Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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1 Samuel
Book: 1 Samuel
Chapter: 16
Overview:
Samuel sent to
Bethlehem to
Jesse.
(1-5) David is anointed.
(6-13) Saul troubled with an evil
Spirit, is quieted
By David.
(14-23)
1-5 It appears that
Saul was grown very wicked. Of what would
he not be guilty, who durst think to kill
Samuel? The elders of
Bethlehem trembled at
Samuel's coming. It becomes us to stand in
awe of
God's messengers, and to tremble at his
Word. His answer
was, I come peaceably, for I come to
Sacrifice. When our
Lord
Jesus came into the world, though men had reason to fear that
his errand was to condemn the world, yet he gave full
Assurance
that he came peaceably, for he came to
Sacrifice, and he brought
his
Offering with him; A body hast thou prepared me. Let us
sanctify ourselves, and depend upon His
Sacrifice.
6-13 It was strange that
Samuel, who had been
So disappointed
in
Saul, whose countenance and stature recommended him, should
Judge of another
Man By that rule. We can tell how men look, but
God can tell what they are. He
Judges of men
By the
Heart. We
often form a mistaken
Judgment of characters; but the
Lord
values only the
Faith, fear, and
Love, which are planted in the
Heart,
Beyond human discernment. And
God does not favour our
children according to our fond partiality, but often most
honours and blesses those who have been least regarded.
David at
length was pitched upon. He was the youngest of the sons of
Jesse; his name signifies Beloved; he was a
Type of
God's
beloved Son. It should seem,
David was least set
By of all the
sons of
Jesse. But the
Spirit of the
Lord came upon
David from
that
Day forward. His anointing was not an empty ceremony, a
Divine power went with that instituted sign; he found himself
advanced in
Wisdom and courage, with all the qualifications of a
Prince, though not advanced in his outward circumstances. This
would satisfy him that his election was of
God. The best
evidence of our being predestinated to the kingdom of
Glory, is,
our being sealed with the
Spirit of promise, and experience of a
work of
Grace in our hearts.
14-23 Saul is made a terror to himself. The
Spirit of the
Lord
departed from him. If
God and his
Grace do not rule us,
Sin and
Satan will have possession of us. The
Devil,
By the Divine
permission, troubled and terrified
Saul,
By the corrupt humours
of his body, and passions of his mind. He grew fretful, peevish,
and discontented, and at times a madman. It is a pity that
Music, which may be serviceable to the good temper of the mind,
should ever be abused, to support vanity and luxury, and made an
occasion of drawing the
Heart from
God and serious things. That
is driving away the good
Spirit, not the evil
Spirit.
Music,
diversions, company, or business, have for a time often been
employed to quiet the wounded
Conscience; but nothing can effect
a real cure but the
Blood of
Christ, applied in
Faith, and the
sanctifying
Spirit sealing the
Pardon,
By his holy comforts. All
other plans to dispel religious melancholy are sure to add to
distress, either in this world or the next.