Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit · Sermon No. 1547
“And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on), but stand still awhile, that I may announce to you the Word of God.” 1 Samuel 9:27.
THIS was Samuel’s third interview with this goodly young man. He had spoken with him and entertained him in his parlor, giving him the place of honor. He had afterwards spent the evening with him in quiet on the housetop and now, that they were about to part, he took a fresh opportunity of speaking to him. This time he spoke to him with great closeness of personal application, sending Saul’s servant away that he might say things to Saul which nobody else might hear. He tried to speak to the young man’s inmost soul. The Prophet felt a deep solemnity—his whole heart saying every word that fell from his lips. He knew that this young man was about to be made a king, to take upon him very heavy responsibilities and he might either be a great curse to Israel or a great blessing and, therefore, the man of God, with all the gravity of his years and all the earnestness of his loving spirit, said, “Stand still awhile, that I may announce to you the Word of God.”
I think I hear his earnest tones and accents sweetened by a great love, for Samuel loved Saul and it was his affection which made him speak so earnestly and pointedly. I may have among my hearers at this moment some to whom I have spoken many times, but I should like once more to have a special, personal interview with them. Come, young man, step aside and let me speak with you. Try and think that no one is here except the preacher and yourself and that he speaks to you when he speaks. I long this time to do my Master’s work thoroughly with you in the power of the Spirit of God. This time the preacher would hold you fast, as if he said to each one, “I will not let you go unless you give your heart to Christ and become His servant from this very hour.”
There are two things in the text about which I wish to speak. Here is the first—the attention which Samuel requested and the second, on which we shall dwell at greater length, concerns the subject upon which he spoke.
I. First, let us think upon THE ATTENTION WHICH SAMUEL REQUESTED. He said to the servant, “Pass on before us,” and he passed on. Will you, also, kindly try to dismiss from your minds any other thoughts besides those which we will try to bring before you? Bid the servant pass on. Forget, for a while, your business. Forget your family. Forget your joys, forget your sorrows. You have had enough of these, I dare say, all week. Perhaps you have been haunted by them in your sleep. Maybe your dreams have been rendered unhappy by the rehearsal of your trials. By an effort of your mind, in which God will help you, try to make these servants pass on.
I wish I could so speak that men would say of my preaching what they said of Whitefield’s. One man said, “Whenever I went to Church before, I calculated how many looms the church would hold”—for he was a weaver—“but when I heard Whitefield I never thought of a loom.” Another said, “While I have been in Church I have often built a ship from stem to stern. But when I heard Mr. Whitefield I could not lay a plank! He took my mind right away from such things and occupied me with higher thoughts.” I pray you, help me in my endeavor to engross your attention. Let the ships go and the looms go and the kitchens go and the businesses go—send the servants away and be alone, now, with yourself and your God.
The next point in the attention requested was the desire that Saul would “stand still a white.” They had been walking quietly down the hill till they had gone past the last house in the town. And when they had come fairly into the fields, Samuel said, “Stand still awhile”—as much as to say, “I have something important to say and you will hear it better if you are quiet and motionless as to your body, but especially if your mind can be still. Forget the asses that you sought after and your father’s house and all home concerns and calmly listen to me.” It is a very desirable thing when we are listening to the Gospel, to let it have its full effect upon us, to give our minds up to it and say—“Let it come like the dew
and soak into my mind as the dew into Gideon’s fleece. Let it come like a shower and let it enter into my very nature as the rain into the clods which are softened by the gentle influence of the showers.”
I pray you bask in the Gospel as men do in the sunlight when they would be warm. Let the Gospel have its own legitimate effect upon you. Lay bare your bosom to it. Ask that your soul may have no stone of carelessness laid upon it, as though it were a dead thing in a sepulcher, but that it may come forth in resurrection life through the quickening Word of the Divine Spirit. Is not this what the Word of God deserves? Should it not have our living, loving attention? When God speaks, let all be silent! Hush, you senators, if God speaks! Sit still, you princes, if the King of kings lifts up His voice! Quiet, even you celestial choirs, if Jehovah speaks! An obedient homage should be paid to the voice of God by the deep awe and reverence of the spirit.