Wesley Corpus

As the best, so the bravest of men, are no more than what God makes them. Jonathan must sit still now, because this honour is reserved for David. Old man - Therefore he went not himself to the camp. Went - From Saul's court: where having relieved Saul, he was permitted to go to his father's house, to be sent for again upon occasion. Pledge - That is, bring me some token of their welfare. Fighting - That is, in a posture and readiness to fight with them; as it is explained, ver.20,21. Went, &c. - Jesse little thought of sending his son to the camp, just at that critical juncture. But the wise God orders the time and all the circumstances of affairs, so as to serve the designs of his own glory. Fled - One Philistine could never have thus put ten thousand Israelites to flight, unless their rock, being forsaken by them, had justly sold them and shut them up. Free - Free from all those tributes and charges which either the court or the camp required. Naughtiness - Thy false - confidence, and vain gloried curiosity. See the folly and wickedness of envy! How groundless its jealousies are, how unjust its censures, how unfair it representations God preserve us from such a spirit! A cause - Of my thus speaking Is this giant invincible Is our God unable to oppose him, and subdue him However David is not deterred from his undertaking, by the hard words of Eliab. They that undertake public services must not think it strange, if they be opposed by those from whom they had reason to expect assistance, but must humbly go on with their work, in the face, not only of their enemies threats, but of their friends slights, suspicions, and censures. He tarried - For being secretly moved by God's spirit to undertake the combat. He speaks with divers persons about it, that it might come to the king's ear. Let no man's heart, &c. - It would have reflected upon his prince to say, Let not thy heart fail: therefore he speaks in general terms, Let no man's heart fail. A little shepherd, come but this morning from keeping sheep, has more courage than all the mighty men of Israel! Thus doth God often do great things for his people by the weak things of the world.