Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
1 Samuel
Book: 1 Samuel
Chapter: 7
Overview:
The
Ark removed to
Kirjath-Jearim.
(1-4) The Israelites
solemnly repent.
(5,6) The
Lord discomfits the
Philistines.
(7-12) They are subdued,
Samuel Judges Israel.
(13-17)
1-4 God will find a resting-place for his
Ark; if some thrust
it from them, the hearts of others shall be inclined to receive
it. It is
No new thing for
God's
Ark to be in a private
House.
Christ and his apostles preached from
House to
House, when they
could not have public places. Twenty years passed before the
House of
Israel cared for the want of the
Ark. During this time
the
Prophet Samuel laboured to revive true religion. The few
words used are very expressive; and this was one of the most
effectual revivals of religion which ever took place in
Israel.
5,6 Israel drew water and poured it out before the
Lord;
signifying their humiliation and sorrow for
Sin. They pour out
their hearts in
Repentance before the
Lord. They were free and
full in their
Confession, and fixed in their resolution to cast
away from them all their wrong doings. They made a public
Confession, We have sinned against the
Lord; thus giving
Glory
to
God, and taking shame to themselves. And if we thus confess
our sins, we shall find our
God Faithful and just to forgive us
our sins.
7-12 The
Philistines invaded
Israel. When sinners begin to
repent and reform, they must expect that
Satan will muster all
his force against them, and set his instruments at work to the
utmost, to oppose and discourage them. The Israelites earnestly
Beg Samuel to pray for them. Oh what a comfort it is to all
believers, that our great Intercessor above never ceases, is
never silent! for he always appears in the presence of
God for
us.
Samuel's
Sacrifice, without his
Prayer, had been an empty
Shadow.
God gave a gracious answer. And
Samuel erected a
memorial of this victory, to the
Glory of
God, and to encourage
Israel. Through successive generations, the
Church of
God has
had cause to set up Eben-ezers for renewed deliverances; neither
outward persecutions nor inward corruptions have prevailed
against her, because "hitherto the
Lord hath helped her:" and he
will help, even to the
End of the world.
13-17 In this great revival of true religion, the
Ark was
neither removed to
Shiloh, nor placed with the
Tabernacle any
where else. This disregard to the Levitical institutions showed
that their typical meaning formed their chief use; and when that
was overlooked, they became a lifeless service, not to be
compared with
Repentance,
Faith, and the
Love of
God and
Man.