Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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1 Samuel
Book: 1 Samuel
Chapter: 26
Overview:
Saul goes after
David, who again spares
Saul's
Life.
(1-12)
David exhorts
Saul.
(13-20) Saul acknowledges his
Sin.
(21-25)
1-12 How soon do unholy hearts lose the good impressions
convictions have made upon them! How helpless were
Saul and all
his men! All as though disarmed and chained, yet nothing is done
to them; they are only asleep. How easily can
God weaken the
strongest, befool the wisest, and baffle the most watchful!
David still resolved to wait till
God thought fit to avenge him
On Saul. He will
By No means force his way to the promised
Crown
By any wrong methods. The
Temptation was very strong; but if he
yielded, he would
Sin against
God, therefore he resisted the
Temptation, and trusted
God with the event.
13-20 David reasoned seriously and affectionately with
Saul.
Those who forbid our attendance
On God's ordinances, do what
they can to estrange us from
God, and to make us heathens. We
are to reckon that which exposes us to
Sin the greatest injury
that can be done us. If the
Lord stirred thee up against me,
either in displeasure to me, taking this way to punish me for my
sins against him, or in displeasure to thee, if it be the effect
of that evil
Spirit from the
Lord which troubles thee; let Him
accept an
Offering from us both. Let us join in seeking peace,
and to be reconciled with
God By Sacrifice.
21-25 Saul repeated his good words and good wishes. But he
showed
No evidence of true
Repentance towards
God.
David and
Saul parted to meet
No more.
No reconciliation among men is
firm, which is not founded in and cemented
By peace with
God
through
Jesus Christ. In sinning against
God, men play the fool,
and err exceedingly. Many obtain a passing view of these truths,
who hate and close their eyes against the
Light. Fair
professions do not entitle those to confidence who have long
sinned against the
Light, yet the confessions of obstinate
sinners may satisfy us that we are in the right way, and
encourage us to persevere, expecting our recompence from the
Lord alone.