(27) But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.
Though it appeared that the general voice was with Saul, yet there were others who rejected him. Alas! is not this human nature in all ages the same? So our adored Redeemer, while those precious souls whose hearts the Lord hath regenerated, follow Jesus wheresoever he goeth; bend the knee, bow the heart, and bring presents of all their poor offerings can show to testify their love and attachment, there are men of Belial who slight redemption, and do in effect, if not in word, virtually say, we will not have this man to reign over us.
REFLECTIONS
READER! while you and I behold the aged prophet pouring the vial of oil over Saul's head, let our meditation take flight, and by faith behold the Holy Ghost anointing Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and installing him into all these offices by which our souls live under his precious exercise of them through all the departments of grace. Yes, blessed Jesus! we would hail thee king of Zion! We behold thee consecrated our great high priest forevermore. And we accept thee as the anointed prophet of our God, to preach good tidings to the meek, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. We view thee as the Christ of God, the glorious God-man set up and anointed as the Mediator before all worlds. And oh! that thy name, in the sweet savor of it, may be as the fragrancy of the holy ointment poured forth! therefore do the virgins love thee.
And dearest Jesus! as it hath pleased God, even thy God, to anoint thee, as Mediator, with the oil of gladness for, and above thy fellows; oh for a portion of that sacred anointing of the Holy Spirit, which was poured out upon thee without measure, to descend upon us like the precious ointment upon Aaron's head, which ran down to the skirts of his garments! Yes! we would pray for the largest, fullest portion of that rich anointing, which teacheth all things. We would covet the same holy unction, which, flowing from thee, makes all thy people priests, and kings to God, and the Father. And we would desire, to be made such partakers of thy grace, that by the exercises of it, our souls might be enabled to lay hold of thee, by lively faith, so as to live upon thy Person, to hang upon thy righteousness, and to walk evermore with thee, in all the departments of our pilgrimage here, till we come to dwell with thee forever, as men whose hearts thou hast indeed touched, and who cannot cease from following thee. And grant, blessed, dearest Jesus, that in the gifts of thy Holy Spirit, thou wilt not merely give us another heart, but a new heart, even the renewing of the Holy Ghost, shed upon us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Lord : so shall we be, indeed, kings, and priests to the Father, and fellow-heirs of that kingdom, which cannot be moved.