Correspondence.

 
IT can be seen, from this chapter, what a deplorable condition Saul and those with him were in. He was rejected because he had not done what the Lord had commanded him. A number compared to the sand of the seashore are gathered against them and none in Israel had a sword or a spear to defend themselves, except Saul and Jonathan. The natural state of these people suggests a picture of the state of Christendom. Thousands of real Christians have not the full assurance of faith (Heb. 10:2222Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22)); not one in fifty are taught the true meaning of the full assurance of hope (Heb. 6:1111And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: (Hebrews 6:11)); and not one in a thousand understands the truth that Paul connects with the full assurance of understanding (Col. 2:22That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; (Colossians 2:2); Rom. 16:2525Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, (Romans 16:25); 1 Cor. 2:6, 76Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: (1 Corinthians 2:6‑7); Eph. 3:3, 93How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, (Ephesians 3:3)
9And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: (Ephesians 3:9); Col. 1:26, 2726Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: (Colossians 1:26‑27)). Israel were without the carnal sword (2 Cor. 10:44(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) (2 Corinthians 10:4)), and Christians in general are so little acquainted with the teaching of the Sword of the Spirit, that they cannot “contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 33Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (Jude 3)).
W. H. B.