1 Samuel 7
Charles Spurgeon · Citado em PreceptAustin
1 Samuel 7
Spurgeon - “It may very naturally be asked, ‘Where was Samuel all that time?’ I know not what he was doing during those twenty years; but I have a suspicion, I may say, I have a firm persuasion, that he was going from place to place, preaching in quiet spots wherever he could gather an audience; warning the people of their sin, and stirring them up to seek Jehovah, thus endeavouring to infuse some spirituality into their national life.” Woodhouse on twenty years - This is one of those points in the Biblical narrative where the passage of a considerable period of time is noted but passed over. The twenty years is best understood as the long period of time before the next reported event, which is presented as (in some sense) a consequence of the long time in which Israel had little or nothing to do with the ark. The next significant event, from the narrator’s point of view, was this: “… and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord” (v. 2b)." (Preaching the Word: 1 Samuel—Looking for a Leader) Woodnouse adds an interesting note on the timing of events in this first section of 1 Samuel writing that "Apart from the seven months that the ark spent in Philistine territory (1Sa 6:1), there has been no explicit indication of the passage of time in the narrative of 1 Samuel so far. We might guess that two or three years passed from the birth of Samuel in 1 Samuel 1:20 to his weaning and presentation in Shiloh at the end of chapter 1. Chapter 2 seems to cover a period of about ten years or more, since by the time we reach chapter 3 Samuel is an articulate youth, possibly in his teens. The events of chapters 4–6 appear to have taken place within about a year. Now, however, a twenty-year period seems to pass by in one verse. (Preaching the Word: 1 Samuel—Looking for a Leader) John
1 Samuel 7
Spurgeon - Morning, December 29 “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.” —1 Samuel 7:12 The word “hitherto” seems like a hand pointing in the direction of the past. Twenty years or seventy, and yet, “hitherto the Lord hath helped!” Through poverty, through wealth, through sickness, through health, at home, abroad, on the land, on the sea, in honour, in dishonour, in perplexity, in joy, in trial, in triumph, in prayer, in temptation, “hitherto hath the Lord helped us!” We delight to look down a long avenue of trees. It is delightful to gaze from end to end of the long vista, a sort of verdant temple, with its branching pillars and its arches of leaves; even so look down the long aisles of your years, at the green boughs of mercy overhead, and the strong pillars of lovingkindness and faithfulness which bear up your joys. Are there no birds in yonder branches singing? Surely there must be many, and they all sing of mercy received “hitherto.” But the word also points forward. For when a man gets up to a certain mark and writes “hitherto,” he is not yet at the end, there is still a distance to be traversed. More trials, more joys; more temptations, more triumphs; more prayers, more answers; more toils, more strength; more fights, more victories; and then come sickness, old age, disease, death. Is it over now? No! there is more yet-awakening in Jesus’ likeness, thrones, harps, songs, psalms, white raiment, the face of Jesus, the society of saints, the glory of God, the fulness of eternity, the infinity of bliss. O be of good courage, believer, and with grateful confidence raise thy “Ebenezer,” for— He who hath helped thee hitherto Will help thee all thy journey through. When read in heaven’s light how glorious and marvellous a prospect will thy “hitherto” unfold to thy grateful eye! Robert