1 Sam. CHAP. XV.
CHapter the 15th is a farther and fuller Demonstration of Saul's Hypocrisie and Pro∣phaneness. In his War with Amalek as the principal cause of his Rejection.
The Remarks are, (1.) The Material Cause of Saul's Disobedience to God's Command was concerning Amalek, that licking People, as the Hebr. name signifies, who had not only assaulted Israel with open Hostility, to hinder their March to Canaan, Exod. 17.8, &c. Numb. 24.20. but also had laid lurking Ambushments to lick up and cut off the feeblest of them, Deut. 25.17, 18. Tho' this double Injury was now Four hundred years old, yet the Lord remembred it still, v. 12.
N. B. 'Tis ill angring the Antient of Days; his forbearance is no forgiveness; there∣fore doth he now send Samuel to Saul (the first King Israel had to Revenge their old Injuries) with a charge to cut them all off universally, both Man and Beast, that, as Balaam had prophesied of them, they might perish for ever, Numb. 24.20. Yea, and as the Lord himself had sworn, that it should be done so; Exod. 17.16. Samuel there∣fore lays God's Charge home upon Saul, that at length, after all his so heinous Miscar∣riages heretofore, and after God's so heavy Menaces thereupon, chap. 13.8, 9. saying, Yet the Lord, that made thee King, and whom thou oughtest to obey, is minded to try thee once more; see thou make amends for thy former Errours, and redeem God's Favour,] ver. 1, 2, 3.
The second Remark is, The Formal Cause of Saul's sin, which consisted in the parti∣ality of his obeving God's Command, ver. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Thus far Saul obeyed God. (1.) In Mustering up his Men to a potent Army, ver. 4. (2.) In Undertaking the Expe∣dition, ver. 5. N. B. (3.) In shewing kindness to the Kenites, who had shewed kind∣ness to Israel in Jethro their Father, Exod. 18.9, 10, 19. Numb. 10.29.31. God re∣membred this old Kindness of that Kenite, as Moses Father-in-law is called, Judg. 1.16. to preserve his Posterity from Ruine here, v. 6. as he remembred the old Unkindness of Amalek, so as that their Posterity were under a Divine Doom for Utter Destru∣ction. (4.) In slaying the common People of Amalek, so many as he could meet with, ver. 7, 8.
N. B. But now begins Saul's Sin▪ the dust of Courtship and of Covetousness did so blind his Eyes, that he spared Agag out of Courtship, that his fellow-King might admire his Royal Candour and Clemency.
N. B. It was Saul's Ambition to have this Character put upon him, that a Crowned Head-Conquerour knows how to shew Compassion upon a Crowned Head Conquered. And (2.) He likewise out of Covetousness spared the best and fattest of the Flocks, ver. 9. tho' this was pretended for Sacrifices to God, ver. 15. whereas indeed it was to enrich himself and his followers, therefore is he charged with [Flying upon the Spoil] ver. 19. that is, thy not so much seeking Sacrifices for God as thou didst Booties for thy self, falling on the Fatlings, as the hungry Hawk upon his Prey, and as Achan did upon the Wedge of Gold and Babylonish Garment, to appropriate them to his own use, Josh. 7. Beside, God, having Anathematized, and Devoted all those fat Cattel unto Utter Destruction, he would have esteemed it a more Acceptable Sacrifice, if they had all been destroyed together as Accursed of God, and so offered up to him accord∣ing to his Command; as it was in the case of Jericho, Josh. 6.17. Such Destructions made by a Divine Command, the Lord calleth his Sacrifices, Isa. 34.6. and Jer. 46.10.
N. B. Suppose Saul had indeed Sacrificed unto the Lord any of those accursed Cattel, as he pretended, it would assuredly have been abominable Will-Worship, it be∣ing expresly contrary to God's absolute Command; Therefore Samuel tells Saul from the Lord, that to obey is better than Sacrifice, ver. 22. and Rebellion is as the sin of Witch∣craft, ver. 23. 'Tis better to Sacrifice our Wills to God's Will and Command, than the flesh of the fattest Cattel to him.
The third Remark is, Samuel's Accusing Saul for his sin of Disobedience, wherein sundry Circumstances are considerable. As, (1.) God's Complaint of Saul to Samuel for his sin, saying, [It repenteth me, &c.] ver. 10, 11. which is spoke after the manner of Men, but must be understood according to the Nature of God, who is Ʋnchange∣able and cannot Repent, ver. 29.
Page 258 N. B. Repentance with Man is the changing of his Will, but with God 'tis only a changing of his Work; 'tis the willing of a change, without any change of his Will but of his Work only; 'tis mutatio Rei, non Dei, effectus, non affectus, 'tis an unchunge∣able Series or Course of things changeable, which God had so decreed, that they should be changed, Numb. 23.19. God only changes his Administration, and not his Immutable Decree, which was that Saul should be rejected for his foreseen Sin; and David (of the Tribe of Judah) received in his Room according to Gods purpose, Gen. 49.10. (2.) Samuel was grieved when God told him, Saul he had rejected, so wrestleth with God in Prayer all the night, that Saul might not be rejected, but that God would give him Repentance unto Life, and Pardoning Mercy, &c.
N. B. Here was no envy in Samuel against Saul his new Successor, who had turned him out of his Judgship (without just cause) before his Death: How many self-seek∣ing persons would rather have rejoiced at this Calamity, than have shewed such fer∣vent Compassion, as Samuel shewed for Saul here? And therefore he diligently sought out Saul from Carmel to Gilgal, v. 12. that he might reduce him to a seasonable Repentance. (3.) The place of their Meeting was Gilgal, v. 13. where Saul would gladly have Rolled away (as the word Gilgal signifies) his Reproach of Rebellion in a large con∣ference [pro and con] betwixt him and Samuel.
The Fourth Remark is, Saul's Apology and Excuse to Samuel's Accusations interchange∣ably recorded from v. 13. to 24. wherein several Circumstances are observable also: As, 1. Saul was so confident of the goodness of his Conscience, that he sets up a Trophy. a Monument of his Triumph over Amalek, v. 12. which was a Vain-glorious Vaunt in Saul to seek his own Honour in the first place, by fixing a famous Hand of stone at Carmel, as if by his own hand he had Atchieved the Victory over Amalek, before he sought Gods Honour by Sacrificing to God at Gilgal, as he pretended: This was one Aggravation of his Sin. (2.) This Bold and Boasting Hypocrite meets Samuel (coming to him at Gilgal) and with Glozeing Speeches thinks to stop Samuel's mouth, saying, [Blessed be thou of the Lord, I have performed the Lords Precepts,] v. 13. wherein he useth Religious Words, blessing Samuel for sending him upon such an honourable employ, and boasteth of his Obedience to him from whom he might well fear a just reproof. Samuel Answers this Boaster, that the Bleat∣ing of the Sheep and Lowing of the Oxen, v. 14. was an evidence of his Guilt, which could not consist with his Innocency and boasted Obedience.
N. B. Saul Replies, [They are reserved by the People for Sacrifice;] v. 15. where he lays all the blame upon the People, as if he had no hand in it, contrary to v. 9. saying, [Saul and the People spared, &c.] The one proposed to do so, and the other consented to have it done; so both were guilty: The People could not do thus with∣out his consent, who ought to have over-ruled them, by his Regal Authority for Gods sake as he had done before for his own sake, Chap. 11, 12, 13.
N. B. Behold how fawningly he flatters Samuel, saying, [They are to be Sacrificed to the Lord [thy] not [my] God;] not doubting, but Saul's respect to Samuel's God, would be very pleasing to him; thus Piety is pretended oft-times for Worldly Ends, Phil. 3.18, 19. and sometimes for wicked Ends, 1 Kings 21.9. 2 Sam. 15.8. Matth. 2.8. and 23.14. Hyppocrisie is a sin in it self, but when 'tis gilded over with pretences of Piety, this makes it a double Iniquity; and we cannot find a clearer Character of it than in Saul's Carriage to Samuel in this matter of Amalek, &c.
N. B. Samuel's Rejoynder to Saul in v. 16, 17, 18, 19 is an Aggravation of his Ingrati∣tude to the great God, who had rais'd him up from a contemptible Ass-keeper to be King and Ruler over his peculiar Inheritance, telling him, how he was once humble, and very submissive, as 1 Sam. 9.21. and 10.22. but now was grown proud and stub∣born; yea, impudent also, both to commit sin, and to justifie it when committed; if any other Man had contemned the Command of God, it could not be well born, How much less in him, whom God had lifted up from the Dunghil, and set him among Princes: The evil thou hast done (saith Samuel) was in the sight of the Lord, v. 19. whom thy pretences of Piety cannot deceive; he saw thou sought more Booties for thy Self, than Sacrifices for God.
All this puts not Saul to silence, but will obstinately still say something, though he had nothing of moment to say, but what he had said before, thinking to out-face the Old Prophet, and put him to his Proofs, he gives him the Lye, and [Tantamount] calls Samuel a false Accuser, while he justifies all that he had done, v. 20, 21. and Saul's shuffling Sophistry to Samuel, is very observable, for thus he pleads in his own Vindication.
Page 259 N. B. 'Tis true, the Lord commanded that all should be destroyed by us, yet the same God hath given us a Command that we should Sacrifice to him, and therefore we have done well in saving all these Cattel for God's Sacrifices: This subtle fallacy of Saul the Sophister, Samuel answers, that God's Law about Sacrificing was indeed a former and more General Law, but that was no part of Saul's Commission from God, to go and fetch Sacrifices from Amalek for Israel; his particular Errand was to destroy all the Cattel, v. 3. and this latter Law, which was given in special charge to him, ought chiefly to be observed at this time, before that Law which was not his concern now; and thus the Old Doctor Samuel doth not only with a Divine Acuteness unfold, but al∣so with a Spiritual Argument confounds the fallacy of subtle Saul's Paralogism, and this he doth with an Argument à comparatis, v. 22, 23.
N. B. His first Comparison is of Obedience with Sacrifices, v. 22. arguing thus, That Obedience to God is a Moral Duty, constantly and indispensably necessary; but Sa∣crifice is only a Ceremonial Institution, sometimes unnecessary, as in the Wilderness, and sometimes sinful; when it is offered by a polluted Hand, and a prophane Heart, then is it Abominable to God, Isa. 1.13, 14, 15. Prov. 21.27. or if Offered by Irregular means, matter or manner, Levit. 10.1, 2. Isa. 61.8. 1 Chron. 15.13, &c. Therefore, saith Samuel, the best and fattest of thy Sacrifices cannot compensate thy gross Disobedience to God's express Command; 'tis an Iniquity not to be purged away by Sacrifice for ever, chap. 3.14. much less by thy stolen stuff, Accursed Cattel, devoted to destruction in their own Land; God hates Robbery for a Burnt-Offering, Isa. 61.8.
N. B. Samuel's second Comparison is, his comparing Saul's Disobedience with the worst of wickedness, v. 23. telling him, That his Obstinacy in justifying his sinful Fact, and so Contumaciously pleading for it, was as destructive and damnable as Witchcraft it self; for as Witchcraft Dethroneth God, and Inthroneth Satan, so thy Rebellion pulls down God, and sets up thy own wicked Self-will in the Throne for thy God to be Adored, and so becomes the worst sort of Idolatry, wherein thou blesses thy self, Deut. 29.19, 20, 21. in Adoring thy own Will contrary to God's Will.
The Fifth Remark is, The feigned Confession and frigid acknowledgment that false-hearted Saul at long last made of his Sin to Samuel, who (as it were) squeez'd it out of him by the force of this large continued Conference and Dialogue betwixt them: Tandem aliquando frigidè clamat [peccavi.]
N. B. When he could deny it no longer, at length he comes to a forced, feigned and faint Confession, [I have sinned,] like that of Pharaoh, Exod. 9.27. dragg'd to it, and drawn from him, more from fear of disgrace, and danger of damage by losing his Kingdom, than from any true and serious Repentance: The Indications of Saul's Hypocrisie herein, are these.
N. B. First, That he made no Confession till he heard his Kingdom would be translated from him to another, that dreadful Sentence denounced against him, he de∣sired to be disannulled.
Secondly, His Confession was extorted from him, only that he might be honoured among his People to retain his Regal Power over Israel, v. 30. not at all was Saul solici∣tous for the favour of God, so he might but hold in with the favour of Men.
Thirdly, He shifts off his sin from himself again to the People, saying, [I feared the People, and obeyed their Voice,] v. 24. this was to excuse one sin with another; for had he feared God more, he had feared the People less; what mischief their Mutinies might have made him, as a better Man than he, his Successor said, Psal. 27.1, 3. and 46.1, 2. beside, this was no better than a loud Lye; for how little he feared the People, may be seen by 1 Sam. 11.7.13. and 14.24. So that [non causa pro causâ] was Saul's Fal∣lacy here, naming a false Cause, [the fear of the People,] and hiding the true Cause, his own Covetousness, and his want of the fear of God.
Fourthly, Hypocrites are always Changelings, blowing sometimes hot and sometimes cold: Oh how hot was Saul in his false Zeal against the Philistines, (a People whom God had not so Cursed, as he had done Amalek) when he furiously resolved [not to leave a Man of them alive,] chap. 14 36. and how hot was he also against his Innocent Son Jo∣nathan, saying, [He shall not be spared, but shall surely die,] ver. 39.44. Yet how cold can this unsound Saul be in the case of the People of God's Curse? Amalek, whom God had expresly commanded him to cut off Universally both Man and Beast, notwithstanding he spareth Agag and the best of the Cattel; and though the People might plead a little for Saul's sparing the Cattel, hoping to have some benefit thereby to themselves, yet could they not plead for sparing Agag, which would be no advantage to them.
Page 260 Fifthly, Though Saul used the same words [I have sinned] that David did after 2 Sam. 12.13. yet with a great deal of difference: For, (1.) It was wrung from Saul after many Shuffles and Shiftings, but it flowed freely from David. (2.) Saul sought his own [Honour before the People;] but David sought God's Favour and Glory. (3.) Da∣vid took the whole guilt to himself, like a true Penitent, but Saul, like a false Hy∣pocrite, when convinced would not bear the whole burthen of the Blame alone, but lays it chiefly upon the People, intimating, had he been left to his own choice, he should not have done so. (4.) Saul confesses his sin to Samuel only, and not to God; but David crys to God, [Against thee, thee only have I sinned, &c.] Psal. 51.1, 2, 3, &c.
Sixthly, Saul stigmatizes himself an Hypocrite, in saying, [I obeyed the Voice of the People,] v. 24, when he knew he had disobeyed the Voice of the Lord; in express Commands, &c.
The Sixth Remark is, Samuel's punishing Saul in Excommunicating him out of his Company, and not countenancing him in his Sacrificing the Accursed Cattel, ver. 26, 27, 28, 29, 30. Saul had come out of Gilgal to meet Samuel, when all this Discourse passed between them; Samuel will not go to Gilgal with Saul to Sacrifice there, but turns from him in great Indignation; loth was Saul to lose Samuel at such a juncture to his disgrace; he therefore holds him violently by his Mantle, and it rent in his Hand, which Samuel told him, was a sign of God's rending the Kingdom from him, and giv∣ing it to one, who should tear off the Skirt of his Garment, which when Saul saw came to pass, he said, [Now I know thou shalt surely be King, chap. 24 4.20.
The Seventh Remark is, Samuel slays Agag, and at the Importunity of Saul, Sa∣muel yields to go to Gilgal, to own him as his Soveraign as yet, being only Rejected, but not Deposed, but chiefly to Execute Agag, v. 31, 32, 33. who had been as cruel to Israel as his Ancestors; and having escaped the Sword of Lusty Saul, did not dream of Death by the Sword of Old Samuel.
N. B. Whom yet God enabled to hew him in pieces, as Phinehas stab'd Zimri, and Elijah slew the Baalites, all extraordinary Cases: We are to walk by the ordinary Rule, and not by extraordinary Examples, which are no Presidents for us. After this Samuel went no more to visit Saul now Excommunicated, yet mourns for him, v. 34, 35. for the hardness of his Heart, and hazard of his Soul, which was more than Saul did for himself.
