumph. Thus light shines forth in darkness, assuring us that in the long conflict with evil the morning of an endless day full of the joy of the ransomed will dawn on the sorrowful earth.

General lessons :—

1 . To form a just estimate of our life we should not regard our personal enjoyments as pain. but have chief respect to the ultimate effect of it on our home and country.

2 . Wicked men find encouragement to believe in their false principles when men professing opposite principles are untrue to them.

3 . We ought to consider how much of the power of irreligious principles and practices over men is due to our want of consistency.

4 . It will be blessed for us and our survivors if friends are able to commit our body to the grave with affection and gratitude unalloyed with painful memories.

HOMILIES BY B. DALE

1 Samuel 31:1-6 . (GILBOA.)

The death of Saul.

"So Saul died" ( 1 Samuel 31:6 ; 2 Samuel 1:1-16 ; 1 Chronicles 10:1-14 .). While the events mentioned in the preceding chapter were taking place in the south, and even before their occurrence, "the great drama so closely connected with them was being played out" in the north. On the morrow of Saul's consultation of "the witch of Endor" the Philistines marched across the plain, with their archers, chariots, and horsemen ( 2 Samuel 1:6 ), and attacked the army of Israel. The issue appears to have been soon decided. "The men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in Gilboa," up the slopes of which they had been pursued. "And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and his sons," who fell fighting around him. Hard pressed and found by the archers, he trembled ("was sore wounded," A.V.) before them, seeing no way to escape falling into their hands; and (as the night set in), with the reckless courage of despair with which he had fought, his armour bearer having refused to slay him, he "took the sword and fell upon it." His armour bearer followed his example. "At that moment a wild Amalekite, lured probably to the field by the hope of spoil, came up and finished the work which the arrows of the Philistines and the sword of Saul him self had all but accomplished" (Stanley). "A remarkable dispensation. As the curse on Amalek was accomplished by Saul, so that on Saul was accomplished by Amalek" (Hengstenberg). Or, perhaps, the story of the Amalekite was false, and told to ingratiate himself with David and obtain a reward for the diadem and bracelet of which he had stripped the fallen king. In either case, self-willed to the last, scorning "these uncircumcised," and more concerned about his own honour than the honour of God, he rushed upon his own destruction.

"O Saul!

How ghastly didst thou look, on thine own sword

Expiring in Gilboa, from that hour

Ne'er visited with rain from heaven nor dew"

(Dante, 'Purg.' 12.).

Observe that -

I. RETRIBUTION SURELY OVERTAKES THE IMPENITENT TRANSGRESSOR .

1 . The full desert Of sin might be justly inflicted immediately on its commission. But in a state of probation space is allowed for repentance and motives afforded to induce it. Yet, if sin be persisted in, guilt increases and judgment becomes more inevitable and severe. "He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy" ( Proverbs 29:1 ). "The wages of sin is death" ( Romans 6:23 ). "The wages may be deferred or may not be consciously received, but they are paid without stint sooner or later; the fatal consequences may not always equally appear, but they never fail in some form or other."

2 . Although inflicted by the free act of man, it is not less the result of the operation of retributive justice. "Saul took the sword and fell upon it;" but he "died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord; therefore the Lord slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David, the son of Jesse" ( 1 Chronicles 10:14 ).

3 . The operation of the law of retribution, so manifest in history and to observation, shows the evil of sin in the sight of God, and is a solemn warning against its indulgence. Even repentance may come too late to avert its consequences in this life.

"Look to thyself then, deal with sin no more,

Lest he that saves, against thee shuts the door" (Bunyan).

II. SELF - WILL NATURALLY CULMINATES IN SELF - DESTRUCTION . All self-will, in opposition to the will of God, is a self-injury ( Proverbs 8:36 ); and not less so because the sinner seeks what he falsely imagines to be for his good. Its tendency is ever towards destruction, and, unless checked in its course, it infallibly conducts to that end. It is a special and aggravated form of it when, in order to escape the misery and shame which are experienced or expected, he directly and voluntarily takes away his own life. Suicide is—

1 . Contrary to the natural instinct of self-preservation and a properly enlightened and regulated self-love.

2 . An act of unfaithfulness to the trust that is committed to man by God in the bestowment of life, and of refusal to fulfil the duties that he has ordained in life, which cannot be rightly surrendered or left without his consent nor until the time he has appointed. "Pythagoras forbids us to abandon the station or post of life without the orders of our commander, that is, of God" (Cicero). "'Why do I tarry on earth, and not hasten hence to come to you?' 'Not so, my son,' he replied; 'unless that God, whose temple is all this which you behold, shall liberate you from the imprisonment of the body, you can have no admission to this place'" ('Scipio's Dream').

3 . An act of cowardice in the presence of real or imaginary evils, whatever reckless bravery it may exhibit with respect to death and that which lies beyond. "To die and thus avoid poverty, or love, or anything painful is not the part of a brave man, but rather of a coward; for it is cowardice to avoid trouble; and the suicide does not undergo death because it is honourable, but in order to avoid evil" (Aristotle, 'Ethics,' book 7. 1 Samuel 7:1-17 ). In Saul it was "the act of completed despair."

4 . Expressly prohibited by the Divine command : "Thou shalt not kill. In accordance with this Paul said to the Philippian gaoler, when "he would have killed himself," "Do thyself no harm" ( Acts 16:28 ).

5 . Virtually forbidden by all the exhortations of the New Testament to endure affliction with patience and submission to the will of God. "Suicide is the result of impatience" (see Paley, 'Mor. Philippians,' book 4. Philippians 3:1-21 ).

6 . Injurious to others in many ways: inflicting much distress, teaching pernicious lessons, setting a bad example. It is "as unfavourable to human talents and resources as it is to human virtues. We should never have dreamt of the latent power and energy of our nature but for the struggle of great minds with great afflictions, nor known the limits of ourselves nor man's dominion over fortune. What would the world now have been if it had always been said, Because the archers smite me sore, and the battle goeth against me, I will die?" (Sydney Smith).

7 . Condemned by the example of good men, who have borne the heaviest calamities with holy courage, and sanctioned only by evil men, like Ahithophel and Judas. How far, indeed, Saul was in full possession of his faculties and responsible for his act, or what was his final destiny, is not stated. "It is evident that more arguments may be gathered of his condemnation than of his salvation; yet because nothing is expressly set down touching his state before God, it is better to leave it" (Willet).

"O mortal men! be wary how ye judge:

For we, who see our Maker, know not yet

The number of the chosen" ('Par.' 20.).

"There appears to be but one efficient means by which the mind can be armed against the temptations to suicide, because there is but one that can support it against every evil of life—practical religion, belief in the providence of God, confidence in his wisdom, hope in his goodness" (Dymond, 'Essays').

"Nor love thy life, nor bate; but what thou liv'st

Live well, how long or short, permit to Heaven"

('Par. Lost,' bk. 10.).

III. THE EVIL EXAMPLE OF MEN IN HIGH STATION IS ONLY TOO FAITHFULLY IMITATED . "And when his armour bearer," etc. ( 1 Samuel 31:5 ). He had faithfully fought by his side to the last, and feared to take away his life (of which he was appointed guardian); perhaps out of reverence for his sacred person; doubtless, also, he dreaded to fall alive into the hands of the Philistines and to be put to a shameful death by them; and now, incited by his example, "dares to do that to himself which to his king he durst not." Example is proverbially powerful. No one, especially if he occupy a position of power and influence, can do wrong without thereby inducing others to follow, who thus share his guilt and may not have equal excuse for their transgression. According to Jewish tradition the armour bearer was Doeg the Edomite ( 1 Samuel 22:18 , 1 Samuel 22:19 ), "a partner before of his master's crimes, and now of his punishment." "That Saul and his armour bearer died by the same sword is, I think, sufficiently evident. 'Draw thy sword,' says he to him, 'and thrust me through;' which when he refused, 'Saul took the sword and fell upon it.' What sword? (Not his own, for then the text would have said so.) Why, in the plain, natural, grammatical construction, the sword before mentioned must be the sword now referred to, that is, the armour bearer's. Saul and his executioner both fell by that very weapon with which they had before massacred the priests of God" (Delany).

IV. THE INNOCENT OFTEN SUFFER ALONG WITH THE GUILTY . "And the Philistines slew Jonathan," etc. ( 1 Samuel 31:2-6 ). It is impossible not to lament the untimely fate of the friend of David and of God. The sins of the father were visited upon the son. But let it be considered that—

1 . God is the supreme Proprietor of every human life, and has a right to dispose of it as it pleases him. Moreover, "death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" ( Romans 5:12 ).

2 . He has united men to each other in relations more or less intimate, whereby they necessarily affect each other for good as well as for evil.

3 . The sufferings of the godly, in consequence of their connection with the wicked, serve many beneficent purposes. The death of Jonathan would deepen the impression of the severity of the Divine judgment on the house of Saul for disobedience, and be a perpetual warning. It also made David's accession to the throne clearer and more indisputable.

4 . The godly cannot experi ence the Worst sufferings of the wicked—remorse, fearfulness, despair; and if some are called to an early death in the path of duty, they are only called a little earlier than others to their inheritance in "a better country, that is, a heavenly," an eternal kingdom.

"Joy past compare.; gladness unutterable;

Imperishable life of peace and love;

Exhaustless riches and unmeasured bliss."—D.

1 Samuel 31:7-10 . (GILBOA.)

The chastisement of Israel.

The thunderstorm of which they were long ago warned ( 1 Samuel 12:18 , 1 Samuel 12:25 ) had now burst upon the people of Israel. Since the capture of the ark they had not experienced so great a calamity, and in it the fatal results of their demand for a king were made manifest. Although the demand was evil, it contained an element of good, and was complied with by God in judgment mingled with mercy. "As no people can show a visible theocracy, so no monarchy can be accused, simply as such, of usurping the Divine prerogative. But still the transaction does involve a moral lesson, which lies at the foundation of all sound policy, condemning the abandonment of principle on the plea of expediency, and pointing by the example of Israel the doom of every nation that seeks safety and power in a course known to be wrong" (P. Smith, 'Ancient History'). They had their own way, yet the purpose of God was not defeated, but accomplished less directly, and in such a manner as to convince them of the folly of their devices, and exhibit his overruling wisdom and power. Whilst they pursued their course under a king "according to the will of man," their Divine King was preparing "a man after his own heart to be captain over his people" ( 1 Samuel 13:14 , Acts 12:22 ). When the end came David stood ready to occupy the throne, and, after a brief period of conflict and confusion, the whole nation, taught by experience, gladly received him as its ruler. This is the theocratic "argument" of the greater portion of the Book. In the terrible defeat of Israel we see—

I. THEIR IDOL BROKEN IN PIECES . "So Saul died," etc. "The men of Israel fled, and Saul and his sons were dead," etc. ( 1 Samuel 31:6 , 1 Samuel 31:7 ). Men are apt to imagine that something else beyond what God has ordained is necessary to their welfare, to be impatient of his time, to attach an undue value to the expedients which in their imperfect knowledge and sinful desires they devise, to set their hearts upon earthly and visible objects, and depend upon them rather than upon "him who is invisible." This tendency finds expression in many ways, and embodies itself in many forms. And although God may permit such idols to continue for a time, he always overthrows them. When Israel made an idol of the ark it was given into the hands of the Philistines, and when they made an idol of "a king" ( 1 Samuel 8:5 ) he was slain. Their hope in him was bitterly disappointed, and inasmuch as he yeas (according to Divine prescience, though not by absolute necessity nor without personal guilt) a representation and reflection of their sin (worldliness, formalism, self-will), they were severely punished in him and by his instrumentality. How little did they gain, how much did they lose, by having their own way! "I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath" ( Hosea 13:11 ). "Cease ye from man," etc.

II. THEIR CITIES FORSAKEN . "And when the men of Israel that were by the side of the plain" (west of the central branch of the valley of Jezreel, "opposite to the place of conflict, which the writer assumed as his standpoint"—Keil), "and by the side of the Jordan" (east of the plain, between Gilboa and the Jordan), "saw that the men of Israel" (who were engaged in the battle) "fled," etc. "they forsook the cities; and the Philistines came" (from that time onward) "and dwelt in them" (so that the whole of the northern part of the land fell into their hands). Instead of overcoming their enemies, they were overcome by them, driven from their homes, reduced to the most abject condition, and without any prospect of regaining by their own strength their lost possessions. "Your country is desolate," etc. ( Isaiah 1:7 ). The peaceful government of Samuel gave them prosperity ( 1 Samuel 7:13 , 1 Samuel 7:14 ); but the warlike rule of Saul, which they preferred, ended in their overthrow. "Sore distressed," like him ( 1 Samuel 28:15 ), whither should they turn for help? Men are deprived of all hope in themselves that they may "set their hope in God."

III. THEIR ENEMIES TRIUMPHANT . "And it came to pass on the morrow" (after the battle, which ended at nightfall) "when the Philistines came," etc. "And they cut off his head (as in the case of Goliath of Gath, and afterwards deposited it in the temple of Dagon, in Ashdod, 1 Chronicles 10:10 ; 1 Samuel 5:1 ), and sent (messengers bearing his head and armour) into the land of the Philistines round about, to proclaim the good tidings in their idol temples (to their idols) and among the people ( 2 Samuel 1:20 ). And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth (in Askelon), and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan" ( 1:27 ). It has been remarked of the Philistines that "so implacable was their enmity to the Israelites, that one would be almost tempted to think that they bad been created on purpose to be a thorn in their sides" (Russell, 'Connection,' History of the Philistines). Their victory was the victory of their gods; the defeat of Israel the dishonour of Jehovah. Rather than sanction sin in his people, God not only suffers them to be overthrown by their enemies, but even his own name to be for a while despised and "blasphemed among the heathen." But the triumph of the wicked is short ( 2 Samuel 5:17-25 ).

IV. THEIR TRUE STRENGTH UNDESTROYED . It consisted in the presence and power of their Divine and invisible King; his benevolent and unchangeable purpose concerning them ( 1 Samuel 12:22 ); his faithful, praying, obedient subjects in their midst, who had been long looking to David as his chosen "servant," and were now rallying round him daily until his following became "a great host like the host of God" ( 1 Chronicles 12:22 ). There was an "Israel after the flesh" (constituting the State), and there was an Israel "after the spirit" (constituting the Church); and in the latter lay "the power of an endless life." Judgment might sweep over the nation like a destroying hailstorm, and leave it like a tree bereft of all its leaves, and even "cut it down" to the ground. But its true life would be spared, would be tried and purified by affliction, and become a source of renewed power and greater glory. "As a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof "( Isaiah 6:13 ; Isaiah 1:9 ; Isaiah 65:8 ).

Observations : —

1 . That which is wrongly desired as an instrument of good becomes when obtained an instrument of evil.

2 . Men may have their own Way apparently in opposition to the way of God, but his purpose does not change, and he knows how to carry it into effect.

3 . The people who sanction the sins of their rulers justly share their punishment.

4 . When the people of God expect to prevail against their enemies by adopting their sinful policy ( 1 Samuel 8:20 ), they are certain to be ultimately defeated.

5 . The suffering and humiliation that follow sin are the most effectual means of its correction.

6 . The hope of a nation in the day of trouble lies in its praying, believing, godly men.

7 . God overrules all things, including the sins and sorrows of his people, for the establishment of his kingdom upon earth ( 1 Samuel 2:10 ).—D.

1 Samuel 31:11-13 . (BETHSHAN, JABESH-GILEAD.)

Gratitude.

The first victory of Saul ( 1 Samuel 11:1-15 .) is connected with his death by the noble exploit of the men of Jabesh. It was due partly to loyalty and patriotism; chiefly to gratitude for benefits formerly conferred upon them. It is seldom that any one closes his earthly course without some token of grateful remembrance. Of one of the worst tyrants that ever held the reins of power in Rome (Nero), it is recorded that on the morning after he was buried amidst general execration fresh flowers were found strewn by an unknown hand upon his grave. Saul had done many generous deeds, and they were not forgotten. The gratitude of the men of Jabesh was marked by many admirable features. It was—

1 . Unexpected. Who would have thought that the city which was so faithless and cowardly as to say to Nahash, "Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee," could have furnished such an instance of devotion? The noblest qualities sometimes appear in association with the meanest, and where men expect to find no good thing. Let us not despise our nature, nor think that at its worst it is wholly incapable of generous acts.

2 . Long cherished. It was many years previously that Jabesh had been saved by Saul; but its grateful feeling had not (as is sometimes the case) grown cold with the lapse of time. When a philosopher was asked, "what doth soonest grow cold?" he replied, "Thanks."

3 . Spontaneous. No special appeal was made to them; but perceiving that they could do something to testify their gratitude to their benefactor by rescuing his remains from the indignity to which they were subjected, "all the valiant men arose" of their own accord, "and went all night" (a distance of ten miles, across the Jordan) and accomplished it. Gratitude loses its proper character and ceases to be gratitude when it requires to be solicited and urged.

4 . Disinterested. Saul and his sons were dead, and no reward for their daring effort might be expected. It was performed in somewhat of the same spirit as that with which Saul himself formerly acted; what was best in his life was remembered and admired by them (as it was by David, 2 Samuel 1:23 ), and it served to stir them to similar excellence. Disinterested conduct begets its like.

"Good deeds immortal are—they cannot die;

Unscathed by envious blight or withering frost,

They live, and bud, and bloom; and men partake

Still of their freshness, and are strong thereby"

(Aytoun).

5. Heroic and self-sacrificing; exhibited practically and at the risk of life, and displaying great energy and valour. "The pillars of fire of genuine human heroism are the noble lights of history, which make us feel at ease while sojourning among spectres, and horrors, and graves" (Lange).

6 . Complete. It did not stop short of doing its best. "They took their bones, and buried them under the tamarisk at Jabesh, and fasted seven days" ( 1 Samuel 31:13 ; 2 Samuel 21:14 ). They could do no more; and what they did was done tenderly, mournfully, reverently, and in fulfilment of a sacred custom and religious duty.

Exhortation : —

1 . Endeavour so to live that when you are gone you may be remembered with gratitude, and leave behind the recollection of good deeds which may incite others to the like.

2 . Fail not to render gratitude to every one who has conferred a benefit upon you in the best way you can; be thankful, especially to God, for all his benefits towards you. "Nothing more detestable, does the earth produce than an ungrateful man" (Ausonius).

3 . Seek above all things to obtain in life and death the honour that comes from God. "This Book began with Samuel's birth, and now ends with Saul's burial, the comparing of which together will teach us to prefer the honour which comes from God before any honours of which this world pretends to dispose" (M. Henry).—D.

1 Samuel 31:1-13 .-Saul of Gibeah, and Saul of Tarsus.

It is instructive to compare the characters of different men with each other. This is done by Plutarch in his Lives of celebrated Greeks and Romans; and it may be done with advantage in the case of some of the characters described in the Scriptures. There was an interval of a thousand years between Saul of Gibeah and Saul of Tarsus) "who also is called Paul" ( Acts 13:9 ). But if we look at them attentively, "and examine the several parts of their lives distinctly, as we do a poem or a picture" (Plutarch), we shall find in these two illustrious Hebrews, the one under the Old Covenant, the other under the New—

I. RESEMBLANCE in their—

1 . Ancestral relation, religious privileges, and outward circumstances. Both belonged to "the tribe of Benjamin" ( Acts 13:21 ; Philippians 3:5 ), received the name of Saul when "circumcised the eighth day," were brought up "under the law," after early years of obscure diligence held important public posi tions,—the one as first king of Israel, the other as a "chosen vessel" unto the Lord, to bear his name "before the Gentiles, and kings, and the people of Israel" ( Acts 9:15 ),—lived a long life (over sixty years), and died a sudden and violent death.

2 . Natural qualities : passionate, impulsive, warlike, zealous, daring even to rash ness, resolute, persistent; inherited from their common ancestor, of whom it was said, "Benjamin as a wolf shall ravin," etc. ( Genesis 49:27 ); and characteristic of their tribe, as appears in Ehud ( 3:15 ). The Apostle of the Gentiles, "in the prompt audacities of his apostolic career, does not allow us to forget of what tribe he was."

3 . Sudden conversion : the one on the way to Gibeah, on beholding "a company of the prophets" ( Hebrews 10:1-39 .); the other on the way to Damascus, overcome by the glorious revelation of the Lord ( Acts 9:1-43 .), whose followers he was persecuting; a startling surprise to all, and the commencement of a different course of life. "Is Saul also among the prophets? They were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple."

4 . Energetic enterprises, to which they were called by the Divine Spirit, on behalf of the kingdom of God against its adversaries; in the one case with the sword, in the other with the word ( Hebrews 11:1-40 .; Acts 12:25 ; Acts 13:1-3 ).

II. CONTRAST in still more numerous particulars. They were the opposite of each other; as in physical appearance and mental culture, so also in their—

1 . Extraordinary change, which in the one was partial, superficial, and temporary; in the other complete, deep, and enduring.

2 . Real character. The one lived unto himself, and did not freely and fully surrender himself to the Divine will; the other lived unto the Lord, not being disobedient to the heavenly vision ( Acts 26:19 ; Galatians 1:16 ; Philippians 1:21 ).

3 . Gradual progress: in the one case, after brilliant promise, downward, in "pride, caprice, jealousy, cruelty, excusive avenging of himself, and at last open contempt and defiance of God;" in the other upward, in heavenly mindedness, spiritual power, and higher usefulness.

4 . Fierce persecution. "The second Saul for a while followed only too faithfully in the footsteps of the first. If the one persecuted David, the other, with an energy of hate that did not fall short of his, David's greater Son. Presently, however, their lives divide, and one is the Saul of reprobation, the other of election" (Trench). The latter began where the former ended ( Galatians 1:23 ), and became himself an object of the persecution in which he once shared.

5 . Representative relation. The one represented, embodied, and pro moted what was worst in his tribe and nation, the other what was best.

6 . Tragical end: the one in despair by his own hand, the other in glorious hope as a martyr of Christ ( 2 Timothy 4:6-8 ).

7 . Lasting memorial: the one is a warning, the other is a pattern ( 1 Timothy 1:16 ; Philippians 3:17 ). The second Saul was "the likeness in the Christian Church" not so much of what the first was as of "what he might have been—the true David, restorer and enlarger of the true kingdom of God upon earth" (Stanley).

III. INSTRUCTION .

1 . Religious advantages and eminent positions are of no real benefit unless they be rightly used.

2 . The natural qualities which make one man a power for evil, make another, when sanctified, a power for good.

3 . The heart must be right with God in order to a proper use of his gifts and a worthy course of life. "If the heart be not upright, whatever favourable beginnings there may be, there cannot be a uniform perseverance in goodness or any happy conclusion" (Robinson).

4 . Divine grace when persistently resisted is withdrawn, leaving the soul a prey to the "evil spirit;" when humbly and faithfully received, is followed by more grace.

5 . In proportion as a man lives to himself or to God he becomes weak, sinful, and miserable, or strong, holy, and happy.

6 . There is no standing still in moral life; if men do not become better they infallibly become worse.

7 . As a man lives so he dies. "Think of the end of Saul of Gibeah, and learn in time to be wise." Think of the end of Saul of Tarsus, and "be faithful unto death."—D.

HOMILIES BY D. FRASER