Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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1 Samuel
Book: 1 Samuel
Chapter: 15
Overview:
Saul sent to destroy
Amalek.
(1-9) Saul excuses and commends
himself.
(10-23) Saul's imperfect humiliation.
(24-31) Agag Put
to
Death,
Samuel and
Saul part.
(32-35)
1-9 The sentence of condemnation against the Amalekites had
gone forth long before, Ex 17:14; De 25:19, but they had been
spared till they filled up the
Measure of their sins. We are
sure that the righteous
Lord does
No injustice to any. The
remembering the kindness of the ancestors of the
Kenites, in
favour to them, at the time
God was punishing the injuries done
By the ancestors of the Amalekites, tended to clear the
Righteousness of
God in this
Dispensation. It is dangerous to be
found in the company of
God's enemies, and it is our duty and
interest to come out from among them, lest we share in their
sins and plagues, Re 18:4. As the commandment had been
express, and a test of
Saul's obedience, his conduct evidently
was the effect of a proud, rebellious
Spirit. He destroyed only
the refuse, that was good for little. That which was now
destroyed was sacrificed to the
Justice of God.
10-23 Repentance in
God is not a change of mind, as it is in
us, but a change of method. The change was in
Saul; "He is
turned back from following me." Hereby he made
God his enemy.
Samuel spent a whole night in pleading for
Saul. The rejection
of sinners is the grief of believers:
God delights not in their
Death, nor should we.
Saul boasts to
Samuel of his obedience.
Thus sinners think,
By justifying themselves, to escape being
judged of the
Lord. The noise the
Cattle made, like the rust of
the
Silver, Jas 5:3, witnessed against him. Many boast of
obedience to the command of
God; but what means then their
indulgence of the
Flesh, their
Love of the world, their angry
and unkind
Spirit, and their neglect of holy duties, which
Witness against them? See of what evil
Covetousness is the root;
and see what is the sinfulness of
Sin, and notice that in it
which above any thing else makes it evil in the sight of the
Lord; it is disobedience: "Thou didst not obey the voice of the
Lord."
Carnal, deceitful hearts, like
Saul, think to excuse
themselves from
God's
Commandments By what pleases themselves.
It is hard to convince the children of disobedience. But humble,
sincere, and conscientious obedience to the will of
God, is more
pleasing and acceptable to him than all burnt-
Offering and
sacrifices.
God is more glorified and self more denied,
By
obedience than
By Sacrifice. It is much easier to bring a
Bullock or
Lamb to be burned upon the
Altar, than to bring every
high thought into obedience to
God, and to make our will subject
to his will. Those are unfit and unworthy to rule over men, who
are not willing that
God should rule over them.
24-31 There were several signs of hypocrisy in
Saul's
Repentance. 1. He besought
Samuel only, and seemed most anxious
to stand right in his opinion, and to gain his favour. 2. He
excuses his fault, even when confessing it; that is never the
way of a true penitent. 3. All his care was to save his credit,
and preserve his interest in the people. Men are fickle and
alter their minds, feeble and cannot effect their purposes;
something happens they could not foresee,
By which their
measures are broken; but with
God it is not
So. The Strength of
Israel will not
Lie.
32-35 Many think the bitterness of
Death is past when it is not
gone
By; they
Put that evil
Day far from them, which is very
near.
Samuel calls
Agag to account for his own sins. He followed
the
Example of his ancestors' cruelty, justly therefore is all
the righteous
Blood shed
By Amalek required.
Saul seems
unconcerned at the token of
God's displeasure which he lay
under, yet
Samuel mourns
Day and night for him.
Jerusalem was
carnally secure while
Christ wept over it. Do we desire to do
the whole will of
God? Turn to him, not in form and appearance,
but with sincerity.