Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
1 Samuel
Book: 1 Samuel
Chapter: 28
Overview:
Achish puts confidence in
David,
Saul's fear.
(1-6) Saul
consults a
Witch at
Endor.
(7-19) Saul's terror.
(20-25)
1-6 David could not refuse
Achish without danger. If he
promised assistance, and then stood neuter, or went over to the
Israelites, he would behave with ingratitude and treachery. If
he fought against
Israel, he would
Sin greatly. It seemed
impossible that he should get out of this difficulty with a
clear
Conscience; but his evasive answer, intended to gain time,
was not consistent with the character of an Israelite indeed.
Troubles are terrors to the children of disobedience. In his
distress,
Saul inquired of the
Lord. He did not seek in
Faith,
but with a double, unstable mind.
Saul had
Put the
Law in force
against those that had familiar spirits, Ex 22:18. Many seem
zealous against
Sin, when they are any way hurt
By it, who have
No concern for the
Glory of
God, nor any dislike of
Sin as
Sin.
Many seem enemies to
Sin in others, while they indulge it in
themselves.
Saul will drive the
Devil out of his kingdom, yet
harbours him in his
Heart By envy and malice. How foolish to
consult those whom, according to
God's
Law, he had endeavoured
to root out!
7-19 When we go from the
Plain path of duty, every thing draws
us further aside, and increases our perplexity and
Temptation.
Saul desires the
Woman to bring one from the dead, with whom he
wished to speak; this was expressly forbidden, De 18:11. All
real or pretended
Witchcraft or conjuration, is a malicious or
an ignorant attempt to gain knowledge or help from some
Creature, when it cannot be had from the
Lord in the path of
duty. While
Samuel was living, we never read of
Saul's going to
advise with him in any difficulties; it had been
Well for him if
he had. But now he is dead, "Bring me up
Samuel." Many who
despise and persecute
God's saints and ministers when living,
would be glad to have them again, when they are gone. The whole
shows that it was
No human fraud or trick. Though the
Woman
could not cause
Samuel's being sent, yet
Saul's inquiry might be
the occasion of it. The
Woman's surprise and terror proved that
it was an unusual and unexpected appearance.
Saul had despised
Samuel's solemn warnings in his lifetime, yet now that he hoped,
as in defiance of
God, to obtain some counsel and encouragement
from him, might not
God permit the soul of his departed
Prophet
to appear to
Saul, to confirm his former sentence, and denounce
his doom? The expression, "Thou and thy sons shall be with me,"
means
No more than that they shall be in the eternal world.
There appears much solemnity in
God's permitting the soul of a
departed
Prophet to come as a
Witness from
Heaven, to confirm
the
Word he had spoken
On Earth.
20-25 Those that expect any good counsel or comfort, otherwise
than from
God, and in the way of his institutions, will be as
wretchedly disappointed as
Saul. Though terrified even to
despair, he was not humbled. He confessed not his sins, offered
No sacrifices, and presented
No supplications. He does not seem
to have cared about his sons or his people, or to have attempted
any escape; but in sullen despair he rushed upon his doom.
God
sets up a few such beacons, to warn men not to stifle
convictions, or despise his
Word. But while one repenting
thought remains, let
No sinner suppose himself in this case. Let
him humble himself before
God, determined to live and die
beseeching his favour, and he will succeed.