Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
1 Samuel
Book: 1 Samuel
Chapter: 6
Overview:
The
Philistines consult how to send back the
Ark.
(1-9) They
bring it to Bethshemesh.
(10-18) The people smitten for looking
into the
Ark.
(19-21)
1-9 Seven months the
Philistines were punished with the
presence of the
Ark;
So long it was a
Plague to them, because
they would not send it home sooner. Sinners lengthen out their
own miseries
By refusing to part with their sins. The Israelites
made
No effort to recover the
Ark. Alas! where shall we find
concern for religion prevail above all other matters? In times
of public calamity we fear for ourselves, for our families, and
for our country; but who cares for the
Ark of
God? We are
favoured with the
Gospel, but it is treated with neglect or
contempt. We need not wonder if it should be taken from us; to
many persons this, though the heavies of calamities, would
occasion
No grief. There are multitudes whom any profession
would please as
Well as that of Christianity. But there are
those who value the
House, the
Word, and the ministry of
God
above their richest possessions, who dread the loss of these
blessings more than
Death. How willing bad men are to shift off
their convictions, and when they are in trouble, to believe it
is a
Chance that happens; and that the rod has
No voice which
they should hear or heed!
10-18 These two
Kine knew their owner, their great Owner, whom
Hophni and
Phinehas knew not.
God's
Providence takes notice even
of brute creatures, and serves its own purposes
By them. When
the reapers saw the
Ark, they rejoiced; their joy for that was
greater than the joy of
Harvest. The return of the
Ark, and the
revival of holy ordinances, after days of restraint and trouble,
are matters of great joy.
19-21 It is a great affront to
God, for vain men to pry into,
and meddle with the secret things which belong not to them, De
29:29; Col 2:18.
Man was ruined
By desiring forbidden
knowledge.
God will not suffer his
Ark to be profaned. Be not
deceived,
God is not mocked. Those that will not fear his
Goodness, and reverently use the tokens of his
Grace, shall be
made to feel his
Justice. The number smitten is expressed in an
unusual manner in the original, and it is probable that it means
1170. They desire to be rid of the
Ark. Foolish men run from one
extreme to the other. They should rather have asked, How may we
have peace with
God, and recover his favour? Mic 6:6,7. Thus,
when the
Word of God Works with terror
On sinners' consciences,
they, instead of taking the blame and shame to themselves,
quarrel with the
Word, and
Put that from them. Many stifle their
convictions, and
Put Salvation away from them.