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diff --git a/44619-h/44619-h.htm b/44619-h/44619-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b21cd82 --- /dev/null +++ b/44619-h/44619-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,14426 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <link rel="coverpage" href="images/titlepage.jpg" /> + <title> + The Second Book of Samuel, by W. G. Blaikie--A Project Gutenberg eBook. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + margin: 3em auto 3em auto; + height: 0px; + border-width: 1px 0 0 0; + border-style: solid; + border-color: #dcdcdc; + width: 500px; + clear: both; +} + +hr.tb { + width: 250px; + margin: 3em auto 3em auto; +} + +table.toc { + margin: auto; + width: 90%; + border-collapse:collapse; +} + +td.c2 { + text-align: left; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 2em; + text-indent: -2em; + padding-right: 1em; + vertical-align: middle; +} + +td.c3 { + text-align: right; + padding-left: 1em; + vertical-align: bottom; +} + +td { padding: 0em 1em; } +th { padding: 0em 1em; } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + color: #999; +} /* page numbers */ + + .center {text-align: center;} + + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +/* Transcriber Notes */ +div.tn { + background-color: #EEE; + border: dashed 1px; + color: #000; + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-top: 5em; + margin-bottom: 5em; + padding: 1em; +} + +ul.corrections { + list-style-type: circle; +} + +/* Footnotes */ +div.fn { + background-color: #EEE; + border: dashed 1px; + color: #000; + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-top: 5em; + margin-bottom: 5em; + padding: 1em; +} + + .footnote { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + text-indent: -2em; + font-size: 0.9em; +} + + .footnote .label { + right: 84%; + text-align: right; +} + + .fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: none; +} + +/* Poetry */ + .poem { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + text-align: left; +} + + .poem br { display: none; } + + .poem .stanza { margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em; } + + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i1 {display: block; margin-left: 0.5em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i28 {display: block; margin-left: 14em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i3 {display: block; margin-left: 1.5em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44619 ***</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">[Pg i]</a></span></p> + +<blockquote style="text-indent:-1em"> +<p><b>THE EXPOSITOR'S BIBLE.</b> Edited by Rev. +<span class="smcap">W. R. Nicoll</span>, D.D., Editor of <i>London Expositor</i>.</p></blockquote> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">1st Series in 6 Vols.</span></p> + +<p> +<b>MACLAREN, Rev. Alex.</b>—COLOSSIANS—PHILEMON.<br /> +<b>DODS, Rev. Marcus.</b>—GENESIS.<br /> +<b>CHADWICK, Rev. Dean.</b>—ST. MARK.<br /> +<b>BLAIKIE, Rev. W. G.</b>—SAMUEL, 2 <span class="smcap">Vols.</span><br /> +<b>EDWARDS, Rev. T. C.</b>—HEBREWS.<br /> +</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">2d Series in 6 Vols.</span></p> + +<p> +<b>SMITH, Rev. G. A.</b>—ISAIAH, <span class="smcap">Vol. I.</span><br /> +<b>ALEXANDER, Bishop.</b>—EPISTLES OF ST. JOHN.<br /> +<b>PLUMMER, Rev. A.</b>—PASTORAL EPISTLES.<br /> +<b>FINDLAY, Rev. G. G.</b>—GALATIANS.<br /> +<b>MILLIGAN, Rev. W.</b>—REVELATION.<br /> +<b>DODS, Rev. Marcus.</b>—<span class="smcap">1st</span> CORINTHIANS.<br /> +</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">3d Series in 6 Vols.</span></p> + +<p> +<b>SMITH, Rev. G. A.</b>—ISAIAH, <span class="smcap">Vol. II.</span><br /> +<b>GIBSON, Rev. J. M.</b>—ST. MATTHEW.<br /> +<b>WATSON, Rev. R. A.</b>—JUDGES—RUTH.<br /> +<b>BALL, Rev. C. J.</b>—JEREMIAH. <span class="smcap">Chap. I-XX.</span><br /> +<b>CHADWICK, Rev. Dean.</b>—EXODUS.<br /> +<b>BURTON, Rev. H.</b>—ST. LUKE.<br /> +</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">4th Series in 6 Vols.</span></p> + +<p> +<b>KELLOGG, Rev. S. H.</b>—LEVITICUS.<br /> +<b>STOKES, Rev. G. T.</b>—ACTS, <span class="smcap">Vol. I.</span><br /> +<b>HORTON, Rev. R. F.</b>—PROVERBS.<br /> +<b>DODS, Rev. Marcus.</b>—GOSPEL ST. JOHN, <span class="smcap">Vol. I.</span><br /> +<b>PLUMMER, Rev. A.</b>—JAMES—JUDE.<br /> +<b>COX, Rev. S.</b>—ECCLESIASTES.<br /> +</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">5th Series in 6 Vols.</span></p> + +<p> +<b>DENNEY, Rev. J.</b>—THESSALONIANS.<br /> +<b>WATSON, Rev. R. A.</b>—JOB.<br /> +<b>MACLAREN, Rev. A.</b>—PSALMS, <span class="smcap">Vol. I.</span><br /> +<b>STOKES, Rev. G. T.</b>—ACTS, <span class="smcap">Vol. II.</span><br /> +<b>DODS, Rev. Marcus.</b>—GOSPEL ST. JOHN, <span class="smcap">Vol. II.</span><br /> +<b>FINDLAY, Rev. C. G.</b>—EPHESIANS.<br /> +</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">6th Series in 6 Vols.</span></p> + +<p> +<b>RAINY, Rev. R.</b>—PHILIPPIANS.<br /> +<b>FARRAR, Archdeacon F. W.</b>—<span class="smcap">1st</span> KINGS.<br /> +<b>BLAIKIE, Rev. W. G.</b>—JOSHUA.<br /> +<b>MACLAREN, Rev. A.</b>—PSALMS, <span class="smcap">Vol. II.</span><br /> +<b>LUMBY, Rev. J. R.</b>—EPISTLES OF ST. PETER.<br /> +<b>ADENEY, Rev. W. F.</b>—EZRA—NEHEMIAH—ESTHER.<br /> +</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">7th Series in 6 Vols.</span></p> + +<p> +<b>MOULE, Rev. H. C. G.</b>—ROMANS.<br /> +<b>FARRAR, Archdeacon F. W.</b>—<span class="smcap">2d</span> KINGS.<br /> +<b>BENNETT, Rev. W. H.</b>—<span class="smcap">1st and 2d</span> CHRONICLES.<br /> +<b>MACLAREN, Rev. A.</b>—PSALMS, <span class="smcap">Vol. III.</span><br /> +<b>DENNEY, Rev. James.</b>—<span class="smcap">2d</span> CORINTHIANS.<br /> +<b>WATSON, Rev. R. A.</b>—NUMBERS.<br /> +</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">8th and Final Series in 7 Vols.</span></p> + +<p> +<b>FARRAR, Archdeacon F. W.</b>—DANIEL.<br /> +<b>SKINNER, Rev. John.</b>—EZEKIEL.<br /> +<b>BENNETT, Rev. W. H.</b>—JEREMIAH.<br /> +<b>HARPER, Rev. Prof.</b>—DEUTERONOMY.<br /> +<b>ADENEY, Rev. W. F.</b>—SOLOMON AND LAMENTATIONS.<br /> +<b>SMITH, Rev. G. A.</b>—THE MINOR PROPHETS, <span class="smcap">2 Vols.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p><big><big>☞</big></big> About 400 pages in each Volume. Prices for either series, six volumes, $6.00. +(Orders for 2 or more series same rate will be sent by Express, prepaid.) +(Separate vols. $1.50, postpaid.) Descriptive circular sent on application.</p> + + +<hr /> + +<h2>THE SECOND BOOK</h2> +<h6>OF</h6> +<h2>SAMUEL.<br /><br /><br /><br /></h2> + + + + +<h6>BY THE REV. PROFESSOR</h6> +<h4>W. G. BLAIKIE, D.D., LL.D.,</h4> +<h6><span class="smcap">New College, Edinburgh</span>.<br /><br /><br /><br /></h6> + + + + +<h5>NEW YORK:</h5> +<h4>A. C. ARMSTRONG AND SON,</h4> +<h5>51 EAST 10TH STREET, NEAR BROADWAY,<br /> +1898.</h5> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">[Pg ii]</a></span></p> +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[Pg iii]</a></span></p> + + + +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS.</a></h2> + +<table class="toc" summary="Contents"> + <tbody> + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER I.</td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2"> </td> + <td class="c3"><span class="smcap">page</span></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">DAVID'S LAMENT FOR SAUL AND JONATHAN</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER II.</td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">BEGINNING OF DAVID'S REIGN AT HEBRON</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_14">14</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER III.</td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">BEGINNING OF CIVIL WAR</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_26">26</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER IV.</td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">CONCLUSION OF CIVIL WAR</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_38">38</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER V.</td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">ASSASSINATION OF ABNER AND ISHBOSHETH</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_50">50</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER VI.</td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">DAVID KING OF ALL ISRAEL</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_62">62</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER VII.</td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">THE KINGDOM ESTABLISHED</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_73">73</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER VIII.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[Pg iv]</a></span></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">THE ARK BROUGHT UP TO JERUSALEM</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_85">85</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER IX.</td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">PROPOSAL TO BUILD A TEMPLE</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_97">97</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER X.</td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">FOREIGN WARS</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_109">109</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XI.</td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">ADMINISTRATION OF THE KINGDOM</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_121">121</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XII.</td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">DAVID AND MEPHIBOSHETH</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_134">134</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XIII.</td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">DAVID AND HANUN</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_146">146</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XIV.</td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">DAVID AND URIAH</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_158">158</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XV.</td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">DAVID AND NATHAN</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_169">169</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XVI.</td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">PENITENCE AND CHASTISEMENT</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_181">181</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XVII.</td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">ABSALOM AND AMNON</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_193">193</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XVIII.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</a></span></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">ABSALOM BANISHED AND BROUGHT BACK</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_205">205</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XIX.</td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">ABSALOM'S REVOLT</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_217">217</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XX.</td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">DAVID'S FLIGHT FROM JERUSALEM</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_229">229</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXI.</td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">FROM JERUSALEM TO MAHANAIM</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_241">241</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXII.</td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">ABSALOM IN COUNCIL</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_253">253</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXIII.</td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">ABSALOM'S DEFEAT AND DEATH</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_265">265</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXIV.</td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">DAVID'S GRIEF FOR ABSALOM</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_277">277</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXV.</td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">THE RESTORATION</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_289">289</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXVI.</td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">DAVID AND BARZILLAI</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_301">301</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXVII.</td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">THE INSURRECTION OF SHEBA</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_314">314</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXVIII.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[Pg vi]</a></span></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">THE FAMINE</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_326">326</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXIX.</td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">LAST BATTLES AND THE MIGHTY MEN</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_338">338</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXX.</td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">THE SONG OF THANKSGIVING</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_350">350</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXXI.</td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">THE LAST WORDS OF DAVID</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_363">363</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXXI.</td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">THE LAST WORDS OF DAVID</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_363">363</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXXII.</td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">THE NUMBERING OF ISRAEL</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_376">376</a></td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + + <tr> + <td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXXIII.</td> + </tr> + <tr><td> </td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="c2">THE TWO BOOKS OF SAMUEL</td> + <td class="c3"><a href="#Page_388">388</a></td> + </tr> + </tbody> +</table> + + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a></h2> + +<h3><i>DAVID'S LAMENT FOR SAUL AND JONATHAN.</i></h3> + +<h5>2 <span class="smcap">Samuel</span> i.</h5> + + +<p>David had returned to Ziklag from the slaughter +of the Amalekites only two days before he +heard of the death of Saul. He had returned weary +enough, we may believe, in body, though refreshed in +spirit by the recovery of all that had been taken away, +and by the possession of a vast store of booty besides. +But in the midst of his success, it was discouraging to +see nothing but ruin and confusion where the homes of +himself and his people had recently been; and it must +have needed no small effort even to plan, and much +more to execute, the reconstruction of the city. But +besides this, a still heavier feeling must have oppressed +him. What had been the issue of that great battle at +Mount Gilboa? Which army had conquered? If the +Israelites were defeated, what would be the fate of Saul +and Jonathan? Would they be prisoners now in the +hands of the Philistines? And if so, what would be +his duty in regard to them? And what course would +it be best for him to take for the welfare of his ruined +and distracted country?</p> + +<p>He was not kept long in suspense. An Amalekite +from the camp of Israel, accustomed, like the Bedouin +generally, to long and rapid runs, arrived at Ziklag,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> +bearing on his body all the tokens of a disaster, and +did obeisance to David, as now the legitimate occupant +of the throne. David must have surmised at a glance +how matters stood. His questions to the Amalekite +elicited an account of the death of Saul materially +different from that given in a former part of the history, +"As I happened by chance upon Mount Gilboa, behold +Saul leaned upon his spear; and lo, the chariots and +the horsemen followed hard after him. And when he +looked behind him, he saw me and called unto me. +And I answered, Here am I. And he said unto me, +Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. +And he said unto me, Stand, I pray thee, beside +me, and slay me, for anguish hath taken hold of me: +because my life is yet whole in me. So I stood beside +him and slew him, because I was sure that he could +not live after that he was fallen; and I took the crown +that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was upon +his arm, and have brought them hither to my lord." +There is no reason to suppose that this narrative of +Saul's death, in so far as it differs from the previous +one, is correct. That this Amalekite was somehow +near the place where Saul Fell, and that he witnessed +all that took place at his death, there is no cause to +doubt. That when he saw that both Saul and his +armour-bearer were dead he removed the crown and +the bracelet from the person of the fallen king, and +stowed them away among his own accoutrements, may +likewise be accepted without any difficulty. Then, +managing to escape, and considering what he would +do with the ensigns of royalty, he decided to carry +them to David. To David he accordingly brought +them, and no doubt it was to ingratiate himself the +more with him, and to establish the stronger claim<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> +to a splendid recompense, that he invented the story of +Saul asking him to kill him, and of his complying with +the king's order, and thus putting an end to a life +which already was obviously doomed.</p> + +<p>In his belief that his pretended despatching of the +king would gratify David, the Amalekite undoubtedly +reckoned without his host; but such things were so +common, so universal in the East, that we can hardly +divest ourselves of a certain amount of compassion for +him. Probably there was no other kingdom, round +and round, where this Amalekite would not have found +that he had done a wise thing in so far as his own +interests were concerned. For helping to despatch a +rival, and to open the way to a throne, he would +probably have received cordial thanks and ample gifts +from one and all of the neighbouring potentates. To +David, the matter appeared in a quite different light. +He had none of that eagerness to occupy the throne on +which the Amalekite reckoned as a universal instinct +of human nature. And he had a view of the sanctity +of Saul's life which the Amalekite could not understand. +His being the Lord's anointed ought to have withheld +this man from hurting a hair of his head. Sadly +though Saul had fallen back, the divinity that doth +hedge a king still encompassed him. "Touch not +mine anointed" was still God's word concerning him. +This miserable Amalekite, a member of a doomed race, +appeared to David by his own confession not only a +murderer, but a murderer of the deepest dye. He had +destroyed the life of one who in an eminent sense was +"the Lord's anointed." He had done what once and +again David had himself shrunk from doing. It is no +wonder that David was at once horrified and provoked,—horrified +at the unblushing criminality of the man;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> +provoked at his effrontery, at his doing without the +slightest compunction what, at an immense sacrifice, he +had twice restrained himself from doing. No doubt +he was irritated, too, at the bare supposition on which +the Amalekite reckoned so securely, that such a black +deed could be gratifying to David himself. So without +a moment's hesitation, and without allowing the astonished +youth a moment's preparation, he caused an +attendant to fall upon him and kill him. His sentence +was short and clear, "Thy blood be upon thy head; +for thy mouth hath testified against thee saying, I have +slain the Lord's anointed."</p> + +<p>In this incident we find David in a position in which +good men are often placed, who profess to have regard +to higher principles than the men of the world in regulating +their lives, and especially in the estimate which +they form of their worldly interests and considerations. +That such men are sincere in the estimate they thus +profess to follow is what the world is very slow to +believe. Faith in any moral virtue that rises higher +than the ordinary worldly level is extremely rare +among men. The world fancies that every man has his +price—sometimes that every woman has her price. +Virtue of the heroic quality that will face death itself +rather than do wrong is what it is most unwilling to +believe in. Was it not this that gave rise to the +memorable trial of Job? Did not the great enemy, +representing here the spirit of the world, scorn the +notion that at bottom Job was in any way better than +his neighbours, although the wonderful prosperity with +which he had been gifted made him appear more ready +to pay honour to God? It is all a matter of selfishness, +was Satan's plea; take away his prosperity, and lay a +painful malady on his body, his religion will vanish, he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> +will curse Thee to Thy face. He would not give Job +credit for anything like disinterested virtue—anything +like genuine reverence for God. And was it not on the +same principle the tempter acted when he brought his +threefold temptation to our Lord in the wilderness? +He did not believe in the superhuman virtue of Jesus; +he did not believe in His unswerving loyalty to truth +and duty. He did not believe that He was proof at +once against the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the +eye, and the pride of life. At least he did not believe +till he tried, and had to retreat defeated. When the +end of His life drew near Jesus could say, "The prince +of this world cometh, but hath nothing in Me." There +was no weakness in Jesus to which he could fasten +his cord—no trace of that worldliness by which he +had so often been able to entangle and secure his +victims.</p> + +<p>So likewise Simon the sorcerer fancied that he only +needed to offer money to the Apostles to secure from +them the gift of the Holy Ghost. "Thy money perish +with thee!" was the indignant rebuke of Peter. It is +the same refusal to believe in the reality of high +principle that has made so many a persecutor fancy +that he could bend the obstinacy of the heretic by the +terrors of suffering and torture. And on the other +hand, no nobler sight has ever been presented than +when this incredulous scorn of the world has been +rebuked by the firmness and triumphant faith of the +noble martyr. What could Nebuchadnezzar have +thought when the three Hebrew children were willing +to enter the fiery furnace? What did Darius think of +Daniel when he shrank not from the lions' den? How +many a rebuke and surprise was furnished to the rulers +of this world in the early persecutions of the Christians,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +and to the champions of the Church of Rome in the +splendid defiance hurled against them by the Protestant +martyrs! The men who formed the Free Church of +Scotland were utterly discredited when they affirmed +that rather than surrender the liberties of their Church +they would part with every temporal privilege which +they had enjoyed from connection with the State. +Such is the spirit of the world; if it will not rise to the +apparent level of the saints, it delights to pull down +the saints to its own. These pretences to superior +virtue are hypocrisy and pharisaism; test their professions +by their worldly interests, and you will find them +soon enough on a level with yourselves.</p> + +<p>The Amalekite that thought to gratify David by pretending +that he had slain his rival had no idea that he +was wronging him; in his blind innocency he seems +to have assumed as a matter of course that David would +be pleased. It is not likely the Amalekite had ever +heard of David's noble magnanimity in twice sparing +Saul's life when he had an excellent pretext for taking +it, if his conscience had allowed him. He just assumed +that David would feel as he would have felt himself. +He simply judged of him by his own standard. His +object was to show how great a service he had rendered +him, and thus establish a claim to a great reward. Never +did heartless selfishness more completely overreach +itself. Instead of a reward, this impious murderer had +earned a fearful punishment. An Israelite might have +had a chance of mercy, but an Amalekite had none—the +man was condemned to instant death. One can hardly +fancy his bewilderment,—what a strange man was this +David! What a marvellous reverence he had for God! +To place him on a throne was no favor, if it involved +doing anything against "the Lord's anointed!" And<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> +yet who shall say that in his estimate of this proceeding +David did more than recognize the obligation of the +first commandment? To him God's will was all in all.</p> + +<p>Dismissing this painful episode, we now turn to contemplate +David's conduct after the intelligence reached +him that Saul was dead. David was now just thirty +(2 Sam. v. 4); and never did man at that age, or at any +age, act a finer part. The death, and especially the +sudden death, of a relative or a friend has usually a +remarkable effect on the tender heart, and especially in +the case of the young. It blots out all remembrance of +little injuries done by the departed; it fills one with +regret for any unkind words one may have spoken, or +any unkind deeds one may ever have done to him. It +makes one very forgiving. But it must have been a far +more generous heart than the common that could so soon +rid itself of every shred of bitter feeling toward Saul—that +could blot out, in one great act of forgiveness, the +remembrance of many long years of injustice, oppression, +and toil, and leave no feelings but those of kindness, +admiration, and regret, called forth by the contemplation +of what was favourable in Saul's character. How +beautiful does the spirit of forgiveness appear in such +a light! Yet how hard do many feel it to be to exercise +this spirit in any case, far less in all cases! How +terrible a snare the unforgiving spirit is liable to be to +us, and how terrible an obstacle to peaceful communion +with God! "For if ye forgive not men their trespasses, +neither will your Father in heaven forgive your +trespasses."</p> + +<p>The feelings of David toward Saul and Jonathan were +permanently embodied in a song which he composed +for the occasion. It seems to have been called "The +Song of the Bow," so that the rendering of the Revised<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> +Version—"he taught them the Song of the Bow," gives +a much better sense than the old—"he taught them the +use of the bow." The song was first written in the +book of Jasher; and it was ordered by David to be +taught to the people as a permanent memorial of their +king and his eldest son. The writing of such a song, +the spirit of admiration and eulogy which pervades it, +and the unusual enactment that it should be taught to +the people, show how far superior David was to the +ordinary feelings of jealousy, how full his heart was of +true generosity. There was, indeed, a political end +which it might advance; it might conciliate the supporters +of Saul, and smooth David's way to the throne. +But there is in it such depth and fulness of feeling +that one can think of it only as a genuine cardiphonia—a +true voice of the heart. The song dwells on all +that could be commended in Saul, and makes no allusion +to his faults. His courage and energy in war, his happy +co-operation with Jonathan, his advancement of the +kingdom in elegance and comfort, are all duly celebrated. +David appears to have had a real affection for Saul, if +only it had been allowed to bloom and flourish. His +martial energy had probably awakened his admiration +before he knew him personally; and when he became +his minstrel, his distressed countenance would excite +his pity, while his occasional gleams of generous feeling +would thrill his heart with sympathy. The terrible +effort of Saul to crush David was now at an end, and +like a lily released from a heavy stone, the old attachment +bloomed out speedily and sweetly. There would +be more true love in families and in the world, more +of expansive, responsive affection, if it were not so +often stunted by reserve on the one hand, and crushed +by persecution on the other.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> + +<p>The song embalms very tenderly the love of Jonathan +for David. Years had probably elapsed since the two +friends met, but time had not impaired the affection and +admiration of David. And now that Jonathan's light +was extinguished, a sense of desolation fell on David's +heart, and the very throne that invited his occupation +seemed dark and dull under the shadow cast on +it by the death of Jonathan. As a prize of earthly +ambition it would be poor indeed; and if ever it had +seemed to David a proud distinction to look forward +to, such a feeling would appear very detestable when +the same act that opened it up to him had deprived +him for ever of his dearest friend, his sweetest source +of earthly joy. The only way in which it was possible +for David to enjoy his new position was by losing sight +of himself; by identifying himself more closely than +ever with the people; by regarding the throne as only +a position for more self-denying labours for the good +of others. And in the song there is evidence of the +great strength and activity of this feeling. The sentiment +of patriotism burns with a noble ardour; the +national disgrace is most keenly felt; the thought of +personal gain from the death of Saul and Jonathan is +entirely swallowed up by grief for the public loss. +"Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of +Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, +lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph!" In +David's view, it is no ordinary calamity that has fallen +on Israel. It is no common men that have fallen, but +"the beauty of Israel," her ornament and her glory, +men that were never known to flinch or to flee from +battle, men that were "swifter than eagles, and stronger +than lions." It is not in any obscure corner that they +have fallen, but "on her high places," on Mount Gilboa,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +at the head of a most conspicuous and momentous +enterprise. Such a national loss was unprecedented +in the history of Israel, and it seems to have affected +David and the nation generally as the slaughter at +Flodden affected the Scots, when it seemed as if all that +was great and beautiful in the nation perished—"the +flowers o' the forest were a' weed awa'."</p> + +<p>A word on the general structure of this song. It is +not a song that can be classed with the Psalms. Nor +can it be said that in any marked degree it resembles +the tone or spirit of the Psalms. Yet this need not +surprise us, nor need it throw any doubt either as to +the authorship of the song or the authorship of the +Psalms. The Psalms, we must remember, were avowedly +composed and designed for use in the worship of God. +If the Greek term <i>psalmoi</i> denotes their character, they +were songs designed for use in public worship, to be +accompanied with the lyre, or harp, or other musical +instruments suitable for them. The special sphere of +such songs was—the relation of the human soul to +God. These songs might be of various kinds—historical, +lyrical, dramatical; but in all cases the paramount +subject was, the dealings of God with man, or the +dealings of man with God. It was in this class of +composition that David excelled, and became the organ +of the Holy Ghost for the highest instruction and +edification of the Church in all ages. But it does not +by any means follow that the poetical compositions of +David were restricted to this one class of subject. +His muse may sometimes have taken a different course. +His poems were not always directly religious. In the +case of this song, whose original place in the book +of Jasher indicated its special character, there is no +mention of the relation of Saul and Jonathan to God.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +The theme is, their services to the nation, and the +national loss involved in their death. The soul of the +poet is profoundly thrilled by their death, occurring +in such circumstances of national disaster. No form +of words could have conveyed more vividly the idea of +unprecedented loss, or thrilled the nation with such a +sense of calamity. There is not a line of the song but +is full of life, and hardly one that is not full of beauty. +What could more touchingly indicate the fatal nature +of the calamity than that plaintive entreaty—"Tell it +not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon"? +How could the hills be more impressively summoned +to show their sympathy than in that invocation of everlasting +sterility—"Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there +be no dew, neither let there be rain upon you, or fields +of offerings"? What gentler veil could be drawn over +the horrors of their bloody death and mutilated bodies +than in the tender words, "Saul and Jonathan were +loving and pleasant in their lives, and in their deaths +they were not divided"? And what more fitting theme +for tears could have been furnished to the daughters +of Israel, considering what was probably the prevalent +taste, than that Saul had "clothed them with scarlet +and other delights, and put on ornaments of gold upon +their apparel"? Up to this point Saul and Jonathan +are joined together; but the poet cannot close without +a special lamentation for himself over him whom he +loved as his own soul. And in one line he touches +the very kernel of his own loss, as he touches the very +core of Jonathan's heart—"thy love to me was wonderful, +passing the love of women." Such is the Song of +the Bow. It hardly seems suitable to attempt to draw +spiritual lessons out of a song, which, on purpose, was +placed in a different category. Surely it is enough to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +point out the exceeding beauty and generosity of spirit +which sought in this way to embalm the memory and +perpetuate the virtues of Saul and Jonathan; which +blended together in such melodious words a deadly +enemy and a beloved friend; which transfigured one +of the lives so that it shone with the lustre and the +beauty of the other; which sought to bury every painful +association, and gave full and unlimited scope to the +charity that thinketh no evil. <i>De mortuis nil nisi bonum</i>, +was a heathen maxim,—"Say nothing but what is good +of the dead." Surely no finer exemplification of the +maxim was ever given than in this "Song of the +Bow."</p> + +<p>To "thoughts that breathe and words that burn," +like those of this song, David could not have given +expression without having his whole soul stirred with +the desire to repair the national disaster, and by God's +help bring back prosperity and honour to Israel. Thus, +both by the afflictions that saddened his heart and the +stroke of prosperity that raised him to the throne, he +was impelled to that course of action which is the best +safeguard under God against the hurtful influences both +of adversity and prosperity. Affliction might have +driven him into his shell, to think only of his own +comfort; prosperity might have swollen him with a +sense of his importance, and tempted him to expect +universal admiration;—both would have made him unfit +to rule; by the grace of God he was preserved from +both. He was induced to gird himself for a course of +high exertion for the good of his country; the spirit of +trust in God, after its long discipline, had a new field +opened for its exercise; and the self-government +acquired in the wilderness was to prove its usefulness +in a higher sphere. Thus the providence of his heavenly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> +Father was gradually unfolding His purposes concerning +him; the clouds were clearing off his horizon; +and the "all things" that once seemed to be "against +him" were now plainly "working together for his +good."</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a></h2> + +<h3><i>BEGINNING OF DAVID'S REIGN AT HEBRON.</i></h3> + +<h5>2 <span class="smcap">Samuel</span> ii. 1-7.</h5> + + +<p>The death of Saul did not end David's troubles, +nor was it for a good many years that he became +free to employ his whole energies for the good of the +kingdom. It appears that his chastisement for his +unbelieving spirit, and for the alliance with Achish to +which it led, was not yet completed. The more remote +consequences of that step were only beginning to emerge, +and years elapsed before its evil influence ceased altogether +to be felt. For in allying himself with Achish, +and accompanying his army to the plain of Esdraelon, +David had gone as near to the position of a traitor to +his country as he could have gone without actually +fighting against it. That he should have acted as he +did is one of the greatest mysteries of his life; and the +reason why it has not attracted more notice is simply +because the worst consequences of it were averted by +his dismissal from the Philistine army through the +jealousy and suspicion of their lords. But for that +step David must have been guilty of gross treachery +either in one direction or another; either to his own +countrymen, by fighting against them in the Philistine +army; or to King Achish, by suddenly turning against +him in the heat of the battle, and creating a diversion<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +which might have given a new chance to his countrymen. +In either case the proceeding would have been +most reprehensible.</p> + +<p>But to his own countrymen he would have made +himself especially obnoxious if he had lent himself to +Achish in the battle. Whether he contemplated treachery +to Achish is a secret that seems never to have +gone beyond his own bosom. All the appearances +favoured the supposition that he would fight against his +country, and we cannot wonder if, for a long time, this +made him an object of distrust and suspicion. If we +would understand how the men of Israel must have +looked on him, we have only to fancy how we should +have viewed a British soldier if, with a troop of his +countrymen, he had followed Napoleon to the field of +Waterloo, and had been sent away from the French +army only through the suspicion of Napoleon's generals. +In David's case, all his former achievements against the +Philistines, all that injustice from Saul which had driven +him in despair to Achish, his services against the +Amalekites, his generous use of the spoil, as well as +his high personal character, did not suffice to counteract +the bad impression of his having followed Achish to +battle. For after a great disaster the public mind is +exasperated; it is eager to find a scapegoat on whom +to throw the blame, and it is unmeasured in its denunciations +of any one who can be plausibly assailed. +Beyond all doubt, angry and perplexed as the nation +was, David would come in for a large share of the +blame; his alliance with Achish would be denounced +with unmeasured bitterness; and, probably enough, he +would have to bear the brunt of many a bitter calumny +in addition, as if he had instigated Achish, and given +him information which had helped him to conquer.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p> + +<p>His own tribe, the tribe of Judah, was far the +friendliest, and the most likely to make allowance for +the position in which he had been placed. They were +his own flesh and blood; they knew the fierce and +cruel malignity with which Saul had hunted him down, +and they knew that, as far as appearances went, his +chances of getting the better of Saul's efforts were +extremely small, and the temptation to throw himself +into the hands of Achish correspondingly great. +Evidently, therefore, the most expedient course he +could now take was to establish himself in some of the +cities of Judah. But in that frame of recovered loyalty +to God in which he now was, he declined to take this +step, indispensable though it seemed, until he had got +Divine direction regarding it. "It came to pass, after +this, that David inquired of the Lord saying, Shall I go +up to any of the cities of Judah? And the Lord said +unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go +up? And He said, Unto Hebron." The form in +which he made the inquiry shows that to his mind +it was very clear that he ought to go up to one or +another of the cities of Judah; his advisers and +companions had probably the same conviction; but +notwithstanding, it was right and fitting that no such +step should be taken without his asking direction from +God. And let us observe that, on this occasion, +prayer was not the last resort of one whom all other +refuge had failed, but the first resort of one who +regarded the Divine approval as the most essential +element for determining the propriety of the undertaking.</p> + +<p>It is interesting and instructive to ponder this fact. +The first thing done by David, after virtually acquiring +a royal position, was to ask counsel of God. His<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +royal administration was begun by prayer. And there +was a singular appropriateness in this act. For the +great characteristic of David, brought out especially +in his Psalms, is the reality and the nearness of his +fellowship with God. We may find other men who +equalled him in every other feature of character—who +were as full of human sympathy, as reverential, as +self-denying, as earnest in their efforts to please God and +to benefit men; but we shall find no one who lived so +closely under God's shadow, whose heart and life were +so influenced by regard to God, to whom God was so +much of a personal Friend, so blended, we may say, +with his very existence. David therefore is eminently +himself when asking counsel of the Lord. And would +not all do well to follow him in this? True, he had +supernatural methods of doing this, and you have only +natural; he had the Urim and Thummim, you have +only the voice of prayer; but this makes no real +difference, for it was only in great national matters +that he made use of the supernatural method; in all +that concerned his personal relations to God it was +the other that he employed. And so may you. But +the great matter is to resemble David in his profound +sense of the infinite value and reality of Divine +direction. Without this your prayers will always be +more or less matters of formality. And being formal, +you will not feel that you get any good of them. Is it +really a profound conviction of yours that in every step +of your life God's direction is of supreme value? That +you dare not even change your residence with safety +without being directed by Him? That you dare not +enter on new relations in life,—new business, new +connections, new recreations—without seeking the +Divine countenance? That endless difficulties, troubles,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +complications, are liable to arise, when you simply +follow your own notions or inclinations without +consulting the Lord? And under the influence of that +conviction do you try to follow the rule, "In all thy +ways acknowledge Him"? And do you endeavour +to get from prayer a trustful rest in God, an assurance +that He will not forsake you, a calm confidence that +He will keep His word? Then, indeed, you are +treading in David's footsteps, and you may expect +to share his privilege—Divine direction in your times +of need.</p> + +<p>The city of Hebron, situated about eighteen miles +to the south of Jerusalem, was the place to which +David was directed to go. It was a place abounding +in venerable and elevating associations. It was among +the first, if not the very first, of the haunts of civilised +men in the land—so ancient that it is said to have been +built seven years before Zoan in Egypt (Numb. xiii. 22). +The father of the faithful had often pitched his tent +under its spreading oaks, and among its olive groves +and vine-clad hills the gentle Isaac had meditated at +eventide. There Abraham had watched the last breath +of his beloved Sarah, the partner of his faith and the +faithful companion of his wanderings; and there from +the sons of Heth he had purchased the sepulchre of +Machpelah, where first Sarah's body, then his own, +then that of Isaac were laid to rest. There Joseph and +his brethren had brought up the body of Jacob, in +fulfilment of his dying command, laying it beside the +bones of Leah. It had been a halting-place of the +twelve spies when they went up to search the land; +and the cluster of grapes which they carried back was +cut from the neighbouring valley, where the finest +grapes of the country are found to this day. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +sight of its venerable cave had doubtless served to +raise the faith and courage of Joshua and Caleb, when +the other spies became so feeble and so faithless. In +the division of the land it had been assigned to Caleb, +one of the best and noblest spirits the nation ever +produced; afterwards it was made one of the Levitical +cities of refuge. More recently, it had been one of +the places selected by David to receive a portion of the +Amalekite spoil. No place could have recalled more +vividly the lessons of departed worth and the victories +of early faith, or abounded more in tokens of the +blessedness of fully following the Lord. It was a +token of God's kindness to David that He directed him +to make this city his headquarters. It was equivalent +to a new promise that the God of Abraham and of +Isaac and Jacob would be the God of David, and that +his public career would prepare the way for the mercies +in the prospect of which they rejoiced, and sustain +the hope to which they looked forward, though they +did not in their time see the promise realised.</p> + +<p>It was a further token of God's goodness that no +sooner had David gone up to Hebron than "the men +of Judah came and anointed him king over the house +of Judah." Judah was the imperial or premier tribe, +and though this was not all that God had promised to +David, it was a large instalment. The occasion might +well awaken mingled emotions in his breast—gratitude +for mercies given and solicitude for the responsibility +of a royal position. With his strong sense of duty, +his love of righteousness and hatred of wickedness, we +should expect to find him strengthening himself in +the purpose to rule only in the fear of God. It is +just such views and purposes as these we find expressed +in the hundred and first Psalm, which internal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +evidence would lead us to assign to this period of his +life:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"I will sing of mercy and of judgment:<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Unto Thee, O Lord, will I sing.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">O when wilt Thou come unto me?<br /></span> +<span class="i1">I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">I will set no base thing before mine eyes:<br /></span> +<span class="i1">I hate the work of them that turn aside;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">It shall not cleave to me.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">A froward heart shall depart from me:<br /></span> +<span class="i1">I will know no evil thing.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I destroy;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land that they may dwell with me:<br /></span> +<span class="i1">He that walketh in a perfect way, he shall minister unto me.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">He that speaketh falsehood shall not be established before mine eyes.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Morning by morning will I destroy all the wicked of the land;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">To cut off all the workers of iniquity from the city of the Lord."<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>By a singular coincidence, the first place to which +the attention of David was called, after his taking possession +of the royal position, was the same as that to +which Saul had been directed in the same circumstances—namely, +Jabesh-gilead. It was far away from +Hebron, on the other side of Jordan, and quite out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +of the scope of David's former activities; but he +recognised a duty to its people, and he hastened to +perform it. In the first place, he sent them a gracious +and grateful message of thanks for the kindness shown +to Saul, the mark of respect they had paid him in burying +his body. Every action of David's in reference to +his great rival evinces the superiority of his spirit to +that which was wont to prevail in similar circumstances. +Within the Scriptures themselves we have instances of +the dishonour that was often put on the body of a conquered +rival. The body of Jehoram, cast ignominiously +by Jehu, in mockery of his royal state, into the vineyard +of Naboth, which his father Ahaz had unrighteously +seized, and the body of Jezebel, flung out of the +window, trodden under foot, and devoured by dogs +are instances readily remembered. The shocking fate +of the dead body of Hector, dragged thrice round the +walls of Troy after Achilles' chariot, was regarded as +only such a calamity as might be looked for amid the +changing fortunes of war. Mark Antony is said to +have broken out into laughter at the sight of the hands +and head of Cicero, which he had caused to be severed +from his body. The respect of David for the person of +Saul was evidently a sincere and genuine feeling; and +it was a sincere pleasure to him to find that this feeling +had been shared by the Jabeshites, and manifested in +their rescuing Saul's body and consigning it to honourable +burial.</p> + +<p>In the next place, he invokes on these people a glowing +benediction from the Lord: "The Lord show kindness +and truth to you;" and he expresses his purpose +also to requite their kindness himself. "Kindness and +truth." There is something instructive in the combination +of these two words. It is the Hebrew way of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> +expressing "true kindness," but even in that form, the +words suggest that kindness is not always true kindness, +and mere kindness cannot be a real blessing +unless it rest on a solid basis. There is in many men +an amiable spirit which takes pleasure in gratifying the +feelings of others. Some manifest it to children by +loading them with toys and sweetmeats, or taking them +to amusements which they know they like. But it +does not follow that such kindness is always true kindness. +To please one is not always the kindest thing +you can do for one, for sometimes it is a far kinder +thing to withhold what will please. True kindness +must be tested by its ultimate effects. The kindness +that loves best to improve our hearts, to elevate our +tastes, to straighten our habits, to give a higher tone to +our lives, to place us on a pedestal from which we may +look down on conquered spiritual foes, and on the possession +of what is best and highest in human attainment,—the +kindness that bears on the future, and +especially the eternal future, is surely far more true than +that which, by gratifying our present feelings, perhaps +confirms us in many a hurtful lust. David's prayer +for the men of Jabesh was an enlightened benediction: +"God show you kindness and truth." And so far as +he may have opportunity, he promises that he will show +them the same kindness too.</p> + +<p>We need not surely dwell on the lesson which this +suggests. Are you kindly disposed to any one? You +wish sincerely to promote his happiness, and you try +to do so. But see well to it that your kindness is true. +See that the day shall never come when that which you +meant so kindly will turn out to have been a snare, +and perhaps a curse. Think of your friend as an +immortal being, with either heaven or hell before him,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +and consider what genuine kindness requires of you in +such a case. And in every instance beware of the +kindness which shakes the stability of his principles, +which increases the force of his temptations, and +makes the narrow way more distasteful and difficult to +him than ever.</p> + +<p>There can be no doubt that David was moved by +considerations of policy as well as by more disinterested +motives in sending this message and offering this +prayer for the men of Jabesh-gilead. Indeed, in the +close of his message he invites them to declare for him, +and follow the example of the men of Judah, who have +made him king. The kindly proceeding of David was +calculated to have a wider influence than over the men +of Jabesh, and to have a conciliating effect on all the +friends of the former king. It would have been natural +enough for them to fear, considering the ordinary ways +of conquerors and the ordinary fate of the friends of +the conquered, that David would adopt very rigid steps +against the friends of his persecutors. By this message +sent across the whole country and across the Jordan, +he showed that he was animated by the very opposite +spirit: that, instead of wishing to punish those who +had served with Saul, he was quite disposed to show +them favour. Divine grace, acting on his kindly nature, +made him forgiving to Saul and all his comrades, and +presented to the world the spectacle of an eminent +religious profession in harmony with a noble generosity.</p> + +<p>But the spirit in which David acted towards the +friends of Saul did not receive the fitting return. The +men of Jabesh-gilead appear to have made no response +to his appeal. His peaceable purpose was defeated +through Abner, Saul's cousin and captain-general of his +army, who set up Ishbosheth, one of Saul's sons, as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +king in opposition to David. Ishbosheth himself was +but a tool in Abner's hands, evidently a man of no +spirit or activity; and in setting him up as a claimant +for the kingdom, Abner very probably had an eye to +the interests of himself and his family. It is plain that +he acted in this matter in that spirit of ungodliness and +wilfulness of which his royal cousin had given so many +proofs; he knew that God had given the kingdom to +David, and afterwards taunted Ishbosheth with the fact +(iii. 9); perhaps he looked for the reversion of the +throne if Ishbosheth should die, for it needed more than +an ordinary motive to go right in opposition to the +known decree of God. The world's annals contain +too many instances of wars springing from no higher +motive than the ambition of some Diotrephes to have +the pre-eminence. You cry shame on such a spirit; +but while you do so take heed lest you share it yourselves. +To many a soldier war is welcome because it +is the pathway to promotion, to many a civilian because +it gives for the moment an impulse to the business +with which he is connected. How subtle and dangerous +is the feeling that secretly welcomes what may +spread numberless woes through a community if only +it is likely to bring some advantage to ourselves! +O God, drive selfishness from the throne of our hearts, +and write on them in deepest letters Thine own holy +law, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."</p> + +<p>The place chosen for the residence of Ishbosheth +was Mahanaim, in the half-tribe of Manasseh, on the +east side of the Jordan. It is a proof how much the +Philistines must have dominated the central part of the +country that no city in the tribe of Benjamin and no +place even on the western side of the Jordan could be +obtained as a royal seat for the son of Saul. Surely<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +this was an evil omen. Ishbosheth's reign, if reign it +might be called, lasted but two short years. No single +event took place to give it lustre. No city was taken +from the Philistines, no garrison put to flight, as at +Michmash. No deed was ever done by him or done +by his adherents of which they might be proud, and to +which they might point in justification of their resistance +to David. Ishbosheth was not the wicked man in +great power, spreading himself like the green bay-tree, +but a short-lived, shrivelled plant, that never rose +above the humiliating circumstances of its origin. +Men who have defied the purpose of the Almighty have +often grown and prospered, like the little horn of the +Apocalypse; but in this case of Ishbosheth little more +than one breath of the Almighty sufficed to wither him +up. Yes, indeed, whatever may be the immediate +fortunes of those who unfurl their own banner against +the clear purpose of the Almighty, there is but one fate +for them all in the end—utter humiliation and defeat. +Well may the Psalm counsel all, "Kiss ye the Son, +lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way, if once +His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they +that put their trust in Him."</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a></h2> + +<h3><i>BEGINNING OF CIVIL WAR.</i></h3> + +<h5>2 <span class="smcap">Samuel</span> ii. 12-32</h5> + + +<p>The well-meant and earnest efforts of David to +ward off strife and bring the people together in +recognising him as king were frustrated, as we have seen, +through the efforts of Abner. Unmoved by the solemn +testimony of God, uttered again and again through +Samuel, that He had rejected Saul and found as king +a man after His own heart; unmoved by the sad proceedings +at Endor, where, under such awful circumstances, +the same announcement of the purpose of the +Almighty had been repeated; unmoved by the doom of +Saul and his three sons on Mount Gilboa, where such a +striking proof of the reality of God's judgment on his +house had been given; unmoved by the miserable state +of the kingdom, overrun and humiliated by the Philistines +and in the worst possible condition to bear the +strain of a civil war,—this Abner insisted on setting up +Ishbosheth and endeavouring to make good his claims +by the sword. It was never seen more clearly how +"one sinner destroyeth much good."</p> + +<p>As to the immediate occasion of the war, David was +quite innocent, and Abner alone was responsible; but +to a feeling and patriotic heart like David's, the war +itself must have been the occasion of bitter distress<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +Did it ever occur to him to think that in a sense he +was now brought, against his will, into the position +which he had professed to King Achish to be willing to +occupy, or that, placed as he now was in an attitude +of opposition to a large section of his countrymen, he +was undergoing a chastisement for what he was rash +enough to say and to do then?</p> + +<p>In the commencement of the war, the first step was +taken by Abner. He went out from Mahanaim, descended +the Jordan valley, and came to Gibeon, in the +tribe of Benjamin, a place but a few miles distant from +Gibeah, where Saul had reigned. His immediate +object probably was to gain such an advantage over +David in that quarter as would enable him to establish +Ishbosheth at Gibeah, and thus bring to him all the +prestige due to the son and successor of Saul. We +must not forget that the Philistines had still great influence +in the land, and very likely they were in possession +of Gibeah, after having rifled Saul's palace and +appropriated all his private property. With this powerful +enemy to be dealt with ultimately, it was the interest +of Abner to avoid a collision of the whole forces on +either side, and spare the slaughter which such a contest +would have involved. There is some obscurity in +the narrative now before us, both at this point and at +other places. But it would appear that, when the two +armies were ranged on opposite sides of the "pool" +or reservoir at Gibeon, Abner made the proposal to +Joab that the contest should be decided by a limited +number of young men on either side, whose encounter +would form a sort of play or spectacle, that their +brethren might look on, and, in a sense, enjoy. In the +circumstances, it was a wise and humane proposal, +although we get something of a shock from the frivolous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +spirit that could speak of such a deadly encounter as +"play."</p> + +<p>David was not present with his troops on this +occasion, the management of them being entrusted to +Joab, his sister's son. Here was another of the difficulties +of David—a difficulty which embarrassed him +for forty years. He was led to commit the management +of his army to his warlike nephew, although he +appears to have been a man very unlike himself. Joab +is much more of the type of Saul than of David. He +is rough, impetuous, worldly, manifesting no faith, no +prayerfulness, no habit or spirit of communion with +God. Yet from the beginning he threw in his lot +with David; he remained faithful to him in the insurrection +of Absalom; and sometimes he gave him advice +which was more worthy to be followed than his own +devices. But though Joab was a difficulty to David, +he did not master him. The course of David's life and +the character of his reign were determined mainly by +those spiritual feelings with which Joab appears to +have had no sympathy. It was unfortunate that the +first stage of the war should have been in the hands of +Joab; he conducted it in a way that must have been +painful to David; he stained it with a crime that gave +him bitter pain.</p> + +<p>The practice of deciding public contests by a small +and equal number of champions on either side, if not a +common one in ancient times, was, at any rate, not very +rare. Roman history furnishes some memorable instances +of it: that of Romulus and Aruns, and that of +the Horatii and the Curiatii; while the challenge of +Goliath and the proposal to settle the strife between +the Philistines and the Hebrews according to the result +of the duel with him had taken place not many years<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +before. The young men were accordingly chosen, +twelve on either side; but they rushed against each +other with such impetuosity that the whole of them fell +together, and the contest remained undecided as before. +Excited probably by what they had witnessed, the +main forces on either side now rushed against each +other; and when the shock of battle came, the victory +fell to the side of David, and Abner and his troops +were signally defeated. On David's side, there was +not a very serious loss, the number of the slain +amounting to twenty; but on the side of Abner the +loss was three hundred and sixty. To account for so +great an inequality we must remember that in Eastern +warfare it was in the pursuit that by far the greatest +amount of slaughter took place. That obstinate maintenance +of their ground which is characteristic of +modern armies seems to have been unknown in those +times. The superiority of one of the hosts over the +other appears usually to have made itself felt at the +beginning of the engagement; the opposite force, seized +with panic, fled in confusion, followed close by the +conquerors, whose weapons, directed against the backs +of the fugitive, were neither caught on shields, nor +met by counter-volleys. Thus it was that Joab's loss +was little more than the twelve who had fallen at first, +while that of Abner was many times more.</p> + +<p>Among those who had to save themselves by flight +after the battle was Abner, the captain of the host. +Hard in pursuit of him, and of him only, hastened +Asahel, the brother of Joab. It is not easy to understand +all the circumstances of this pursuit. We cannot +but believe that Asahel was bent on killing Abner, but +probably his hope was that he would get near enough +to him to discharge an arrow at him, and that in doing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +so he would incur no personal danger. But Abner +appears to have remarked him, and to have stopped his +flight and faced round to meet him. Abner seems to +have carried sword and spear; Asahel had probably +nothing heavier than a bow. It was fair enough in +Abner to propose that if they were to be opponents, +Asahel should borrow armour, that they might fight on +equal terms. But this was not Asahel's thought. He +seems to have been determined to follow Abner, and +take his opportunity for attacking him in his own way. +This Abner would not permit; and, as Asahel would +not desist from his pursuit, Abner, rushing at him, struck +him with such violence with the hinder end of his spear +that the weapon came out behind him. "And Asahel +fell down there, and died in the same place; and it +came to pass that as many as came to the place where +Asahel fell down and died stood still." Asahel was a +man of consequence, being brother of the commander of +the army and nephew of the king. The death of such +a man counted for much, and went far to restore the +balance of loss between the two contending armies. It +seems to have struck a horror into the hearts of his +fellow-soldiers; it was an awful incident of the war. +It was strange enough to see one who an hour ago was +so young, so fresh and full of life, stretched on the +ground a helpless lump of clay; but it was more +appalling to remember his relation to the two greatest +men of the nation—David and Joab. Certainly war is +most indiscriminate in the selection of its victims; +commanders and their brothers, kings and their +nephews, being as open to its catastrophes as any one +else. Surely it must have sent a thrill through Abner +to see among the first victims of the strife which he had +kindled one whose family stood so high, and whose<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +death would exasperate against him so important a +person as his brother Joab.</p> + +<p>The pursuit of the defeated army was by-and-bye +interrupted by nightfall. In the course of the evening +the fugitives somewhat rallied, and concentrated on the +top of a hill, in the wilderness of Gibeon. And here +the two chiefs held parley together. The proceedings +were begun by Abner, and begun by a question that +was almost insolent. "Abner called to Joab and said, +Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not +that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long +shall it be ere thou bid the people return from following +their brethren?" It was an audacious attempt to +throw on Joab and Joab's master the responsibility of +the war. We get a new glimpse of Abner's character +here. If there was a fact that might be held to be +beyond the possibility of question, it was that Abner +had begun the contest. Had not he, in opposition to +the Divine King of the nation, set up Ishbosheth against +the man called by Jehovah? Had not he gathered the +army at Mahanaim, and moved towards Gibeon, on +express purpose to exclude David, and secure for his +nominee what might be counted in reality, and not in +name only, the kingdom of Israel? Yet he insolently +demanded of Joab, "Shall the sword devour for ever?" +He audaciously applies to Joab a maxim that he had +not thought of applying to himself in the morning—"Knowest +thou not that it will be bitterness in the +latter end?" This is a war that can be terminated +only by the destruction of one half of the nation; it +will be a bitter enough consummation, which half +soever it may be. Have you no regard for your +"brethren," against whom you are fighting, that you +are holding on in this remorseless way?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span></p> + +<p>It may be a marvellously clever thing, in this +audacious manner, to throw upon an opponent all the +blame which is obviously one's own. But no good man +will do so. The audacity that ascribes its own sins to +an opponent is surely the token of a very evil nature. +We have no reason to form a very high opinion of +Joab, but of his opponent in this strife our judgment +must be far worse. An insincere man, Abner could +have no high end before him. If David was not happy +in his general, still less was Ishbosheth in his.</p> + +<p>Joab's answer betrayed a measure of indignation. +"As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then +in the morning the people had gone up every one from +following his brother." There is some ambiguity in +these words. The Revised Version renders, "If thou +hadst not spoken, surely then in the morning the +people had gone away, nor followed every one his +brother." The meaning of Joab seems to be that, apart +from any such ill-tempered appeal as Abner's, it was +his full intention in the morning to recall his men from +the pursuit, and let Abner and his people go home without +further harm. Joab shows the indignation of one +credited with a purpose he never had, and with an inhumanity +and unbrotherliness of which he was innocent. +Why Joab had resolved to give up further hostilities +at that time, we are not told. One might have thought +that had he struck another blow at Abner he might +have so harassed his force as to ruin his cause, and +thus secure at once the triumph of David. But Joab +probably felt very keenly what Abner accused him of +not feeling: that it was a miserable thing to destroy the +lives of so many brethren. The idea of building up +David's throne on the dead bodies of his subjects he +must have known to be extremely distasteful to David<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +himself. Civil war is such a horrible thing, that a +general may well be excused who accepts any reason +for stopping it. If Joab had known what was to follow, +he might have taken a different course. If he had +foreseen the "long war" that was to be between the +house of Saul and the house of David, he might have +tried on this occasion to strike a decisive blow, and +pursued Abner's men until they were utterly broken. +But that day's work had probably sickened him, as he +knew it would sicken David; and leaving Abner and +his people to make their way across the Jordan, he +returned to bury his brother, and to report his proceedings +to David at Hebron.</p> + +<p>And David must have grieved exceedingly when he +heard what had taken place. The slaughter of nearly +four hundred of God's nation was a terrible thought; +still more terrible it was to think that in a sense he +had been the occasion of it—it was done to prevent him +from occupying the throne. No doubt he had reason +to be thankful that when fighting had to be done, the +issue was eminently favourable to him and his cause. +But he must have been grieved that there should be +fighting at all. He must have felt somewhat as the +Duke of Wellington felt when he made the observation +that next to the calamity of losing a battle was that of +gaining a victory. Was this what Samuel had meant +when he came that morning to Bethlehem and anointed +him in presence of his family? Was this what God +designed when He was pleased to put him in the place +of Saul? If this was a sample of what David was to +bring to his beloved people, would it not have been +better had he never been born? Very strange must +God's ways have appeared to him. How different +were his desires, how different his dreams of what<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +should be done when he got the kingdom, from this +day's work! Often he had thought how he would drive +out the enemies of his people; how he would secure +tranquillity and prosperity to every Hebrew homestead; +how he would aim at their all living under their vine +and under their fig-tree, none making them afraid. +But now his reign had begun with bloodshed, and +already desolation had been carried to hundreds of his +people's homes. Was this the work, O God, for which +Thou didst call me from the sheep-folds? Should I not +have been better employed "following the ewes great +with young," and protecting my flock from the lion and +the bear, rather than sending forth men to stain the +soil of the land with the blood of the people and carry +to their habitations the voice of mourning and woe?</p> + +<p>If David's mind was exercised in this way by the +proceedings near the pool of Gibeon, all his trust and +patience would be needed to wait for the time when +God would vindicate His way. After all, was not his +experience somewhat like that of Moses when he first +set about the deliverance of his people? Did he not +appear to do more harm than good? Instead of +lightening the burdens of his people, did he not cause +an increase of their weight? But has it not been the +experience of most men who have girded themselves +for great undertakings in the interest of their brethren? +Nay, was it not the experience of our blessed Lord Himself? +At His birth the angels sang, "Glory to God in +the highest; on earth peace; goodwill to men!" And +almost the next event was the massacre at Bethlehem, +and Jesus Himself even in His lifetime found cause to +say, "Think not that I am come to send peace on +the earth; I am not come to send peace, but a sword." +What a sad evidence of the moral disorder of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +world! The very messengers of the God of peace +are not allowed to deliver their messages in peace, +but even as they advance toward men with smiles and +benedictions, are fiercely assailed, and compelled to +defend themselves by violence. Nevertheless the +angels' song is true. Jesus did come to bless the +world with peace. "Peace I leave with you; My peace +I give unto you; not as the world giveth give I unto +you." The resistance of His enemies was essentially +a feeble resistance, and that stronger spirit of peace +which Jesus brought in due time prevailed mightily +in the earth. So with the bloodshed in David's reign. +It did not hinder David from being a great benefactor +to his kingdom in the end. It did not annul the +promise of God. It did not neutralise the efficacy of +the holy oil. This was just one of the many ways +in which his faith and his patience were tried. It must +have shown him even more impressively than anything +that had yet happened the absolute necessity of +Divine direction in all his ways. For it is far easier +for a good man to bear suffering brought on himself by +his actions, than to see suffering and death entailed on +his brethren in connection with a course which has +been taken by him.</p> + +<p>In that audacious speech which Abner addressed +to Joab, there occurs an expression worthy of being +taken out of the connection in which it was used and +of being viewed with wider reference. "Knowest +thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end?" +Things are to be viewed by rational beings not merely +in their present or immediate result, but in their final +outcome, in their ultimate fruits. A very commonplace +truth, I grant you, this is, but most wholesome, most +necessary to be cherished. For how many of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +miseries and how many of the worst sins of men come +of forgetting the "bitterness in the latter end" which +evil beginnings give rise to! It is one of the most +wholesome rules of life never to do to-day what you +shall repent of to-morrow. Yet how constantly is the +rule disregarded! Youthful child of fortune, who are +revelling to-day in wealth which is counted by +hundreds of thousands, and which seems as if it could +never be exhausted, remember how dangerous those +gambling habits are into which you are falling; +remember that the gambler's biography is usually a +short, and often a tragic, one; and when you hear the +sound of the pistol with which one like yourself has +ended his miserable existence, remember it all +began by disregarding the motto, written over the +gambler's path, "Knowest thou not that it will be +bitterness in the latter end?" You merry-hearted +and amusing companion, to whom the flowing bowl, +and the jovial company, and the merry jest and lively +song are so attractive, the more you are tempted +to go where they are found remember that rags and +dishonour, dirt and degradation, form the last stage of +the journey,—"the latter end bitterness" of the course +you are now following. You who are wasting in +idleness the hours of the morning, remember how +you will repent of it when you have to make up your +leeway by hard toil at night. I have said that things +are to be viewed by rational beings in their relations to +the future as well as the present. It is not the part +of a rational being to accumulate disaster, distress, +and shame for the future. Men that are rational will +far rather suffer for the present if they may be free +from suffering hereafter. Benefit societies, life insurance, +annuity schemes—what are they all but the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> +devices of sensible men desirous to ward off even the +possibility of temporal "bitterness in the latter end"? +And may not this wisdom, this good sense, be applied +with far more purpose to the things that are unseen and +eternal? Think of the "bitterness in the end" that +must come of neglecting Christ, disregarding conscience, +turning away from the Bible, the church, the Sabbath, +grieving the Spirit, neglecting prayer! Will not many +a foretaste of this bitterness visit you even while yet +you are well, and all things are prospering with you? +Will it not come on you with overpowering force while +you lie on your death-bed? Will it not wrap your +soul in indescribable anguish through all eternity?</p> + +<p>Think then of this "bitterness in the latter end"! +Now is the accepted time. In the deep consciousness +of your weakness, let your prayer be that God would +restrain you from the folly to which your hearts are so +prone, that, by His Holy Spirit, He would work in +you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a></h2> + +<h3><i>CONCLUSION OF THE CIVIL WAR.</i></h3> + +<h5>2 <span class="smcap">Samuel</span> iii. 1-21.</h5> + + +<p>The victory at the pool of Gibeon was far from +ending the opposition to David. In vain, for +many a day, weary eyes looked out for the dove with +the olive leaf. "There was long war between the +house of Saul and the house of David." The war does +not seem to have been carried on by pitched battles, +but rather by a long series of those fretting and worrying +little skirmishes which a state of civil war breeds, +even when the volcano is comparatively quiet. But the +drift of things was manifest. "David waxed stronger +and stronger; but the house of Saul waxed weaker and +weaker." The cause of the house of Saul was weak in +its invisible support because God was against it; it was +weak in its champion Ishbosheth, a feeble man, with +little or no power to attract people to his standard; its +only element of strength was Abner, and even he +could not make head against such odds. Good and +evil so often seem to balance each other, existing side +by side in a kind of feeble stagnation, and giving rise +to such a dull feeling on the part of onlookers, that we +cannot but think with something like envy of the +followers of David even under the pain of a civil war,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +cheered as they were by constant proofs that their cause +was advancing to victory.</p> + +<p>And now we get a glimpse of David's domestic mode +of life, which, indeed, is far from satisfactory. His +wives were now six in number; of some of them we +know nothing; of the rest what we do know is not +always in their favour. The earliest of all was +"Ahinoam, the Jezreelitess." Her native place, or the +home of her family, was Jezreel, that part of the plain +of Esdraelon where the Philistines encamped before +Saul was defeated (1 Sam. xxix. 12), and afterwards, in +the days of Ahab, a royal residence of the kings of +Israel (1 Kings xviii. 46) and the abode of Naboth, +who refused to part with his vineyard in Jezreel to the +king (1 Kings xxi.). Of Ahinoam we find absolutely +no mention in the history; if her son Amnon, the +oldest of David's family, reflected her character, we +have no reason to regret the silence (2 Sam. xiii.). +The next of his wives was Abigail, the widow of Nabal +the Carmelite, of whose smartness and excellent +management we have a full account in a former part +of the history. Her son is called Chileab, but in the +parallel passage in Chronicles Daniel; we can only +guess the reason of the change; but whether it was +another name for the same son, or the name of +another son, the history is silent concerning him, and +the most probable conjecture is that he died early. +His third wife was Maachah, the daughter of Talmai +the Geshurite. This was not, as some have rather +foolishly supposed, a member of those Geshurites in +the south against whom David led his troop (1 Sam. +xxvii. 8), for it is expressly stated that of that tribe "he +left neither man nor woman alive." It was of Geshur +in Syria that Talmai was king (2 Sam. xv. 8); it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +formed one of several little principalities lying between +Mount Hermon and Damascus: but we cannot commend +the alliance; for these kingdoms were idolatrous, +and unless Maachah was an exception, she must have +introduced idolatrous practices into David's house. Of +the other three wives we have no information. And +in regard to the household which he thus established +at Hebron, we can only regret that the king of Israel +did not imitate the example that had been set there +by Abraham, and followed in the same neighbourhood +by Isaac. What a different complexion would have +been given to David's character and history if he had +shown the self-control in this matter that he showed in +his treatment of Saul! Of how many grievous sins +and sorrows did he sow the seed when he thus multiplied +wives to himself! How many a man, from his +own day down to the days of Mormonism, did he +silently encourage in licentious conduct, and furnish +with a respectable example and a plausible excuse for +it! How difficult did he make it for many who cannot +but acknowledge the bright aspect of his spiritual life +to believe that even in that it was all good and genuine! +We do not hesitate to ascribe to the life of David +an influence on successive generations on the whole +pure and elevating; but it is impossible not to own +that by many, a justification of relaxed principle and +unchaste living has been drawn from his example.</p> + +<p>We have already said that polygamy was not imputed +to David as a sin in the sense that it deprived him of +the favour of God. But we cannot allow that this permission +was of the nature of a boon. We cannot but +feel how much better it would have been if the seventh +commandment had been read by David with the same +absolute, unbending limitation with which it is read by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +us. It would have been better for him and better for +his house. Puritan strictness of morals is, after all, a +right wholesome and most blessed thing. Who shall +say that the sum of a man's enjoyment is not far +greatest in the end of life when he has kept with unflinching +steadfastness his early vow of faithfulness, +and, as his reward, has never lost the freshness and the +flavour of his first love, nor ceased to find in his ever-faithful +partner that which fills and satisfies his heart? +Compared to this, the life of him who has flitted from +one attachment to another, heedless of the soured feelings +or, it may be, the broken hearts he has left behind, +and whose children, instead of breathing the sweet +spirit of brotherly and sisterly love, scowl at one +another with the bitter feelings of envy, jealousy, and +hatred, is like an existence of wild fever compared to +the pure tranquil life of a child.</p> + +<p>In such a household as David's, occasions of estrangement +must have been perpetually arising among the +various branches, and it would require all his wisdom +and gentleness to keep these quarrels within moderate +bounds. In his own breast, that sense of delicacy, that +instinct of purity, which exercises such an influence +on a godly family, could not have existed; the necessity +of reining in his inclinations in that respect was not +acknowledged; and it is remarkable that in the confessions +of the fifty-first Psalm, while he specifies the sins +of blood-guiltiness and seems to have been overwhelmed +by a sense of his meanness, injustice, and +selfishness, there is no special allusion to the sin of +adultery, and no indication of that sin pressing very +heavily upon his conscience.</p> + +<p>Whether it be by design or not, it is an instructive +circumstance that it is immediately after this glimpse<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +of David's domestic life that we meet with a sample +of the kind of evils which the system of royal harems +is ever apt to produce. Saul too had had his harem; +and it was a rule of succession in the East that the +harem went with the throne. To take possession of +the one was regarded as equivalent to setting up a +claim to the other. When therefore Ishbosheth heard +that Abner had taken one of his father's concubines, +he looked on it as a proof that Abner had an eye to the +throne for himself. He accordingly demanded an explanation +from Abner, but instead of explanation or +apology, he received a volley of rudeness and defiance. +Abner knew well that without him Ishbosheth was but +a figure-head, and he was enraged by treatment that +seemed to overlook all the service he had rendered him +and to treat him as if he were some second or third-rate +officer of a firm and settled kingdom. Perhaps +Abner had begun to see that the cause of Ishbosheth +was hopeless, and was even glad in his secret heart of +an excuse for abandoning an undertaking which could +bring neither success nor honour. "Am I a dog's head, +which against Judah do show kindness this day unto +the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his +friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of +David, that thou chargest me to-day with a fault +concerning this woman? So do God to Abner, and +more also, except, as the Lord hath sworn to David, +even so I do to him, to translate the kingdom from the +house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over +Israel and over Judah from Dan even to Beersheba."</p> + +<p>The proverb says, "When rogues fall out, honest +men get their own." How utterly unprincipled the +effort of Abner and Ishbosheth was is evident from +the confession of the former that God had sworn to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +David to establish his throne over the whole land. +Their enterprise therefore bore impiety on its very +face; and we can only account for their setting their +hands to it on the principle that keen thirst for worldly +advantage will drive ungodly men into virtual atheism, +as if God were no factor in the affairs of men, as if +it mattered not that He was against them, and that it +is only when their schemes show signs of coming to +ruin that they awake to the consciousness that there +is a God after all! And how often we see that godless +men banded together have no firm bond of union; +the very passions which they are united to gratify +begin to rage against one another; they fall into the +pit which they digged for others; they are hanged on +the gallows which they erected for their foes.</p> + +<p>The next step in the narrative brings us to Abner's +offer to David to make a league with him for the undisputed +possession of the throne. Things had changed +now very materially from that day when, in the +wilderness of Judah, David reproached Abner for his +careless custody of the king's person (1 Sam. xxvi. 14). +What a picture of feebleness David had seemed then, +while Saul commanded the whole resources of the +kingdom! Yet in that day of weakness David had +done a noble deed, a deed made nobler by his very +weakness, and he had thereby shown to any that had +eyes to see which party it was that had God on its +side. And now this truth concerning him, against +which Abner had kicked and struggled in vain, was +asserting itself in a way not to be resisted. Yet even +now there is no trace of humility in the language of +Abner. He plays the great man still. "Behold, my +hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel to +thee." He approaches King David, not as one who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +has done him a great wrong, but as one who offers to +do him a great favour. There is no word of regret for +his having opposed what he knew to be God's purpose +and promise, no apology for the disturbance he had +wrought in Israel, no excuse for all the distress which +he had caused to David by keeping the kingdom and +the people at war. He does not come as a rebel to +his sovereign, but as one independent man to another. +Make a league with me. Secure me from punishment; +promise me a reward. For this he simply offers to +place at David's disposal that powerful hand of his +that had been so mighty for evil. If he expected that +David would leap into his arms at the mention of such +an offer, he was mistaken. This was not the way for +a rebel to come to his king. David was too much +dissatisfied with his past conduct, and saw too clearly +that it was only stress of weather that was driving him +into harbour now, to show any great enthusiasm about +his offer. On the contrary, he laid down a stiff preliminary +condition; and with the air of one who knew +his place and his power, he let Abner know that if +that condition were not complied with, he should not +see his face. We cannot but admire the firmness +shown in this mode of meeting Abner's advances; but +we are somewhat disappointed when we find what the +condition was—that Michal, Saul's daughter, whom he +had espoused for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, +should be restored to him as his wife. The demand +was no doubt a righteous one, and it was reasonable +that David should be vindicated from the great slur +cast on him when his wife was given to another; +moreover, it was fitted to test the genuineness of Abner's +advances, to show whether he really meant to acknowledge +the royal rights of David; but we wonder that,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> +with six wives already about him, he should be so +eager for another, and we shrink from the reason given +for the restoration—not that the marriage tie was +inviolable, but that he had paid for her a very extraordinary +dowry. And most readers, too, will feel some +sympathy with the second husband, who seems to +have had a strong affection for Michal, and who +followed her weeping, until the stern military voice of +Abner compelled him to return. All we can say about +him is, that his sin lay in receiving another man's wife +and treating her as his own; the beginning of the +connection was unlawful, although the manner of its +ending on his part was creditable. Connections formed +in sin must sooner or later end in suffering; and the +tears of Phaltiel would not have flowed now if that +unfortunate man had acted firmly and honourably when +Michal was taken from David.</p> + +<p>But it is not likely that in this demand for the restoration +of Michal David acted on purely personal +considerations. He does not seem to have been above +the prevalent feeling of the East which measured the +authority and dignity of the monarch by the rank and +connections of his wives. Moreover, as David laid +stress on the way in which he got Michal as his wife, it +is likely that he desired to recall attention to his early +exploits against the Philistines. He had probably found +that his recent alliance with King Achish had brought +him into suspicion; he wished to remind the people +therefore of his ancient services against those bitter +and implacable enemies of Israel, and to encourage the +expectation of similar exploits in the future. The purpose +which he thus seems to have had in view was +successful. For when Abner soon after made a representation +to the elders of Israel in favour of King David<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +and reminded them of the promise which God had made +regarding him, it was to this effect: "By the hand of +My servant David I will save My people Israel out of +the hand of the Philistines and out of the hand of all +their enemies." It seems to have been a great step +towards David's recognition by the whole nation that +they came to have confidence in him in leading them +against the Philistines. Thus he received a fresh proof +of the folly of his distrustful conclusion, "There is +nothing better for me than that I should escape into the +land of the Philistines." It became more and more +apparent that nothing could have been worse.</p> + +<p>One is tempted to wonder if David ever sat down to +consider what would probably have happened if, instead +of going over to the Philistines, he had continued to +abide in the wilderness of Judah, braving the dangers +of the place and trusting in the protection of his God. +Some sixteen months after, the terrible invasion of the +Philistines took place, and Saul, overwhelmed with +terror and despair, was at his wits' end for help. How +natural it would have been for him in that hour of +despair to send for David if he had been still in the +country and ask his aid! How much more in his own +place would David have appeared bravely fronting the +Philistines in battle, than hovering in the rear of Achish +and pretending to feel himself treated ill because the +Philistine lords had required him to be sent away! +Might he not have been the instrument of saving his +country from defeat and disgrace? And if Saul and +Jonathan had fallen in the battle, would not the whole +nation have turned as one man to him, and would not +that long and cruel civil war have been entirely averted? +It is needless to go back on the past and think how +much better we could have acted if unavailing regret is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> +to be the only result of the process; but it is a salutary +and blessed exercise if it tends to fix in our minds—what +we doubt not it fixed in David's—how infinitely +better for us it is to follow the course marked out for us +by our heavenly Father, with all its difficulties and +dangers, than to walk in the light of our own fire and +in the sparks of our own kindling.</p> + +<p>It appears that Abner set himself with great vigour +to fulfil the promise made by him in his league with +David. First, he held communication with the representatives +of the whole nation, "the elders of Israel," +and showed to them, as we have seen—no doubt to +his own confusion and self-condemnation—how God had +designated David as the king through whom deliverance +would be granted to Israel from the Philistines +and all their other enemies. Next, remembering that +Saul was a member of the tribe of Benjamin, and +believing that the feeling in favour of his family would +be eminently strong in that tribe, he took special pains +to attach them to David, and as he was himself +likewise a Benjamite, he must have been eminently +useful in this service. Thirdly, he went in person to +Hebron, David's seat, "to speak in the ears of David +all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house +of Benjamin." Finally, after being entertained by +David at a great feast, he set out to bring about a +meeting of the whole congregation of Israel, that they +might solemnly ratify the appointment of David as +king, in the same way as, in the early days of Saul, +Samuel had convened the representatives of the +nation at Gilgal (1 Sam. xi. 15). That in all this +Abner was rendering a great service both to David and +the nation cannot be doubted. He was doing what no +other man in Israel could have done at the time for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +establishing the throne of David and ending the civil +war. Having once made overtures to David, he showed +an honourable promptitude in fulfilling the promise +under which he had come. No man can atone for past +sin by doing his duty at a future time; but if anything +could have blotted out from David's memory the +remembrance of Abner's great injury to him and to +the nation, it was the zeal with which he exerted himself +now to establish David's claims over all the country, +and especially where his cause was feeblest—in the +tribe of Benjamin.</p> + +<p>It must have been a happy day in David's history +when Abner set out from Hebron to convene the +assembly of the tribes that was to call him with one +voice to the throne. It was the day long looked for +come at last. The dove had at length come with the +olive leaf, and peace would now reign among all the +tribes of Israel. And we may readily conceive him, +with this prospect so near, expressing his feelings, if +not in the very words of the thirty-seventh Psalm, at +any rate in language of similar import:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Fret not thyself because of evil-doers,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Neither be thou envious against them that work unrighteousness<br /></span> +<span class="i1">For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And wither as the green herb.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Trust in the Lord and do good;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Dwell in the land, and follow after faithfulness.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Delight thyself also in the Lord,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Commit thy way unto the Lord,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And He shall make thy righteousness to go forth as the light,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And thy judgment as the noonday.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Fret not thyself because of him that prospereth in his way,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.<br /></span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> +<span class="i1">For evil-doers shall be cut off;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">But those that wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the land."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>But a crime was now on the eve of being perpetrated +destined for the time to scatter all King David's pleasing +expectations and plunge him anew into the depths of +distress.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</a></h2> + +<h3><i>ASSASSINATION OF ABNER AND ISHBOSHETH.</i></h3> + +<h5>2 <span class="smcap">Samuel</span> iii. 22-39; iv.</h5> + + +<p>It is quite possible that, in treating with Abner, +David showed too complacent a temper, that he +treated too lightly his appearance in arms against him +at the pool of Gibeon, and that he neglected to demand +an apology for the death of Asahel. Certainly it +would have been wise had some measures been taken +to soothe the ruffled temper of Joab and reconcile him +to the new arrangement. This, however, was not done. +David was so happy in the thought that the civil war +was to cease, and that all Israel were about to recognise +him as their king, that he would not go back on the +past, or make reprisals even for the death of Asahel. +He was willing to let bygones be bygones. Perhaps, +too, he thought that if Asahel met his death at the +hand of Abner, it was his own rashness that was to +blame for it. Anyhow he was greatly impressed with +the value of Abner's service on his behalf, and much +interested in the project to which he was now going +forth—gathering all Israel to the king, to make a league +with him and bind themselves to his allegiance.</p> + +<p>In these measures Joab had not been consulted. +When Abner was at Hebron, Joab was absent on a +military enterprise. In that enterprise he had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +very successful, and he was able to appear at Hebron +with the most popular evidence of success that a general +could bring—a large amount of spoil. No doubt Joab +was elated with his success, and was in that very +temper when a man is most disposed to resent his +being overlooked and to take more upon him than is +meet. When he heard of David's agreement with Abner, +he was highly displeased. First he went to the king, +and scolded him for his simplicity in believing Abner. +It was but a stratagem of Abner's to allow him to come +to Hebron, ascertain the state of David's affairs, and +take his own steps more effectively in the interest of +his opponent. Suspicion reigned in Joab's heart; the +generosity of David's nature was not only not shared +by him, but seemed silliness itself. His rudeness to +David is highly offensive. He speaks to him in the +tone of a master to a servant, or in the tone of those +servants who rule their master. "What hast thou +done? Behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that +thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone? Thou +knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive +thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, +and to know all that thou doest." David is spoken to +like one guilty of inexcusable folly, as if he were +accountable to Joab, and not Joab to him. Of the +king's answer to Joab, nothing is recorded; but from +David's confession (ver. 39) that the sons of Zeruiah +were too strong for him, we may infer that it was not very +firm or decided, and that Joab set it utterly at nought. +For the very first thing that Joab did after seeing +the king was to send a message to Abner, most +likely in David's name, but without David's knowledge, +asking him to return. Joab was at the gate ready for +his treacherous business, and taking Abner aside as if<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +for private conversation, he plunged his dagger in his +breast, ostensibly in revenge for the death of his brother +Asahel. There was something eminently mean and +dastardly in the deed. Abner was now on the best of +terms with Joab's master, and he could not have +apprehended danger from the servant. If assassination +be mean among civilians, it is eminently mean among +soldiers. The laws of hospitality were outraged when +one who had just been David's guest was assassinated +in David's city. The outrage was all the greater, as was +also the injury to King David and to the whole kingdom, +that the crime was committed when Abner was on the +eve of an important and delicate negotiation with the +other tribes of Israel, since the arrangement which he +hoped to bring about was likely to be broken off by +the news of his shameful death. At no moment are +the feelings of men less to be trifled with than when, +after long and fierce alienation, they are on the point +of coming together. Abner had brought the tribes of +Israel to that point, but now, like a flock of birds +frightened by a shot, they were certain to fly asunder. +All this danger Joab set at nought, the one thought of +taking revenge for the death of his brother absorbing +every other, and making him, like so many other men +when excited by a guilty passion, utterly regardless of +every consequence provided only his revenge was +satisfied.</p> + +<p>How did David act toward Joab? Most kings +would at once have put him to death, and David's +subsequent action towards the murderers of Ishbosheth +shows that, even in his judgment, this would have been +the proper retribution on Joab for his bloody deed. +But David did not feel himself strong enough to deal +with Joab according to his deserts. It might have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +been better for him during the rest of his life if he had +acted with more vigour now. But instead of making +an example of Joab, he contented himself with pouring +out on him a vial of indignation, publicly washing his +hands of the nefarious transaction, and pronouncing on +its author and his family a terrible malediction. We +cannot but shrink from the way in which David brought +in Joab's family to share his curse: "Let there not +fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or +that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth +on the sword, or that lacketh bread." Yet we must +remember that according to the sentiment of those +times a man and his house were so identified that the +punishment due to the head was regarded as due to +the whole. In our day we see a law in constant +operation which visits iniquities of the parents upon +the children with a terrible retribution. The drunkard's +children are woeful sufferers for their parent's sin; the +family of the felon carries a stigma for ever. We +recognise this as a law of Providence; but we do not +act on it ourselves in inflicting punishment. In David's +time, however, and throughout the whole Old Testament +period, punishments due to the fathers were formally +shared by their families. When Joshua sentenced +Achan to die for his crime in stealing from the spoils of +Jericho a wedge of gold and a Babylonish garment, his +wife and children were put to death along with him. +In denouncing the curse on Joab's family as well as +himself, David therefore only recognised a law which +was universally acted on in his day. The law may +have been a hard one, but we are not to blame David +for acting on a principle of retribution universally +acknowledged. We are to remember, too, that David +was now acting in a public capacity, and as the chief<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +magistrate of the nation. If he had put Joab to death, +his act would have involved his family in many a woe; +in denouncing his deeds and calling for retribution on +them generation after generation, he only carried out +the same principle a little further. That Joab deserved +to die for his dastardly crime, none could have denied; +if David abstained from inflicting that punishment, it +was only natural that he should be very emphatic in +proclaiming what such a criminal might look for, in +never-failing visitations on himself and his seed, when +he was left to be dealt with by the God of justice.</p> + +<p>Having thus disposed of Joab, David had next to +dispose of the dead body of Abner. He determined +that every circumstance connected with Abner's funeral +should manifest the sincerity of his grief at his untimely +end. In the first place, he caused him to be +buried at Hebron. We know of the tomb at Hebron +where the bodies of the patriarchs lay; if it was at +all legitimate to place others in that grave, we may +believe that a place in it was found for Abner. In the +second place, the mourning company attended the +funeral with rent clothes and girdings of sackcloth, +while the king himself followed the bier, and at the +grave both king and people gave way to a burst of +tears. In the third place, the king pronounced an elegy +over him, short, but expressive of his sense of the +unworthy death which had come to such a man:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Should Abner die as a fool dieth?<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">As a man falleth before the children of iniquity, so didst thou fall."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Had he died the death of one taken in battle, his +bound hands and his feet in fetters would have denoted +that after honourable conflict he had been defeated in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +the field, and that he died the death due to a public +enemy. Instead of this, he had fallen before the children +of iniquity, before men mean enough to betray him and +murder him, while he was under the protection of the +king. In the fourth place, he sternly refused to eat bread +till that day, so full of darkness and infamy, should +have passed away. The public manifestations of David's +grief showed very clearly how far he was from approving +of the death of Abner. And they had the desired +effect. The people were pleased with the evidence +afforded of David's feelings, and the event that had +seemed likely to destroy his prospects turned out in +this way in his favour. "The people took notice of +this, and it pleased them, as whatsoever the king did +pleased all the people." It was another evidence of +the conquering power of goodness and forbearance. +By his generous treatment of his foes, David secured a +position in the hearts of his people, and established his +kingdom on a basis of security which he could not +have obtained by any amount of severity. For ages +and ages, the two methods of dealing with a reluctant +people, generosity and severity, have been pitted against +each other, and always with the effect that severity +fails and generosity succeeds. There were many who +were indignant at the clemency shown by Lord Canning +after the Indian mutiny. They would have had him +inspire terror by acts of awful severity. But the +peaceful career of our Indian empire and the absence +of any attempt to renew the insurrection since that time +show that the policy of clemency was the policy of +wisdom and of success.</p> + +<p>Still another step was taken by David that shows +how painfully he was impressed by the death of Abner. +To "his servants"—that is, his cabinet or his staff—he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> +said in confidence, "Know ye not that there is a prince +and a great man fallen this day in Israel?" He recognised +in Abner one of those men of consummate ability +who are born to rule, or at least to render the highest +service to the actual ruler of a country by their great +influence over men. It seems very probable that he +looked to him as his own chief officer for the future. +Rebel though he had been, he seemed quite cured of +his rebellion, and now that he cordially acknowledged +David's right to the throne, he would probably have +been his right-hand man. Abner, Saul's cousin, was +probably a much older man than Joab, who was David's +nephew, and who could not have been much older than +David himself. The loss of Abner was a great personal +loss especially as it threw him more into the +hands of these sons of Zeruiah, Joab and Abishai, +whose impetuous, lordly temper was too much for him +to restrain. The representation to his confidential +servants, "I am weak, and these men, the sons of +Zeruiah, are too strong for me," was an appeal to them +for cordial help in the affairs of the kingdom, in order +that Joab and his brother might not be able to carry +everything their own way. David, like many another +man, needed to say, Save me from my friends. We get +a vivid glimpse of the perplexities of kings, and of the +compensations of a humbler lot. Men in high places, +worried by the difficulties of managing their affairs and +servants, and by the endless annoyances to which their +jealousies and their self-will give rise, may find much to +envy in the simple, unembarrassed life of the humblest +of the people.</p> + +<p>From the assassination of Abner, the real source +of the opposition that had been raised to David, the +narrative proceeds to the assassination of Ishbosheth,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +the titular king. "When Saul's son heard that Abner +was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all +the Israelites were troubled." The contrast is striking +between his conduct under difficulty and that of David. +In the history of the latter, faith often faltered in times +of trouble, and the spirit of distrust found a footing in +his soul. But these occasions occurred in the course +of protracted and terrible struggles; they were +exceptions to his usual bearing; faith commonly bore +him up in his darkest trials. Ishbosheth, on the other +hand, seems to have had no resource, no sustaining +power whatever, under visible reverses. David's slips +were like the temporary falling back of the gallant +soldier when surprised by a sudden onslaught, or +when, fagged and weary, he is driven back by superior +numbers; but as soon as he has recovered himself, +he dashes back undaunted to the conflict. Ishbosheth +was like the soldier who throws down his arms +and rushes from the field as soon as he feels the bitter +storm of battle. With all his falls, there was something +in David that showed him to be cast in a different +mould from ordinary men. He was habitually aiming +at a higher standard, and upheld by the consciousness +of a higher strength; he was ever and anon resorting to +"the secret place of the Most High," taking hold of +Him as his covenant God, and labouring to draw down +from Him the inspiration and the strength of a nobler +life than that of the mass of the children of men.</p> + +<p>The godless course which Ishbosheth had followed +in setting up a claim to the throne in opposition to the +Divine call of David not only lost him the distinction +he coveted, but cost him his life. He made himself +a mark for treacherous and heartless men; and one +day, while lying in his bed at noon, was despatched by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +two of his servants. The two men that murdered him +seem to have been among those whom Saul enriched +with the spoil of the Gibeonites. They were brothers, +men of Beeroth, which was formerly one of the cities +of the Gibeonites, but was now reckoned to Benjamin.</p> + +<p>Saul appears to have attacked the Beerothites, and +given their property to his favourites (comp. 1 Sam. +xxii. 7 and 2 Sam. xxi. 2). A curse went with the +transaction; Ishbosheth, one of Saul's sons, was +murdered by two of those who were enriched by the +unhallowed deed; and many years after, his bloody +house had to yield up seven of his sons to justice, +when a great famine showed that for this crime wrath +rested on the land.</p> + +<p>The murderers of Ishbosheth, Baanah and Rechab, +mistaking the character of David as much as it had +been mistaken by the Amalekite who pretended that he +had slain Saul, hastened to Hebron, bearing with them +the head of their victim, a ghastly evidence of the +reality of the deed. This revolting trophy they carried +all the way from Mahanaim to Hebron, a distance +of some fifty miles. Mean and selfish themselves, +they thought other men must be the same. They +were among those poor creatures who are unable to +rise above their own poor level in their conceptions +of others. When they presented themselves before +David, he showed all his former superiority to selfish, +jealous feelings. He was roused indeed to the highest +pitch of indignation. We can hardly conceive the +astonishment and horror with which they would receive +his answer, "As the Lord liveth, who hath redeemed +my soul out of all adversity, when one told me saying, +Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good +tidings, I took hold on him and slew him in Ziklag,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +who thought that I would have given him a reward for +his tidings. How much more when wicked men have +slain a righteous person in his own house upon his +bed! Shall I not therefore require his blood at your +hand, and take you away from the earth?" Simple +death was not judged a severe enough punishment for +such guilt; as they had cut off the head of Ishbosheth +after killing him, so after they were slain their hands +and their feet were cut off; and thereafter they were +hanged over the pool in Hebron—a token of the +execration in which the crime was held. Here was +another evidence that deeds of violence done to his +rivals, so far from finding acceptance, were detestable +in the eyes of David. And here was another fulfilment +of the resolution which he had made when he took +possession of the throne—"I will early destroy all the +wicked of the land, that I may cut off all wicked doers +from the city of the Lord."</p> + +<p>These rapid, instantaneous executions by order of +David have raised painful feelings in many. Granting +that the retribution was justly deserved, and granting +that the rapidity of the punishment was in accord with +military law, ancient and modern, and that it was necessary +in order to make a due impression on the people, +still it may be asked, How could David, as a pious man, +hurry these sinners into the presence of their Judge +without giving them any exhortation to repentance or +leaving them a moment in which to ask for mercy? +The question is undoubtedly a difficult one. But the +difficulty arises in a great degree from our ascribing to +David and others the same knowledge of the future +state and the same vivid impressions regarding it that +we have ourselves. We often forget that to those who +lived in the Old Testament the future life was wrapped<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +in far greater obscurity than it is to us. That good +men had no knowledge of it, we cannot allow; but +certainly they knew vastly less about it than has been +revealed to us. And the general effect of this was that +the consciousness of a future life was much fainter even +among good men then than now. They did not think +about it; it was not present to their thoughts. There is +no use trying to make David either a wiser or a better man +than he was. There is no use trying to place him high +above the level or the light of his age. If it be asked, +How did David feel with reference to the future life of +these men? the answer is, that probably it was not much, +if at all, in his thoughts. That which was prominent +in his thoughts was that they had sacrificed their lives +by their atrocious wickedness, and the sooner they were +punished the better. If he thought of their future, he +would feel that they were in the hands of God, and that +they would be judged by Him according to the tenor +of their lives. It cannot be said that compassion for +them mingled with David's feelings. The one prominent +feeling he had was that of their guilt; for that +they must suffer. And David, like other soldiers who +have shed much blood, was so accustomed to the sight +of violent death, that the horror which it usually excites +was no longer familiar to him.</p> + +<p>It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ that has brought +life and immortality to light. So far from the future +life being a dim and shadowy revelation, it is now one +of the clearest doctrines of the faith. It is one of the +doctrines which every earnest preacher of the Gospel +is profoundly earnest in dwelling on. That death +ushers us into the presence of God, that after death +cometh the judgment, that every one of us is to give +account of himself to God, that the final condition of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> +men is to be one of misery or one of life, are among the +clearest revelations of the Gospel. And this fact invests +every man's death with profound significance in the +Christian's view. That the condemned criminal may +have time to prepare, our courts of law invariably +interpose an interval between the sentence and the +punishment. Would only that men were more consistent +here! If we shudder at the thought of a dying +sinner appearing in all the blackness of his guilt before +God, let us think more how we may turn sinners from +their wickedness while they live. Let us see the +atrocious guilt of encouraging them in ways of sin that +cannot but bring on them the retribution of a righteous +God. O ye who, careless yourselves, laugh at the +serious impressions and scruples of others; ye who +teach those that would otherwise do better to drink and +gamble and especially to scoff; ye who do your best +to frustrate the prayers of tender-hearted fathers and +mothers whose deepest desire is that their children +may be saved; ye, in one word, who are missionaries +of the devil and help to people hell—would that you +pondered your awful guilt! For "whosoever shall +cause any of the least of these to offend, it were better +for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck +and he were cast into the depths of the sea."</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a></h2> + +<h3><i>DAVID KING OF ALL ISRAEL.</i></h3> + +<h5>2 <span class="smcap">Samuel</span> v. 1-9.</h5> + + +<p>After seven and a half years of opposition,<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> David +was now left without a rival, and the representatives +of the whole tribes came to Hebron to anoint him +king. They gave three reasons for their act, nearly all +of which, however, would have been as valid at the +death of Saul as they were at this time.</p> + +<p>The first was that David and they were closely related—"Behold, +we are thy bone and thy flesh;" rather +an unusual reason, but in the circumstances not unnatural. +For David's alliance with the Philistines had +thrown some doubt on his nationality; it was not very +clear at that time whether he was to be regarded as a +Hebrew or as a naturalized Philistine; but now the +doubts that had existed on that point had all disappeared; +conclusive evidence had been afforded that +David was out-and-out a Hebrew, and therefore that he +was not disqualified for the Hebrew throne.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span></p> +<p>This conclusion is confirmed by what they give as +their second reason—his former exploits and services +against their enemies. "Also, in time past, when Saul +was king, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest +in Israel." In former days, David had proved himself +Saul's most efficient lieutenant; he had been at the +head of the armies of Israel, and his achievements in +that capacity pointed to him as the fit and natural +successor of Saul.</p> + +<p>The third reason is the most conclusive—"The Lord +said to thee, Thou shalt feed My people Israel, and +thou shalt be a captain over Israel." It was little to +the credit of the elders that this reason, which should +have been the first, and which needed no other reasons +to confirm it, was given by them as the last. The +truth, however, is, that if they had made it their first +and great reason, they would on the very face of their +speech have condemned themselves. Why, if this was +the command of God, had they been so long of carrying +it out? Ought not effect to have been given to it at +the very first, independent of all other reasons whatsoever? +The elders cannot but give it a place among +their reasons for offering him the throne; but it is not +allowed to have its own place, and it is added to the +others as if they needed to be supplemented before +effect could be given to it. The elders did not show +that supreme regard to the will of God which ought +ever to be the first consideration in every loyal heart. +It is the great offence of multitudes, even among those +who make a Christian profession, that while they are +willing to pay regard to God's will as one of many +considerations, they are not prepared to pay supreme +regard to it. It may be taken along with other considerations, +but it is not allowed to be the chief consideration.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +Religion may have a place in their life, but +not the first place. But can a service thus rendered +be acceptable to God? Can God accept the second or +the third place in any man's regard? Does not the +first commandment dispose of this question: "Thou +shalt have no other gods before Me"?</p> + +<p>"So all the elders of Israel came to the king to +Hebron; and King David made a league with them in +Hebron before the Lord; and they anointed David +king over Israel."</p> + +<p>It was a happy circumstance that David was able to +neutralise the effects of the murders of Abner and +Ishbosheth, and to convince the people that he had no +share in these crimes. Notwithstanding the prejudice +against his side which in themselves they were fitted +to create in the supporters of Saul's family, they did +not cause any further opposition to his claims. The +tact of the king removed any stumbling-block that +might have arisen from these untoward events. And +thus the throne of David was at last set up, amid the +universal approval of the nation.</p> + +<p>This was a most memorable event in David's history. +It was the fulfilment of one great instalment of God's +promises to him. It was fitted very greatly to deepen +his trust in God, as his Protector and his Friend. To +be able to look back on even one case of a Divine +promise distinctly fulfilled to us is a great help to faith +in all future time. For David to be able to look back on +that early period of his life, so crowded with trials and +sufferings, perplexities and dangers, and to mark how +God had delivered him from every one of them, and, in +spite of the fearful opposition that had been raised +against him, had at last seated him firmly on the +throne, was well fitted to advance the spirit of trust<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +to that place of supremacy which it gained in him. After +such an overwhelming experience, it was little wonder +that his trust in God became so strong, and his purpose +to serve God so intense. The sorrows of death had +compassed him, and the pains of Hades had taken hold +on him, yet the Lord had been with him, and had most +wonderfully delivered him. And in token of his deliverance +he makes his vow of continual service, "O Lord, +truly I am Thy servant; I am Thy servant and the son +of Thine handmaid; Thou hast loosed my bonds. I +will offer to Thee the sacrifices of praise, and will call +upon the name of the Lord."</p> + +<p>We can hardly pass from this event in David's history +without recalling his typical relation to Him who +in after-years was to be known as the "Son of David." +The resemblance between the early history of David +and that of our blessed Lord in some of its features is +too obvious to need to be pointed out. Like David, +Jesus spends His early years in the obscurity of a +country village. Like him, He enters on His public life +under a striking and convincing evidence of the Divine +favour—David by conquering Goliath, Jesus by the descent +of the Spirit at His baptism, and the voice from +heaven which proclaimed, "This is My beloved Son, in +whom I am well pleased." Like David, soon after His +Divine call Jesus is led out to the wilderness, to undergo +hardship and temptation; but, unlike David, He conquers +the enemy at every onset. Like David, Jesus +attaches to Himself a small but valiant band of followers, +whose achievements in the spiritual warfare rival +the deeds of David's "worthies" in the natural. Like +David, Jesus is concerned for His relatives; David, in +his extremity, commits his father and mother to the +king of Moab: Jesus, on the cross, commits His mother<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> +to the beloved disciple. In the higher exercises of +David's spirit, too, there is much that resembles the +experiences of Christ. The convincing proof of this is, +that most of the Psalms which the Christian Church has +ever held to be Messianic have their foundation in the +experiences of David. It is impossible not to see that in +one sense there must have been a measureless distance +between the experience of a sinful man like David +and that of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the Divinity of +His person, the atoning efficacy of His death, and the +glory of His resurrection, Jesus is high above any of the +sons of men. Yet there must likewise have been some +marvellous similarity between Him and David, seeing +that David's words of sorrow and of hope were so often +accepted by Jesus to express His own emotions. +Strange indeed it is that the words in which David, in +the twenty-second Psalm, pours out the desolation of +his spirit, were the words in which Jesus found expression +for His unexampled distress upon the cross. +Strange, too, that David's deliverances were so like +Christ's that the same language does for both; nay, +that the very words in which Jesus commended His +soul to the Father, as it was passing from His body, +were words which had first been used by David.</p> + +<p>But it does not concern us at present to look so +much at the general resemblances between David and +our blessed Lord, as at the analogy in the fortunes of +their respective kingdoms. And here the most obvious +feature is the bitter opposition to their claims offered +in both instances even by those who might have been +expected most cordially to welcome them. Of both it +might be said, "They came unto their own, but their +own received them not." First, David is hunted almost +to death by Saul; and then, even after Saul's death,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> +his claims are resisted by most of the tribes. So in +His lifetime Jesus encounters all the hatred and opposition +of the scribes and Pharisees; and even after His +resurrection, the council do their utmost to denounce +His claims and frighten His followers. Against the one +and the other the enemy brings to bear all the devices +of hatred and opposition. When Jesus rose from the +grave, we see Him personally raised high above all +the efforts of His enemies; when David was acknowledged +king by all Israel, he reached a corresponding +elevation. And now that David is recognised as king, +how do we find him employing his energies? It is to +defend and bless his kingdom, to obtain for it peace +and prosperity, to expel its foes, to secure to the utmost +of his power the welfare of all his people. From His +throne in glory, Jesus does the same. And what +encouragement may not the friends and subjects of +Christ's kingdom derive from the example of David! +For if David, once he was established in his kingdom, +spared no effort to do good to his people, if he scattered +blessings among them from the stores which he was +able to command, how much more may Christ be relied +on to do the same! Has He not been placed far above +all principality and power, and every name that is +named, and been made "Head over all things for the +Church which is His body"? Rejoice then, ye members +of Christ's kingdom! Raise your eyes to the +throne of glory, and see how God has set His King +upon His holy hill of Zion! And be encouraged to +tell Him of all your own needs and the troubles and +needs of His Church; for has He not ascended on high, +and led captivity captive, and received gifts for men? +And if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, will +you not ask, and shall you not receive according to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +your faith? Will not God supply all your need +according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus?</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>From the spectacle at Hebron, when all the elders +of Israel confirmed David on the throne, and entered +into a solemn league with reference to the kingdom, +we pass with David to the field of battle. The first +enterprise to which he addressed himself was the +capture of Jerusalem, or rather of the stronghold of +Zion. It is not expressly stated that he consulted God +before taking this step, but we can hardly suppose +that he would do it without Divine direction. From +the days of Moses, God had taught His people that a +place would be appointed by Him where He would set +His name; Jerusalem was to be that place; and it +cannot be thought that when David would not even go +up to Hebron without consulting the Lord, he would +proceed to make Jerusalem his capital without a Divine +warrant.</p> + +<p>No doubt the place was well known to him. It had +already received consecration when Melchizedek reigned +in it, "king of righteousness and king of peace." In +the days of Joshua its king was Adonizedek, "lord +of righteousness"—a noble title, brought down from +the days of Melchizedek, however unworthy the bearer +of it might be of the designation, for he was the head +of the confederacy against Joshua (Josh. x. 1, 3), and +he ended his career by being hanged on a tree. After +the slaughter of the Philistine, David had carried his +head to Jerusalem, or to some place so near that it +might be called by that name; very probably Nob was +the place, which, according to an old tradition, was +situated on the slope of Mount Olivet. Often in his +wanderings, when his mind was much occupied with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +fortresses and defences, the image of this place would +occur to him; observing how the mountains were +round about Jerusalem, he would see how well it was +adapted to be the metropolis of the country. But this +could not be done while the stronghold of Zion was in +the hands of the Jebusites, and while the Jebusites +were so numerous that they might be called "the +people of the land."</p> + +<p>So impregnable was this stronghold deemed, that any +attempt that David might make to get possession of it +was treated with contempt. The precise circumstances +of the siege are somewhat obscure; if we compare the +marginal readings and the text in the Authorized +Version, and still more in the Revised Version, we may +see what difficulty our translators had in arriving at +the meaning of the passage. The most probable +supposition is that the Jebusites placed their lame and +blind on the walls, to show how little artificial defence +the place needed, and defied David to touch even these +sorry defenders. Such defiance David could not but +have regarded as he regarded the defiance of Goliath—as +an insult to that mighty God in whose name and +in whose strength he carried on his work. Advancing +in the same strength in which he advanced against +Goliath, he got possession of the stronghold. To +stimulate the chivalry of his men he had promised the +first place in his army to whoever, by means of the +watercourse, should first get on the battlements and +defeat the Jebusites. Joab was the man who made +this daring and successful attempt. Reaping the +promised reward, he thereby raised himself to the first +place in the now united forces of the twelve tribes of +Israel. After the murder of Abner, he had probably +been degraded; but now, by his dash and bravery, he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +established his position on a firmer basis than ever. +While he contributed by this means to the security +and glory of the kingdom, he diminished at the same +time the king's personal satisfaction, inasmuch as +David could not regard without anxiety the possession +of so much power and influence by so daring and +useful, but unscrupulous and bold-tempered, a man.</p> + +<p>The place thus taken was called the city, and sometimes +the castle, of David, and it became from this time +his residence and the capital of his kingdom. Much +though the various sites in Jerusalem have been +debated, it is surely beyond reasonable doubt that the +fortress thus occupied was Mount Zion, the same +height which still exists in the south-western corner +of the area which came to be covered by Jerusalem. +This seems to have been the only part that the Jebusites +had fortified, and with the loss of this stronghold their +hold of other parts of Jerusalem was lost. Henceforth, +as a people, they disappear from Jerusalem, although +individual Jebusites might still, like Araunah, hold +patches of land in the neighbourhood (2 Sam. xxiv. 16). +The captured fortress was turned by David into his +royal residence. And seeing that a military stronghold +was very inadequate for the purposes of a capital, +he began, by the building of Millo, that extension of +the city which was afterwards carried out by others on +so large a scale.</p> + +<p>By thus taking possession of Mount Zion and commencing +those extensions which helped to make Jerusalem +so great and celebrated a city, David introduced +two names into the sacred language of the Bible which +have ever since retained a halo, surpassing all other +names in the world. Yet, very obviously, it was nothing +in the little hill which has borne the name of Zion for so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +many centuries, nor in the physical features of the city of +Jerusalem, that has given them their remarkable distinction. +Neither is it for mere historical or intellectual +associations, in the common sense of the term, that they +have attained their eminence. It would not be difficult +to find more picturesque rocks than Zion and more +striking cities than Jerusalem. It would not be difficult +to find places more memorable in art, in science, and +intellectual culture. That which gives them their unrivalled +pre-eminence is their relation to God's revelation +of Himself to man. Zion was memorable because it +was God's dwelling-place, Jerusalem because it was +the city of the great King. If Jerusalem and Zion +impress our imagination even above other places, it is +because God had so much to do with them. The very +idea of God makes them great.</p> + +<p>But they impress much more than our imagination. +We recall the unrivalled moral and spiritual forces that +were concentrated there: the goodly fellowship of the +prophets, the noble army of the martyrs, the glorious +company of the apostles, all living under the shadow +of Mount Zion, and uttering those words that have +moved the world as they received them from the mouth +of the Lord. We recall Him who claimed to be Himself +God, whose blessed lessons, and holy life, and atoning +death were so closely connected with Jerusalem, and +would alone have made it for ever memorable, even if +it had been signalized by nothing else. Unless David +was illuminated from above to a far greater degree than +we have any reason to believe, he could have little +thought, when he captured that citadel, what a marvellous +chapter in the world's history he was beginning. +Century after century, millennium after millennium has +passed; and still Zion and Jerusalem draw all eyes and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +hearts, and pilgrims from the ends of the earth, as they +look even on the ruins of former days, are conscious of +a thrill which no other city in all the world can give. +Nor is that all. When a name has to be found on earth +for the home of the blessed in heaven, it is the new +Jerusalem; when the scene of heavenly worship, vocal +with the voice of harpers harping with their harps, has +to be distinguished, it is said to be Mount Zion. Is not +all this a striking testimony that nothing so ennobles +either places or men as the gracious fellowship of God? +View this distinction of Jerusalem and Mount Zion, +if you choose, as the result of mere natural causes. +Though the effect must be held far beyond the efficacy +of the cause, yet you have this fact: that the places +in all the world that to civilized mankind have become +far the most glorious are those with which it is +believed that God maintained a close and unexampled +connection. View it, as it ought to be viewed, as a +supernatural result; count the fellowship of God at +Jerusalem a real fellowship, and His Spirit a living +Spirit; count the presence of Jesus Christ to have been +indeed that of God manifest in the flesh; you have now +a cause really adequate to the effect, and you have a +far more striking proof than before of the dignity and +glory which God's presence brings. Would that every +one of you might ponder the lesson of Jerusalem and +Zion! O ye sons of men, God has drawn nigh to you, +and He has drawn nigh to you as a God of salvation. +Hear then His message! "For if they escaped not who +refused Him that spake on earth, much more shall not +we escape if we refuse Him that speaketh from +heaven."</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a></h2> + +<h3><i>THE KINGDOM ESTABLISHED.</i></h3> + +<h5>2 <span class="smcap">Samuel</span> v. 10-25.</h5> + + +<p>The events in David's reign that followed the +capture of Mount Zion and the appointment of +Jerusalem as the capital of the country were all of +a prosperous kind. "David," we are told, "waxed +greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts was with +him." "And David perceived that the Lord had +established him to be king over Israel, and that He had +exalted his kingdom for His people Israel's sake."</p> + +<p>In these words we find two things: a fact and an +explanation. The fact is, that now the tide fairly +turned in David's history, and that, instead of a sad +chronicle of hardship and disappointment, the record +of his reign becomes one of unmingled success and +prosperity. The fact is far from an unusual one in the +history of men's lives. How often, even in the case of +men who have become eminent, has the first stage of +life been one of disappointment and sorrow, and the +last part one of prosperity so great as to exceed the +fondest dreams of youth. Effort after effort has been +made by a young man to get a footing in the literary +world, but his books have proved comparative failures. +At last he issues one which catches in a remarkable +degree the popular taste, and thereafter fame and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +fortune attend him, and lay their richest offerings at +his feet. A similar tale is to be told of many an +artist and professional man. And even persons of +more ordinary gifts, who have found the battle of life +awfully difficult in its earlier stages, have gradually, +through diligence and perseverance, acquired an excellent +position, more than fulfilling every reasonable desire +for success. No man is indeed exempt from the risk +of failure if he chooses a path of life for which he has +no special fitness, or if he encounters a storm of unfavourable +contingencies; but it is an encouraging +thing for those who begin life under hard conditions, +but with a brave heart and a resolute purpose to do +their best, that, as a general rule, the sky clears as +the day advances, and the troubles and struggles of +the morning yield to success and enjoyment later in +the day.</p> + +<p>But in the present instance we have not merely a +statement of the fact that the tide turned in the case of +David, giving him prosperity and enlargement in every +quarter, but an explanation of the fact—it was due to +the gracious presence and favour of God. This by no +means implies that his adversities were due to an +opposite cause. God had been with him in the wilderness, +save when he resorted to deceit and other tricks +of carnal policy; but He had been with him to try him +and to train him, not to crown him with prosperity. +But now, the purpose of the early training being +accomplished, God is with him to "grant him all his +heart's desire and fulfil all his counsel." If God, +indeed, had not been with him, sanctifying his early +trials, He would not have been with him in the end, +crowning him with loving-kindness and tender mercies. +But in the time of their trials, God is with His people<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +more in secret, hid, at least, from the observation of the +world; when the time comes for conspicuous blessing +and prosperity, He comes more into view in His own +gracious and bountiful character. In the case of David, +God was not only with him, but David "perceived" +it; he was conscious of the fact. His filial spirit +recognized the source of all his prosperity and blessing, +as it had done when he was enabled in his boyhood +to slay the lion and the bear, and in his youth to +triumph over Goliath. Unlike many successful men, +who ascribe their success so largely to their personal +talents and ways of working, he felt that the great +factor in his success was God. If he possessed talents +and had used them to advantage, it was God who had +given them originally, and it was God who had enabled +him to employ them well. But in every man's career, +there are many other elements to be considered besides +his own abilities. There is what the world calls "luck," +that is to say those conditions of success which are +quite out of our control; as for instance in business the +unexpected rise or fall of markets, the occurrence of +favourable openings, the honesty or dishonesty of +partners and connections, the stability or the vicissitudes +of investments. The difference between the successful +man of the world and the successful godly man in +these respects is, that the one speaks only of his luck, +the other sees the hand of God in ordering all such +things for his benefit. This last was David's case. +Well did he know that the very best use he could make +of his abilities could not ensure success unless God +was present to order and direct to a prosperous issue +the ten thousand incidental influences that bore on +the outcome of his undertakings. And when he saw +that these influences were all directed to this end, that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +nothing went wrong, that all conspired steadily and +harmoniously to the enlargement and establishment of +his kingdom, he perceived that the Lord was with +him, and was now visibly fulfilling to him that great +principle of His government which He had so solemnly +declared to Eli, "Them that honour Me, I will honour."</p> + +<p>But is this way of claiming to be specially favoured +and blessed by God not objectionable? Is it not what +the world calls "cant"? Is it not highly offensive in +any man to claim to be a favourite of Heaven? Is this +not what hypocrites and fanatics are so fond of doing, +and is it not a course which every good, humble-minded +man will be careful to avoid?</p> + +<p>This may be a plausible way of reasoning, but one +thing is certain—it has not the support of Scripture. +If it be an offence publicly to recognise the special +favour and blessing with which it has pleased God to +visit us, David himself was the greatest offender in this +respect the world has ever known. What is the great +burden of his psalms of thanksgiving? Is it not an +acknowledgment of the special mercies and favours that +God bestowed on him, especially in his times of +great necessity? And does not the whole tenor of the +Psalms and the whole tenor of Scripture prove that +good men are to take especial note of all the mercies +they receive from God, and are not to confine them to +their own bosom, but to tell of all His gracious acts +and bless His name for ever and ever? "They shall +abundantly utter the memory of Thy great goodness, +and shall sing of Thy righteousness." That God is to +be acknowledged in all our ways, that God's mercy in +choosing us in Christ Jesus and blessing us with all +spiritual blessings in Him is to be especially recognized, +and that we are not to shrink from extolling God's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +name for conferring on us favours infinitely beyond what +belong to the men of the world, are among the plainest +lessons of the word of God.</p> + +<p>What the world is so ready to believe is, that this +cannot be done save in the spirit of the Pharisee who +thanked God that he was not as other men. And +whenever a worldly man falls foul of one who owns the +distinguishing spiritual mercies that God has bestowed +on him, it is this accusation he is sure to hurl at his +head. But this just shows the recklessness and injustice +of the world. Strange indeed if God in His +word has imposed on us a duty which cannot be discharged +but in company with those who say, "Stand +by thyself; come not nigh; I am holier than thou"! +The truth is, the world cannot or will not distinguish +between the Pharisee, puffed up with the conceit of his +goodness, and for this goodness of his deeming himself +the favourite of Heaven, and the humble saint, conscious +that in him dwelleth no good thing, and filled with adoring +wonder at the mercy of God in making of one so +unworthy a monument of His grace. The one is as +unlike the other as light is to darkness. What good +men need to bear in mind is, that when they do make +mention of the special goodness of God to them they +should be most careful to do so in no boastful mood, +but in the spirit of a most real, and not an assumed or +formal, humility. And seeing how ready the world is +to misunderstand and misrepresent the feeling, and to +turn into a reproach what is done as a most sincere +act of gratitude to God, it becomes them to be cautious +how they introduce such topics among persons who +have no sympathy with their view. "Cast not your +pearls before swine," said our Lord, "lest they turn +again and rend you." "Come near," said the Psalmist,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> +"and hear, <i>all ye that fear God</i>, and I will declare what +He hath done for my soul."</p> + +<p>Midway between the two statements before us on +the greatness and prosperity which God conferred on +David, mention is made of his friendly relations with +the king of Tyre (ver. 11). The Phœnicians were not +included among the seven nations of Palestine whom +the Israelites were to extirpate, so that a friendly +alliance with them was not forbidden. It appears that +Hiram was disposed for such an alliance, and David +accepted of his friendly overtures. There is something +refreshing in this peaceful episode in a history and in +a time when war and violence seem to have been the +normal condition of the intercourse of neighbouring +nations. Tyre had a great genius for commerce; and +the spirit of commerce is alien from the spirit of war. +That it is always a nobler spirit cannot be said; for +while commerce <i>ought</i> to rest on the idea of mutual +benefit, and many of its sons honourably fulfil this +condition, it often degenerates into the most atrocious +selfishness, and heeds not what havoc it may inflict on +others provided it derives personal gain from its undertakings. +What an untold amount of sin and misery +has been wrought by the opium traffic, as well as by +the traffic in strong drink, when pressed by cruel +avarice on barbarous nations that have so often lost +all of humanity they possessed through the fire-water +of the <i>Christian</i> trader! But we have no reason to +believe that there was anything specially hurtful in +the traffic which Tyre now began with Israel, although +the intercourse of the two countries afterwards led to +other results pernicious to the latter—the introduction +of Phœnician idolatry and the overthrow of pure +worship in the greater part of the tribes of Israel.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +Meanwhile what Hiram does is to send to David cedar +trees, and carpenters, and masons, by means of whom +a more civilized style of dwelling is introduced; and +the new city which David has commenced to build, and +especially the house which is to be his own, present +features of skill and beauty hitherto unknown in Israel. +For, amid all his zeal for higher things, the young king +of Israel does not disdain to advance his kingdom in +material comforts. Of these, as of other things of the +kind, he knows well that they are good if a man use +them lawfully; and his effort is at once to promote the +welfare of the kingdom in the amenities and comforts +of life, and to deepen that profound regard for God +and that exalted estimate of His favour which will prevent +His people from relying for their prosperity on +mere outward conditions, and encourage them ever to +place their confidence in their heavenly Protector and +King.</p> + +<p>We pass by, as not requiring more comment than we +have already bestowed on a parallel passage (2 Sam. iii. +2-5), the unsavoury statement that "David took to him +more concubines and wives" in Jerusalem. With all +his light and grace, he had not overcome the prevalent +notion that the dignity and resources of a kingdom +were to be measured by the number and rank of the +king's wives. The moral element involved in the +arrangement he does not seem to have at all apprehended; +and consequently, amid all the glory and +prosperity that God has given him, he thoughtlessly +multiplies the evil that was to spread havoc and desolation +in his house.</p> + +<p>We proceed, therefore, to what occupies the remainder +of this chapter—the narrative of his wars with the +Philistines. Two campaigns against these inveterate<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +enemies of Israel are recorded, and the decisive +encounter in both cases took place in the neighbourhood +of Jerusalem.</p> + +<p>The narrative is so brief that we have difficulty in +apprehending all the circumstances. The first invasion +of the Philistines took place soon after David was +anointed king over all Israel. It is not said whether +this occurred before David possessed himself of Mount +Zion, nor, considering the structure common in Hebrew +narrative, does the circumstance that in the history it +follows that event prove that it was subsequent to it +in the order of time. On the contrary, there is an +expression that seems hardly consistent with this idea. +We read (ver. 17) that when David heard of the invasion +he "went <i>down</i> into the hold." Now, this expression +could not be used of the stronghold of Zion, for that hill +is on the height of the central plateau, and invariably +the Scriptures speak of "going up to Zion." If he had +possession of Mount Zion, he would surely have gone +to it when the Philistines took possession of the plain +of Rephaim. The hold to which he went down must +have been in a lower position; indeed, "the hold" is +the expression used of the place or places of protection +to which David resorted when he was pursued by Saul +(see 1 Sam. xxii. 4). Further, when we turn to the +twenty-third chapter of this book, which records some +memorable incidents of the war with the Philistines, +we find (vers. 13, 14) that when the Philistines pitched +in the valley of Rephaim David was in a hold near +the cave of Adullam. The valley of Rephaim, or "the +giants," is an extensive plain to the south-west of +Jerusalem, forming a great natural entrance to the city. +When we duly consider the import of these facts, we +see that the campaign was very serious, and David's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> +difficulties very great. The Philistines were encamped +in force on the summit of the plateau near the natural +metropolis of the country. David was encamped in a +hold in the low country in the south-west, making use +of that very cave of Adullam where he had taken refuge +in his conflicts with Saul. This was far from a hopeful +state of matters. To the eye of man, his position may +have appeared very desperate. Such an emergency was +a fit time for a solemn application to God for direction. +"David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up to +the Philistines? Wilt Thou deliver them into mine +hand? And the Lord said unto David, Go up, for I +will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand." +Up, accordingly, David went, attacked the Philistines +and smote them at a place called Baal-perazim, somewhere +most likely between Adullam and Jerusalem. +The expression "The Lord hath broken forth on mine +enemies before me, as the breach of waters," seems to +imply that He broke the Philistine host into two, like +flooded water breaking an embankment, preventing +them from uniting and rallying, and sending them in +two detachments into flight and confusion. Considering +the superior position of the Philistines, and the great +advantage they seem to have had over David in +numbers also, this was a signal victory, even though +it did not reduce the foe to helplessness.</p> + +<p>For when the Philistines had got time to recover, +they again came up, pitched again in the plain of +Rephaim, and appeared to render unavailing the signal +achievement of David at Baal-perazim. Again David +inquired what he should do. The reply was somewhat +different from before. David was not to go straight up +to face the enemy, as he had done before. He was to +"fetch a compass behind them," that is, as we understand<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +it, to make a circuit, so as to get in the enemy's +rear over against a grove of mulberry trees. That tree +has not yet disappeared from the neighbourhood of +Jerusalem; a mulberry tree still marks the spot in the +valley of Jehoshaphat where, according to tradition, +Isaiah was sawn asunder (Stanley's "Sinai and Palestine"). +When he should hear "the sound of a going" +(Revised Version, "the sound of a march") in the tops +of the mulberry trees, then he was to bestir himself. It +is difficult to conceive any natural cause that should +give rise to a sound like that of a march "in the tops +of the mulberry trees;" but if not a natural, it must +have been a supernatural indication of some sound that +would alarm the Philistines and make the moment +favourable for an attack. It is probable that the +presence of David and his troop in the rear of the +Philistines was not suspected, the mulberry trees +forming a screen between them. When David got his +opportunity, he availed himself of it to great advantage; +he inflicted a thorough defeat on the Philistines, and +smiting them from Geba to Gazer, he appears to have +all but annihilated their force. In this way, he gave +the <i>coup de grâce</i> to his former allies.</p> + +<p>We have said that it appears to have been during +these campaigns against the Philistines that the incidents +took place which are recorded fully in the twenty-third +chapter of this book. It does not seem possible +that these incidents occurred at or about the time when +David was flying from Saul, at which time the cave of +Adullam was one of his resorts. Neither is it likely +that they occurred during the early years of David's +reign, while he was yet at strife with the house of Saul. +At least, it is more natural to refer them to the time +when the Philistines, having heard that David had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> +been anointed king over Israel, came up to seek David, +although we do not consider it impossible that they +occurred in the earlier period of his reign. The record +shows how wonderfully the spirit of David had passed +into his men, and what splendid deeds of courage were +performed by them, often in the face of tremendous +odds. We get a fine glimpse here of one of the great +sources of David's popularity—his extraordinary +<i>pluck</i> as we now call it, and readiness for the +most daring adventures, often crowned with all but +miraculous success. In all ages, men of this type have +been marvellous favourites with their comrades. The +annals of the British army, and still more the British +navy, contain many such records. And even when we +go down to pirates and freebooters, we find the odium of +their mode of life in many cases remarkably softened +by the splendour of their valour, by their running +unheard-of risks, and sometimes by sheer daring and +bravery obtaining signal advantages over the greatest +odds. The achievements of David's "three mighties," +as well as of his "thirty," formed a splendid instance of +this kind of warfare. All that we know of them is +comprised within a few lines, but when we call to mind +the enthusiasm that used to be awakened all over our +own country by the achievements of Nelson and his +officers, or more recently by General Gordon, of China +and Egypt, we can easily understand the thrilling effect +which these wonderful tales of valour would have +throughout all the tribes of Israel.</p> + +<p>The personal affection for David and his heroes +which would thus be formed must have been very +warm, nay, even enthusiastic. In the case of David, +whatever may have been true of the others, all +the influence thus acquired was employed for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +welfare of the nation and the glory of God. The +supreme desire of his heart was that the people might +give all the glory to Jehovah, and derive from these +brilliant successes fresh assurances how faithful God +was to His promises to Israel. Alike as a man of piety +and a man of patriotism, he made this his aim. +Knowing as he did what was due to God, and animated +by a profound desire to render to God His due, he +would have been horrified had he intercepted in his +own person aught of the honour and glory which were +His. But for the people's sake also, as a man of +patriotism, his desire was equally strong that God +should have all the glory. What were military successes +however brilliant to the nation, or a reputation +however eminent, compared to their enjoying the favour +and friendship of God? Success—how ephemeral it +was; reputation—as transient as the glow of a cloud +beside the setting sun; but God's favour and gracious +presence with the nation was a perpetual treasure, +enlivening, healing, strengthening, guiding for evermore. +"Happy is that people that is in such a case; +yea, happy is that people whose God is the Lord."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span></p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a></h2> + +<h3><i>THE ARK BROUGHT UP TO JERUSALEM.</i></h3> + +<h5>2 <span class="smcap">Samuel</span> vi.</h5> + + +<p>The first care of David when settled on the throne +had been to obtain possession of the stronghold +of Zion, on which and on the city which was to surround +it he fixed as the capital of the kingdom and the +dwelling-place of the God of Israel. This being done, +he next set about bringing up the ark of the testimony +from Kirjath-jearim, where it had been left after being +restored by the Philistines in the early days of Samuel. +David's first attempt to place the ark on Mount Zion +failed through want of due reverence on the part of +those who were transporting it; but after an interval of +three months the attempt was renewed, and the sacred +symbol was duly installed on Mount Zion, in the midst +of the tabernacle prepared by David for its reception.</p> + +<p>In bringing up the ark to Jerusalem, the king showed +a commendable desire to interest the whole nation, as +far as possible, in the solemn service. He gathered +together the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand, and +went with them to bring up the ark from Baale of +Judah, which must be another name for Kirjath-jearim, +distant from Jerusalem about ten miles. The people, +numerous as they were, grudged neither the time, the +trouble, nor the expense. A handful might have sufficed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +for all the actual labour that was required; but thousands +of the chief people were summoned to be present, +and that on the principle both of rendering due honour +to God, and of conferring a benefit on the people. It +is not a handful of professional men only that should +be called to take a part in the service of religion; +Christian people generally should have an interest in +the ark of God; and other things being equal, that +Church which interests the greatest number of people +and attracts them to active work will not only do most +for advancing God's kingdom, but will enjoy most of +inward life and prosperity.</p> + +<p>The joyful spirit in which this service was performed +by David and his people is another interesting feature +of the transaction. Evidently it was not looked on as +a toilsome service, but as a blessed festival, adapted to +cheer the heart and raise the spirits. What was the +precise nature of the service? It was to bring into the +heart of the nation, into the new capital of the kingdom, +the ark of the covenant, that piece of sacred furniture +which had been constructed nearly five hundred years +before in the wilderness of Sinai, the memorial of God's +holy covenant with the people, and the symbol of His +gracious presence among them. In spirit it was bringing +God into the very midst of the nation, and on the +choicest and most prominent pedestal the country now +supplied setting up a constant memento of the presence +of the Holy One. Rightly understood, the service +could bring joy only to spiritual hearts; it could give +pleasure to none who had reason to dread the presence +of God. To those who knew Him as their reconciled +Father and the covenant God of the nation, it was +most attractive. It was as if the sun were again shining +on them after a long eclipse, or as if the father of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> +loved and loving family had returned after a weary +absence. God enthroned on Zion, God in the midst +of Jerusalem—what happier or more thrilling thought +was it possible to cherish? God, the sun and shield +of the nation, occupying for His residence the one fitting +place in all the land, and sending over Jerusalem and +over all the country emanations of love and grace, full +of blessing for all that feared His name! The happiness +with which this service was entered on by David +and his people is surely the type of the spirit in which +all service to God should be rendered by those whose +sins He has blotted out, and on whom He has bestowed +the privileges of His children.</p> + +<p>But the best of services may be gone about in a +faulty way. There may be some criminal neglect +of God's will that, like the dead fly in the apothecary's +pot of ointment, causes the perfume to send forth a +stinking savour. And so it was on this occasion. +God had expressly directed that when the ark was +moved from place to place it should be borne on poles +on the shoulders of the Levites, and never carried in a +cart, like a common piece of furniture. But in the +removal of the ark from Kirjath-jearim, this direction +was entirely overlooked. Instead of following the +directions given to Moses, the example of the Philistines +was copied when they sent the ark back to +Bethshemesh. The Philistines had placed it in a new +cart, and the men of Israel now did the same. What +induced them to follow the example of the Philistines +rather than the directions of Moses, we do not know, +and can hardly conjecture. It does not appear to have +been a mere oversight. It had something of a +deliberate plan about it, as if the law given in the +wilderness were now obsolete, and in so small a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +matter any method might be chosen that the people +liked. It was substituting a heathen example for +a Divine rule in the worship of God. We cannot +suppose that David was guilty of deliberately setting +aside the authority of God. On his part, it may have +been an error of inadvertence. But that somewhere +there was a serious offence is evident from the +punishment with which it was visited (1 Chron. xv. 13). +The jagged bridlepaths of those parts are not at +all adapted for wheeled conveyances, and when the +oxen stumbled, and the ark was shaken, Uzzah, who +was driving the cart, put forth his hand to steady it. +"The anger of God," we are told, "was kindled against +Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and +there he died by the ark of God." His effort to steady +the ark must have been made in a presumptuous way, +without reverence for the sacred vessel. Only a Levite +was authorized to touch it, and Uzzah was apparently +a man of Judah. The punishment may seem to us +hard for an offence which was ceremonial rather than +moral; but in that economy, moral truth was taught +through ceremonial observances, and neglect of the one +was treated as involving neglect of the other. The +punishment was like the punishment of Nadab and +Abihu, the sons of Aaron, for offering strange fire +in their censers. It may be that both in their case, and +in the case of Uzzah, there were unrecorded circumstances, +unknown to us, making it clear that the +ceremonial offence was not a mere accident, but that +it was associated with evil personal qualities well +fitted to provoke the judgment of God. The great +lesson for all time is to beware of following our own +devices in the worship of God when we have clear +instructions in His word how we are to worship Him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span></p> + +<p>This lamentable event put a sudden end to the joyful +service. It was like the bursting of a thunderstorm on +an excursion party that rapidly sends every one to +flight. And it is doubtful whether the spirit shown by +David was altogether right. He was displeased +"because the Lord had made a breach upon Uzzah, +and he called the name of the place Perez-uzzah to +this day. And David was afraid of the Lord that day +and said, How shall the ark of the Lord come to me? +So David would not remove the ark of the Lord into +the city of David; but David carried it aside into the +house of Obed-edom the Gittite." The narrative reads +as if David resented the judgment which God had +inflicted, and in a somewhat petulant spirit abandoned +the enterprise because he found God too hard to +please. That some such feeling should have fluttered +about his heart was not to be wondered at; but surely +it was a feeling to which he ought not to have given +entertainment, as it certainly was one on which he +ought not to have acted. If God was offended, David +surely knew that He must have had good ground for +being so. It became him and the people, therefore, to +accept God's judgment, humble themselves before Him, +and seek forgiveness for the negligent manner in which +they had addressed themselves to this very solemn +service. Instead of this David throws up the matter +in a fit of sullen temper, as if it were impossible to +please God in it, and the enterprise must therefore +be abandoned. He leaves the ark in the house +of Obed-edom the Gittite, returning to Jerusalem +crestfallen and displeased, altogether in a spirit most +opposite to that in which he had set out.</p> + +<p>It may happen to you that some Christian undertaking +on which you have entered with great zeal and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +ardour, and without any surmise that you are not +doing right, is not blessed, but meets with some rough +shock, that places you in a very painful position. In +the most disinterested spirit, you have tried perhaps +to set up in some neglected district a school or a +mission, and you expect all encouragement and approbation +from those who are most interested in the +welfare of the district. Instead of receiving approval, +you find that you are regarded as an enemy and an +intruder. You are attacked with unexampled rudeness, +sinister aims are laid to your charge, and the purpose +of your undertaking is declared to be to hurt +and discourage those whom you were bound to aid. +The shock is so violent and so rude that for a time +you cannot understand it. On the part of man it admits +of no reasonable justification whatever. But when +you go into your closet, and think of the matter as +permitted by God, you wonder still more why God +should thwart you in your endeavour to do good. +Rebellious feelings hover about your heart that if God +is to treat you in this way, it were better to abandon +His service altogether. But surely no such feeling +is ever to find a settled place in your heart. You may +be sure that the rebuff which God has permitted you to +encounter is meant as a trial of your faith and humility; +and if you wait on God for further light and humbly +ask a true view of God's will; if, above all, you +beware of retiring in sullen silence from God's active +service, good may come out of the apparent evil, and +you may yet find cause to bless God even for the +shock that made you so uncomfortable at the time.</p> + +<p>The Lord does not forsake His people, nor leave +them for ever under a cloud. It was not long before +the downcast heart of David was reassured. When<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +the ark had been left at the house of Obed-edom, Obed-edom +was not afraid to take it in. Its presence in +other places had hitherto been the signal for disaster +and death. Among the Philistines, in city after city, +at Bethshemesh, and now at Perez-uzzah, it had +spread death on every side. Obed-edom was no +sufferer. Probably he was a God-fearing man, conscious +of no purpose but that of honouring God. A manifest +blessing rested on his house. "The God of heaven," +says Bishop Hall, "pays liberally for His lodging." +It is not so much God's ark in our time and country +that needs a lodging, but God's servants, God's poor, +sometimes persecuted fugitives flying from an oppressor, +very often pious men in foreign countries labouring +under infinite discouragements to serve God. The +Obed-edom who takes them in will not suffer. Even +should he be put to loss or inconvenience, the day of +recompense draweth nigh. "I was a stranger, and ye +took Me in."</p> + +<p>Again, then, King David, encouraged by the experience +of Obed-edom, goes forth in royal state to bring +up the ark to Jerusalem. The error that had proved +so fatal was now rectified. "David said, None ought +to carry the ark of God but the Levites, for them +hath the Lord chosen to carry the ark of God and to +minister unto Him for ever" (1 Chron. xv. 2). In +token of his humility and his conviction that every +service that man renders to God is tainted and needs +forgiveness, oxen and fatlings were sacrificed ere the +bearers of the ark had well begun to move. The +spirit of enthusiastic joy again swayed the multitude, +brightened probably by the assurance that no judgment +need now be dreaded, but that they might confidently +look for the smile of an approving God. The feelings<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> +of the king himself were wonderfully wrought up, and +he gave free expression to the joy of his heart. There +are occasions of great rejoicing when all ceremony +is forgotten, and no forms or appearances are suffered +to stem the tide of enthusiasm as it gushes right from +the heart. It was an occasion of this kind to David. +The check he had sustained three months before had +only dammed up his feelings, and they rolled out now +with all the greater volume. His soul was stirred by +the thought that the symbol of Godhead was now +to be placed in his own city, close to his own dwelling; +that it was to find an abiding place of rest in the heart +of the kingdom, on the heights where Melchizedek +had reigned, close to where he had blessed Abraham, +and which God had destined as His own dwelling from +the foundations of the world. Glorious memories +of the past, mingling with bright anticipations of the +future, recollections of the grace revealed to the +fathers, and visions of the same grace streaming forth +to distant ages, as generation after generation of the +faithful came up here to attend the holy festivals, might +well excite that tumult of emotion in David's breast +before which the ordinary restraints of royalty were +utterly flung aside. He sacrificed, he played, he sang, +he leapt and danced before the Lord, with all his +might; he made a display of enthusiasm which the +cold-hearted Michal, as she could not understand it +nor sympathise with it, had the folly to despise and +the cruelty to ridicule. The ordinary temper of the +sexes was reversed—the man was enthusiastic; the +woman was cold. Little did she know of the springs +of true enthusiasm in the service of God! To her +faithless eye, the ark was little more than a chest +of gold, and where it was kept was of little consequence;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> +her carnal heart could not appreciate the +glory that excelleth; her blind eye could see none +of the visions that had overpowered the soul of +her husband.</p> + +<p>A few other circumstances are briefly noticed in +connection with the close of the service, when the ark +had been solemnly enshrined within the tabernacle +that David had reared for it on Mount Zion.</p> + +<p>The first is that "David offered burnt-offerings and +peace-offerings before the Lord." The burnt-offering +was a fresh memorial of sin, and therefore a fresh +confession that even in connection with that very holy +service there were sins to be confessed, atoned for, and +forgiven. For there is this great difference between +the service of the formalist and the service of the +earnest worshipper: that while the one can see nothing +faulty in his performance, the other sees a multitude of +imperfections in his. Clearer light and a clearer eye, +even the light thrown by the glory of God's purity on +the best works of man, reveal a host of blemishes, +unseen in ordinary light and by the carnal eye. Our +very prayers need to be purged, our tears to be wept +over, our repentances repented of. Little could the +best services ever done by him avail the spiritual +worshipper if it were not for the High-priest over the +house of God who ever liveth to make intercession for +him.</p> + +<p>Again, we find David after the offering of the burnt-offerings +and the peace-offerings "blessing the people in +the name of the Lord of hosts." This was something +more than merely expressing a wish or offering a +prayer for their welfare. It was like the benediction +with which we close our public services. The +benediction is more than a prayer. The servant of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> +Lord appears in the attitude of dropping on the heads +of the people the blessing which he invokes. Not that he +or any man can convey heavenly blessings to a people +that do not by faith appropriate them and rejoice in +them. But the act of benediction implies this: These +blessings are yours if you will only have them. They +are provided, they are made over to you, if you will +only accept them. The last act of public worship is a +great encouragement to faith. When the peace of God +that passeth all understanding, or the blessing of God +the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, or the grace of the +Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the +communion of the Holy Ghost are invoked over your +heads, it is to assure you that if you will but accept of +them through Jesus Christ, these great blessings are +actually yours. True, there is no part of our service +more frequently spoiled by formality; but there is none +richer with true blessing to faith. So when David +blessed the people, it was an assurance to them that +God's blessing was within their reach; it was theirs if +they would only take it. How strange that any hearts +should be callous under such an announcement; that +any should fail to leap to it, as it were, and rejoice +in it, as glad tidings of great joy!</p> + +<p>The third thing David did was to deal to every one of +Israel, both man and woman, a loaf of bread, and a +good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. It was a +characteristic act, worthy of a bountiful and generous +nature like David's. It may be that associating bodily +gratifications with Divine service is liable to abuse, +that the taste which it gratifies is not a high one, and +that it tempts some men to attend religious services for +the same reason as some followed Jesus—for the loaves +and fishes. Yet Jesus did not abstain on some rare<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +occasions from feeding the multitude, though the act +was liable to abuse. The example both of David and +of Jesus may show us that though not habitually, yet +occasionally, it is both right and fitting that religious +service should be associated with a simple repast. +There is nothing in Scripture to warrant the practice, +adopted in some missions in very poor districts, of +feeding the people habitually when they come up for +religious service, and there is much in the argument +that such a practice degrades religion and obscures the +glory of the blessings which Divine service is designed +to bring to the poor. But occasionally the rigid rule +may be somewhat relaxed, and thus a sort of symbolical +proof afforded that godliness is profitable unto all things, +having promise of the life that now is and of that which +is to come.</p> + +<p>The last thing recorded of David is, that he returned +to bless his house. The cares of the State and the +public duties of the day were not allowed to interfere +with his domestic duty. Whatever may have been his +ordinary practice, on this occasion at least he was +specially concerned for his household, and desirous that +in a special sense they should share the blessing. It +is plain from this that, amid all the imperfections of his +motley household, he could not allow his children to +grow up ignorant of God, thus dealing a rebuke to all +who, outdoing the very heathen in heathenism, have +houses without an altar and without a God. It is +painful to find that the spirit of the king was not +shared by every member of his family. It was when +he was returning to this duty that Michal met him and +addressed to him these insulting words: "How +glorious was the king of Israel to-day, who uncovered +himself to-day in the eyes of the handmaids of his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> +servants, as one of the vain fellows shamefully uncovers +himself." On the mind of David himself, this ebullition +had no effect but to confirm him in his feeling, +and reiterate his conviction that his enthusiasm reflected +on him not shame but glory. But a woman of Michal's +character could not but act like an icicle on the spiritual +life of the household. She belonged to a class that +cannot tolerate enthusiasm in religion. In any other +cause, enthusiasm may be excused, perhaps extolled and +admired: in the painter, the musician, the traveller, even +the child of pleasure; the only persons whose enthusiasm +is unbearable are those who are enthusiastic in +their regard for their Saviour, and in the answer they +give to the question, "What shall I render to the Lord +for all His benefits toward me?" There are, doubtless, +times to be calm, and times to be enthusiastic; but can +it be right to give all our coldness to Christ and all +our enthusiasm to the world?</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a></h2> + +<h3><i>PROPOSAL TO BUILD A TEMPLE.</i></h3> + +<h5>2 <span class="smcap">Samuel</span> vii.</h5> + + +<p>The spirit of David was essentially active and fond +of work. He was one of those who are ever +pressing on, not content to keep things as they are, +moving personally towards improvement, and urging +others to do the same. Even in Eastern countries, with +their proverbial stillness and conservatism, such men +are sometimes found, but they are far more common +elsewhere. Great undertakings do not frighten them; +they have spirit enough for a lifetime of effort, they +never seem weary of pushing on. When they look on +the disorders of the world they are not content with +the languid utterance, "Something must be done;" +they consider what it is possible for them to do, and +gird themselves to the doing of it.</p> + +<p>For some time David seems to have found ample +scope for his active energies in subduing the Philistines +and other hostile tribes that were yet mingled with the +Israelites, and that had long given them much annoyance. +His friendship with Hiram of Tyre probably +gave a new impulse to his mind, and led him to +project many improvements in Jerusalem and elsewhere. +When all his enemies were quieted, and he sat in his +house, he began to consider to what work of internal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> +improvement he would now give his attention. Having +recently removed the Ark, and placed it in a tabernacle +on Mount Zion, constructed probably in accordance with +the instructions given to Moses in the wilderness, he +did not at first contemplate the erection of any other +kind of building for the service of God. It was while +he sat in his new and elegant house that the idea came +into his mind that it was not seemly that he should be +lodged in so substantial a home, while the Ark of God +dwelt between curtains. Curtains might have been +suitable, nay, necessary, in the wilderness, where the +Ark had constantly to be moved about; and even in +the land of Israel, while the nation was comparatively +unsettled, curtains might still have been best; but now +that a permanent resting-place had been found for the +Ark, was it right that there should be such a contrast +between the dwelling-place of David and the dwelling-place +of God? It was the very argument that was +afterwards used by Haggai and Zechariah after the +return from captivity, to rouse the languid zeal of their +countrymen for the re-erection of the house of God. +"Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses +and this house lie waste?"</p> + +<p>A generous heart, even though it be a godless one, +is uncomfortable when surrounded by elegance and +luxury, while starvation and misery prevail in its +neighbourhood. We see in our day the working of +this feeling in those cases, unhappily too few, where +men and women born to gold and grandeur feel +wretched unless they are doing something to equalise +the conditions of life by helping those who are born +to rags and wretchedness. To the feelings of the godly +a disreputable place of worship, contrasting meanly +with the taste and elegance of the hall, or even the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> +villa, is a pain and a reproach. There is not much +need at the present day for urging the unseemliness of +such a contrast, for the tendency of our time is toward +handsome church buildings, and in many cases towards +extravagance in the way of embellishment. What +we have more need to look at is the disproportion +of the sums paid by rich men, and even by men who +can hardly be called rich, in gratifying their own +tastes and in extending the kingdom of Christ. We +are far from blaming those who, having great wealth, +spend large sums from year to year on yachts, on +equipages, on picture galleries, on jewellery and costly +furnishings. Wealth which remunerates honest and +wholesome labour is not all selfishly thrown away. +But it is somewhat strange that we hear so seldom of +rich Christian men devoting their superfluous wealth +to maintaining a mission station with a whole staff of +labourers, or to the rearing of colleges, or hospitals, or +Christian institutions, which might provide on a large +scale for Christian activity in ways that might be +wonderfully useful. It is in this direction that there is +most need to press the example of David. When shall +this new enlargement of Christian activity take place? +Or when shall men learn that the pleasure of spreading +the blessings of the Gospel by the equipment and maintenance +of a foreign missionary or mission station far +exceeds anything to be derived from refinements and +luxuries of which they themselves are the object and +the centre?</p> + +<p>When the thought of building a temple occurred to +David, he conferred on the subject with the prophet +Nathan. The Scripture narrative is so brief that it +gives us no information about Nathan, except in connection +with two or three events in which he had a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +share. Apparently he was a prophet of Jerusalem, on +intimate terms with David, and perhaps attached to his +court. When first consulted on the subject by the +king, he gave him a most encouraging answer, but +without having taken any special steps to ascertain the +mind of God. He presumed that as the undertaking +was itself so good, and as David generally was so +manifestly under Divine guidance, nothing was to be +said but that he should go on. "Nathan said to the +king, Go, do all that is in thine heart, for the Lord is +with thee." That same night, however, a message came +to Nathan that gave a new complexion to the proposal. +He was instructed to remind David, first, that God had +never complained of His tabernacle-dwelling from the +day when He brought up the children of Israel to that +hour, and had never given a hint that He desired a +house of cedar. Further, he was commissioned to +convey to David the assurance of God's continued +interest and favour towards him—of that interest +which began by taking him from the sheepfold to make +him king over Israel, and which had been shown continuously +in the success which had been given him in +all his enterprises, and the great name he had acquired, +entitling him to rank with the great men of the earth. +Towards the nation of Israel, too, God was actuated by +the same feeling of affectionate interest; they would be +planted, set firm in a place of their own, delivered from +the thraldom of enemies, and allowed to prosper and +expand in peace and comfort. Still further—and this +was a very special blessing—Nathan was to inform +David that, unlike Saul, he was not to be the only one +of his race to occupy the throne; his son would reign +after he was gathered to his fathers, the kingdom would +be established in his hands, and the throne of his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +kingdom would be established for ever. To this +favoured son of his would be entrusted the honour of +building the temple, God would be his Father, and he +would be God's son. If he should fall into sin, he +would be chastised for his sin, but not destroyed. +The Divine mercy would not depart from him as it had +departed from Saul. The kernel of the message was +in these gracious concluding words—"Thine house and +thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee; +thy throne shall be established for ever."</p> + +<p>Here, certainly, was a very remarkable message, +containing both elements of refusal and elements of +encouragement. The proposal which David had made +to build a temple was declined. The time for a change, +though drawing near, had not yet arrived. The curtain-canopied +tabernacle had been designed by God to wean +His people from those sensuous ideas of worship to +which the magnificent temples of Egypt had accustomed +them, and to give them the true idea of a spiritual +service, though not without the visible emblem of a +present God. The time had not yet arrived for changing +this simple arrangement. God could impart His +blessing in the humble tent as well as in the stately +temple. As long as it was God's pleasure to dwell in the +tabernacle, so long might David expect that His grace +would be imparted there. So we may say, that so long +as it is manifestly God's pleasure that a body of His +worshippers shall occupy a humble tabernacle, so long +may they expect that He will shine forth there, imparting +that fulness of grace and blessing which is the true +and only glory of any place of worship.</p> + +<p>But the message through Nathan contained also +elements of encouragement, chiefly with reference to +David's offspring, and to the stability and permanence<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +of his throne. To appreciate the value of this promise +for the future, we must bear in mind the great insecurity +of new dynasties in Eastern countries, and the +fearful tragedies that were often perpetrated to get rid +of the old king's family, and prepare the way for some +ambitious and unscrupulous usurper.</p> + +<p>We hardly need to recall the tragic end of Saul, the +base murder of Ishbosheth, or the painful deaths of +Asahel and Abner. We have but to think of what +happened in the sister kingdom of the ten tribes, from +the death of the son of its first king, Jeroboam, on to +its final extinction. What an awful record the history +of that kingdom presents of conspiracies, murders, and +massacres! How miserable a distinction it was to be +of the seed royal in those days! It only made one +the more conspicuous a mark for the poisoned cup or +the assassin's dagger. It associated with the highest +families of the realm horrors and butcheries of which +the poorest had no cause even to dream. Any one +who had been raised to a throne could not but sicken at +the thought of the atrocities which his very elevation +might one day bring upon his children. A new king +could hardly enjoy his dignity but by steeling his heart +against every feeling of parental love.</p> + +<p>And, moreover, these constant changes of the royal +family were very hurtful to the kingdom at large. They +divided it into sections that raged against each other +with terrible fury. For of all wars civil wars are the +worst for the fierceness of the passions they evoke, and +the horrors which they inflict. Scotland and England +too have had too much experience of these conflicts in +other days. Many generations have elapsed since they +were ended, but we have many memorials still of the +desolation which they spread, while our progress and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +prosperity, ever since they passed away, show us +clearly of what a multitude of mercies they robbed +the land.</p> + +<p>To David, therefore, it was an unspeakable comfort +to be assured that his dynasty would be a stable +dynasty; that his son would reign after him; that a +succession of princes would follow with unquestioned +right to the throne; and that if his son, or his son's +son, should commit sins deserving of chastisement, that +chastisement would not be withheld, but it would not +be fatal, it would bring the needed correction, and thus +the throne would be secure for ever. A father naturally +desires peace and prosperity for his children, and if he +extends his view down the generations, the desire is +strong that it may be well with them and with their +seed for ever. But no father, in ordinary circumstances, +can flatter himself that his posterity shall escape their +share of the current troubles and calamities of life. +David, but for this assurance, must have looked forward +to his posterity encountering their share of those nameless +horrors to which royal children were often born. +It was an unspeakable privilege to learn, as he did now, +that his dynasty would be alike permanent and secure; +that, as a rule, his children would not be exposed to the +atrocities of Oriental successions; that they would be +under the special care and protection of God; that +their faults would be corrected without their being +destroyed; and that this state of blessing would continue +for ages and ages to come.</p> + +<p>The emotions roused in David by this communication +were alike delightful and exuberant. He takes no +notice of the disappointment—of his not being permitted +to build the temple. Any regret that this might +occasion is swallowed up by his delight in the store<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> +of blessing actually promised. And here we may see +a remarkable instance of God's way of dealing with His +people's prayers. Virtually, if not formally, David had +asked of God to permit him to build a temple to His +name. That petition, bearing though it did very +directly on God's glory, is not vouchsafed. God does +not accord that privilege to David. But in refusing +him that request, He makes over to him mercies of far +higher reach and importance. He refuses his immediate +request only to grant to him far above all that he was +able to ask or think. And how often does God do so! +How often, when His people are worrying and perplexing +themselves about their prayers not being answered, +is God answering them in a far richer way! Glimpses +of this we see occasionally, but the full revelation of it +remains for the future. You pray to the degree of +agony for the preservation of a beloved life; it is not +granted; God appears deaf to your cry; a year or two +after, things happen that would have broken your +friend's heart or driven reason from its throne; you +understand now why God did not fulfil your petition. +Oh for the spirit of trust that shall never charge God +foolishly! Oh for the faith that does not make haste, but +waits patiently for the Lord,—waits for the explanation +that shall come in the end, at the revelation of Jesus +Christ!</p> + +<p>It is a striking scene that is presented to us when +"David went in, and sat before the Lord." It is the +only instance in Scripture in which any one is said to +have taken the attitude of sitting while pouring his +heart out to God. Yet the nature of the communion +was in keeping with the attitude. David was like +a child sitting down beside his father, to think over +some wonderfully kind expression of his intentions to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> +him, and pour out his full heart into his ear. We may +observe in the address of David how pervaded it is +by the tone of wonder. This, indeed, is its great +characteristic. He expresses wonder at the past, at +God's selecting one obscure in family and obscure in +person; he wonders at the present: How is it Thou +hast brought me thus far? and still more he wonders +at the future, the provision made for the stability of his +house in all time coming. "And is this the manner +of man, O Lord God?"<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> All true religious feeling is +pervaded by an element of wonder; it is this element +that warms and elevates it. In David's case it kindles +intense adoration and gratitude, with reference both to +God's dealings with himself and His dealings with +Israel. "What one nation in the earth is like Thy +people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for +a people to Himself, and to make Him a name, and to +do for you great things and terrible, for Thy land, +before Thy people, which Thou redeemedst to Thee from +Egypt, from the nations and their gods?" This wonder +at past goodness, moreover, begets great confidence for +the future. And David warmly and gratefully expresses +this confidence, and looks forward with exulting feelings +to the blessings reserved for him and his house. And +finally he falls into the attitude of supplication, and +prays that it may all come to pass. Not that he doubts +God's word; the tone of the whole prayer is the tone +of gratitude for the past and confidence in the future.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> +But he feels it right to take up the attitude of a +suppliant, to show, as we believe, that it must all come +of God's free and infinite mercy; that not one of all +the good things which God had promised could be +claimed as a right, for the least and the greatest were +due alike to the rich grace of a sovereign God. "Therefore +now let it please Thee to bless the house of Thy +servant, that it may continue for ever before Thee; +for Thou, O Lord God, hast spoken it, and with Thy +blessing let the house of Thy servant be blessed for +ever." Appropriate ending for a remarkable prayer! +appropriate, too, not for David only, but for every +Christian praying for his country, and for every +Christian father praying for his family! "With Thy +blessing," bestowed alike in mercy and in chastisement, +in what Thou givest and in what Thou withholdest, +but making all things work together for eternal good—"With +Thy blessing let the house of Thy servant be +blessed for ever."</p> + +<p>We seem to see in this prayer the very best of David—much +intensity of feeling, great humility, wondering +gratitude, holy intimacy and trust, and supreme satisfaction +in the blessing of God. We see him walking +in the very light of God's countenance, and supremely +happy. We see Jacob's ladder between earth and +heaven, and the angels of God ascending and descending +on it. Moreover, we see the infinite privilege +which is involved in having God for our Father, and +in being able to realise that He is full of most fatherly +feelings to us. The joy of David in this act of +fellowship with God was the purest of which human +beings are capable. It was indeed a joy unspeakable +and full of glory. Oh that men would but acquaint +themselves with God and be at peace! Let it be our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> +aim to cherish as warm sentiments of trust in God, and +to look forward to the future with equal satisfaction +and delight.</p> + +<p>A very important question arises in connection with +this chapter, to which we have not yet adverted, but +which we cannot pass by. In that promise of God +respecting the stability of David's throne and the perpetual +duration of his dynasty, was there any reference +to the Messiah, any reference to the spiritual kingdom +of which alone it could be said with truth that it was +to last for ever? The answer to this question is very +plain, because some of the words addressed by God to +David are quoted in the New Testament as having a +Messianic reference. "To which of the angels said He +at any time, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be +to Me a son?" (Heb. i. 5). If we consider, too, how +David's dynasty really came to an end as a reigning +family some five hundred years after, we see that the +language addressed to him was not exhausted by the +fortunes of his family. In the Divine mind the prophecy +reached forward to the time of Christ, and only +in Christ was it fully verified. And it seems plain +from some words of St. Peter on the day of Pentecost +that David understood this. He knew that "God had +sworn to him that of the fruit of his loins, according to +the flesh, He would raise up Christ to sit on His +throne" (Acts ii. 30). From the very exalted emotions +which the promise raised in his breast, and the enthusiasm +with which he poured forth his thanksgivings +for it, we infer that David saw in it far more than a +promise that for generations to come his house would +enjoy a royal dignity. He must have concluded that +the great hope of Israel was to be fulfilled in connection +with his race. God's words implied, that it was in His<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> +line the promise to Abraham was to be fulfilled—"In +thee and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth +be blessed." He saw Christ's day afar off and was +glad. To us who look back on that day the reasons +for gladness and gratitude are far stronger than they +were even to him. Then let us prize the glorious +fact that the Son of David has come, even the Son of +God, who hath given us understanding that we may +know Him that is true. And while we prize the truth, +let us embrace the privilege; let us become one with +Him in whom we too become sons of God, and with +whom we may cherish the hope of reigning for ever as +kings and priests, when He comes to gather His redeemed +that they may sit with Him on the throne of +His glory.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</a></h2> + +<h3><i>FOREIGN WARS.</i></h3> + +<h5>2 <span class="smcap">Samuel</span> viii. 1-14.</h5> + + +<p>The transitions of the Bible, like those of actual +life, are often singularly abrupt; that which now +hurries us from the scene of elevated communion with +God to the confused noise and deadly struggles of the +battle-field is peculiarly startling. We are called to +contemplate David in a remarkable light, as a professional +warrior, a man of the sword, a man of blood; +wielding the weapons of destruction with all the decision +and effect of the most daring commanders. That the +sweet singer of Israel, from whose tender heart those +blessed words poured out to which the troubled soul +turns for composure and peace, should have been so +familiar with the horrors of the battle-field, is indeed a +surprise. We can only say that he was led to regard +all this rough work as indispensable to the very existence +of his kingdom, and to the fulfilment of the great +ends for which Israel had been called. Painful and +miserable though it was in itself, it was necessary for +the accomplishment of greater good. The bloodthirsty +spirit of these hostile nations would have swallowed up +the kingdom of Israel, and left no trace of it remaining. +The promise to Abraham, "In thee and in thy seed +shall all the families of the earth be blessed," would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +have ceased to have any basis for its fulfilment. Painful +though it was to deal death and destruction on every +side, it would have been worse to see the nation of Israel +destroyed, and the foundation of the world's greatest +blessings swept for ever away.</p> + +<p>The "rest from all his enemies round about," referred +to in the first verse of the seventh chapter, seems to +refer to the nearer enemies of the kingdom, while the +wars mentioned in the present chapter were mostly with +enemies more remote. The most important of the wars +now to be considered was directed against the occupants +of that large territory lying between Palestine and the +Euphrates which God had promised to Abraham, +although no command had been given to dispossess the +inhabitants, and therefore it could be held only in +tributary subjection. In some respects, David was the +successor of Joshua as well as of Moses. He had to +continue Joshua's work of conquest, as well as Moses' +work of political arrangement and administration. The +nations against whom he had now to go forth were most +of them warlike and powerful; some of them were +banded together in leagues against him, rendering +his enterprise very perilous, and such as could have +been undertaken by no one who had not an immovable +trust in God. The twentieth Psalm seems to express +the feelings with which the godly part of the nation +would regard him as he went forth to these distant and +perilous enterprises:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The Lord answer thee in the day of trouble;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The name of the God of Jacob set thee up on high;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Send thee help from the sanctuary,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And strengthen thee out of Zion;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Remember all thy offerings,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And accept thy burnt-sacrifice; [Selah<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Grant thee thy heart's desire,<br /></span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +<span class="i0">And fulfil all thy counsel.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">We will triumph in thy salvation,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And in the name of our God we will set up our banners:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Lord fulfil all thy petitions.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now know I that the Lord saveth His anointed;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He will answer him from His holy heaven<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With the saving strength of His right hand.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Some trust in chariots, and some in horses,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But we will make mention of the name of the Lord our God.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They are bowed down and fallen;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But we are risen, and stand upright.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Save, Lord;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Let the King answer us when we call.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>It is an instructive fact that the history of these +wars is given so shortly. A single verse is all that is +given to most of the campaigns. This brevity shows +very clearly that another spirit than that which moulded +ordinary histories guided the composition of this book. +It would be beyond human nature to resist the temptation +to describe great battles, the story of which is +usually read with such breathless interest, and which +gratify the pride of the people and reflect glory on the +nation. It is not the object of Divine revelation to +furnish either brief annals or full details of wars and +other national events, except in so far as they have a +spiritual bearing—a bearing on the relation between +God and the people. From first to last the purpose of +the Bible is simply to unfold the dispensation of +grace,—God's progress in revelation of His method of +making an end of sin, and bringing in everlasting +righteousness.</p> + +<p>We shall briefly notice what is said regarding the +different undertakings.</p> + +<p>1. The first campaign was against the Philistines. +Not even their disastrous discomfiture near the plain +of Rephaim had taught submission to that restless<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> +people. On this occasion David carried the war into +their own country, and took some of their towns, +establishing garrisons there, as the Philistines had done +formerly in the land of Israel. There is some obscurity +in the words which describe one of his conquests. +According to the Authorised Version, "He took +Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines." +The Revised Version renders, "He took the bridle of the +mother city out of the hand of the Philistines." The +parallel passage in 1 Chron. xviii. 1 has it, "He took +Gath and her towns out of the hand of the Philistines." +This last rendering is quite plain; the other passage +must be explained in its light. Gath, the city of King +Achish, to which David had fled twice for refuge, now +fell into his hands. The loss of Gath must have been +a great humiliation to the Philistines; not even Samson +had ever inflicted on them such a blow. And the +policy that led David (it could hardly have been without +painful feelings) to possess himself of Gath turned +out successful; the aggressive spirit of the Philistines +was now fairly subdued, and Israel finally delivered +from the attacks of a neighbour that had kept them for +many generations in constant discomfort.</p> + +<p>2. His next campaign was against Moab. As David +himself had at one time taken refuge in Gath, so he had +committed his father and mother to the custody of the +king of Moab (1 Sam. xxii. 3, 4). Jewish writers have +a tradition that after a time the king put his parents to +death, and that this was the origin of the war which he +carried on against them. That David had received from +them some strong provocation, and deemed it necessary +to inflict a crushing blow for the security of that part +of his kingdom, it seems hardly possible to doubt. +Ingratitude was none of his failings, nor would he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> +who was so grateful to the men of Jabesh-gilead for +burying Saul and his sons have been severe on Moab +if Moab had acted the part of a true friend in caring +for his father and mother. When we read of the +severity practised on the army of Moab, we are +shocked. And yet it is recorded rather as a token of +forbearance than a mark of severity. How came it +that the Moabite army was so completely in David's +power? Usually, as we have seen, when an army +was defeated it was pursued by the victors, and in +the course of the flight a terrible slaughter ensued. +But the Moabite army had come into David's power +comparatively whole. This could only have been +through some successful piece of generalship, by which +David had shut them up in a position where resistance +was impossible. Many an Eastern conqueror would +have put the whole army to the sword; David with +a measuring line measured two-thirds for destruction +and a full third for preservation. Thus the Moabites +in the south-east were subdued as thoroughly as the +Philistines in the south-west, and brought tribute to +the conqueror, in token of their subjection. The +explanation of some commentators that it was not the +army, but the fortresses, of Moab that David dealt with +is too strained to be for a moment entertained. It +proceeds on a desire to make David superior to his age, +on unwillingness to believe, what, however, lies on the +very surface of the story, that in the main features of +his warlike policy he fell in with the maxims and +spirit of the time.</p> + +<p>3. The third of his campaigns was against Hadadezer, +the son of Rehob, king of Zobah. It is said in +the chapter before us that the encounter with this prince +took place "as he went to recover his border at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> +river Euphrates;" in the parallel passage of 1 Chronicles +it is "as he went to establish his dominion by the river +Euphrates." The natural interpretation is, that David +was on his way to establish his dominion by the river +Euphrates, when this Hadadezer came out to oppose +him. The terms of the covenant of God with Abraham +assigned to him the land "from the river of Egypt to +the great river, the river Euphrates" (Gen. xv. 18), and +when the territory was again defined to Joshua, its +boundary was "from the wilderness and this Lebanon +even unto the great river, the river Euphrates." Under +the provisions of this covenant, as made by Him whose +is the earth and the fulness thereof, David held himself +entitled to fix the boundary of his dominion by the +banks of the river. In what particular form he designed +to do this, we are not informed; but whatever +may have been his purpose, Hadadezer set himself to +defeat it. The encounter with Hadadezer could not +but have been serious to David, for his enemy had a +great force of military chariots and horsemen against +whom he could oppose no force of the same kind. Nevertheless, +David's victory was complete; and in dealing +with that very force in which he himself was utterly +deficient, he was quite triumphant; for he took from +his opponent a thousand and seven hundred horsemen, +as well as twenty thousand footmen. There must have +been some remarkable stroke of genius in this achievement, +for nothing is more apt to embarrass and baffle a +commonplace general than the presence of an opposing +force to which his army affords no counterpart.</p> + +<p>4. But though David had defeated Hadadezer, not +far, as we suppose, from the base of Mount Hermon, +his path to the Euphrates was by no means clear. +Another body of Syrians, the Syrians of Damascus,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +having come from that city to help Hadadezer, seem to +have been too late for this purpose, and to have encountered +David alone. This, too, was a very serious +enterprise for David; for though we are not informed +whether, like Hadadezer, they had arms which the king +of Israel could not match, it is certain that the army +of so rich and civilized a state as Syria of Damascus +would possess all the advantages that wealth and +experience could bestow. But in his battle with them, +David was again completely victorious. The slaughter +was very great—two-and-twenty thousand men. This +immense figure illustrates our remark a little while ago: +that the slaughter of defeated and retreating armies +was usually prodigious. So entire was the humiliation +of this proud and ancient kingdom, that "the Syrians +became servants to David, and brought presents," thus +acknowledging his suzerainty over them. Between the +precious things that were thus offered to King David +and the spoil which he took from captured cities, he +brought to Jerusalem an untold mass of wealth, which +he afterwards dedicated for the building of the Temple.</p> + +<p>5. In one case, the campaign was a peaceful one. +"When Toi, king of Hamath, heard that David had +smitten all the host of Hadadezer, then Toi sent Joram +his son unto King David to salute him and to bless +him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and had +smitten him, for Hadadezer had wars with Toi." The +kingdom of Toi lay in the valley between the two +parallel ranges of Lebanon and anti-Lebanon, and it +too was within the promised boundary, which extended +to "the entering in of Hamath." Accordingly, the son +of Toi brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of +gold, and vessels of brass; these also did King David +dedicate to the Lord. The fame of David as a warrior<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +was now such, at least in these northern regions, that +further resistance seemed out of the question. Submission +was the only course when the conqueror was +evidently supported by the might of Heaven.</p> + +<p>6. In the south, however, there seems to have been +more of a spirit of opposition. No particulars of the +campaign against the Edomites are given; but it is +stated that David put garrisons in Edom; "throughout +all Edom put he garrisons, and all the Edomites +became servants to David." The placing of garrisons +through all their country shows how obstinate these +Edomites were, and how certain to have returned to +fresh acts of hostility had they not been held in +restraint by these garrisons. From the introduction +to Psalm lx. it would appear that the insurrection of +Edom took place while David was in the north contending +with the two bodies of Syrians that opposed +him—the Syrians of Zobah and those of Damascus. +It would appear that Joab was detached from the +army in Syria in order that he might deal with the +Edomites. In the introduction to the Psalm, twelve +thousand of the Edomites are said to have fallen in +the Valley of Salt. In the passage now before us, +it is said that eighteen thousand Syrians fell in that +valley. The Valley of Salt is in the territory of +Edom. It may be that a detachment of Syrian troops +was sent to aid the Edomites, and that both sustained +a terrible slaughter. Or it may be that, as in Hebrew +the words for Syria and Edom are very similar (ארם and אדם), +the one word may by accident have been substituted for the other.</p> + +<p>7. Mention is also made of the Ammonites, the +Amalekites, and the Philistines as having been subdued +by David. Probably in the case of the Philistines and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> +the Amalekites the reference is to the previous campaign +already recorded, while the Ammonite campaign +may be the one of which we have the record afterwards. +But the reference to these campaigns is accompanied +with no particulars.</p> + +<p>Twice in the course of this chapter we read that +"the Lord gave David victory whithersoever he +went." It does not appear, however, that the victory +was always purchased with ease, or the situation of +David and his armies free from serious dangers. The +sixtieth Psalm, the title of which ascribes it to this +period, makes very plain allusion to a time of extraordinary +trouble and disaster in connection with one +of these campaigns. "O God, Thou hast cast us off; +Thou hast scattered us; Thou hast been displeased: oh +turn Thyself to us again." It is probable that when +David first encountered the Syrians he was put to +great straits, his difficulty being aggravated by his +distance from home and the want of suitable supplies. +If the Edomites, taking advantage of his difficulty, +chose the time to make an attack on the southern +border of the kingdom, and if the king was obliged +to diminish his own force by sending Joab against +Edom, with part of his men, his position must have +been trying indeed. But David did not let go his +trust in God; courage and confidence came to him by +prayer, and he was able to say, "Through God we +shall do valiantly; for He it is that shall tread down +all our enemies."</p> + +<p>The effect of these victories must have been very +striking. In the Song of the Bow, David had celebrated +the public services of Saul, who had "clothed the +daughters of Israel in scarlet, with other delights, who +had put on ornaments of gold on their apparel"; but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> +all that Saul had done for the kingdom was now +thrown into the shade by the achievements of David. +With all his bravery, Saul had never been able to +subdue his enemies, far less to extend the limits of +the kingdom. David accomplished both; and it is the +secret of the difference that is expressed in the words, +"The Lord gave victory to David whithersoever he +went." It is one of the great lessons of the Old +Testament that the godly man can and does perform +his duty better than any other man, because the Lord +is with him: that whether he be steward of a house, +or keeper of a prison, or ruler of a kingdom, like +Joseph; or a judge and lawgiver, like Moses; or a +warrior, like Samson, or Gideon, or Jephthah; or a +king, like David, or Jehoshaphat, or Josiah; or a prime +minister, like Daniel, his godliness helps him to do +his duty as no other man can do his. This is especially +a prominent lesson in the book of Psalms; it is inscribed +on its very portals; for the godly man, as +the very first Psalm tells us, "shall be like a tree +planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his +fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither, and +whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."</p> + +<p>In these warlike expeditions, King David foreshadowed +the spiritual conquests of the Son of David, +who went forth "conquering and to conquer," +staggered for a moment, as in Gethsemane, by the +rude shock of confederate enemies, but through prayer +regaining his confidence in God, and triumphing +in the hour and power of darkness. That noble +effusion of fire and feeling, the sixty-eighth Psalm, +seems to have been written in connection with these +wars. The soul of the Psalmist is stirred to its depths; +the majestic goings of Jehovah, recently witnessed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> +by the nation, have roused his most earnest feelings, +and he strains every nerve to produce a like feeling +in the people. The recent exploits of the king are +ranked with His doings when He marched before His +people through the wilderness, and Mount Sinai shook +before Him. Great delight is expressed in God's +having taken up His abode on His holy hill, in the +exaltation of His people in connection with that step, +and likewise in looking forward to the future and +anticipating the peaceful triumphs when "princes +should come out of Egypt, and Ethiopia stretch forth +her arms to God." Benevolent and missionary +longings mingle with the emotions of the conqueror +and the feelings of the patriot.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Sing unto the Lord, ye kingdoms of the earth;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Oh, sing praises unto the Lord,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">To Him that rideth upon the heaven of heavens that are of old.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Lo, He uttereth His voice, and that a mighty voice."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>It is interesting to see how in this extension of his +influence among heathen nations, the Psalmist began +to cherish and express these missionary longings, and +to call on the nations to sing praises unto the Lord. +It has been remarked that, in the ordinary course +of Providence, the Bible follows the sword, that the +seed of the Gospel falls into furrows that have been +prepared by war. Of this missionary spirit we find +many evidences in the Psalms. It was delightful +to the Psalmist to think of the spiritual blessings +that were to spread even beyond the limits of the +great empire that now owned the sway of the king +of Israel. Mount Zion was to become the birth-place +of the nations; from Egypt and Babylonia, from +Philistia, Tyre, and Ethiopia, additions were to be +made to her citizens (Ps. lxxxvii.). "The people shall<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +be gathered together, and the nations, to serve the +Lord" (Ps. cii. 22). "All the ends of the earth shall +remember and turn to the Lord, and all the kindreds +of the nations shall worship before Him" (Ps. xxii. +27). "All nations whom Thou hast made shall come +and worship before Thee, O Lord; and they shall +glorify Thy name" (Ps. lxxxvi. 9). "Make a joyful +noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Enter into His +gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with +praise" (Ps. c. 1, 4).</p> + +<p>Alas, the era of wars has not yet passed away. +Even Christian nations have been woefully slow to +apply the Christian precept, "Inasmuch as lieth +in you, live peaceably with all men." But let us +at least make an earnest endeavour that if there must +be war, its course may be followed up by the heralds +of mercy, and that wherever there may occur "the +battle of the warrior, and garments rolled in blood," +there also it may speedily be proclaimed, "Unto +us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the +government is on His shoulders: and His name +is called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, the +Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isa. ix. 6).</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.</a></h2> + +<h3><i>ADMINISTRATION OF THE KINGDOM.</i></h3> + +<h5>2 <span class="smcap">Samuel</span> viii. 15-18.</h5> + + +<p>If the records of David's warlike expeditions are brief, +still more so are the notices of his work of peace. +How he fulfilled his royal functions when there was no +war to draw him from home, and to engross the attention +both of the king and his officers of state, is told us +here in the very briefest terms, barely affording even +the outline of a picture. Yet it is certain that the +activity of David's character, his profound interest in +the welfare of his people, and his remarkable talent +for administration, led in this department to very conspicuous +and remarkable results. Some of the Psalms +afford glimpses both of the principles on which he acted, +and the results at which he aimed, that are fitted to be +of much use in filling up the bare skeleton now before +us. In this point of view, the subject may become +interesting and instructive, as undoubtedly it is highly +important. For we must remember that it was with +reference to the spirit in which he was to rule that David +was called the man after God's heart, and that he +formed such a contrast to his predecessor. And further +we are to bear in mind that in respect of the moral and +spiritual qualities of his reign David had for his Successor +the Lord Jesus Christ. "The Lord God will give<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> +unto Him the throne of His servant David," said the +angel Gabriel to Mary, "and He shall reign over the +house of Judah for ever, and of His kingdom there shall +be no end." It becomes us to make the most of what +is told us of the peaceful administration of David's +kingdom, in order to understand the grounds on which +our Lord is said to have occupied His throne.</p> + +<p>The first statement in the verses before us is comprehensive +and suggestive: "And David reigned over all +Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto +all his people." The first thing pointed out to us here is +the catholicity of his kingly government, embracing <i>all</i> +Israel, <i>all</i> people. He did not bestow his attention on +one favoured section of the people, to the neglect or +careless oversight of the rest. He did not, for example, +seek the prosperity of his own tribe, Judah, to the +neglect of the other eleven. In a word, there was no +favouritism in his reign. This is not to say that he +did not like some of his subjects better than the rest. +There is every reason to believe that he liked the tribe +of Judah best. But whatever preferences of this kind +he may have had—and he would not have been man if +he had had none—they did not limit or restrict his +royal interest; they did not prevent him from seeking +the welfare of every portion of the land, of every section +of the people. Just as, in the days when he was a +shepherd, there were probably some of his sheep and +lambs for which he had a special affection, yet that did +not prevent him from studying the welfare of the whole +flock and of every animal in it with most conscientious +care; so was it with his people. The least interesting +of them were sacred in his eyes. They were part of his +charge, and they were to be studied and cared for in +the same manner as the rest. In this he reflected that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> +universality of God's care on which we find the Psalmist +dwelling with such complacency: "The Lord is good +to all; and His tender mercies are over all His works. +The eyes of all wait upon Thee; and Thou givest them +their meat in due season. Thou openest Thine hand, +and satisfiest the desire of every living thing." And +may we not add that this quality of David's rule foreshadowed +the catholicity of Christ's kingdom and His +glorious readiness to bestow blessing on every side? +"Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy-laden, +and I will give you rest." "On the last, that great day +of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, If any man thirst, +let him come unto Me and drink." "Where there is +neither Jew nor Greek, circumcision nor uncircumcision, +bond nor free; but Christ is all and in all." "Ye are +all one in Christ Jesus."</p> + +<p>In the next place, we have much to learn from the +statement that the most prominent thing that David did +was to "execute judgment and justice to the people." +That was the solid foundation on which all his benefits +rested. And these words are not words of form or +words of course. For it is never said that Saul did +anything of the kind. There is nothing to show that +Saul was really interested in the welfare of the people, +or that he took any pains to secure that just and orderly +administration on which the prosperity of his kingdom +depended. And most certainly they are not words +that could have been used of the ordinary government +of Oriental kings. Tyranny, injustice, oppression, +robbery of the poor by the rich, government by +favourites more cruel and unprincipled than their +masters, imprisonments, fines, conspiracies, and assassinations, +were the usual features of Eastern government. +And to a great extent they are features of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> +government of Syria and other Eastern countries even +at the present day. It is in vivid contrast to all these +things that it is said, "David executed judgment and +justice." Perhaps there is no need for assigning a +separate meaning to each of these words; they may be +regarded as just a forcible combination to denote the +all-pervading justice which was the foundation of the +whole government. He was just in the laws which he +laid down, and just in the decisions which he gave. +He was inaccessible to bribes, proof against the influence +of the rich and powerful, and deaf in such +matters to every plea of expediency; he regarded +nothing but the scales of justice. What confidence and +comfort an administration of this kind brought may in +some measure be inferred from the extraordinary satisfaction +of many an Eastern people at this day when the +administration of justice is committed even to foreigners, +if their one aim will be to deal justly with all. On this +foundation, as on solid rock, a ruler may go on to +devise many things for the welfare of his people. But +apart from this any scheme of general improvement +which may be devised is sure to be a failure, and all +the money and wisdom and practical ability that may +be expended upon it will only share the fate of the +numberless cart-loads of solid material in the "Pilgrim's +Progress" that were cast into the Slough of Despond.</p> + +<p>This idea of equal justice to all, and especially to those +who had no helper, was a very beautiful one in David's +eyes. It gathered round it those bright and happy +features which in the seventy-second Psalm are associated +with the administration of another King. "Give +the king Thy judgments, O God, and Thy righteousness +to the king's son. He shall judge Thy people with +righteousness, and Thy poor with judgment." The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> +beauty of a just government is seen most clearly in its +treatment of the poor. It is the poor who suffer most +from unrighteous rulers. Their feebleness makes them +easier victims. Their poverty prevents them from +dealing in golden bribes. If they have little individually +wherewith to enrich the oppressor, their numbers +make up for the small share of each. Very beautiful, +therefore, is the government of the king who "shall +judge the poor of the people, who shall save the children +of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor." +The thought is one on which the Psalmist dwells with +great delight. "He shall deliver the needy when he +crieth, the poor also, and him that hath no helper. +He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the +souls of the needy. He shall redeem their soul from +deceit and violence, and precious shall their blood be +in his sight." So far from need and poverty repelling +him, they rather attract him. His interest and his +sympathy are moved by the cry of the destitute. He +would fain lighten the burdens that weigh them down +so heavily, and give them a better chance in the struggle +of life. He would do something to elevate their life +above the level of mere hewers of wood and drawers of +water. He recognises fully the brotherhood of man.</p> + +<p>And in all this we find the features of that higher +government of David's Son which shows so richly His +most gracious nature. The cry of sorrow and need, as +it rose from this dark world, did not repel, but rather +attracted, Him. Though the woes of man sprang from +his own misdeeds, He gave Himself to bear them and +carry their guilt away. All were in the lowest depths +of spiritual poverty, but for that reason His hand was +the more freely offered for their help. The one condition +on which that help was given was, that they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> +should own their poverty, and acknowledge Him as their +Benefactor, and accept all as a free gift at His hands.</p> + +<p>But more than that, the condition of the poor in the +natural sense was very interesting to Jesus. It was +with that class He threw in His lot. It was among +them He lived; it was their sorrows and trials He knew +by personal experience; it was their welfare for which +He laboured most. Always accessible to every class, +most respectful to the rich, and ever ready to bestow +His blessings wherever they were prized, yet it was +true of Christ that "He spared the poor and needy +and saved the souls of the needy." And in a temporal +point of view, one of the most striking effects +of Christ's religion is, that it has so benefited, and +tends still more to benefit, the poor. Slavery and +tyranny are among its most detested things. Regard +for man as man is one of its highest principles. It +detects the spark of Divinity in every human soul, +grievously overlaid with the scum and filth of the +world; and it seeks to cleanse and brighten it, till it +shine forth in clear and heavenly lustre. It is a most +Christian thought that the gems in the kingdom of God +are not to be found merely where respectability and +culture disguise the true spiritual condition of humanity, +but even among those who outwardly are lost and disreputable. +Not the least honourable of the reproachful +terms applied to Jesus was—"the Friend of publicans +and sinners."</p> + +<p>We are not to think of David, however, as being +satisfied if he merely secured justice to the poor and +succeeded in lightening their yoke. His ulterior aim +was to fill his kingdom with active, useful, honourable +citizens. This is plain from the beautiful language of +some of the Psalms. Both for old and young, he had a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> +beautiful ideal. "The righteous shall flourish as the +palm tree; he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those +that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish +in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth +fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing" (Ps. +xcii. 12-14). And so for the young his desire was—"That +our sons may be as plants, grown up in their +youth; that our daughters may be as corner-stones, +polished after the similitude of a palace." Moral +beauty, and especially the beauty of active and useful +lives, was the great object of his desire. Can anything +be better or more enlightened as a royal policy than +that which we thus see to have been David's—in the +first place, a policy of universal justice; in the second +place, of special regard for those who on the one hand +are most liable to oppression and on the other are +most in need of help and encouragement; and in the +third place, a policy whose aim is to promote excellence +of character, and to foster in the young those +graces and virtues which wear longest, which preserve +the freshness and enjoyment of life to the end, and +which crown their possessors, even in old age, with +the respect and the affection of all?</p> + +<p>The remaining notices of David's administration in +the passage before us are simply to the effect that the +government consisted of various departments, and that +each department had an officer at its head.</p> + +<p>1. There was the military department, at the head +of which was Joab, or rather he was over "the host"—the +great muster of the people for military purposes. A +more select body, "the Cherethites and the Pelethites," +seems to have formed a bodyguard for the king, or a +band of household troops, and was under a separate +commander. The troops forming "the host" were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> +divided into twelve courses of twenty-four thousand each, +regularly officered, and for one month of the year the +officers of one of the courses, and probably the people, +or some of them, attended on the king at Jerusalem +(1 Chron. xxvii. 1). Of the most distinguished of his +soldiers who excelled in feats of personal valour, David +seems to have formed a legion of honour, conspicuous +among whom were the thirty honourable, and the +three who excelled in honour (2 Sam. xxiii. 28). It +is certain that whatever extra power could be given +by careful organization to the fighting force of the +country, the army of Israel under David possessed it in +the fullest degree.</p> + +<p>2. There was the civil department, at the head of +which were Jehoshaphat the recorder and Seraiah the +scribe or secretary. While these were in attendance +on David at Jerusalem, they did not supersede the +ordinary home rule of the tribes of Israel. Each tribe +had still its prince or ruler, and continued, under a +general superintendence from the king, to conduct its +local affairs (1 Chron. xxvii. 16-22). The supreme +council of the nation continued to assemble on occasions +of great national importance (1 Chron. xxviii. 1), and +though its influence could not have been so great as it +was before the institution of royalty, it continued an +integral element of the constitution, and in the time +of Rehoboam, through its influence and organization +(1 Kings xii. 3, 16), the kingdom of the ten tribes was +set up, almost without a struggle (1 Chron. xxiii. 4). +This home-rule system, besides interesting the people +greatly in the prosperity of the country, was a great +check against the abuse of the royal authority; and it +is a proof that the confidence of Rehoboam in the +stability of his government, confirmed perhaps by a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> +superstitious view of that promise to David, must have +been an absolute infatuation, the product of utter inexperience +on his part, and of the most foolish counsel +ever tendered by professional advisers.</p> + +<p>3. Ecclesiastical administration. The capture of Jerusalem +and its erection into the capital of the kingdom +made a great change in ecclesiastical arrangements. +For some time before it would have been hard to tell +where the ecclesiastical capital was to be found. Shiloh +had been stripped of its glory when Ichabod received his +name, and the Philistine armies destroyed the place. +Nob had shared a similar fate at the hands of Saul. +The old tabernacle erected by Moses in the wilderness +was at Gibeon (1 Chron. xxi. 29), and remained there +even after the removal of the ark to Zion (1 Kings iii. 4). +At Hebron, too, there must have been a shrine while +David reigned there. But from the time when David +brought up the ark to Jerusalem, that city became the +greatest centre of the national worship. There the +services enjoined by the law of Moses were celebrated; +it became the scene of the great festivals of Passover, +Pentecost, and Tabernacles.</p> + +<p>We are told that the heads of the ecclesiastical +department were Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech +the son of Abiathar. These represented the elder +and the younger branches of the priesthood. Zadok +was the lineal descendant of Eleazar, Aaron's son +(1 Chron. vi. 12), and was therefore the constitutional +successor to the high-priesthood. Ahimelech the son +of Abiathar represented the family of Eli, who seems to +have been raised to the high-priesthood out of order, +perhaps in consequence of the illness or incompetence +of the legitimate high-priest. It is of some interest to +note the fact that under David two men were at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> +head of the priesthood, much as it was in the days of +our Lord, when Annas and Caiaphas are each called +the high-priest. The ordinary priests were divided +into four-and-twenty courses, and each course served +in its turn for a limited period, an arrangement which +still prevailed in the days of Zacharias, the father of +John the Baptist. A systematic arrangement of the +Levites was likewise made; some were allocated to the +service of the Temple, some were porters, some were +singers, and some were officers and judges. Of the +six thousand who filled the last-named office, "chief +fathers" as they were called, nearly a half were allocated +among the tribes east of the Jordan, as being far from +the centre, and more in need of oversight. It is probable +that this large body of Levites were not limited +to strictly judicial duties, but that they performed important +functions in other respects, perhaps as teachers, +physicians, and registrars. It is not said that Samuel's +schools of the prophets received any special attention, +but the deep interest that David must have taken in +Samuel's work, and his early acquaintance with its +effects, leave little room to doubt that these institutions +were carefully fostered, and owed to David some share +of the vitality which they continued to exhibit in the +days of Elijah and Elisha. It is very probable that +the prophets Gad and Nathan were connected with +these institutions.</p> + +<p>It is scarcely possible to say how far these careful +ecclesiastical arrangements were instrumental in fostering +the spirit of genuine piety. But there is too much +reason to fear that even in David's time that element +was very deficient. The bursts of religious enthusiasm +that occasionally rolled over the country were no +sure indications of piety in a people easily roused to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> +temporary gushes of feeling, but deficient in stability. +There often breathes in David's psalms a sense of +loneliness, a feeling of his being a stranger on the +earth, that seems to show that he wanted congenial +company, that the atmosphere was not of the godly +quality he must have wished. The bloody Joab was +his chief general, and at a subsequent period the +godless Ahithophel was his chief counsellor. It is +even probable that the intense piety of David brought +him many secret enemies. The world has no favour +for men, be they kings or priests, that repudiate all +compromise in religion, and insist on God being regarded +with supreme and absolute honour. Where +religion interferes with their natural inclinations and +lays them under inviolable obligations to have regard +to the will of God, they rebel in their hearts against it, +and they hate those who consistently uphold its claims. +The nation of Israel appears to have been pervaded by +an undercurrent of dislike to the eminent holiness of +David, which, though kept in check by his distinguished +services and successes, at last burst out with terrific +violence in the rebellion of Absalom. That villainous +movement would not have had the vast support it +received, especially in Jerusalem, if even the people of +Judah had been saturated with the spirit of genuine +piety. We cannot think much of the piety of a people +that rose up against the sweet singer of Israel and the +great benefactor of the nation, and that seemed to +anticipate the cry, "Not this man, but Barabbas."</p> + +<p>The systematic administration of his kingdom by +King David was the fruit of a remarkable faculty of +orderly arrangement that belonged to most of the +great men of Israel. We see it in Abraham, in his +prompt and successful marshalling of his servants to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> +pursue and attack the kings of the East when they +carried off Lot; we see it in Joseph, first collecting and +then distributing the stores of food in Egypt; in Moses, +conducting that marvellous host in order and safety +through the wilderness; and, in later times, in Ezra +and Nehemiah, reducing the chaos which they found at +Jerusalem to a state of order and prosperity which +seemed to verify the vision of the dry bones. We see +it in the Son of David, in the orderly way in which all +His arrangements were made: the sending forth of the +twelve Apostles and the seventy disciples, the arranging +of the multitude when He fed the five thousand, and +the careful gathering up of the fragments "that nothing +be lost." In the spiritual kingdom, a corresponding +order is demanded, and times of peace and rest in the +Church are times when this development is specially to +be studied. Spiritual order, spiritual harmony: God +in His own place, and self, with all its powers and +interests, as well as our brethren, our neighbours, and +the world, all in their's—this is the great requisite in +the individual heart. The development of this holy +order in the <i>individual</i> soul; the development of <i>family</i> +graces, the due Christian ordering of homes; the +development of <i>public</i> graces—patriotism, freedom, +godliness, in the State, and in the Church of the spirit +that seeks the instruction of the ignorant, the recovery +of the erring, the comforting of the wretched, and the +advancement everywhere of the cause of Christ—in +a word, the increase of spiritual wealth—these very +specially are objects to which in all times, but especially +in quiet times, all hearts and energies should be turned. +What can be more honourable, what can be more +blessed, than to help in advancing these? More life, +more grace, more prayer, more progress, more missionary<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> +ardour, more self-denying love, more spiritual +beauty—what higher objects can the Christian minister +aim at? And how better can the Christian king or +the Christian statesman fulfil and honour his office than +by using his influence, so far as he legitimately may, +in furthering the virtues and habits characteristic of +men that fear God while they honour the king?</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.</a></h2> + +<h3><i>DAVID AND MEPHIBOSHETH.</i></h3> + +<h5>2 <span class="smcap">Samuel</span> ix.</h5> + + +<p>The busy life which King David was now leading +did not prevent memory from occasionally running +back to his early days and bringing before him +the friends of his youth. Among these remembrances +of the past, his friendship and his covenant with +Jonathan were sure to hold a conspicuous place. On +one of these occasions the thought occurred to him +that possibly some descendant of Jonathan might still +be living. He had been so completely severed from +his friend during the last years of his life, and the unfortunate +attempt on the part of Ishbosheth had made +personal intercourse so much more difficult, that he +seems not to have been aware of the exact state of +Jonathan's family. It is evident that the survival of any +descendant of his friend was not publicly known, and +probably the friends of the youth who was discovered +had thought it best to keep his existence quiet, being +of those who would give David no credit for higher +principles than were current between rival dynasties. +Even Michal, Jonathan's sister, does not seem to have +known that a son of his survived. It became necessary, +therefore, to make a public inquiry of his officers and +attendants. "Is there yet any that is left of the house<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> +of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's +sake?" It was not essential that he should be a child +of Jonathan's; any descendant of Saul's would have +been taken for Jonathan's sake.</p> + +<p>It is a proof that the bloody wars in which he had +been engaged had not destroyed the tenderness of his +heart, that the very chapter which follows the account +of his battles opens with a yearning of affection—a +longing for an outlet to feelings of kindness. It is +instructive, too, to find the proof of love to his neighbour +succeeding the remarkable evidence of supreme regard +to the honour of God recently given in the proposal +to build a temple. This period of David's life was its +golden era, and it is difficult to understand how the +man that was so remarkable at this time for his regard +for God and his interest in his neighbour should soon +afterwards have been betrayed into a course of conduct +that showed him most grievously forgetful of both.</p> + +<p>This proceeding of David's in making inquiry for +a fit object of beneficence may afford us a lesson as +to the true course of enlightened kindness. Doubtless +David had numberless persons applying for a share +of his bounty; yet he makes inquiry for a new channel +in which it may flow. The most clamorous persons are +seldom the most deserving, and if a bountiful man +simply recognises, however generously, even the best +of the cases that press themselves on his notice, he +will not be satisfied with the result; he will feel that +his bounty has rather been frittered away on miscellaneous +undertakings, than that it has achieved any +solid and satisfying result. It is easy for a rich man +to fling a pittance to some wretched-looking creature +that whines out a tale of horror in his ear; but this +may be done only to relieve his own feelings, and harm<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> +instead of good may be the result. Enlightened +benevolence aims at something higher than the mere +relief of passing distress. Benevolent men ought not +to lie at the mercy either of the poor who ask their +charity, or of the philanthropic Christians who appeal +for support to their schemes. Pains must be taken +to find out the deserving, to find out those who have +the strongest claim. Even the open-handed, whose +purse is always at hand, and who are ready for every +good work, may be neglecting some case or class of +cases which have far stronger claims on them than +those which are so assiduously pressed on their notice.</p> + +<p>And hence we may see that it is right and fitting, +especially in those to whom Providence has given +much, to cast over in their minds, from time to time, +the state of their obligations, and think whether +among old friends, or poor relations, or faithful but +needy servants of God, there may not be some who +have a claim on their bounty. There are other debts +besides money debts it becomes you to look after. In +youth, perhaps, you received much kindness from +friends and relatives which at the time you could not +repay; but now the tables are turned; you are prosperous, +they or their families are needy. And these +cases are apt to slip out of mind. It is not always +hard-heartedness that makes the prosperous forget the +less fortunate; it is often utter thoughtlessness. It is +the neglect of that rule which has such a powerful +though silent effect when it is carried out—Put yourself +in their place. Imagine how you would feel, strained +and worried to sleeplessness through narrow means, +and seeing old friends rolling in wealth, who might, +with little or no inconvenience, lighten the burden that +is crushing you so painfully. It is a strange thing that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> +this counsel should be more needed by the rich than +by the poor. Thoughtlessness regarding his neighbours +is not a poor man's vice. The empty house is +remembered, even though it costs a sacrifice to send +it a little of his own scanty supplies. Few men are +so hardened as not to feel the obligation to show +kindness when that obligation is brought before them. +What we urge is, that no one should lie at the mercy +of others for bringing his obligations before him. Let +him think for himself; and especially let him cast his +eye round his own horizon, and consider whether +there be not some representatives of old friends or +old relations to whom kindness ought to be shown.</p> + +<p>To return to the narrative. The history of +Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, had been a sad one. +When Israel was defeated by the Philistines on Mount +Gilboa, and Saul and Jonathan were slain, he was but +an infant; and his nurse, terror-stricken at the news +of the disaster, in her haste to escape had let him fall, +and caused an injury which made him lame for life. +What the manner of his upbringing was, we are not +told. When David found him, he was living with +Machir, the son of Ammiel, of Lo-debar, on the other +side of the Jordan, in the same region where his +uncle Ishbosheth had tried to set up his kingdom. +Mephibosheth became known to David through Ziba, +a servant of Saul's, a man of more substance than +principle, as his conduct showed at a later period +of his life. Ziba, we are told, had fifteen sons and +twenty servants. He seems to have contrived to make +himself comfortable notwithstanding the wreck of his +master's fortunes, more comfortable than Mephibosheth, +who was living in another man's house.</p> + +<p>There seems to have been a surmise among David's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> +people that this Ziba could tell something of Jonathan's +family; but evidently he was not very ready +to do so; for it was only to David himself that when +sent for he gave the information, and that after David +had emphatically stated his motive—not to do harm, +but to show kindness for Jonathan's sake. The +existence of Mephibosheth being thus made known, +he is sent for and brought into David's presence. And +we cannot but be sorry for him when we mark his +abject bearing in the presence of the king. When he +was come unto David, "he fell on his face and did +reverence." And when David explained his intentions, +"he bowed himself and said, What is thy servant, that +thou shouldest look on such a dead dog as I am?" +Naturally of a timid nature, and weakened in nerve +by the accident of his infancy, he must have grown +up under great disadvantages. His lameness excluded +him from sharing in any youthful game or manly +exercise, and therefore threw him into the company +of the women who, like him, tarried at home. What he +had heard of David had not come through a friendly +channel, had come through the partisans of Saul, +and was not likely to be very favourable. He was too +young to remember the generous conduct of David +in reference to his father and grandfather; and those +who were about him probably did not care to say much +about it.</p> + +<p>Accustomed to think that his wisest course was to +conceal from David his very existence, and looking on +him with the dread with which the family of former +kings regarded the reigning monarch, he must have +come into his presence with a strange mixture of +feeling. He had a profound sense of the greatness +which David had achieved and the honour implied in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> +his countenance and fellowship. But there was no +need for his humbling himself so low. There was no +need for his calling himself a dog, a dead dog,—the +most humiliating image it was possible to find. We +should have thought him more worthy of his father if, +recognizing the high position which David had attained +by the grace of God, he had gracefully thanked him for +the regard shown to his father's memory, and shown +more of the self-respect which was due to Jonathan's +son. In his subsequent conduct, in the days of David's +calamity, Mephibosheth gave evidence of the same +disinterested spirit which had shone so beautifully in +Jonathan, but his noble qualities were like a light +twinkling among ruins or a jewel glistening in a wreck.</p> + +<p>This shattered condition both of mind and body, +however, commended him all the more to the friendly +regard of David. Had he shown himself a high-minded, +ambitious youth, David might have been embarrassed +how to act towards him. Finding him modest and +respectful, he had no difficulty in the case. The kindness +which he showed him was twofold. In the first +place, he restored to him all the land that had belonged +to his grandfather; and in the second place, he made +him an inmate of his own house, with a place at his +table, the same as if he had been one of his own sons. +And that he might not be embarrassed with having +the land to care for, he committed the charge of it to +Ziba, who was to bring to Mephibosheth the produce +or its value.</p> + +<p>Every arrangement was thus made that could conduce +to his comfort His being a cripple did not +deprive him of the honour of a place at the royal table, +little though he could contribute to the lustre of the +palace. For David bestowed his favours not on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> +principle of trying to reflect lustre on himself or his +house, but on the principle of doing good to those who +had a claim on his consideration. The lameness and +consequent awkwardness, that would have made many +a king ashamed of such an inmate of his palace only +recommended him the more to David. Regard for +outward appearances was swallowed up by a higher +regard—regard for what was right and true.</p> + +<p>It might be thought by some that such an incident +as this was hardly worthy of a place in the sacred +record; but the truth is, that David seldom showed +more of the true spirit of God than he did on this +occasion. The feeling that led him to seek out any +stray member of the house in order to show kindness +to him was the counterpart of that feeling that has led +God from the very beginning to seek the children of +men, and that led Jesus to seek and to save that which +was lost. For that is truly the attitude in which God +has ever placed Himself towards our fallen race. The +sight to be seen in this world has not been that of men +seeking after God, but that of God seeking after men. +All day long He has been stretching forth His hands, +and inviting the children of men to taste and see that +He is gracious. If we ask for the principle that unifies +all parts of the Bible, it is this gracious attitude of God +towards those who have forfeited His favour. The +Bible presents to us the sight of God's Spirit striving +with men, persevering in the thankless work long +after He has been resisted, and ceasing only when all +hope of success through further pleading is gone.</p> + +<p>There were times when this process was prosecuted +with more than common ardour; and at last there came +a time when the Divine pleadings reached a climax, and +God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> +to the fathers by the prophets, spake to them at last by +His own Son. And what was the life of Jesus Christ +but a constant appeal to men, in God's name, to accept +the kindness which God was eager to show them? +Was not His invitation to all that laboured and were +heavy laden, "Come unto Me, and I will give you rest"? +Did He not represent the Father as a householder, +making a marriage feast for his son, sending forth his +servants to bid the guests to the wedding, and when +the natural guests refused, bidding them go to the highways +and the hedges, and fetch the lame and the blind +and any outcast they could find, because he longed to +see guests of some kind enjoying the good things he +had provided? The great crime of the ancient Jews +was rejecting Him who had come in the name of the +Lord to bless them. Their crowning condemnation +was, not that they had failed to keep the Ten Commandments, +though that was true; not that they had +spent their lives in pleasing themselves instead of +pleasing God, though that also was true; but that they +had rejected God's unspeakable gift, and requited the +Eternal Son, when He came from heaven to bless them, +with the cursed death of the cross. But even after they +had committed that act of unprecedented wickedness, +God's face would not be wholly turned away from them. +The very attitude in which Jesus died, with His hands +outstretched on the tree, would still represent the attitude +of the Divine heart towards the very murderers of His +Son. "I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men toward +Me." "Unto you first, God, having raised up His Son +Jesus, hath sent Him to bless you, in turning away +every one of you from his iniquities." "Repent ye, +therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be +blotted out."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span></p> + +<p>Here, my friends, is the most glorious feature of +the Christian religion. Happy those of you who have +apprehended this attitude of your most gracious Father, +who have believed in His love, and who have accepted +His grace! For not only has God received you back +into His family, and given you a name and a place in +His temple better than that of sons and daughters, but +He has restored to you your lost inheritance. "If +children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with +Jesus Christ." Nay, more, He has not only restored to +you your lost inheritance, but He has conferred on you +an inheritance more glorious than that of which sin +deprived you. "Blessed be the God and Father of our +Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant +mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope through +the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an +inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth +not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by +the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready +to be revealed in the last day."</p> + +<p>But if the grace of God in thus stretching out His +hands to sinful men and offering them all the blessings +of salvation is very wonderful, it makes the case of +those all the more terrible, all the more hopeless, who +treat His invitations with indifference, and turn their +backs on an inheritance the glory of which they do not +see. How men should be so infatuated as to do this it +were hard to understand, if we had not ample evidence +of it in the godless tendencies of our natural hearts. +Still more mysterious is it to understand how God +should fail to carry His point in the case of those to +whom He stretches out His hands. But of all considerations +there is none more fitted to astonish and +alarm the careless than that they are capable of refusing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> +all the appeals of Divine love, and rejecting all the +bounty of Divine grace. If this be persevered in, what +a rude awakening you will have in the world to come, +when in all the bitterness of remorse you will think +on the glories that were once within your reach, but +with which you trifled when you had the chance! +How foolish would Mephibosheth have been if he had +disbelieved in David's kindness and rejected his offer! +But David was sincere, and Mephibosheth believed in +his sincerity. May we not, must we not, believe that +God is sincere? If a purpose of kindness could arise +in a human heart, how much more in the Divine heart, +how much more in the heart of Him the very essence +of whose nature is conveyed to us in the words of the +beloved disciple—"God is love"!</p> + +<p>There is yet another application to be made of this +passage in David's history. We have seen how it +exemplifies the duty incumbent on us all to consider +whether kindness is not due from us to the friends or +the relatives of those who have been helpful to ourselves. +This remark is not applicable merely to temporal +obligations, but also, and indeed emphatically, to +spiritual. We should consider ourselves in debt to +those who have conferred spiritual benefits upon us. +Should a descendant of Luther or Calvin, of Latimer +or Cranmer or Knox, appear among us in need of +kindness, what true Protestant would not feel that for +what he owed to the fathers it was his duty to show +kindness to the children? But farther back even than +this was a race of men to whom the Christian world +lies under still deeper obligations. It was the race +of David himself, to which had belonged "Moses and +Aaron among His priests, Samuel with them that called +on His name," and, in after-times, Isaiah and Jeremiah,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> +Ezekiel and Daniel; Peter, and James, and John, and +Paul; and, outshining them all, like the sun of heaven, +Jesus of Nazareth, the Saviour of men. With what +models of lofty piety has that race furnished every +succeeding generation! From the study of their holy +lives, their soaring faith, their burning zeal, what +blessing has been derived in the past, and what an +impulse will yet go forth to the very end of time! No +wonder though the Apostle had great sorrow and continual +heaviness in his heart when he thought of the +faithless state of the people, "to whom pertaineth the +adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the +giving of the law, and the service of God"! Yet none +are more in need of your friendly remembrance at this +day than the descendants of these men. It becomes +you to ask, "Is there yet any that is left of their house +to whom we may show kindness for Jesus' sake?" For +God has not finally cast them off, and Jesus has not +ceased to care for those who were His brethren according +to the flesh. If there were no other motive to +induce us to seek the good of the Jews, this consideration +should surely prevail. Ill did the world requite +its obligation during the long ages when all manner of +contumely and injustice was heaped upon the Hebrew +race, as if Jesus had never prayed, "Father, forgive +them; they know not what they do." Their treatment +by the Gentiles has been so harsh that, even when +better feelings prevail, they are slow, like Mephibosheth,—to +believe that we mean them well. They may have +done much to repel our kindness, and they may appear +to be hopelessly encrusted with unbelief in Him whom +we present as the Saviour. But charity never faileth; +and in reference to them as to other objects of philanthropic +effort, the exhortation holds good, "Let us not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> +be weary in well-doing; for in due season we shall +reap if we faint not."</p> + +<p>Such kindness to those who are in need is not only +a duty of religion, but tends greatly to commend it. +Neglect of those who have claims on us, while objects +more directly religious are eagerly prosecuted, is not +pleasing to God, whether the neglect take place in our +lives or in the destination of our substance at death. +"Give, and it shall be given unto you: good measure, +pressed down and shaken together and running over, +shall men give into your bosom. For with the same +measure that ye mete withal, it shall be measured to +you again."</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</a></h2> + +<h3><i>DAVID AND HANUN.</i></h3> + +<h5>2 <span class="smcap">Samuel</span> x.</h5> + + +<p>Powerful though David had proved himself in +every direction in the art of war, his heart was +inclined to peace. A king who had been victorious +over so many foes had no occasion to be afraid of a +people like the Ammonites. It could not have been +from fear therefore that, when Nahash the king of the +Ammonites died, David resolved to send a friendly +message to his son. Not the least doubt can be thrown +on the statement of the history that what moved him +to do this was a grateful remembrance of the kindness +which he had at one time received from the late king. +The position which he had gained as a warrior would +naturally have made Hanun more afraid of David than +David could be of Hanun. The king of Israel could +not have failed to know this, and it might naturally +occur to him that it would be a kindly act to the young +king of Ammon to send him a message that showed +that he might thoroughly rely on his friendly intentions. +The message to Hanun was another emanation of a +kindly heart. If there was anything of policy in it, +it was the policy of one who felt that so many things +are continually occurring to set nations against one +another as to make it most desirable to improve every +opportunity of drawing them closer together.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span></p> + +<p>It is a happy thing for any country when its rulers +and men of influence are ever on the watch for opportunities +to strengthen the spirit of friendship. It is a +happy thing in the Church when the leaders of different +sections are more disposed to measures that conciliate +and heal than to measures that alienate and divide. +In family life, and wherever men of different views and +different tempers meet, this peace-loving spirit is of +great price. Men that like fighting, and that are +ever disposed to taunt, to irritate, to divide, are the +nuisances of society. Men that deal in the soft answer, +in the message of kindness, and in the prayer of love, +deserve the respect and gratitude of all.</p> + +<p>It is a remarkable thing that, of all the nations that +were settled in the neighbourhood of the Israelites, the +only one that seemed desirous to live on friendly terms +with them was that of Tyre. Even those who were +related to them by blood,—Edomites, Midianites, +Moabites, Ammonites,—were never cordial, and often at +open hostility. Though their rights had been carefully +respected by the Israelites on their march from Sinai +to Palestine, no feeling of cordial friendship was +established with any of them. None of them were +impressed even so much as Balaam had been, when +in language so beautiful he blessed the people whom +God had blessed. None of them threw in their lot +with Israel, in recognition of their exalted spiritual +privileges, as Hobab and his people had done near +Mount Sinai. Individuals, like Ruth the Moabitess, +had learned to recognise the claims of Israel's God and +the privileges of the covenant, but no entire nation had +ever shown even an inclination to such a course. These +neighbouring nations continued therefore to be fitting +symbols of that world-power which has so generally<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> +been found in antagonism to the people of God. Israel +while they continued faithful to God were like the lily +among thorns; and Israel's king, like Him whom he +typified, was called to rule in the midst of his enemies. +The friendship of the surrounding world cannot be the +ordinary lot of the faithful servant, otherwise the Apostle +would not have struck such a loud note of warning. +"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the +friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever, +therefore, would be the friend of the world is the +enemy of God."</p> + +<p>Between the Ammonites and the Israelites collisions +had occurred on two former occasions, on both of +which the Ammonites appear to have been the +aggressors. The former of these was in the days +of Jephthah. The defeat of the Ammonites at that +time was very thorough, and probably unexpected, and, +like other defeats of the same kind, it no doubt left +feelings of bitter hatred rankling in the breasts of +the defeated party. The second was the collision at +Jabesh-gilead at the beginning of the reign of Saul. +The king of the Ammonites showed great ferocity and +cruelty on that occasion. When the men of Jabesh, +brought to bay, begged terms of peace, the bitter +answer was returned that it would be granted only on +condition that every man's right eye should be put out. +It was then that Saul showed such courage and +promptitude. In the briefest space he was at Jabesh-gilead +in defence of his people, and by his successful +tactics inflicted on the Ammonites a terrible defeat, +killing a great multitude and scattering the remainder, +so that not any two of them were left together. Men +do not like to have a prize plucked from their hands +when they are on the eve of enjoying it. After such<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> +a defeat, Nahash could not have very friendly feelings +to Saul. And when Saul proclaimed David his enemy, +Nahash would naturally incline to David's side. There +is no record of the occasion on which he showed +kindness to him, but in all likelihood it was at the +time when he was in the wilderness, hiding from Saul. +If, when David was near the head of the Dead Sea, and +therefore not very far from the land of the Ammonites, +or from places where they had influence, Nahash sent +him any supplies for his men, the gift would be very +opportune, and there could be no reason why David +should not accept of it. Anyhow, the act of kindness, +whatever it was, made a strong impression on his +heart. It was long, long ago when it happened, but +love has a long memory, and the remembrance of it +was still pleasant to David. And now the king of +Israel purposes to repay to the son the debt he had +incurred to the father. Up to this point it is a pretty +picture; and it is a great disappointment when we +find the transaction miscarry, and a negotiation which +began in all the warmth and sincerity of friendship +terminate in the wild work of war.</p> + +<p>The fault of this miscarriage, however, was glaringly +on the other side. Hanun was a young king, and it +would only have been in accordance with the frank +and unsuspecting spirit of youth had he received +David's communication with cordial pleasure, and +returned to it an answer in the same spirit in which +it was sent. But his counsellors were of another mind. +They persuaded their master that the pretext of +comforting him on the death of his father was a hollow +one, and that David desired nothing but to spy out the +city and the country, with a view to bring them under +his dominion. It is hard to suppose that they really<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> +believed this. It was they, not David, that wished a +pretext for going to war. And having got something +that by evil ingenuity might be perverted to this +purpose, they determined to treat it so that it should +be impossible for David to avoid the conflict. Hanun +appears to have been a weak prince, and to have +yielded to their counsels. Our difficulty is to understand +how sane men could have acted in such a way. +The determination to provoke war, and the insolence +of their way of doing it, appear so like the freaks +of a madman, that we cannot comprehend how +reasonable men should in cold blood have even +dreamt of such proceedings. Perhaps at this early +period they had an understanding with those Syrians +that afterwards came to their aid, and thought that on +the strength of this they could afford to be insolent. +The combined force which they could bring into the +field would be such as to make even David tremble.</p> + +<p>It is hardly necessary to say a word to bring out the +outrageous character of their conduct. First, there +was the repulse of David's kindness. It was not even +declined with civility; it was repelled with scorn. It is +always a serious thing to reject overtures of kindness. +Even the friendly salutations of dumb animals are entitled +to a friendly return, and the man that returns the +caresses of his dog with a kick and a curse is a greater +brute than the animal that he treats so unworthily. +Kindness is too rare a gem to be trampled under foot. +Even though it should be mistaken kindness, though +the form it takes should prove an embarrassment +rather than a help, a good man will appreciate the +motive that prompted it, and will be careful not to hurt +the feelings of those who, though they have blundered, +meant him well. None are more liable to make mistakes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> +than young children in their little efforts to +please; meaning to be kind, they sometimes only give +trouble. The parent that gives way to irritation, and +meets this with a volley of scolding, deals cruelly with +the best and tenderest part of the child's nature. +There are few things more deserving to be attended to +through life than the habit not only of appreciating little +kindnesses, but showing that you appreciate them. +How much more sweetly might the current run in +social life if this were universally attended to!</p> + +<p>But Hanun not only repelled David's kindness, but +charged him with meanness, and virtually flung in his +face a challenge to war. To represent his apparent +kindness as a mean cover of a hostile purpose was an +act which Hanun might think little of, but which was +fitted to wound David to the quick. Unscrupulous +natures have a great advantage over others in the +charges they may bring. In a street collision a man +in dirty clothing is much more powerful for mischief +than one in clean raiment. Rough, unscrupulous men +are restrained by no delicacy from bringing atrocious +charges against those to whom these charges are +supremely odious. They have little sense of the sin of +them, and they toss them about without scruple. Such +poisoned arrows inflict great pain, not because the +charges are just, but because it is horrible to refined +natures even to hear them. There are two things that +make some men very sensitive—the refinement of +grace, and the refinement of the spirit of courtesy. +The refinement of grace makes all sin odious, and +makes a charge of gross sin very serious. The refinement +of courtesy creates great regard to the feelings of +others, and a strong desire not to wound them unnecessarily. +In circles where real courtesy prevails, accusations<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> +against others are commonly couched in very +gentle language. Rough natures ridicule this spirit, +and pride themselves on their honesty in calling a +spade a spade. Evidently Hanun belonged to the +rough, unscrupulous school. Either he did not know +how it would make David writhe to be accused of the +alleged meanness, or, if he did know, he enjoyed the +spectacle. It gratified his insolent nature to see the +pious king of Israel posing before all the people of +Ammon as a sneak and a liar, and to hear the laugh of +scorn and hatred resounding on every side.</p> + +<p>To these offences Hanun added yet another—scornful +treatment of David's ambassadors. In the eyes of +all civilized nations the persons of ambassadors were +held sacred, and any affront or injury to them was +counted an odious crime. Very often men of eminent +position, venerable age, and unblemished character +were chosen for this function, and it is quite likely that +David's ambassadors to Hanun were of this class. +When therefore these men were treated with contumely—half +their beards, which were in a manner +sacred, shorn away, their garments mutilated, and their +persons exposed—no grosser insult could have been inflicted. +When the king and his princes were the authors +of this treatment, it must have been greatly enjoyed +by the mass of the people, whose coarse glee over the +dishonoured ambassadors of the great King David one +can easily imagine. It is a painful moment when true +worth and nobility lie at the mercy of insolence and +coarseness, and have to bear their bitter revilings. +Such things may happen in public controversy in a +country where the utmost liberty of speech is allowed, +and when men of ruffian mould find contumely and +insult their handiest weapons. In times of religious<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> +persecution the most frightful charges have been hurled +at the heads of godly men and women, whose real crime +is to have striven to the utmost to obey God. Oh, how +much need there is of patience to bear insult as well +as injury! And insult will sometimes rouse the temper +that injury does not ruffle. Oh for the spirit of Christ, +who, when He was reviled, reviled not again!</p> + +<p>The Ammonites did not wait for a formal declaration +of war by David. Nor did they flatter themselves, +when they came to their senses, that against one who +had gained such renown as a warrior they could stand +alone. Their insult to King David turned out a costly +affair. To get assistance they had to give gold. The +parallel passage in Chronicles gives a thousand talents +of silver as the cost of the first bargain with the +Syrians. These Syrian mercenaries came from various +districts—Beth-rehob, Zoba, Beth-maacah, and Tob. +Some of these had already been subdued by David; in +other cases there was apparently no previous collision. +But all of them no doubt smarted under the defeats +which David had inflicted either on them or on their +neighbours, and when a large subsidy was allotted to +them to begin with, in addition to whatever booty might +fall to their share if David should be subdued, it is no +great wonder that an immense addition was made to +the forces of the Ammonites. It became in fact a very +formidable opposition; all the more that they were very +abundantly supplied with chariots and horsemen, of +which arm David had scarcely any. He met them first +by sending out Joab and "all the host" of the mighty +men. The whole resources of his army were forwarded. +And when Joab came to the spot, he found that he had +a double enemy to face. The Ammonite army came +out from the city to encounter him, while the Syrian<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> +army were encamped in the country, ready to place him +between two fires when the battle began. To guard +against this, Joab divided his force into two. The +Syrian host was the more formidable body; therefore +Joab went in person against it, at the head of a select +body of troops chosen from the general army. The +command of the remainder was given to his brother +Abishai, who was left to deal with the Ammonites. If +either section found its opponent too much for it, aid +was to be given by the other. No fault can be found +either with the arrangements made by Joab for the +encounter or the spirit in which he entered on the +fight. "Be of good courage," he said to his men, "and +let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of +our God; and the Lord do that which seemeth to Him +good." It was just such an exhortation as David himself +might have given. Some were trusting in chariots +and some in horses, but they were remembering the +name of the Lord their God. The first movement was +made by Joab and his part of the army against the +Syrians; it was completely successful; the Syrians fled +before him, chariots and horsemen and all. When the +Ammonite army saw the fate of the Syrians they did +not even hazard a conflict, but wheeled about and +made for the city. Thus ended their first proud effort +to sustain and complete the humiliation of King David. +The hired troops on which they had leaned so much +turned out utterly untrustworthy; and the wretched +Ammonites found themselves <i>minus</i> their thousand +talents, without victory, and without honour.</p> + +<p>But their allies the Syrians were not disposed to +yield without another conflict. Determined to do his +utmost, Hadarezer, king of the Syrians of Zobah, sent +across the Euphrates, and prevailed on their neighbours<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> +there to join them in the effort to crush the power of +David. That a very large number of these Mesopotamian +Syrians responded to the invitation of Hadarezer +is apparent from the number of the slain (ver. 18). +The matter assumed so serious an aspect that David +himself was now constrained to take the field, at the +head of "all Israel." The Syrian troops were commanded +by Shobach, who appears to have been a +distinguished general. It must have been a death-struggle +between the Syrian power and the power of +David. But again the victory was with the Israelites, +and among the slain were the men of seven hundred +chariots, and forty thousand horsemen (1 Chron. xix. 18, +"footmen"), along with Shobach, captain of the Syrian +host. It must have been a most decisive victory, for +after it took place all the states that had been tributary +to Hadarezer transferred their allegiance to David. +The Syrian power was completely broken; all help +was withdrawn from the Ammonites, who were now +left to bear the brunt of their quarrel alone. Single-handed, +they had to look for the onset of the army +which had so remarkably prevailed against all the +power of Syria, and to answer to King David for the +outrage they had perpetrated on his ambassadors. +Very different must their feelings have been now from +the time when they began to negotiate with Syria, and +when, doubtless, they looked forward so confidently to +the coming defeat and humiliation of King David.</p> + +<p>It requires but a very little consideration to see that +the wars which are so briefly recorded in this chapter +must have been most serious and perilous undertakings. +The record of them is so short, so unimpassioned, so +simple, that many readers are disposed to think very +little of them. But when we pause to think what it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> +was for the king of Israel to meet, on foreign soil, +confederates so numerous, so powerful, and so familiar +with warfare, we cannot but see that these were +tremendous wars. They were fitted to try the faith as +well as the courage of David and his people to the very +utmost. In seeking dates for those psalms that picture +a multitude of foes closing on the writer, and that +record the exercises of his heart, from the insinuations +of fear at the beginning to the triumph of trust and +peace at the end, we commonly think only of two +events in David's life,—the persecution of Saul and +the insurrection of Absalom. But the Psalmist himself +could probably have enumerated a dozen occasions +when his danger and his need were as great as they +were then. He must have passed through the same +experience on these occasions as on the other two; and +the language of the Psalms may often have as direct +reference to the former as to the latter. We may +understand, too, how the destruction of enemies became +so prominent a petition in his prayers. What can a +general desire and pray for, when he sees a hostile +army, like a great engine of destruction, ready to dash +against all that he holds dear, but that the engine may +be shivered, deprived of all power of doing mischief—in +other words, that the army may be destroyed? +The imprecations in the Book of Psalms against his +enemies must be viewed in this light. The military +habit of the Psalmist's mind made him think only of the +destruction of those who, in opposing him, opposed the +cause of God. It ought not to be imputed as a crime +to David that he did not rise high above a soldier's +feelings; that he did not view things from the point of +view of Christianity; that he was not a thousand years +in advance of his age. The one outlet from the frightful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> +danger which these Syrian hordes brought to him and +his people was that they should be destroyed. Our +blessed Lord gave men another view when He said, +"The Son of man is come not to destroy men's lives, +but to save them." He familiarised us with other modes +of conquest. When He appeared to Saul on the way to +Damascus, and turned the persecutor into the chief of +apostles, He showed that there are other ways than +that of destruction for delivering His Church from its +enemies. "I send thee to open their eyes, and to +turn them from darkness to light, and from the power +of Satan unto God." This commission to Saul gives us +reason for praying, with reference to the most clever +and destructive of the enemies of His Church, that by +His Spirit He would meet them too, and turn them +into other men. And not until this line of petition +has been exhausted can we fall back in prayer on +David's method. Only when their repentance and +conversion have become hopeless are we entitled to +pray God to destroy the grievous wolves that work +such havoc in His flock.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</a></h2> + +<h3><i>DAVID AND URIAH.</i></h3> + +<h5>2 <span class="smcap">Samuel</span> xi.</h5> + + +<p>How ardently would most, if not all readers, of +the life of David have wished that it had ended +before this chapter! Its golden era has passed away, +and what remains is little else than a chequered tale of +crime and punishment. On former occasions, under +the influence of strong and long-continued temptations, +we have seen his faith give way and a spirit of dissimulation +appear; but these were like spots on the +sun, not greatly obscuring his general radiance. What +we now encounter is not like a spot, but a horrid +eclipse; it is not like a mere swelling of the face, but +a bloated tumour that distorts the countenance and +drains the body of its life-blood. To human wisdom it +would have seemed far better had David's life ended +now, so that no cause might have been given for the +everlasting current of jeer and joke with which his fall +has supplied the infidel. Often, when a great and good +man is cut off in the midst of his days and of his usefulness, +we are disposed to question the wisdom of the +dispensation; but when we find ourselves disposed +to wonder whether this might not have been better +in the case of David, we may surely acquiesce in the +ways of God.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span></p> + +<p>If the composition of the Bible had been in human +hands it would never have contained such a chapter +as this. There is something quite remarkable in the +fearless way in which it unveils the guilt of David; it +is set forth in its nakedness, without the slightest +attempt either to palliate or to excuse it; and the only +statement in the whole record designed to characterise +it is the quiet but terrible words with which the +chapter ends—"But the thing that David had done +displeased the Lord." In the fearless march of providence +we see many a proof of the courage of God. It +is God alone that could have the fortitude to place in +the Holy Book this foul story of sin and shame. He +only could deliberately encounter the scorn which it has +drawn down from every generation of ungodly men, +the only wise God, who sees the end from the beginning, +who can rise high above all the fears and objections of +short-sighted men, and who can quiet every feeling of +uneasiness on the part of His children with the sublime +words, "Be still, and know that I am God."</p> + +<p>The truth is, that though David's reputation would +have been brighter had he died at this point of his career, +the moral of his life, so to speak, would have been less +complete. There was evidently a sensual element in his +nature, as there is in so many men of warm, emotional +temperament; and he does not appear to have been +alive to the danger involved in it. It led him the more +readily to avail himself of the toleration of polygamy, +and to increase from time to time the number of his +wives. Thus provision was made for the gratification +of a disorderly lust, which, if he had lived like Abraham +or Isaac, would have been kept back from all +lawless excesses. And when evil desire has large scope +for its exercise, instead of being satisfied it becomes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> +more greedy and more lawless. Now, this painful +chapter of David's history is designed to show us what +the final effect of this was in his case—what came +ultimately of this habit of pampering the lust of the +flesh. And verily, if any have ever been inclined to +envy David's liberty, and think it hard that such a law +of restraint binds them while he was permitted to do as +he pleased, let them study in the latter part of his history +the effects of this unhallowed indulgence; let them see +his home robbed of its peace and joy, his heart lacerated +by the misconduct of his children, his throne seized by +his son, while he has to fly from his own Jerusalem; +let them see him obliged to take the field against +Absalom, and hear the air rent by his cries of anguish +when Absalom is slain; let them think how even his +deathbed was disturbed by the noise of revolt, and +how legacies of blood had to be bequeathed to his +successor almost with his dying breath,—and surely it +will be seen that the license which bore such wretched +fruits is not to be envied, and that, after all, the way +even of royal transgressors is hard.</p> + +<p>But a fall so violent as that of David does not occur +all at once. It is generally preceded by a period of +spiritual declension, and in all likelihood there was such +an experience on his part. Nor is it very difficult to +find the cause. For many years back David had enjoyed +a most remarkable run of prosperity. His army +had been victorious in every encounter; his power was +recognized by many neighbouring states; immense +riches flowed from every quarter to his capital; it +seemed as if nothing could go wrong with him. When +everything prospers to a man's hand, it is a short +step to the conclusion that he can do nothing wrong. +How many great men in the world have been spoiled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> +by success, and by unlimited, or even very great power! +In how many hearts has the fallacy obtained a footing, +that ordinary laws were not made for them, and that +they did not need to regard them! David was no +exception; he came to think of his will as the great +directing force within his kingdom, the earthly consideration +that should regulate all.</p> + +<p>Then there was the absence of that very powerful +stimulus, the pressure of distress around him, which +had driven him formerly so close to God. His enemies +had been defeated in every quarter, with the single +exception of the Ammonites, a foe that could give him +no anxiety; and he ceased to have a vivid sense of his +reliance on God as his Shield. The pressure of trouble +and anxiety that had made his prayers so earnest was +now removed, and probably he had become somewhat +remiss and formal in prayer. We little know how +much influence our surroundings have on our spiritual +life till some great change takes place in them; and +then, perhaps, we come to see that the atmosphere of +trial and difficulty which oppressed us so greatly was +really the occasion to us of our highest strength and +our greatest blessings.</p> + +<p>And further, there was the fact that David was idle, +at least without active occupation. Though it was +the time for kings to go forth to battle, and though his +presence with his army at Rabbah would have been a +great help and encouragement to his soldiers, he was +not there. He seems to have thought it not worth his +while. Now that the Syrians had been defeated, there +could be no difficulty with the Ammonites. At evening-tide +he arose from off his bed and walked on the roof +of his house. He was in that idle, listless mood in +which one is most readily attracted by temptation, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> +in which the lust of the flesh has its greatest power. +And, as it has been remarked, "oft the sight of means +to do ill makes ill deeds done." If any scruples arose +in his conscience they were not regarded. To brush +aside objections to anything on which he had set his +heart was a process to which, in his great undertakings, +he had been well accustomed; unhappily, he applies +this rule when it is not applicable, and with the whole +force of his nature rushes into temptation.</p> + +<p>Never was there a case which showed more emphatically +the dreadful chain of guilt to which a first act, +apparently insignificant, may give rise. His first sin +was allowing himself to be arrested to sinful intents +by the beauty of Bathsheba. Had he, like Job, made a +covenant with his eyes; had he resolved that when the +idea of sin sought entrance into the imagination it should +be sternly refused admission; had he, in a word, nipped +the temptation in the bud, he would have been saved a +world of agony and sin. But instead of repelling the +idea he cherishes it. He makes inquiry concerning +the woman. He brings her to his house. He uses his +royal position and influence to break down the objections +which she would have raised. He forgets what is due +to the faithful soldier, who, employed in his service, is +unable to guard the purity of his home. He forgets the +solemn testimony of the law, which denounces death to +both parties as the penalty of the sin. This is the first +act of the tragedy.</p> + +<p>Then follow his vain endeavours to conceal his crime, +frustrated by the high self-control of Uriah. Yes, +though David gets him intoxicated he cannot make a +tool of him. Strange that this Hittite, this member of +one of the seven nations of Canaan, whose inheritance +was not a blessing but a curse, shows himself a paragon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> +in that self-command, the utter absence of which, in the +favoured king of Israel, has plunged him so deeply in +the mire. Thus ends the second act of the tragedy.</p> + +<p>But the next is far the most awful. Uriah must be +got rid of, not, however, openly, but by a cunning +stratagem that shall make it seem as if his death were +the result of the ordinary fortune of war. And to compass +this David must take Joab into his confidence. +To Joab, therefore, he writes a letter, indicating what +is to be done to get rid of Uriah. Could David have +descended to a lower depth? It was bad enough to +compass the death of Uriah; it was mean enough to +make him the bearer of the letter that gave directions +for his death; but surely the climax of meanness and +guilt was the writing of that letter. Do you remember, +David, how shocked you were when Joab slew Abner? +Do you remember your consternation at the thought +that you might be held to approve of the murder? Do +you remember how often you have wished that Joab +were not so rough a man, that he had more gentleness, +more piety, more concern for bloodshedding? And +here are you making this Joab your confidant in sin, +and your partner in murder, justifying all the wild +work his sword has ever done, and causing him to +believe that, in spite of all his holy pretensions David +is just such a man as himself.</p> + +<p>Surely it was a horrible sin—aggravated, too, in +many ways. It was committed by the head of the +nation, who was bound not only to discountenance sin +in every form, but especially to protect the families and +preserve the rights of the brave men who were exposing +their lives in his service. And that head of the nation +had been signally favoured by God, and had been exalted +in room of one whose selfishness and godlessness<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> +had caused him to be deposed from his dignity. Then +there was the profession made by David of zeal for +God's service and His law, his great enthusiasm in +bringing up the ark to Jerusalem, his desire to build +a temple, the character he had gained as a writer of +sacred songs, and indeed as the great champion of religion +in the nation. Further, there was the mature +age at which he had now arrived, a period of life at +which sobriety in the indulgence of the appetites is so +justly and reasonably expected. And finally, there was +the excellent character and the faithful services of Uriah, +entitling him to the high rewards of his sovereign, rather +than the cruel fate which David measured out to him—his +home rifled and his life taken away.</p> + +<p>How then, it may be asked, can the conduct of David +be accounted for? The answer is simple enough—on +the ground of original sin. Like the rest of us, he was +born with proclivities to evil—to irregular desires craving +unlawful indulgence. When divine grace takes +possession of the heart it does not annihilate sinful +tendencies, but overcomes them. It brings considerations +to bear on the understanding, the conscience, and +the heart, that incline and enable one to resist the +solicitations of evil, and to yield one's self to the law +of God. It turns this into a habit of the life. It gives +one a sense of great peace and happiness in resisting +the motions of sin, and doing the will of God. It +makes it the deliberate purpose and desire of one's +heart to be holy; it inspires one with the prayer, "Oh +that my ways were directed to keep Thy statutes! +Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect +unto all Thy commandments."</p> + +<p>But, meanwhile, the cravings of the old nature are +not wholly destroyed. "The flesh lusteth against the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> +spirit, and the spirit lusteth against the flesh." It is +as if two armies were in collision. The Christian who +naturally has a tendency to sensuality may feel the +craving for sinful gratification even when the general +bent of his nature is in favour of full compliance with +the will of God. In some natures, especially strong +natures, both the old man and the new possess unusual +vehemence; the rebellious energisings of the old are +held in check by the still more resolute vigour of the +new; but if it so happen that the opposition of the new +man to the old is relaxed or abated, then the outbreak +of corruption will probably be on a fearful scale. Thus +it was in David's nature. The sensual craving, the +law of sin in his members, was strong; but the law of +grace, inclining him to give himself up to the will of +God, was stronger, and usually kept him right. There +was an extraordinary activity and energy of character +about him; he never did things slowly, tremblingly, +timidly; the wellsprings of life were full, and gushed +out in copious currents; in whatever direction they might +flow, they were sure to flow with power. But at this +time the energy of the new nature was suffering a sad +abatement; the considerations that should have led him +to conform to God's law had lost much of their usual +power. Fellowship with the Fountain of life was interrupted; +the old nature found itself free from its habitual +restraint, and its stream came out with the vehemence +of a liberated torrent. It would be quite unfair to judge +David on this occasion as if he had been one of those +feeble creatures who, as they seldom rise to the heights +of excellence, seldom sink to the depths of daring sin.</p> + +<p>We make these remarks simply to account for a fact, +and by no means to excuse a crime. Men are liable to +ask, when they read of such sins done by good men,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> +Were they really good men? Can that be genuine +goodness which leaves a man liable to do such deeds of +wickedness? If so, wherein are your so-called good +men better than other men? We reply, They are +better than other men in this,—and David was better +than other men in this,—that the deepest and most +deliberate desire of their hearts is to do as God requires, +and to be holy as God is holy. This is their habitual +aim and desire; and in this they are in the main successful. +If this be not one's habitual aim, and if in this +he do not habitually succeed, he can have no real claim +to be counted a good man. Such is the doctrine of the +Apostle in the seventh chapter of the Romans. Any +one who reads that chapter in connection with the narrative +of David's fall can have little doubt that it is the +experience of the new man that the Apostle is describing. +The habitual attitude of the heart is given in the +striking words, "I delight in the law of God after the +inward man." I see how good God's law is; how +excellent is the stringent restraint it lays on all that is +loose and irregular, how beautiful the life which is cast +in its mould. But for all that, I feel in me the motions +of desire for unlawful gratifications, I feel a craving +for the pleasures of sin. "I see another law in my +members, warring against the law of my mind, and +bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is +in my members." But how does the Apostle treat this +feeling? Does he say, "I am a human creature, and, +having these desires, I may and I must gratify them"? +Far from it! He deplores the fact, and he cries for +deliverance. "O wretched man that I am, who shall +deliver me from the body of this death?" And his +only hope of deliverance is in Him whom he calls his +Saviour. "I thank God through Jesus Christ our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> +Lord." In the case of David, the law of sin in his +members prevailed for the time over the new law, the +law of his mind, and it plunged him into a state which +might well have led him too to say, "O wretched man +that I am! who shall deliver me?"</p> + +<p>And now we begin to understand why this supremely +horrible transaction should be given in the Bible, and +given at such length. It bears the character of a +beacon, warning the mariner against some of the most +deceitful and perilous rocks that are to be found in all +the sea of life. First of all, it shows the danger of +interrupting, however briefly, the duty of watching and +praying, lest you enter into temptation. It is at your +peril to discontinue earnest daily communion with God, +especially when the evils are removed that first drove +you to seek His aid. An hour's sleep may leave +Samson at the mercy of Delilah, and when he awakes +his strength is gone. Further, it affords a sad proof of +the danger of dallying with sin even in thought. Admit +sin within the precincts of the imagination, and there is +the utmost danger of its ultimately mastering the soul. +The outposts of the spiritual garrison should be so +placed as to protect even the thoughts, and the moment +the enemy is discovered there the alarm should be +given and the fight begun. It is a serious moment +when the young man admits a polluted thought to +his heart, and pursues it even in reverie. The door is +opened to a dangerous brood. And everything that +excites sensual feeling, be it songs, jests, pictures, +books of a lascivious character, all tends to enslave +and pollute the soul, till at length it is saturated with +impurity, and cannot escape the wretched thraldom. +And further, this narrative shows us what moral havoc +and ruin may be wrought by the toleration and gratification<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> +of a single sinful desire. You may contend +vigorously against ninety-and-nine forms of sin, but if +you yield to the hundredth the consequences will be +deadly. You may fling away a whole box of matches, +but if you retain one it is quite sufficient to set fire +to your house. A single soldier finding his way into +a garrison may open the gates to the whole besieging +army. One sin leads on to another and another, +especially if the first be a sin which it is desirable to +conceal. Falsehood and cunning, and even treachery, +are employed to promote concealment; unprincipled +accomplices are called in; the failure of one contrivance +leads to other contrivances more sinful and more +desperate. If there is a being on earth more to be +pitied than another it is the man who has got into this +labyrinth. What a contrast his perplexed feverish +agitation to the calm peace of the straightforward +Christian! "He that walketh uprightly walketh surely; +but he that perverteth his way shall be known."</p> + +<p>Never let any one read this chapter of 2 Samuel without +paying the profoundest regard to its closing words—"But +the thing that David had done displeased the +Lord." In that "but" lies a whole world of meaning.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.</a></h2> + +<h3><i>DAVID AND NATHAN.</i></h3> + +<h5>2 <span class="smcap">Samuel</span> xii. 1-12; 26-31.</h5> + + +<p>It is often the method of the writers of Scripture, +when the stream of public history has been broken +by a private or personal incident, to complete at once +the incident, and then go back to the principal history, +resuming it at the point at which it was interrupted. In +this way it sometimes happens (as we have already +seen) that earlier events are recorded at a later part of +the narrative than the natural order would imply. In +the course of the narrative of David's war with Ammon, +the incident of his sin with Bathsheba presents itself. +In accordance with the method referred to, that incident +is recorded straight on to its very close, including the +birth of Bathsheba's second son, which must have +occurred at least two years later. That being concluded, +the history of the war with Ammon is resumed at the +point at which it was broken off. We are not to +suppose, as many have done, that the events recorded +in the concluding verses of this chapter (vv. 26-31) +happened later than those recorded immediately before. +This would imply that the siege of Rabbah lasted for +two or three years—a supposition hardly to be entertained; +for Joab was besieging it when David first saw +Bathsheba, and there is no reason to suppose that a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> +people like the Ammonites would be able to hold the +mere outworks of the city for two or three whole years +against such an army as David's and such a commander +as Joab. It seems far more likely that Joab's first +success against Rabbah was gained soon after the death +of Uriah, and that his message to David to come and +take the citadel in person was sent not long after the +message that announced Uriah's death.</p> + +<p>In that case the order of events would be as follows: +After the death of Uriah, Joab prepares for an assault +on Rabbah. Meanwhile, at Jerusalem, Bathsheba goes +through the form of mourning for her husband, and +when the usual days of mourning are over David +hastily sends for her and makes her his wife. Next +comes a message from Joab that he has succeeded in +taking the city of waters, and that only the citadel +remains to be taken, for which purpose he urges David +to come himself with additional forces, and thereby +gain the honour of conquering the place. It rather surprises +one to find Joab declining an honour for himself, +as it also surprises us to find David going to reap what +another had sowed. David, however, goes with "all +the people," and is successful, and after disposing of +the Ammonites he returns to Jerusalem. Soon after +Bathsheba's child is born; then Nathan goes to David +and gives him the message that lays him in the dust. +This is not only the most natural order for the events, +but it agrees best with the spirit of the narrative. The +cruelties practised by David on the Ammonites send +a thrill of horror through us as we read them. No +doubt they deserved a severe chastisement; the original +offence was an outrage on every right feeling, an outrage +on the law of nations, a gratuitous and contemptuous +insult; and in bringing these vast Syrian armies<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> +into the field they had subjected even the victorious +Israelites to grievous suffering and loss, in toil, in +money, and in lives.</p> + +<p>Attempts have been made to explain away the severities +inflicted on the Ammonites, but it is impossible to +explain away a plain historical narrative. It was the +manner of victorious warriors in those countries to +steel their hearts against all compassion toward captive +foes, and David, kind-hearted though he was, did the +same. And if it be said that surely his religion, if it +were religion of the right kind, ought to have made him +more compassionate, we reply that at this period his +religion was in a state of collapse. When his religion +was in a healthy and active state, it showed itself in the +first place by his regard for the honour of God, for whose +ark he provided a resting-place, and in whose honour he +proposed to build a temple. Love to God was accompanied +by love to man, exhibited in his efforts to show +kindness to the house of Saul for the sake of Jonathan, +and to Hanun for the sake of Nahash. But now the +picture is reversed; he falls into a cold state of heart +toward God, and in connection with that declension we +mark a more than usually severe punishment inflicted +on his enemies. Just as the leaves first become yellow +and finally drop from the tree in autumn, when the +juices that fed them begin to fail, so the kindly actions +that had marked the better periods of his life first fail, +then turn to deeds of cruelty when that Holy Spirit, +who is the fountain of all goodness, being resisted and +grieved by him, withholds His living power.</p> + +<p>In the whole transaction at Rabbah David shows +poorly. It is not like him to be roused to an enterprise +by an appeal to his love of fame; he might have left +Joab to complete the conquest and enjoy the honour<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> +which his sword had substantially won. It is not like +him to go through the ceremony of being crowned with +the crown of the king of Ammon, as if it were a great +thing to have so precious a diadem on his head. Above +all, it is not like him to show so terrible a spirit in +disposing of his prisoners of war. But all this is quite +likely to have happened if he had not yet come to +repentance for his sin. When a man's conscience is +ill at ease, his temper is commonly irritable. Unhappy +in his inmost soul, he is in the temper that most easily +becomes savage when provoked. No one can imagine +that David's conscience was at rest. He must have +had that restless feeling which every good man experiences +after doing a wrong act, before coming to a clear +apprehension of it; he must have been eager to escape +from himself, and Joab's request to him to come to +Rabbah and end the war must have been very opportune. +In the excitement of war he would escape for +a time the pursuit of his conscience; but he would be +restless and irritable, and disposed to drive out of his +way, in the most unceremonious manner, whoever or +whatever should cross his path.</p> + +<p>We now return with him to Jerusalem. He had +added another to his long list of illustrious victories, and +he had carried to the capital another vast store of spoil. +The public attention would be thoroughly occupied +with these brilliant events; and a king entering his +capital at the head of his victorious troops, and followed +by waggons laden with public treasure, need not fear a +harsh construction on his private actions. The fate of +Uriah might excite little notice; the affair of Bathsheba +would soon blow over. The brilliant victory that had +terminated the war seemed at the same time to have +extricated the king from a personal scandal. David<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> +might flatter himself that all would now be peace and +quiet, and that the waters of oblivion would gather over +that ugly business of Uriah.</p> + +<p>"But the thing that David had done displeased the +Lord."</p> + +<p>"And the Lord sent Nathan unto David."</p> + +<p>Slowly, sadly, silently the prophet bends his steps to +the palace. Anxiously and painfully he prepares himself +for the most distressing task a prophet of the Lord +ever had to go through. He has to convey God's +reproof to the king; he has to reprove one from whom, +doubtless, he has received many an impulse towards all +that is high and holy. Very happily he clothes his +message in the Eastern garb of parable. He puts his +parable in such life-like form that the king has no +suspicion of its real character. The rich robber that +spared his own flocks and herds to feed the traveller, +and stole the poor man's ewe lamb, is a real flesh-and-blood +criminal to him. And the deed is so dastardly, +its heartlessness is so atrocious, that it is not enough +to enforce against such a wretch the ordinary law of +fourfold restitution; in the exercise of his high prerogative +the king pronounces a sentence of death upon +the ruffian, and confirms it with the solemnity of an +oath—"The man that hath done this thing shall surely +die." The flash of indignation is yet in his eye, the +flush of resentment is still on his brow, when the +prophet with calm voice and piercing eye utters the +solemn words, "Thou art the man!" Thou, great +king of Israel, art the robber, the ruffian, condemned +by thine own voice to the death of the worst malefactor! +"Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee +king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand +of Saul; and I gave thee thy master's house, and thy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> +master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house +of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little +I would moreover have given thee such and such things. +Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the +Lord, to do evil in His sight? Thou hast killed Uriah +the Hittite with the sword, and hast slain him with the +sword of the children of Ammon."</p> + +<p>It is not difficult to fancy the look of the king as +the prophet delivered his message—how at first when +he said, "Thou art the man," he would gaze at him +eagerly and wistfully, like one at a loss to divine his +meaning; and then, as the prophet proceeded to apply +his parable, how, conscience-stricken, his expression +would change to one of horror and agony; how the +deeds of the last twelve months would glare in all their +infamous baseness upon him, and outraged Justice, with +a hundred glittering swords, would seem all impatient +to devour him.</p> + +<p>It is no mere imagination that, in a moment, the +mind may be so quickened as to embrace the actions +of a long period; and that with equal suddenness the +moral aspect of them may be completely changed. +There are moments when the powers of the mind as +well as those of the body are so stimulated as to become +capable of exertions undreamt of before. The dumb +prince, in ancient history, who all his life had never +spoken a word, but found the power of speech when he +saw a sword raised to cut down his father, showed how +danger could stimulate the organs of the body. The +sudden change in David's feeling now, like the sudden +change in Saul's on the way to Damascus, showed +what electric rapidity may be communicated to the +operations of the soul. It showed too what unseen +and irresistible agencies of conviction and condemnation<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> +the great Judge can bring into play when it is His +will to do so. As the steam hammer may be so +adjusted as either to break a nutshell without injuring +the kernel, or crush a block of quartz to powder, so the +Spirit of God can range, in His effects on the conscience, +between the mildest feeling of uneasiness and the +bitterest agony of remorse. "When He is come," said +our blessed Lord, "He shall reprove the world of sin." +How helpless men are under His operation! How +utterly was David prostrated! How were the multitudes +brought down on the day of Pentecost! Is there any +petition we more need to press than that the Spirit +be poured out to convince of sin, whether as it regards +ourselves or the world? Is it not true that the great +want of the Church the want of is a sense of sin, so that +confession and humiliation are become rare, and our +very theology is emasculated, because, where there is +little sense of sin, there can be little appreciation of +redemption? And is not a sense of sin that which +would bring a careless world to itself, and make it deal +earnestly with God's gracious offers? How striking +is the effect ascribed by the prophet Zechariah to that +pouring of the spirit of grace and supplication upon the +house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, when +"they shall look on Him whom they have pierced, and +shall mourn for Him as one mourneth for an only son, +and shall be in bitterness for Him as one that is in +bitterness for his firstborn." Would that our whole +hearts went out in those invocations of the Spirit which +we often sing, but alas! so very tamely—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Come, Holy Spirit, come,<br /></span> +<span class="i3">Let Thy bright beams arise;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Dispel the darkness from our minds,<br /></span> +<span class="i3">And open all our eyes.<br /></span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Convince us of our sin,<br /></span> +<span class="i3">Lead us to Jesus' blood,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And kindle in our breast the flame<br /></span> +<span class="i3">Of never-dying love."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>We cannot pass from this aspect of David's case +without marking the terrible power of self-deception. +Nothing blinds men so much to the real character of a sin +as the fact that it is their own. Let it be presented to +them in the light of another man's sin, and they are +shocked. It is easy for one's self-love to weave a veil +of fair embroidery, and cast it over those deeds about +which one is somewhat uncomfortable. It is easy to +devise for ourselves this excuse and that, and lay +stress on one excuse and another that may lessen the +appearance of criminality. But nothing is more to be +deprecated, nothing more to be deplored, than success +in that very process. Happy for you if a Nathan is +sent to you in time to tear to rags your elaborate +embroidery, and lay bare the essential vileness of your +deed! Happy for you if your conscience is made to +assert its authority, and cry to you, with its awful +voice, "Thou art the man!" For if you live and die in +your fool's paradise, excusing every sin, and saying +peace, peace, when there is no peace, there is nothing +for you but the rude awakening of the day of judgment, +when the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies!</p> + +<p>After Nathan had exposed the sin of David he +proceeded to declare his sentence. It was not a +sentence of death, in the ordinary sense of the term, +but it was a sentence of death in a sense even more +difficult to bear. It consisted of three things—first, +the sword should never depart from his house; second, +out of his own house evil should be raised against him, +and a dishonoured harem should show the nature and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> +extent of the humiliation that would come upon him; +and thirdly, a public exposure should thus be made +of his sin, so that he would stand in the pillory of +Divine rebuke, and in the shame which it entailed, +before all Israel, and before the sun. When David +confessed his sin, Nathan told him that the Lord had +graciously forgiven it, but at the same time a special +chastisement was to mark how concerned God was for +the fact that by his sin he had caused the enemy to +blaspheme—the child born of Bathsheba was to die.</p> + +<p>Reserving this last part of the sentence and David's +bearing in connection with it for future consideration, +let us give attention to the first portion of his retribution. +"The sword shall never depart from thy house." +Here we find a great principle in the moral government +of God,—correspondence between an offence and its +retribution. Of this many instances occur in the Old +Testament. Jacob deceived his father; he was deceived +by his own sons. Lot made a worldly choice; in the +world's ruin he was overwhelmed. So David having +slain Uriah with the sword, the sword was never to +depart from him. He had robbed Uriah of his wife; +his neighbours would in like manner rob and dishonour +him. He had disturbed the purity of the family relation; +his own house was to become a den of pollution. He +had mingled deceit and treachery with his actions; +deceit and treachery would be practised towards him. +What a sad and ominous prospect! Men naturally look +for peace in old age; the evening of life is expected +to be calm. But for him there was to be no calm; +and his trial was to fall on the tenderest part of his +nature. He had a strong affection for his children; +in that very feeling he was to be wounded, and that, +too, all his life long. Oh let not any suppose that,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> +because God's children are saved by His mercy from +eternal punishment, it is a light thing for them to +despise the commandments of the Lord! "Thine own +wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall +reprove thee; know therefore and see that it is an +evil thing and bitter that thou hast forsaken the Lord +thy God, and that thy fear is not in Me, saith the Lord +of hosts."</p> + +<p>Pre-eminent in its bitterness was that part of David's +retribution which made his own house the source from +which his bitterest trials and humiliations should arise. +For the most part, it is in extreme cases only that +parents have to encounter this trial. It is only in the +wickedest households, and in households for the most +part where the passions are roused to madness by +drink, that the hand of the child is raised against his +father to wound and dishonour him. It was a terrible +humiliation to the king of Israel to have to bear this +doom, and especially to that king of Israel who +in many ways bore so close a resemblance to the +promised Seed, who was indeed to be the progenitor +of that Seed, so that when Messiah came He should +be called "the Son of David." Alas! the glory of this +distinction was to be sadly tarnished. "Son of David" +was to be a very equivocal title, according to the +character of the individual who should bear it. In +one case it would denote the very climax of honour; +in another, the depth of humiliation. Yes, that household +of David's would reek with foul lusts and unnatural +crimes. From the bosom of that home where, under +other circumstances, it would have been so natural to +look for model children, pure, affectionate, and dutiful, +there would come forth monsters of lust and monsters +of ambition, whose deeds of infamy would hardly find<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> +a parallel in the annals of the nation! In the breasts +of some of these royal children the devil would find +a seat where he might plan and execute the most +unnatural crimes. And that city of Jerusalem, which +he had rescued from the Jebusites, consecrated as +God's dwelling-place, and built and adorned with the +spoils which the king had taken in many a well-fought +field, would turn against him in his old age, +and force him to fly wherever a refuge could be found +as homeless, and nearly as destitute, as in the days +of his youth when he fled from Saul!</p> + +<p>And lastly, his retribution was to be public. He had +done his part secretly, but God would do His part +openly. There was not a man or woman in all Israel +but would see these judgments coming on a king who +had outraged his royal position and his royal prerogatives. +How could he ever go in and out happily among +them again? How could he be sure, when he met any +of them, that they were not thinking of his crime, and +condemning him in their hearts? How could he meet +the hardly suppressed scowl of every Hittite, that would +recall his treatment of their faithful kinsman? What +a burden would he carry ever after, he that used to +wear such a frank and honest and kindly look, that was +so affable to all that sought his counsel, and so tender-hearted +to all that were in trouble! And what outlet +could he find out of all this misery? There was but +one he could think of. If only God would forgive him; +if He, whose mercy was in the heavens, would but +receive him again of His infinite condescension into His +fellowship, and vouchsafe to him that grace which was +not the fruit of man's deserving, but, as its very name +implied, of God's unbounded goodness, then might his +soul return again to its quiet rest, though life could never<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> +be to him what it was before. And this, as we shall +presently see, is what he set himself very earnestly to +seek, and what of God's mercy he was permitted to +find. O sinner, if thou hast strayed like a lost sheep, +and plunged into the very depths of sin, know that all +is not lost with thee! There is one way yet open to +peace, if not to joy. Amid the ten thousand times ten +thousand voices that condemn thee, there is one voice +of love that comes from heaven and says, "Return +unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord."</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.</a></h2> + +<h3><i>PENITENCE AND CHASTISEMENT.</i></h3> + +<h5>2 <span class="smcap">Samuel</span> xii. 13-25.</h5> + + +<p>When Nathan ended his message, plainly and +strongly though he had spoken, David indicated +no irritation, made no complaint against the prophet, +but simply and humbly confessed—"I have sinned." +It is so common for men to be offended when a servant +of God remonstrates with them, and to impute their +interference to an unworthy motive, and to the desire +of some one to hurt and humiliate them, that it is +refreshing to find a great king receiving the rebuke of +the Lord's servant in a spirit of profound humility and +frank confession. Very different was the experience of +John the Baptist when he remonstrated with Herod. +Very different was the experience of the famous Chrysostom +when he rebuked the emperor and empress +for conduct unworthy of Christians. Very different has +been the experience of many a faithful minister in a +humbler sphere, when, constrained by a sense of duty, +he has gone to some man of influence in his flock, +and spoken seriously to him of sins which bring a +reproach on the name of Christ. Often it has cost the +faithful man days and nights of pain; girding himself +for the duty has been like preparing for martyrdom; +and it has been really martyrdom when he has had to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> +bear the long malignant enmity of the man whom he +rebuked. However vile the conduct of David may +have been, it is one thing in his favour that he receives +his rebuke with perfect humility and submission; he +makes no attempt to palliate his conduct either before +God or man; but sums up his whole feeling in these +expressive words, "I have sinned against the Lord."</p> + +<p>To this frank acknowledgment Nathan replied that +the Lord had put away his sin, so that he would not +undergo the punishment of death. It was his own +judgment that the miscreant who had stolen the ewe +lamb should die, and as that proved to be himself, it +indicated the punishment that was due to him. That +punishment, however, the Lord, in the exercise of His +clemency, had been pleased to remit. But a palpable +proof of His displeasure was to be given in another +way—the child of Bathsheba was to die. It was to +become, as it were, the scapegoat for its father. In +those times father and child were counted so much one +that the offence of the one was often visited on both. +When Achan stole the spoil at Jericho, not only he +himself, but his whole family, shared his sentence of +death. In this case of David the father was to escape, +but the child was to die. It may seem hard, and barely +just. But death to the child, though in form a punishment, +might prove to be great gain. It might mean +transference to a higher and brighter state of existence. +It might mean escape from a life full of sorrows +and perils to the world where there is no more pain, +nor sorrow, nor death, because the former things are +passed away.</p> + +<p>We cannot pass from the consideration of David's +great penitence for his sin without dwelling a little +more on some of its features. It is in the fifty-first<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> +Psalm that the working of his soul is best unfolded to us. +No doubt it has been strongly urged by certain modern +critics that that psalm is not David's at all; that it +belongs to some other period, as the last verse but one +indicates, when the walls of Jerusalem were in ruins;—most +likely the period of the Captivity. But even if +we should have to say of the last two verses that they +must have been added at another time, we cannot but +hold the psalm to be the outpouring of David's soul, +and not the expression of the penitence of the nation +at large. If ever psalm was the expression of the +feelings of an individual it is this one. And if ever +psalm was appropriate to King David it is this one. +For the one thing which is uppermost in the soul of +the writer is his personal relation to God. The one +thing that he values, and for which all other things are +counted but dung, is friendly intercourse with God. +This sin no doubt has had many other atrocious effects, +but the terrible thing is that it has broken the link +that bound him to God, it has cut off all the blessed +things that come by that channel, it has made him an +outcast from Him whose lovingkindness is better than +life. Without God's favour life is but misery. He can +do no good to man; he can do no service to God. It +is a rare thing even for good men to have such a +profound sense of the blessedness of God's favour. +David was one of those who had it in the profoundest +degree; and as the fifty-first Psalm is full of it, as it +forms the very soul of its pleadings, we cannot doubt +that it was a psalm of David.</p> + +<p>The humiliation of the Psalmist before God is very +profound, very thorough. His case is one for simple +mercy; he has not the shadow of a plea in self-defence. +His sin is in every aspect atrocious. It is the product<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> +of one so vile that he may be said to have been shapen +in iniquity and conceived in sin. The aspect of it as +sin against God is so overwhelming that it absorbs the +other aspect—the sin against man. Not but that he +has sinned against man too, but it is the sin against +God that is so awful, so overwhelming.</p> + +<p>Yet, if his sin abounds, the Psalmist feels that God's +grace abounds much more. He has the highest sense +of the excellence and the multitude of God's lovingkindnesses. +Man can never make himself so odious +as to be beyond the Divine compassion. He can never +become so guilty as to be beyond the Divine forgiveness. +"Blot out my transgressions," sobs David, knowing +that it can be done. "Purge me with hyssop," he +cries, "and I <i>shall</i> be clean; wash me, and I shall be +whiter than the snow. Create in me a clean heart, and +renew a right spirit within me."</p> + +<p>But this is not all; it is far from all. He pleads +most plaintively for the restoration of God's friendship. +"Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not +Thy Holy Spirit from me,"—for that would be hell; +"Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and uphold +me with Thy free Spirit,"—for that is heaven. And, +with the renewed sense of God's love and grace, there +would come a renewed power to serve God and be +useful to men. "Then will I teach transgressors Thy +ways; and sinners shall be converted unto Thee. O +Lord, open Thou my lips; and my mouth shall show +forth Thy praise." Deprive me not for ever of Thy +friendship, for then life would be but darkness and +anguish; depose me not for ever from Thy ministry, +continue to me yet the honour and the privilege of +converting sinners unto Thee. Of the sacrifices of +the law it was needless to think, as if they were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> +adequate to purge away so overwhelming a sin. +"Thou desirest not sacrifice, else I would give it: +Thou delightest not in burnt-offering. The sacrifices +of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite +heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise."</p> + +<p>With all his consciousness of sin, David has yet +a profound faith in God's mercy, and he is forgiven. +But as we have seen, the Divine displeasure against +him is to be openly manifested in another form, +because, in addition to his personal sin, he has given +occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme.</p> + +<p>This is an aggravation of guilt which only God's +children can commit. And it is an aggravation of +a most distressing kind, enough surely to warn +off every Christian from vile self-indulgence. The +blasphemy to which David had given occasion was +that which denies the reality of God's work in the +souls of His people. It denies that they are better +than others. They only make more pretence, but +that pretence is hollow, if not hypocritical. There +is no such thing as a special work of the Holy Ghost +in them, and therefore there is no reason why any one +should seek to be converted, or why he should implore +the special grace of the Spirit of God. Alas! how +true it is that when any one who occupies a conspicuous +place in the Church of God breaks down, +such sneers are sure to be discharged on every side! +What a keen eye the world has for the inconsistencies +of Christians! With what remorseless severity +does it come down on them when they fall into these +inconsistencies! Sins that would hardly be thought +of if committed by others,—what a serious aspect they +assume when committed by them! Had it been +Nebuchadnezzar, for example, that treated Uriah as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> +David did, who would have thought of it a second +time? What else could you expect of Nebuchadnezzar? +Let a Christian society or any other Christian body be +guilty of a scandal, how do the worldly newspapers +fasten on it like treasure-trove, and exult over their +humbled victim, like Red Indians dancing their war +dances and flourishing their tomahawks over some +miserable prisoner. The scorn is very bitter, and +sometimes it is very unjust; yet perhaps it has on +the whole a wholesome effect, just because it stimulates +vigilance and carefulness on the part of the Church. +But the worst of the case is, that on the part of unbelievers +it stimulates that blasphemy which is alike +dishonouring to God and pernicious to man. Virtually +this blasphemy denies the whole work of the Holy +Spirit in the hearts of men. It denies the reality of +any supernatural agency of the Spirit in one more +than in all. And denying the work of the Spirit, it +makes men careless about the Spirit; it neutralises the +solemn words of Christ, "Ye must be born again." It +throws back the kingdom of God, and it turns back +many a pilgrim who had been thinking seriously of +beginning the journey to the heavenly city, because +he is now uncertain whether such a city exists at all.</p> + +<p>Hardly has Nathan left the king's house when the +child begins to sicken, and the sickness becomes very +great. We should have expected that David would +be concerned and distressed, but hardly to the degree +which his distress attained. In the intensity of his +anxiety and grief there is something remarkable. A +new-born infant could scarcely have taken that mysterious +hold on a father's heart which a little time is +commonly required to develop, but which, once it is +there, makes the loss even of a little child a grievous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> +blow, and leaves the heart sick and sore for many a +day. But there is something in an infant's agony +which unmans the strongest heart, especially when it +comes in convulsive fits that no skill can allay. And +should one, in addition, be tortured with the conviction +that the child was suffering on one's own account, one's +distress might well be overpowering. And this was +David's feeling. His sin was ever before him. As +he saw that suffering infant he must have felt as if +the stripes that should have fallen on him were tearing +the poor babe's tender frame, and crushing him with +undeserved suffering. Even in ordinary cases, it is a +mysterious thing to see an infant in mortal agony. It is +solemnizing to think that the one member of the family +who has committed no actual sin should be the first +to reap the deadly wages of sin. It leads us to think +of mankind as one tree of many branches; and when +the wintry frost begins to prevail it is the youngest +and tenderest branchlets that first droop and die. Oh! +how careful should those in mature years be, and +especially parents, lest by their sins they bring down +a retribution which shall fall first on their children, +and perhaps the youngest and most innocent of all! +Yet how often do we see the children suffering for +the sins of their parents, and suffering in a way which, +in this life at least, admits of no right remedy! In that +"bitter cry of outcast London," which fell some years +ago on the ears of the country, by far the most distressing +note was the cry of infants abandoned by drunken +parents before they could well walk, or living with +them in hovels where blows and curses came in place +of food and clothing and kindness—children brought +up without aught of the sunshine of love, every tender +feeling nipped and shrivelled in the very bud by the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> +frost of bitter, brutal cruelty. And if in ordinary +families children are not made to suffer so palpably +for their parents' sins, yet suffer they do in many ways +sufficiently serious. Wherever there is a bad example, +wherever there is a laxity of principle, wherever God +is dishonoured, the sin reacts upon the children. Their +moral texture is relaxed; they learn to trifle with sin, +and, trifling with sin, to disbelieve in the retribution +for sin. And where conscience has not been altogether +destroyed in the parent, and remorse for sin begins +to prevail, and retribution to come, it is not what he +has to suffer in his own person that he feels most +deeply, but what has to be borne and suffered by his +children. Does any one ask why God has constituted +society so that the innocent are thus implicated in the +sin of the guilty? The answer is, that this arises not +from God's constitution, but from man's perversion of +it. Why, we may ask, do men subvert God's moral +order? Why do they break down His fences and +embankments, and, contrary to the Divine plan, let +ruinous streams pour their destructive waters into +their homes and enclosures? If the human race had +preserved from the beginning the constitution which +God gave them, obeyed His law both individually and +as a social body, such things would not have been. +But reckless man, in his eagerness to have his own +way, disregards the Divine arrangement, and plunges +himself and his family into the depths of woe.</p> + +<p>There is something even beyond this, however, that +arrests our notice in the behaviour of David. Though +Nathan had said that the child would die, he set himself +most earnestly, by prayer and fasting, to get God to +spare him. Was this not a strange proceeding? It +could be justified only on the supposition that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> +Divine judgment was modified by an unexpressed condition +that, if David should humble himself in true +repentance, it would not have to be inflicted. Anyhow, +we see him throwing his whole soul into these exercises: +engaging in them so earnestly that he took no regular +food, and in place of the royal bed he was content to +lie upon the earth. His earnestness in this was well +fitted to show the difference between a religious service +gone through with becoming reverence, because it is +the proper thing to do, and the service of one who has +a definite end in view, who seeks a definite blessing, +and who wrestles with God to obtain it. But David +had no valid ground for expecting that, even if he +should repent, God would avert the judgment from the +child; indeed, the reason assigned for it showed the +contrary—because he had given occasion to the +enemies of the Lord to blaspheme.</p> + +<p>And so, after a very weary and dismal week, the +child died. But instead of abandoning himself to a +tumult of distress when this event took place, he altogether +changed his demeanour. His spirit became calm, +"he arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed +himself, and changed his apparel, and he came into the +house of the Lord and worshipped; then he came to +his own house, and when he required, they set bread +before him, and he did eat." It seemed to his servants +a strange proceeding. The answer of David showed +that there was a rational purpose in it. So long as he +thought it possible that the child's life might be spared, +he not only continued to pray to that effect, but he did +everything to prevent his attention from being turned +to anything else, he did everything to concentrate his +soul on that one object, and to let it appear to God +how thoroughly it occupied his mind. The death of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> +the child showed that it was not God's will to grant +his petition, notwithstanding his deep repentance and +earnest prayer and fasting. All suspense was now at +an end, and, therefore, all reason for continuing to fast +and pray. For David to abandon himself to the +wailings of aggravated grief at this moment would have +been highly wrong. It would have been to quarrel +with the will of God. It would have been to challenge +God's right to view the child as one with its father, and +treat it accordingly.</p> + +<p>And there was yet another reason. If his heart still +yearned on the child, the re-union was not impossible, +though it could not take place in this life. "I shall go +to him, but he shall not return unto me." The glimpse +of the future expressed in these words is touching and +beautiful. The relation between David and that little +child is not ended. Though the mortal remains shall +soon crumble, father and child are not yet done with one +another. But their meeting is not to be in this world. +Meet again they certainly shall, but "I shall go to him, +and he shall not return to me."</p> + +<p>And this glimpse of the future relation of parent and +child, separated here by the hand of death, has ever +proved most comforting to bereaved Christian hearts. +Very touching and very comforting it is to light on this +bright view of the future at so early a period of Old +Testament history. Words cannot express the desolation +of heart which such bereavements cause. When +Rachel is weeping for her children she cannot be +comforted if she thinks they are not. But a new light +breaks on her desolate heart when she is assured that +she may go to them, though they shall not return to +her. Blessed, truly, are the dead who die in the Lord, +and, however painful the stroke that removed them,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> +blessed are their surviving friends. Ye shall go to +them, though they shall not return to you. How you +are to recognise them, how you are to commune with +them, in what place they shall be, in what condition of +consciousness, you cannot tell; but "you shall go to +them;" the separation shall be but temporary, and +who can conceive the joy of re-union, re-union never +to be broken by separation for evermore?</p> + +<p>One other fact we must notice ere passing from the +record of David's confession and chastisement,—the +moral courage which he showed in delivering the fifty-first +Psalm to the chief musician, and thus helping to +keep alive in his own generation and for all time +coming the memory of his trespass. Most men would +have thought how the ugly transaction might most +effectually be buried, and would have tried to put their +best face on it before their people. Not so David. He +was willing that his people and all posterity should see +him the atrocious transgressor he was—let them think +of him as they pleased. He saw that this everlasting +exposure of his vileness was essential towards extracting +from the miserable transaction such salutary lessons +as it might be capable of yielding. With a wonderful +effort of magnanimity, he resolved to place himself in +the pillory of public shame, to expose his memory to all +the foul treatment which the scoffers and libertines of +every after-age might think fit to heap on it. It is +unjust to David, when unbelievers rail against him for +his sin in the matter of Uriah, to overlook the fact that +the first public record of the transaction came from his +own pen, and was delivered to the chief musician, for +public use. Infidels may scoff, but this narrative will +be a standing proof that the foolishness of God is +wiser than men. The view given to God's servants of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> +the weakness and deceitfulness of their hearts; the +warning against dallying with the first movements of +sin; the sight of the misery which follows in its wake; +the encouragement which the convicted sinner has to +humble himself before God; the impulse given to +penitential feeling; the hope of mercy awakened in the +breasts of the despairing; the softer, humbler, holier +walk when pardon has been got and peace restored,—such +lessons as these, afforded in every age by this +narrative, will render it to thoughtful hearts a constant +ground for magnifying God. "O the depth of the +riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! +how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways +past finding out!"</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII.</a></h2> + +<h3><i>ABSALOM AND AMNON.</i></h3> + +<h5>2 <span class="smcap">Samuel</span> xiii. 1-37.</h5> + + +<p>A living sorrow, says the proverb, is worse +than a dead. The dead sorrow had been very +grievous to David; what the living sorrow, of which +this chapter tells us, must have been, we cannot conceive. +It is his own disorderly lusts, reappearing in +his sons, that are the source of this new tragedy. It +is often useful for parents to ask whether they would +like to see their children doing what they allow in themselves; +and in many cases the answer is an emphatic +"No." David is now doomed to see his children following +his own evil example, only with added circumstances +of atrocity. Adultery and murder had been introduced +by him into the palace; when he is done with them +they remain to be handled by his sons.</p> + +<p>It is a very repulsive picture of sensuality that this +chapter presents. One would suppose that Amnon and +Absalom had been accustomed to the wild orgies of +pagan idolatry. Nathan had rebuked David because he +had given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme. +He had afforded them a pretext for denying +the work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration and sanctification, +and for affirming that so-called holy men were +just like the rest of mankind. This in God's eyes +was a grievous offence. Amnon and Absalom are now<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> +guilty of the same offence in another form, because they +afford a pretext for ungodly men to say that the families +of holy men are no better—perhaps that they are worse—than +other families. But as David himself in the +matter of Uriah is an exception to the ordinary lives of +godly men, so his home is an exception to the ordinary +tone and spirit of religious households. Happily we +are met with a very different ideal when we look +behind the scenes into the better class of Christian +homes, whether high or low. It is a beautiful picture +of the Christian home, according to the Christian ideal, +we find, for example, in Milton's <i>Comus</i>—pure brothers, +admiring a dear sister's purity, and jealous lest, alone +in the world, she should fall in the way of any of those +bloated monsters that would drag an angel into their +filthy sty. Commend us to those homes where +brothers and sisters, sharing many a game, and with +still greater intimacy pouring into each other's ears +their inner thoughts and feelings, never utter a jest, or +word, or allusion with the slightest taint of indelicacy, +and love and honour each other with all the higher +affection that none of them has ever been near the +haunts of pollution. It is easy to ridicule innocence, +to scoff at young men who "flee youthful lusts;" yet +who will say that the youth who is steeped in fashionable +sensuality is worthy to be the brother and companion +of pure-minded maidens, or that his breath will not +contaminate the atmosphere of their home? What +easy victories Belial gains over many! How easily he +persuades them that vice is manly, that impurity is +grand, that the pig's sty is a delightful place to lie +down in! How easily he induces them to lay snares +for female chastity, and put the devil's mask on woman's +soul! But "God is not mocked; whatsoever a man<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> +soweth, that shall he also reap; for he that soweth to +the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption, while he +that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life +everlasting."</p> + +<p>In Scripture some men have very short biographies; +Amnon is one of these. And, like Cain, all that is recorded +of him has the mark of infamy. We can easily +understand that it was a great disaster to him to be +a king's son. To have his position in life determined +and all his wants supplied without an effort on his part; +to be surrounded by such plenty that the wholesome +necessity of denying himself was unknown, and whatever +he fancied was at once obtained; to be so accustomed +to indulge his legitimate feelings that when +illegitimate desires rose up it seemed but natural that +they too should be gratified; thus to be led on in the +evil ways of sensual pleasure till his appetite became at +once bloated and irrepressible; to be surrounded by +parasites and flatterers, that would make a point of +never crossing him nor uttering a disagreeable word, +but constantly encouraging his tastes,—all this was +extremely dangerous. And when his father had set +him the example, it was hardly possible he would avoid +the snare. There is every reason to believe that before +he is presented to us in this chapter he was already +steeped in sensuality. It was his misfortune to have a +friend, Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother, +"a very subtil man," who at heart must have been as +great a profligate as himself. For if Jonadab had been +anything but a profligate, Amnon would never have +confided to him his odious desire with reference to his +half-sister, and Jonadab would never have given him +the advice that he did. What a blessing to Amnon, at +this stage of the tragedy, would have been the faithful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> +advice of an honest friend—one who would have had +the courage to declare the infamy of his proposal, and +who would have so placed it in the light of truth that +it would have shocked and horrified even Amnon himself! +In reality, the friend was more guilty than the +culprit. The one was blinded by passion; the other +was self-possessed and cool. The cool man encourages +the heated; the sober man urges on the intoxicated. +O ye sons of wealth and profligacy, it is sad enough +that you are often so tempted by the lusts that rise up +in your own bosoms, but it is worse to be exposed to +the friendship of wretches who never study your real +good, but encourage you to indulge the vilest of your +appetites, and smooth for you the way to hell!</p> + +<p>The plan which Jonadab proposes for Amnon to +obtain the object of his desire is founded on a stratagem +which he is to practise on his father. He is to pretend +sickness, and under this pretext to get matters arranged +by his father as he would like. To practise deceit on a +father was a thing not unknown even among the founders +of the nation; Jacob and Jacob's sons had resorted to +it alike. But it had been handed down with the mark +of disgrace attached to it by God Himself. In spite of +this it was counted both by Jonadab and Amnon a +suitable weapon for their purpose. And so, as every +one knows, it is counted not only a suitable, but a +smart and laughable, device, in stage plays without +number, and by the class of persons whose morality +is reflected by the popular stage. Who so suitable a +person to be made a fool of as "the governor"? Who +so little to be pitied when he becomes the dupe of +his children's cunning? "Honour thy father and thy +mother," was once proclaimed in thunder from Sinai, +and not only men's hearts trembled, but the very earth<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> +shook at the voice. But these were old times and old-fashioned +people. Treat your father and mother as +useful and convenient tools, inasmuch as they have +control of the purse, of which you are often in want. +But as they are not likely to approve of the objects for +which you would spend their money; as they are sure, +on the other hand, to disapprove of them strongly, +exercise your ingenuity in hoodwinking them as to +your doings, and if your stratagem succeed, enjoy your +chuckle at the blindness and simplicity of the poor old +fools! If this be the course that commends itself to +any son or daughter, it indicates a heart so perverted +that it would be most difficult to bring it to any sense +of sin. All we would say is, See what kind of comrades +you have in this policy of deceiving parents. See +this royal blackguard, Amnon, and his villainous adviser +Jonadab, resorting to the very same method for hoodwinking +King David; see them making use of this +piece of machinery to compass an act of the grossest +villainy that ever was heard of; and say whether you +hold the device to be commended by their example, and +whether you feel honoured in treading a course that +has been marked before you by such footprints.</p> + +<p>If anything more was needed to show the accomplished +villainy of Amnon, it is his treatment of Tamar +after he has violently compassed her ruin. It is the +story so often repeated even at this day,—the ruined +victim flung aside in dishonour, and left unpitied to +her shame. There is no trace of any compunction on +the part of Amnon at the moral murder he has committed, +at the life he has ruined; no pity for the once +blithe and happy maiden whom he has doomed to +humiliation and woe. She has served his purpose, +king's daughter though she is; let her crawl into the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> +earth like a poor worm to live or to die, in want or in +misery; it is nothing to him. The only thing about her +that he cares for is, that she may never again trouble +him with her existence, or disturb the easy flow of his +life. We think of those men of the olden time as utter +barbarians who confined their foes in dismal dungeons, +making their lives a continual torture, and denying them +the slightest solace to the miseries of captivity. But +what shall we say of those, high-born and wealthy +men, it may be, who doom their cast-off victims to an +existence of wretchedness and degradation which has +no gleam of enjoyment, compared with which the silence +and loneliness of a prison would be a luxury? Can the +selfishness of sin exhibit itself anywhere or anyhow +more terribly? What kind of heart can be left to the +seducer, so hardened as to smother the faintest touch of +pity for the woman he has made wretched for ever; so +savage as to drive from him with the roughest execrations +the poor confiding creature without whom he +used to vow, in the days of her unsuspecting innocence, +that he knew not how to live!</p> + +<p>In a single word, our attention is now turned to the +father of both Amnon and Tamar. "When King David +heard of all these things, he was very wroth." Little +wonder! But was this all? Was no punishment +found for Amnon? Was he allowed to remain in the +palace, the oldest son of the king, with nothing to mark +his father's displeasure, nothing to neutralise his influence +with the other royal children, nothing to prevent +the repetition of his wickedness? Tamar, of course, +was a woman. Was it for this reason that nothing +was done to punish her destroyer? It does not appear +that his position was in any way changed. We cannot +but be indignant at the inactivity of David. Yet when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> +we think of the past, we need not be surprised. David +was too much implicated in the same sins to be able to +inflict suitable punishment for them. It is those whose +hands are clean that can rebuke the offender. Let +others try to administer reproof—their own hearts condemn +them, and they shrink from the task. Even the +king of Israel must wink at the offences of his son.</p> + +<p>But if David winked, Absalom did nothing of the +kind. Such treatment of his full sister, if the king +chose to let it alone, could not be let alone by the +proud, indignant brother. He nursed his wrath, and +watched for his opportunity. Nothing short of the +death of Amnon would suffice him. And that death +must be compassed not in open fight but by assassination. +At last, after two full years, his opportunity +came. A sheepshearing at Baal-hazor gave occasion +for a feast, to which the king and all his sons should +be asked. His father excused himself on the ground +of the expense. Absalom was most unwilling to +receive the excuse, reckoning probably that the king's +presence would more completely ward off any suspicion +of his purpose, and utterly heedless of the anguish his +father would have felt when he found that, while asked +professedly to a feast, it was really to the murder +of his eldest son. David, however, refuses firmly, but +he gives Absalom his blessing. Whether this was +meant in the sense in which Isaac blessed Jacob, or +whether it was merely an ordinary occasion of commending +Absalom to the grace of God, it was a touching +act, and it might have arrested the arm that was +preparing to deal such a fatal blow to Amnon. On the +contrary, Absalom only availed himself of his father's +expression of kindly feeling to beg that he would allow +Amnon to be present. And he succeeded so well that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> +permission was given, not to Amnon only, but to all +the king's sons. To Absalom's farm at Baal-hazor +accordingly they went, and we may be sure that +nothing would be spared to make the banquet worthy +of a royal family. And now, while the wine is flowing +freely, and the buzz of jovial talk fills the apartment, +and all power of action on the part of Amnon is arrested +by the stupefying influence of wine, the signal is given +for his murder. See how closely Absalom treads in +the footsteps of his father when he summons intoxicating +drink to his aid, as David did to Uriah, when +trying to make a screen of him for his own guilt. Yes, +from the beginning, drink, or some other stupefying +agent, has been the ready ally of the worst criminals, +either preparing the victim for the slaughter or maddening +the murderer for the deed. But wherever it has +been present it has only made the tragedy more awful +and the aspect of the crime more hideous. Give a +wide berth, ye servants of God, to an agent with which +the devil has ever placed himself in such close and +deadly alliance!</p> + +<p>It is not easy to paint the blackness of the crime of +Absalom. We have nothing to say for Amnon, who +seems to have been a man singularly vile; but there +is something very appalling in his being murdered by +the order of his brother, something very cold-blooded +in Absalom's appeal to the assassins not to flinch from +their task, something very revolting in the flagrant +violation of the laws of hospitality, and something not +less daring in the deed being done in the midst of the +feast, and in the presence of the guests. When Shakespeare +would paint the murder of a royal guest, the +deed is done in the dead of night, with no living +eye to witness it, with no living arm at hand capable<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> +of arresting the murderous weapon. But here is a +murderer of his guest who does not scruple to have +the deed done in broad daylight in presence of all his +guests, in presence of all the brothers of his victim, +while the walls resound to the voice of mirth, and each +face is radiant with festive excitement. Out from +some place of concealment rush the assassins with their +deadly weapons; next moment the life-blood of Amnon +spurts on the table, and his lifeless body falls heavily +to the ground. Before the excitement and horror of +the assembled guests has subsided Absalom has made +his escape, and before any step can be taken to pursue +him he is beyond reach in Geshur in Syria.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile an exaggerated report of the tragedy +reaches King David's ears,—Absalom has slain all the +king's sons, and there is not one of them left. Evil, +at the bottom of his heart, must have been David's +opinion of him when he believed the story, even in +this exaggerated form. "The king arose and rent +his clothes, and lay on the earth; and all his servants +stood round with their clothes rent." Nor was it till +Jonadab, his cousin, assured him that only Amnon +could be dead, that the terrible impression of a wholesale +massacre was removed from his mind. But who +can fancy what the circumstances must have been, +when it became a relief to David to know that +Absalom had murdered but one of his brothers? +Jonadab evidently thought that David did not need +to be much surprised, inasmuch as this murder was +a foregone conclusion with Absalom; it had been +determined on ever since the day when Amnon forced +Tamar. Here is a new light on the character of +Jonadab. He knew that Absalom had determined +that Amnon should die. It was no surprise to him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> +to hear that this purpose was carried out with effect. +Why did he not warn Amnon? Could it be that he +had been bribed over to the side of Absalom? He +knew the real state of the case before the king's sons +arrived. For when they did appear he appealed to +David whether his statement, previously given, was +not correct.</p> + +<p>And now the first part of the retribution denounced +by Nathan begins to be fulfilled, and fulfilled very +fearfully,—"the sword shall never depart from thy +house." Ancient history abounds in frightful stories, +stories of murder, incest, and revenge, the materials, +real or fabulous, from which were formed the tragedies +of the great Greek dramatists. But nothing in their +dramas is more tragic than the crime of Amnon, the +incest of Tamar, and the revenge of Absalom. What +David's feelings must have been we can hardly conceive. +What must he have felt as he thought of the death of +Amnon, slain by his brother's command, in his brother's +house, at his brother's table, and hurried to God's judgment +while his brain was reeling with intoxication! +What a pang must have been shot by the recollection +how David had once tried, for his own base ends, to +intoxicate Uriah as Absalom had intoxicated Amnon! +It does not appear that David's grief over Amnon was +of the passionate kind that he showed afterwards when +Absalom was slain; but, though quieter, it must have +been very bitter. How could he but be filled with +anguish when he thought of his son, hurried, while +drunk, by his brother's act, into the presence of God, to +answer for the worse than murder of his sister, and for +all the crimes and sins of an ill-spent life! What hope +could he entertain for the welfare of his soul? What +balm could he find for such a wound?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span></p> + +<p>And it was not Amnon only he had to think of. +These three of his children, Amnon, Tamar, Absalom, +in one sense or another, were now total wrecks. From +these three branches of his family tree no fruit could +ever come. Nor could the dead now bury its dead. +Neither the remembrance nor the effect of the past +could ever be wiped out. It baffles us to think how +David was able to carry such grief. "David mourned +for his son every day." It was only the lapse of time +that could blunt the edge of his distress.</p> + +<p>But surely there must have been terrible faults in +David's upbringing of his family before such results as +these could come. Undoubtedly there were. First of +all, there was the number of his wives. This could not +fail to be a source of much jealousy and discord among +them and their children, especially when he himself +was absent, as he must often have been, for long +periods at a time. Then there was his own example, so +unguarded, so unhallowed, at a point where the utmost +care and vigilance had need to be shown. Thirdly, +there seems to have been an excessive tenderness of +feeling towards his children, and towards some of them +in particular. He could not bear to disappoint; his +feelings got the better of his judgment; when the child +insisted the father weakly gave way. He wanted the +firmness and the faithfulness of Abraham, of whom God +had said, "I know him that he will <i>command</i> his children +and his household after him, and they shall keep the +way of the Lord to do justice and judgment." Perhaps, +too, busy and often much pressed as he was with affairs +of state, occupied with foreign wars, with internal improvements, +and the daily administration of justice, he +looked on his house as a place of simple relaxation and +enjoyment, and forgot that there, too, he had a solemn<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> +charge and most important duty. Thus it was that +David failed in his domestic management. It is easy +to spy out his defects, and easy to condemn him. But +let each of you who have a family to bring up look to +himself. You have not all David's difficulties, but you +may have some of them. The precept and the promise +is, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and +when he is old he will not depart from it." It is not +difficult to know the way he should go—the difficulty +lies in the words, "Train up." To train up is not to +force, nor is it merely to lay down the law, or to enforce +the law. It is to get the whole nature of the child to +move freely in the direction wished. To do this needs +on the part of the parent a combination of firmness +and love, of patience and decision, of consistent example +and sympathetic encouragement. But it needs also, on +the part of God, and therefore to be asked in earnest, +believing prayer, that wondrous power which touches +the springs of the heart, and draws it to Him and to +His ways. Only by this combination of parental faithfulness +and Divine grace can we look for the blessed +result, "when he is old he will not depart from it."</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.</a></h2> + +<h3><i>ABSALOM BANISHED AND BROUGHT BACK.</i></h3> + +<h5>2 <span class="smcap">Samuel</span> xiii. 38, 39; xiv.</h5> + + +<p>Geshur, to which Absalom fled after the murder +of Amnon, accompanied in all likelihood by the +men who had slain him, was a small kingdom in Syria, +lying between Mount Hermon and Damascus. Maacah, +Absalom's mother, was the daughter of Talmai, king +of Geshur, so that Absalom was there among his own +relations. There is no reason to believe that Talmai +and his people had renounced the idolatrous worship +that prevailed in Syria. For David to ally himself in +marriage with an idolatrous people was not in accordance +with the law. In law, Absalom must have been +a Hebrew, circumcised the eighth day; but in spirit +he would probably have no little sympathy with his +mother's religion. His utter alienation in heart from +his father; the unconcern with which he sought to drive +from the throne the man who had been so solemnly +called to it by God; the vow which he pretended to +have taken, when away in Syria, that if he were invited +back to Jerusalem he would "serve the Lord," all point +to a man infected in no small degree with the spirit, if +not addicted to the practice, of idolatry. And the tenor +of his life, so full of cold-blooded wickedness, exemplified +well the influence of idolatry, which bred neither fear +of God nor love of man.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span></p> + +<p>We have seen that Amnon had not that profound +hold on David's heart which Absalom had; and therefore +it is little wonder that when time had subdued +the keen sensation of horror, the king "was comforted +concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead." There was no +great blank left in his heart, no irrepressible craving +of the soul for the return of the departed. But it was +otherwise in the case of Absalom,—"the king's heart +was towards him." David was in a painful dilemma, +placed between two opposite impulses, the judicial and +the paternal; the judicial calling for the punishment of +Absalom, the paternal craving his restoration. Absalom +in the most flagrant way had broken a law older even +than the Sinai legislation, for it had been given to Noah +after the flood—"Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by +man shall his blood be shed." But the deep affection +of David for Absalom not only caused him to shrink +from executing that law, but made him most desirous +to have him near him again, pardoned, penitent as he +no doubt hoped, and enjoying all the rights and privileges +of the king's son. The first part of the chapter +now before us records the manner in which David, in +great weakness, sacrificed the judicial to the paternal, +sacrificed his judgment to his feelings, and the welfare +of the kingdom for the gratification of his affection. +For it was too evident that Absalom was not a fit man +to succeed David on the throne. If Saul was unfit to +rule over God's people, and as God's vicegerent, much +more was Absalom. Not only was he not the right +kind of man, but, as his actions had showed, he was the +very opposite. By his own wicked deed he was now an +outlaw and an exile; he was out of sight and likely +to pass out of mind; and it was most undesirable that +any step should be taken to bring him back among the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> +people, and give him every chance of the succession. +Yet in spite of all this the king in his secret heart +desired to get Absalom back. And Joab, not studying +the welfare of the kingdom, but having regard only to +the strong wishes of the king and of the heir-apparent, +devised a scheme for fulfilling their desire.</p> + +<p>That collision of the paternal and the judicial, which +David removed by sacrificing the judicial, brings to our +mind a discord of the same kind on a much greater +scale, which received a solution of a very different +kind. The sin of man created the same difficulty in +the government of God. The judicial spirit, demanding +man's punishment, came into collision with the +paternal, desiring his happiness. How were they to +be reconciled? This is the great question on which +the priests of the world, when unacquainted with Divine +revelation, have perplexed themselves since the world +began. When we study the world's religions, we see +very clearly that it has never been held satisfactory +to solve the problem as David solved his difficulty, +by simply sacrificing the judicial. The human conscience +refuses to accept of such a settlement. It +demands that some satisfaction shall be made to that +law of which the Divine Judge is the administrator. It +cannot bear to see God abandoning His judgment-seat +in order that He may show indiscriminate mercy. +Fantastic and foolish in the last degree, grim and +repulsive too, in many cases, have been the devices by +which it has been sought to supply the necessary +satisfaction. The awful sacrifices of Moloch, the mutilations +of Juggernaut, the penances of popery, are +most repulsive solutions, while they all testify to the +intuitive conviction of mankind that something in the +form of atonement is indispensable. But if these solutions<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> +repel us, not less satisfactory is the opposite view, +now so current, that nothing in the shape of sin-offering +is necessary, that no consideration needs to be taken +of the judicial, that the infinite clemency of God is +adequate to deal with the case, and that a true belief +in His most loving fatherhood is all that is required for +the forgiveness and acceptance of His erring children. +In reality this is no solution at all; it is just David's +method of sacrificing the judicial; it satisfies no healthy +conscience, it brings solid peace to no troubled soul. +The true and only solution, by which due regard is +shown both to the judicial and the paternal, is that +which is so fully unfolded and enforced in the Epistles +of St. Paul. "God was in Christ reconciling the world +unto Himself, not imputing unto men their trespasses.... +For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no +sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God +in Him."</p> + +<p>Returning to the narrative, we have next to examine +the stratagem of Joab, designed to commit the king +unwittingly to the recall of Absalom. The idea of the +method may quite possibly have been derived from +Nathan's parable of the ewe lamb. The design was to +get the king to give judgment in an imaginary case, +and thus commit him to a similar judgment in the case +of Absalom. But there was a world-wide difference +between the purpose of the parable of Nathan and that +of the wise woman of Tekoah. Nathan's parable was +designed to rouse the king's conscience as against his +feelings; the woman of Tekoah's, as prompted by Joab, +to rouse his feelings as against his conscience. Joab +found a fitting tool for his purpose in a wise woman of +Tekoah, a small town in the south of Judah. She was +evidently an accommodating and unscrupulous person;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> +but there is no reason to compare her to the woman +of Endor, whose services Saul had resorted to. She +seems to have been a woman of dramatic faculty, +clever at personating another, and at acting a part. +Her skill in this way becoming known to Joab, he +arranged with her to go to the king with a fictitious +story, and induce him now to bring back Absalom. +Her story bore that she was a widow who had been +left with two sons, one of whom in a quarrel killed his +brother in the field. All the family were risen against +her to constrain her to give up the murderer to death, +but if she did so her remaining coal would be quenched, +and neither name nor remainder left to her husband +on the face of the earth. On hearing the case, the +king seems to have been impressed in the woman's +favour, and promised to give an order accordingly. +Further conversation obtained clearer assurances from +him that he would protect her from the avenger of +blood. Then, dropping so far her disguise, she ventured +to remonstrate with the king, inasmuch as he had +not dealt with his own son as he was prepared to deal +with hers. "Wherefore then hast thou devised such a +thing against the people of God? for in speaking this +word, the king is as one that is guilty, in that the king +doth not fetch home again his banished one. For we +must needs die, and are as water spilt upon the ground +which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God +take away life, but deviseth means that he that is +banished be not an outcast from Him." We cannot +but be struck, though not favourably, with the pious +tone which the woman here assumed to David. She +represents that the continued banishment of Absalom +is against the people of God,—it is not for the nation's +interest that the heir-apparent should be for ever<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> +banished. It is against the example of God, who, in +administering His providence, does not launch His +arrows at once against the destroyer of life, but rather +shows him mercy, and allows him to return to his +former condition. Clemency is a divine-like attribute. +The king who can disentangle difficulties, and give +such prominence to mercy, is like an angel of God. It +is a divine-like work he undertakes when he recalls +his banished. She can pray, when he is about to +undertake such a business, "The Lord thy God be with +thee" (R.V.). She knew that any difficulties the king +might have in recalling his son would arise from his +fears that he would be acting against God's will. The +clever woman fills his eye with considerations on one +side—the mercy and forbearance of God, the pathos +of human life, the duty of not making things worse +than they necessarily are. She knew he would be +startled when she named Absalom. She knew that +though he had given judgment on the general principle +as involved in the imaginary case she had put before +him, he might demur to the application of that +principle to the case of Absalom. Her instructions +from Joab were to get the king to sanction Absalom's +return. The king has a surmise that the hand of Joab +is in the whole transaction, and the woman acknowledges +that it is so. After the interview with the +woman, David sends for Joab, and gives him leave to +fetch back Absalom. Joab goes to Geshur and brings +Absalom to Jerusalem.</p> + +<p>But David's treatment of Absalom when he returns +does not bear out the character for unerring wisdom +which the woman had given him. The king refuses to +see his son, and for two years Absalom lives in his +own house, without enjoying any of the privileges of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> +the king's son. By this means David took away all the +grace of the transaction, and irritated Absalom. He +was afraid to exercise his royal prerogative in pardoning +him out-and-out. His conscience told him it ought +not to be done. To restore at once one who had +sinned so flagrantly to all his dignity and power was +against the grain. Though therefore he had given +his consent to Absalom returning to Jerusalem, for all +practical purposes he might as well have been at +Geshur. And Absalom was not the man to bear this +quietly. How would his proud spirit like to hear of +royal festivals at which all were present but he? How +would he like to hear of distinguished visitors to the +king from the surrounding countries, and he alone excluded +from their society? His spirit would be chafed +like that of a wild beast in its cage. Now it was, we +cannot doubt, that he felt a new estrangement from his +father, and conceived the project of seizing upon his +throne. Now too it probably was that he began to +gather around him the party that ultimately gave him +his short-lived triumph. There would be sympathy for +him in some quarters as an ill-used man; while there +would rally to him all who were discontented with +David's government, whether on personal or on public +grounds. The enemies of his godliness, emboldened +by his conduct towards Uriah, finding there what +Daniel's enemies in a future age tried in vain to find +in his conduct, would begin to think seriously of the +possibility of a change. Probably Joab began to +apprehend the coming danger when he refused once +and again to speak to Absalom. It seemed to be the +impression both of David and of Joab that there would +be danger to the state in his complete restoration.</p> + +<p>Two years of this state of things had passed, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> +patience of Absalom was exhausted. He sent for Joab +to negotiate for a change of arrangements. But Joab +would not see him. A second time he sent, and a +second time Joab declined. Joab was really in a great +difficulty. He seems to have seen that he had made a +mistake in bringing Absalom to Jerusalem, but it was +a mistake out of which he could not extricate himself. +He was unwilling to go back, and he was afraid to go +forward. He had not courage to undo the mistake he +had made in inviting Absalom to return by banishing +him again. If he should meet Absalom he knew he +would be unable to meet the arguments by which he +would press him to complete what he had begun when +he invited him back. Therefore he studiously avoided +him. But Absalom was not to be outdone in this way. +He fell on a rude stratagem for bringing Joab to his +presence. Their fields being adjacent to each other, +Absalom sent his servants to set Joab's barley on +fire. The irritation of such an unprovoked injury +overcame Joab's unwillingness to meet Absalom; he +went to him in a rage and demanded why this had +been done. The matter of the barley would be easy +to arrange; but now that he had met Joab he showed +him that there were just two modes of treatment open +to David,—either really to pardon, or really to punish +him. This probably was just what Joab felt. There +was no good, but much harm in the half-and-half +policy which the king was pursuing. If Absalom was +pardoned, let him be on friendly terms with the king. +If he was not pardoned, let him be put to death for the +crime he had committed.</p> + +<p>Joab was unable to refute Absalom's reasoning. +And when he went to the king he would press that +view on him likewise. And now, after two years of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> +half-and-half measure, the king sees no alternative but +to yield. "When he had called for Absalom, he came +to the king, and bowed himself to his face on the +ground before the king; and the king kissed Absalom." +This was the token of reconciliation and friendship. +But it would not be with a clear conscience or an easy +mind that David saw the murderer of his brother in full +possession of the honours of the king's son.</p> + +<p>In all this conduct of King David we can trace only +the infatuation of one left to the guidance of his own +mind. It is blunder after blunder. Like many good but +mistaken men, he erred both in inflicting punishments +and in bestowing favours. Much that ought to be +punished such persons pass over; what they do select +for punishment is probably something trivial; and when +they punish it is in a way so injudicious as to defeat its +ends. And some, like David, keep oscillating between +punishment and favour so as at once to destroy the effect +of the one and the grace of the other. His example may +well show all of you who have to do with such things +the need of great carefulness in this important matter. +Penalties, to be effectual, should be for marked offences, +but when incurred should be firmly maintained. Only +when the purpose of the punishment is attained ought +reconciliation to take place, and when that comes it +should be full-hearted and complete, restoring the +offender to the full benefit of his place and privilege, +both in the home and in the hearts of his parents.</p> + +<p>So David lets Absalom loose, as it were, on the +people of Jerusalem. He is a young man of fine appearance +and fascinating manners. "In all Israel there was +none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty; +from the sole of the foot even to the crown of the head +there was no blemish in him. And when he polled his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> +head (for it was at every year's end that he polled it; +because his hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled +it) the weight of the hair of his head was two hundred +shekels after the king's weight." No doubt this had +something to do with David's great liking for him. +He could not but look on him with pride, and think +with pleasure how much he was admired by others. +The affection which owed so much to a cause of this +sort was not likely to be of the highest or purest +quality. What then are we to say of David's fondness +for Absalom? Was it wrong for a father to be attached +to his child? Was it wrong for him to love even a +wicked child? No one can for a moment think so who +remembers that "God <i>commended His love towards us</i>, +in that <i>while we were yet sinners</i> Christ died for us." +There is a sense in which loving emotions may warrantably +be more powerfully excited in the breast of a godly +parent toward an erring child than toward a wise and +good one. The very thought that a child is in the +thraldom of sin creates a feeling of almost infinite pathos +with reference to his condition. The loving desire for +his good and his happiness becomes more intense from +the very sense of the disorder and misery in which +he lies. The sheep that has strayed from the fold is +the object of a more profound emotion than the ninety-and-nine +that are safe within it. In this sense a +parent cannot love his child, even his sinful and erring +child, too well. The love that seeks another's highest +good can never be too intense, for it is the very counterpart +and image of God's love for sinful men.</p> + +<p>But, as far as we can gather, David's love for +Absalom was not exclusively of this kind. It was a +fondness that led him to wink at his faults even when +they became flagrant, and that desired to see him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> +occupying a place of honour and responsibility for +which he certainly was far from qualified. This was +more than the love of benevolence. The love of benevolence +has, in the Christian bosom, an unlimited sphere. +It may be given to the most unworthy. But the love +of complacency, of delight in any one, of desire for his +company, desire for close relations with him, confidence +in him, as one to whom our own interests and the +interests of others may be safely entrusted, is a quite +different feeling. This kind of love must ever be regulated +by the degree of true excellence, of genuine +worth, possessed by the person loved. The fault in +David's love to Absalom was not that he was too benevolent, +not that he wished his son too well. It was +that he had too much complacency or delight in him, +delight resting on very superficial ground, and that +he was too willing to have him entrusted with the +most vital interests of the nation. This fondness for +Absalom was a sort of infatuation, to which David never +could have yielded if he had remembered the hundred +and first Psalm, and if he had thought of the kind of men +whom alone when he wrote that psalm he determined +to promote to influence in the kingdom.</p> + +<p>And on this we found a general lesson of no small +importance. Young persons, let us say emphatically +young women, and perhaps Christian young women, +are apt to be captivated by superficial qualities, qualities +like those of Absalom, and in some cases are not only +ready but eager to marry those who possess them. In +their blindness they are willing to commit not only +their own interests but the interests of their children, +if they should have any, to men who are not Christians, +perhaps barely moral, and who are therefore not worthy +of their trust. Here it is that affection should be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> +watched and restrained. Christians should never allow +their affections to be engaged by any whom, on Christian +grounds, they do not thoroughly esteem. All honour +to those who, at great sacrifice, have honoured this rule! +All honour to Christian parents who bring up their +children to feel that, if they are Christians themselves, +they can marry only in the Lord! Alas for those +who deem accidental and superficial qualities sufficient +grounds for a union which involves the deepest interests +of souls for time and for eternity! In David's ill-founded +complacency in Absalom, and the woeful +disasters which flowed from it, let them see a beacon +to warn them against any union which has not mutual +esteem for its foundation, and does not recognise those +higher interests in reference to which the memorable +words were spoken by our Lord, "What is a man +profited if he gain the whole world and lose his own +soul?"</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX.</a></h2> + +<h3><i>ABSALOM'S REVOLT.</i></h3> + +<h5>2 <span class="smcap">Samuel</span> xv. 1-12.</h5> + + +<p>When Absalom obtained from his father the +position he had so eagerly desired at Jerusalem, +he did not allow the grass to grow under his feet. The +terms on which he was now with the king evidently +gave him a command of money to a very ample degree. +By this means he was able to set up an equipage such +as had not previously been seen at Jerusalem. "He +prepared him a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run +before him." To multiply horses to himself was one +of the things forbidden by the law of Moses to the +king that should be chosen (Deut. xvii. 16), mainly, +we suppose, because it was a prominent feature of the +royal state of the kings of Egypt, and because it would +have indicated a tendency to place the glory of the +kingdom in magnificent surroundings rather than in +the protection and blessing of the heavenly King. The +style of David's living appears to have been quiet and +unpretending, notwithstanding the vast treasures he had +amassed; for the love of pomp or display was none +of his failings. Anything in the shape of elaborate +arrangement that he devised seems to have been in +connection with the public service of God—for instance, +his choir of singers and players (1 Chron. xxiii. 5); his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> +own personal tastes appear to have been simple and inexpensive. +And this style undoubtedly befitted a royalty +which rested on a basis so peculiar as that of the +nation of Israel, when the king, though he used that +title, was only the viceroy of the true King of the +nation, and where it was the will of God that a different +spirit should prevail from that prevalent among the +surrounding nations. A modest establishment was +evidently suited to one who recognised his true position +as a subordinate lieutenant, not an absolute ruler.</p> + +<p>But Absalom's tastes were widely different, and he +was not the man to be restrained from gratifying them +by any considerations of that sort. The moment he +had the power, though he was not even king, he set +up his imposing equipage, and became the observed of +all observers in Jerusalem. And no doubt there were +many of the people who sympathised with him, and +regarded it as right and proper that, now that Israel +was so renowned and prosperous a kingdom, its court +should shine forth in corresponding splendour. The +plain equipage of David would seem to them paltry +and unimposing, in no way fitted to gratify the pride +or elevate the dignity of the kingdom. Absalom's, on +the other hand, would seem to supply all that David's +wanted. The prancing steeds, with their gay caparisons, +the troop of outrunners in glittering uniform, the +handsome face and figure of the prince, would create +a sensation wherever he went; There, men would say +emphatically, is the proper state and bearing of a king; +had we such a monarch as that, surrounding nations +would everywhere acknowledge our superiority, and +feel that we were entitled to the first place among the +kingdoms of the East.</p> + +<p>But Absalom was far too shrewd a man to base his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> +popularity merely on outward show. For the daring +game which he was about to play it was necessary to +have much firmer support than that. He understood +the remarkable power of personal interest and sympathy +in winning the hearts of men, and drawing them +to one's side. He rose up early, and stood beside the +way of the gate, where in Eastern cities judgment was +usually administered, but where, for some unknown +reason, little seems to have been done by the king or +the king's servants at that time. To all who came to +the gate he addressed himself with winsome affability, +and to those who had "a suit that should come to +the king for judgment" (R.V.) he was especially +encouraging. Well did he know that when a man has +a lawsuit it usually engrosses his whole attention, +and that he is very impatient of delays and hindrances +in the way of his case. Very adroitly did he take +advantage of this feeling,—sympathising with the litigant, +agreeing with him of course that he had right +on his side, but much concerned that there was no one +appointed of the king to attend to his business, and +devoutly and fervently wishing that he were made +judge in the land, that every one that had any suit or +cause might come to him, and he would do him justice. +And with regard to others, when they came to do him +homage he seemed unwilling to recognise this token of +superiority, but, as if they were just brothers, he put +forth his hand, took hold of them, and kissed them. If +it were not for what we know now of the hollowness +of it, this would be a pretty picture—an ear so ready +to listen to the tale of wrong, a heart so full of sympathy, +an active temperament that in the early hours of the +morning sent him forth to meet the people and +exchange kindly greetings with them; a form and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> +figure that graced the finest procession; a manner that +could be alike dignified when dignity was becoming, +and humility itself when it was right to be humble. +But alas for the hollow-heartedness of the picture! It +is like the fabled apples of Sodom, outside all fair and +attractive, but dust within.</p> + +<p>But hollow though it was, the policy succeeded—he +became exceedingly popular; he secured the affections +of the people. It is a remarkable expression that is +used to denote this result—"He stole the hearts of the +men of Israel." It was not an honest transaction. It +was swindling in high life. He was appropriating +valuable property on false pretences. To constitute +a man a thief or a swindler it is not necessary that +he forge a rich man's name, or that he put his hand +into the pocket of his neighbour. To gain a heart by +hypocritical means, to secure the confidence of another +by lying promises, is equally low and wicked; nay, in +God's sight is a greater crime. It may be that man's +law has difficulty in reaching it, and in many cases +cannot reach it at all. But it cannot be supposed that +those who are guilty of it will in the end escape God's +righteous judgment. And if the punishments of the +future life are fitted to indicate the due character +of the sins for which they are sent, we can think of +nothing more appropriate than that those who have +stolen hearts in this way, high in this world's rank +though they have often been, should be made to rank +with the thieves and thimbleriggers and other knaves +who are the <i>habitués</i> of our prisons, and are scorned +universally as the meanest of mankind. With all his +fine face and figure and manner, his chariot and +horses, his outrunners and other attendants, Absalom +after all was but a black-hearted thief.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span></p> + +<p>All this crooked and cunning policy of his Absalom +carried on with unwearied vigour till his plot was +ripe. There is reason to apprehend an error of some +kind in the text when it is said (ver. 7) that it was "at +the end of forty years" that Absalom struck the final +blow. The reading of some manuscripts is more likely +to be correct,—"at the end of four years," that is, +four years after he was allowed to assume the position +of prince. During that space of time much might be +quietly done by one who had such an advantage +of manner, and was so resolutely devoted to his work. +For he seems to have laboured at his task without +interruption all that time. The dissembling which he +had to practise, to impress the people with the idea +of his kindly interest in them, must have required +a very considerable strain. But he was sustained in +it by the belief that in the end he would succeed, and +success was worth an infinity of labour. What a +power of persistence is often shown by the children +of this world, and how much wiser are they in their +generation than the children of light as to the means +that will achieve their ends! With what wonderful +application and perseverance do many men labour +to build up a business, to accumulate a fortune, to gain +a distinction! I have heard of a young man who, +being informed that an advertisement had appeared in +a newspaper to the effect that if his family would apply +to some one they would hear of something to their +advantage, set himself to discover that advertisement, +went over the advertisements for several years, column +by column, first of one paper, then of another and +another, till he became so absorbed in the task that he +lost first his reason and then his life. Thank God, +there are instances not a few of very noble application<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> +and perseverance in the spiritual field; but is it not +true that the mass even of good men are sadly remiss +in the efforts they make for spiritual ends? Does not +the energy of the racer who ran for the corruptible +crown often put to shame the languor of those who +seek for an incorruptible? And does not the manifold +secular activity of which we see so much in the world +around us sound a loud summons in the ears of all +who are at ease in Zion—"Now it is high time +to awake out of sleep"?</p> + +<p>The copestone which Absalom put on his plot when +all was ripe for execution was of a piece with the +whole undertaking. It was an act of religious hypocrisy +amounting to profanity. It shows how well he must +have succeeded in deceiving his father when he could +venture on such a finishing stroke. Hypocrite though +he was himself, he well knew the depth and sincerity +of his father's religion. He knew too that nothing +could gratify him more than to find in his son the +evidence of a similar state of heart. It is difficult to +comprehend the villainy that could frame such a statement +as this:—"I pray thee, let me go and pay my +vow, which I have vowed unto the Lord, in Hebron. +For thy servant vowed a vow, while I abode at Geshur +in Syria, saying, If the Lord shall indeed bring me +again to Jerusalem, then I will serve" (marg. R.V., +worship) "the Lord." We have already remarked that +it is not very clear from this whether up to this time +Absalom had been a worshipper of the God of Israel. +The purport of his pretended vow (that is, what he +wished his father to believe) must have been either +that, renouncing the idolatry of Geshur, he would now +become a worshipper of Israel's God, or (what seems +more likely) that in token of his purpose for the future<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> +he would present a special offering to the God of +Israel. This vow he now wished to redeem by making +his offerings to the Lord, and for this purpose he +desired to go to Hebron. But why go to Hebron? +Might he not have redeemed it at Jerusalem? It was +the custom, however, when a vow was taken, to specify +the place where it was to be fulfilled, and in this +instance Hebron was alleged to be the place. But +what are we to think of the effrontery and wickedness +of this pretence? To drag sacred things into a +scheme of villainy, to pretend to have a desire to do +honour to God simply for the purpose of carrying out +deception and gaining a worldly end, is a frightful +prostitution of all that ought to be held most sacred. +It seems to indicate one who had no belief in God or +in anything holy, to whom truth and falsehood, right +and wrong, honour and shame, were all essentially +alike, although, when it suited him, he might pretend +to have a profound regard to the honour of God and +a cordial purpose to render that honour. We are reminded +of Charles II. taking the Covenant to please +the Scots, and get their help towards obtaining the +crown. But indeed the same great sin is involved in +every act of religious hypocrisy, in every instance +in which pretended reverence is paid to God in order +to secure a selfish end.</p> + +<p>The place was cunningly selected. It enjoyed a +sanctity which had been gathering round it for centuries; +whereas Jerusalem, as the capital of the nation, +was but of yesterday. Hebron was the place where +David himself had begun his reign, and while it was +far enough from Jerusalem to allow Absalom to work +unobserved by David, it was near enough to allow him +to carry out the schemes which had been set on foot<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> +there. So little suspicion had the old king of what +was brewing that, when Absalom asked leave to go +to Hebron, he dismissed him with a blessing—"Go in +peace."</p> + +<p>What Joab was thinking of all this we have no +means of knowing. That a man who looked after +his own interests so well as Joab did, should have +stuck to David when his fortunes appeared to be +desperate, is somewhat surprising. But the truth +seems to be that Absalom never felt very cordial +towards Joab after his refusal to meet him on his +return from Geshur. It does not appear that Joab +was much impressed by regard to God's will in the +matter of the succession; his being engaged afterwards +in the insurrection in favour of Adonijah when Solomon +was divinely marked out for the succession shows that +he was not. His adherence to David on this occasion +was probably the result of necessity rather than choice. +But what are we to say of his want of vigilance in +allowing Absalom's conspiracy to advance as it did +either without suspecting its existence, or at least +without making provision for defending the king's +cause? Either he was very blind or he was very +careless. As for the king himself, we have seen what +cause he had, after his great trespass, for courting +solitude and avoiding contact with the people. That +he should be ignorant of all that was going on need +not surprise us. And moreover, from allusions in +some of the Psalms (xxxviii., xxxix., xli.) to a loathsome +and all but fatal illness of David's, and to treachery +practised on him when ill, some have supposed that +this was the time chosen by Absalom for consummating +his plot. When Absalom said to the men applying +for justice, whom he met at the gate of the city, "There<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> +is no man deputed of the king to hear thee," his words +implied that there was something hindering the king +from being there in person, and for some reason he +had not appointed a deputy. A protracted illness, +unfitting David for his personal duties and for superintending +the machinery of government, might have +furnished Absalom with the pretext for his lamentation +over this want. It gives us a harder impression of +his villainy and hardness of heart if he chose a time +when his father was enfeebled by disease to inflict a +crushing blow on his government and a crowning +humiliation on himself.</p> + +<p>Three other steps were taken by Absalom before +bringing the revolt to a crisis. First, he sent spies +or secret emissaries to all the tribes, calling them, +on hearing the sound of a trumpet, to acknowledge +him as king at Hebron. Evidently he had all the +talent for administration that was so conspicuous in +his nation and in his house,—if only it had been put +to a better use. Secondly, he took with him to Hebron +a band of two hundred men, of whom it is said "they +went in their simplicity, and they knew not anything"—so +admirably was the secret kept. Thirdly, Absalom +sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, +from his city, having reason to believe that Ahithophel +was on his side, and knowing that his counsel would +be valuable to him in the present emergency. And +every arrangement seemed to succeed admirably. +The tide ran strongly in his favour—"the conspiracy +was strong, for the people increased continually with +Absalom." Everything seemed to fall out precisely as +he wished; it looked as if the revolt would not only +succeed, but that it would succeed without serious +opposition. Absalom must have been full of expectation<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> +that in a few days or weeks he would be reigning +unopposed at Jerusalem.</p> + +<p>This extraordinary success is difficult to understand. +For what could have made David so unpopular? In +his earliest years he had been singularly popular; +his victories brought him unbounded <i>éclat</i>; and when +Ishbosheth died it was the remembrance of these early +services that disposed the people to call him to the +throne. Since that time he had increased his services +in an eminent degree. He had freed his country from +all the surrounding tribes that were constantly attacking +it; he had conquered those distant but powerful +enemies the Syrians; and he had brought to the +country a great accumulation of wealth. Add to this +that he was fond of music and a poet, and had written +many of the very finest of their sacred songs. Why +should not such a king be popular? The answer to +this question will embrace a variety of reasons. In the +first place, a generation was growing up who had not +been alive at the time of his early services, and on +whom therefore they would make a very slender +impression. For service done to the public is very +soon forgotten unless it be constantly repeated in +other forms, unless, in fact, there be a perpetual round +of it. So it is found by many a minister of the gospel. +Though he may have built up his congregation from the +very beginning, ministered among them with unceasing +assiduity, and taken the lead in many important and +permanent undertakings, yet in a few years after he +goes away all is forgotten, and his very name comes +to be unknown to many. In the second place, David +was turning old, and old men are prone to adhere +to their old ways; his government had become old-fashioned, +and he showed no longer the life and vigour<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> +of former days. A new, fresh, lively administration +was eagerly desired by the younger spirits of the nation. +Further, there can be no doubt that David's fervent +piety was disliked by many, and his puritan methods +of governing the kingdom. The spirit of the world is +sure to be found in every community, and it is always +offended by the government of holy men. Finally, his +fall in the matter of Uriah had greatly impaired the +respect and affection even of the better part of the +community. If to all this there was added a period +of feeble health, during which many departments of +government were neglected, we shall have, beyond +doubt, the principal grounds of the king's unpopularity. +The ardent lovers of godliness were no doubt a +minority, and thus even David, who had done so +much for Israel, was ready to be sacrificed in the time +of old age.</p> + +<p>But had he not something better to fall back on? +Was he not promised the protection and the aid of the +Most High? Might he not cast himself on Him who +had been his refuge and his strength in every time of +need, and of whom he had sung so serenely that He +is near to them that call on Him in sincerity and in +truth? Undoubtedly he might, and undoubtedly he +did. And the final result of Absalom's rebellion, the +wonderful way in which its back was broken and David +rescued and restored, showed that though cast down +he was not forsaken. But now, we must remember, the +second element of the chastisement of which Nathan +testified, had come upon him. "Behold, I will raise +up evil against thee out of thine own house." That +chastisement was now falling, and while it lasted +the joy and comfort of God's gracious presence must +have been interrupted. But all the same God was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> +still with him, even though He was carrying him through +the valley of the shadow of death. Like the Apostle +Peter, he was brought to the very verge of destruction; +but at the critical moment an unseen hand was stretched +out to save him, and in after-years he was able to sing, +"He brought me up also out of a fearful pit, and out +of the miry clay; and He set my feet upon a rock and +established my goings; and He hath put a new song +in my mouth, even praise unto our God; many shall +see it and shall fear, and shall trust in the Lord."</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX.</a></h2> + +<h3><i>DAVID'S FLIGHT FROM JERUSALEM.</i></h3> + +<h5>2 <span class="smcap">Samuel</span> xv. 13.</h5> + + +<p>The trumpet which was to be the signal that +Absalom reigned in Hebron had been sounded, +the flow of people in response to it had begun, when +"a messenger came to David saying, The hearts of +the men of Israel are after Absalom." The narrative +is so concise that we can hardly tell whether or not +this was the first announcement to David of the +real intentions of Absalom. But it is very certain that +the king was utterly unprepared to meet the sudden +revolt. The first news of it all but overwhelmed him. +And little wonder. There came on him three calamities +in one. First, there was the calamity that the great +bulk of the people had revolted against him, and +were now hastening to drive him from the throne, and +very probably to put him to death. Second, there was +the appalling discovery of the villainy, hypocrisy, and +heartless cruelty of his favourite and popular son,—the +most crushing thing that can be thought of to a tender +heart. And third, there was the discovery that the +hearts of the people were with Absalom; David had +lost what he most prized and desired to possess; the +intense affection he had for his people now met with +no response; their love and confidence were given<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> +to a usurper. Fancy an old man, perhaps in infirm +health, suddenly confronted with this threefold calamity; +who can wonder for the time that he is paralysed, +and bends before the storm?</p> + +<p>Flight from Jerusalem seemed the only feasible +course. Both policy and humanity seemed to dictate +it. He considered himself unable to defend the city +with any hope of success against an attack by such a +force as Absalom could muster, and he was unwilling +to expose the people to be smitten with the sword. +Whether he was really as helpless as he thought we +can hardly say. We should be disposed to think that +his first duty was to stay where he was, and defend his +capital. He was there as God's viceroy, and would not +God be with him, defending the place where He had set +His name, and the tabernacle in which He was pleased +to dwell? It is not possible for us, ignorant as we are +of the circumstances, to decide whether the flight from +Jerusalem was the enlightened result of an overwhelming +necessity, or the fruit of sudden panic, of a heart +so paralysed that it could not gird itself for action. His +servants had no other advice to offer. Any course that +recommended itself to him they were ready to take. If +this did not help to throw light on his difficulties, it +must at least have soothed his heart. His friends were +not all forsaking him. Amid the faithless a few were +found faithful. Friends in such need were friends indeed. +And the sight of their honest though perplexed countenances, +and the sound of their friendly though trembling +voices, would be most soothing to his feelings, and +serve to rally the energy that had almost left him. +When the world forsakes us, the few friends that +remain are of priceless value.</p> + +<p>On leaving Jerusalem David at once turned eastward,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> +into the wilderness region between Jerusalem and +Jericho, with the view, if possible, of crossing the Jordan, +so as to have that river, with its deep valley, between +him and the rebels. The first halt, or rather the rendezvous +for his followers, though called in the A.V. "a place +that was far off," is more suitably rendered in the R.V. +Bethmerhak, and the margin "the far house." Probably +it was the last house on this side the brook +Kidron. Here, outside the walls of the city, some +hasty arrangements were made before the flight was +begun in earnest.</p> + +<p>First, we read that he was accompanied by all his +household, with the exception of ten concubines who +were left to keep the house. Fain would we have +avoided contact at such a moment with that feature of +his house from which so much mischief had come; but +to the end of the day David never deviated in that +respect from the barbarous policy of all Eastern kings. +The mention of his household shows how embarrassed +he must have been with so many helpless appendages, +and how slow his flight. And his household were not the +only women and children of the company; the "little +ones" of the Gittites are mentioned in ver. 22; we +may conceive how the unconcealed terror and excitement +of these helpless beings must have distressed him, as +their feeble powers of walking must have held back the +fighting part of his attendants. When one thinks of +this, one sees more clearly the excellence of the advice +afterwards given by Ahithophel to pursue him without +loss of time with twelve thousand men, to destroy his +person at once; in that case, Absalom must have overtaken +him long before he reached the Jordan, and +found him quite unable to withstand his ardent troops.</p> + +<p>Next, we find mention of the forces that remained<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> +faithful to the king in the crisis of his misfortunes. +The Pelethites, the Cherethites, and the Gittites were +the chief of these. The Pelethites and the Cherethites +are supposed to have been the representatives of the +band of followers that David commanded when hiding +from Saul in the wilderness; the Gittites appear to have +been a body of refugees from Gath, driven away by the +tyranny of the Philistines, who had thrown themselves +on the protection of David and had been well treated +by him. The interview between David and Ittai was +most creditable to the feelings of the fugitive king. +Ittai was a stranger who had but lately come to Jerusalem, +and as he was not attached to David personally, +it would be safer for him to return to the city and +offer to the reigning king the services which David could +no longer reward. But the generous proposal of David +was rejected with equal nobility on the part of Ittai. +He had probably been received with kindness by David +when he first came to Jerusalem, the king remembering +well when he himself was in the like predicament, and +thinking, like the African princess to Æneas, "<i>Haud +ignara mali, miseris succurrere disco</i>"—"Having had +experience of adversity myself, I know how to succour +the miserable." Ittai's heart was won to David then; +and he had made up his mind, like Ruth the Moabitess +with reference to Naomi, that wherever David was, in life +or in death, there also he should be. How affecting must +it have been to David to receive such an assurance from +a stranger! His own son, whom he had loaded with +undeserved kindness, was conspiring against him, +while this stranger, who owed him nothing in comparison, +was risking everything in his cause. "There +is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."</p> + +<p>Next in David's train presented themselves Zadok<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> +and Abiathar, the priests, carrying the ark of God. +The presence of this sacred symbol would have invested +the cause of David with a manifestly sacred character +in the eyes of all good men; its absence from Absalom +would have equally suggested the absence of Israel's +God. But David probably remembered how ill it had +fared with Israel in the days of Eli and his sons, when +the ark was carried into battle. Moreover, when the +ark had been placed on Mount Zion, God had said, +"This is My rest; here will I dwell;" and even in this +extraordinary emergency, David would not disturb that +arrangement. He said to Zadok, "Carry back the ark of +God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of +the Lord, He shall bring me again, and show me both +it and His habitation: but if He thus say, I have no +delight in thee, behold, here am I; let Him do to me what +seemeth good unto Him." These words show how much +God was in David's mind in connection with the events +of that humiliating day. They show, too, that he did +not regard his case as desperate. But everything +turned on the will of God. It might be that, in His +great mercy, He would bring him back to Jerusalem. +His former promises led him to think of this as a +possible, perhaps probable, termination of the insurrection. +But it might also be that the Lord had no more +delight in him. The chastening with which He was +now visiting him for his sin might involve the success +of Absalom. In that case, all that David would say +was that he was at God's disposal, and would offer no +resistance to His holy will. If he was to be restored, +he would be restored without the aid of the ark; if he +was to be destroyed, the ark could not save him. +Zadok and his Levites must carry it back into the city. +The distance was a very short one, and they would be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> +able to have everything placed in order before Absalom +could be there.</p> + +<p>Another thought occurred to David, who was now +evidently recovering his calmness and power of making +arrangements. Zadok was a seer, and able to use that +method of obtaining light from God which in great +emergencies God was pleased to give when the ruler of +the nation required it. But the marginal reading of the +R.V., "Seest thou?" instead of "Thou art a seer," +makes it doubtful whether David referred to this mystic +privilege, which Zadok does not appear to have used; +the meaning may be simply, that as he was an observant +man, he could be of use to David in the city, by +noticing how things were going and sending him word. +In this way he could be of more use to him in Jerusalem +than in the field. Considering how he was +embarrassed with the women and children, it was +better for David not to be encumbered with another +defenceless body like the Levites. The sons of the +priests, Ahimaaz and Jonathan, would be of great +service in bringing him information. Even if he succeeded +in reaching the plains (or fords, <i>marg.</i> R.V.) of +the wilderness, they could easily overtake him, and tell +him what plan of operations it would be wisest for him +to follow.</p> + +<p>These hasty arrangements being made, and the company +placed in some sort of order, the march towards +the wilderness now began. The first thing was to +cross the brook Kidron. From its bed, the road led up +the slope of Mount Olivet. To the spectators the sight +was one of overwhelming sadness. "All the country +wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over; +the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, +and all the people passed over toward the way of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> +wilderness." After all, there was a large number who +sympathised with the king, and to whom it was most +affecting to see one who was now "old and grey-headed" +driven from his throne and from his home by an +unprincipled son, aided and abetted by a graceless +generation who had no consideration for the countless +benefits which David had conferred on the nation. It +is when we find "all the country" expressing their +sympathy that we cannot but doubt whether it was +really necessary for David to fly. Perhaps "the +country" here may be used in contrast to the city. +Country people are less accessible to secret conspiracies, +and besides are less disposed to change their allegiance. +The event showed that in the more remote country +districts David had still a numerous following. Time +to gather these friends together was his great need. If +he had been fallen on that night, weary and desolate +and almost friendless, as was proposed by Ahithophel, +there can be no rational doubt what the issue would +have been.</p> + +<p>And the king himself gave way to distress, like the +people, though for different reasons. "David went up +by the ascent of Mount Olivet, and wept as he went +up, and had his head covered; and he went barefoot; +and all the people that was with him covered every +man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went +up." The covered head and bare feet were tokens of +humiliation. They were a humble confession on the +king's part that the affliction which had befallen him +was well deserved by him. The whole attitude and +bearing of David is that of one "stricken, smitten, and +afflicted." Lofty looks and a proud bearing had never +been among his weaknesses; but on this occasion, he +is so meek and lowly that the poorest person in his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> +kingdom could not have assumed a more humble bearing. +It is the feeling that had so wrung his heart in +the fifty-first Psalm come back on him again. It is the +feeling, Oh, what a sinner I have been! how forgetful +of God I have often proved, and how unworthily I have +acted toward man! No wonder that God rebukes me +and visits me with these troubles! And not me only, +but my people too. These are my children, for whom I +should have provided a peaceful home, driven into the +shelterless wilderness with me! These kind people +who are compassionating me have been brought by me +into this trouble, which peradventure will cost them +their lives. "Have mercy upon me, O God, according +to Thy lovingkindness; according unto the multitude +of Thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions!"</p> + +<p>It was at this time that some one brought word to +David that Ahithophel the Gilonite was among the +conspirators. He seems to have been greatly distressed +at the news. For "the counsel of Ahithophel, +which he counselled in those days, was as if a man +had inquired of the oracle of God" (xvi. 23). An +ingenious writer has found a reason for this step. +By comparing 2 Sam. xi. 3 with 2 Sam. xxiii. 34, in the +former of which Bathsheba is called the daughter of +Eliam, and in the latter Eliam is called the son of +Ahithophel, it would appear—if it be the same Eliam +in both—that Ahithophel was the grandfather of +Bathsheba. From this it has been inferred that his +forsaking of David at this time was due to his displeasure +at David's treatment of Bathsheba and Uriah. +The idea is ingenious, but after all it is hardly +trustworthy. For if Ahithophel was a man of such +singular shrewdness, he would not be likely to let his +personal feelings determine his public conduct. There<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> +can be no reasonable doubt that, judging calmly from +the kind of considerations by which a worldly mind +like his would be influenced, he came to the deliberate +conclusion that Absalom was going to win. And when +David heard of his defection, it must have given him +a double pang; first, because he would lose so valuable +a counsellor, and Absalom would gain what he would +lose; and second, because Ahithophel's choice showed +the side that, to his shrewd judgment, was going to +triumph. David could but fall back on that higher +Counsellor on whose aid and countenance he was still +able to rely, and offer a short but expressive prayer, "O +Lord, I pray Thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into +foolishness."</p> + +<p>It was but a few minutes after this that another +distinguished counsellor, Hushai the Archite, came to +him, with his clothes rent and dust on his head, signifying +his sense of the public calamity, and his adherence +to David. Him too, as well as Ittai and the priests, +David wished to send back. And the reason assigned +showed that his mind was now calm and clear, and +able to ponder the situation in all its bearings. Indeed, +he concocts quite a little scheme with Hushai. First, +he is to go to Absalom and pretend to be on his side. +But his main business will be to oppose the counsel of +Ahithophel, try to secure a little time to David, and +thus give him a chance of escape. Moreover, he is to +co-operate with the priests Zadok and Abiathar, and +through their sons send word to David of everything +he hears. Hushai obeys David, and as he returns to +the city from the east, Absalom arrives from the south, +before David is more than three or four miles away. +But for the Mount of Olives intervening, Absalom +might have seen the company that followed his father<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> +creeping slowly along the wilderness, a company that +could hardly be called an army, and that, humanly +speaking, might have been scattered like a puff of +smoke.</p> + +<p>Thus Absalom gets possession of Jerusalem without a +blow. He goes to his father's house, and takes possession +of all that he finds there. He cannot but feel the joy of +gratified ambition, the joy of the successful accomplishment +of his elaborate and long-prosecuted scheme. Times +are changed, he would naturally reflect, since I had to +ask my father's leave for everything I did, since I could +not even go to Hebron without begging him to allow me. +Times are changed since I reared that monument in +the vale for want of anything else to keep my name +alive. Now that I am king, my name will live without +a monument. The success of the revolution was so +remarkable, that if Absalom had believed in God, he +might have imagined, judging from the way in which +everything had fallen out in his favour, that Providence +was on his side. But, surely, there must have been a +hard constraint and pressure upon his feelings somewhere. +Conscience could not be utterly inactive. +Fresh efforts to silence it must have been needed from +time to time. Amid all the excitement of success, +a vague horror must have stolen in on his soul. A +vision of outraged justice would haunt him. He might +scare away the hideous spectre for a time, but he could +not lay it in the grave. "There is no peace, saith my +God, to the wicked."</p> + +<p>But if Absalom might well be haunted by a spectre +because he had driven his father from his house, and +God's anointed from his throne, there was a still more +fearful reckoning standing against him, in that he had +enticed such multitudes from their allegiance, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span> +drawn them into the guilt of rebellion. There was not +one of the many thousands that were now shouting "God +save the king!" who had not been induced through him +to do a great sin, and bring himself under the special +displeasure of God. A rough nature like Absalom's +would make light of this result of his movement, as +rough natures have done since the world began. But a +very different judgment was passed by the great Teacher +on the effects of leading others into sin. "Whosoever +shall break one of these least commandments and teach +men so, he shall be called least in the kingdom of +God." "Whoso shall cause one of these little ones +which believe in Me to stumble, it were better for him +that a millstone were hanged about his neck and he +were cast in the depth of the sea." Yet how common +a thing this has been in all ages of the world, and how +common it is still! To put pressure on others to do +wrong; to urge them to trifle with their consciences, or +knowingly to violate them; to press them to give a +vote against their convictions;—all such methods of +disturbing conscience and drawing men into crooked +ways, what sin they involve! And when a man of +great influence employs it with hundreds and thousands +of people in such ways, twisting consciences, +disturbing self-respect, bringing down Divine displeasure, +how forcibly we are reminded of the proverb, +"One sinner destroyeth much good"!</p> + +<p>Most earnestly should every one who has influence +over others dread being guilty of debauching conscience, +and discouraging obedience to its call. On +the other hand, how blessed is it to use one's influence +in the opposite direction. Think of the blessedness of +a life spent in enlightening others as to truth and duty, +and encouraging loyalty to their high but often difficult<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> +claims. What a contrast to the other! What a +noble aim to try to make men's eye single and their +duty easy; to try to raise them above selfish and +carnal motives, and inspire them with a sense of the +nobility of walking uprightly, and working righteousness, +and speaking the truth in their hearts! What a +privilege to be able to induce our fellows to walk in +some degree even as He walked "who did no sin, +neither was guile found in His mouth;" and who, in +ways so high above our ways, was ever influencing the +children of men "to do justly, and to love mercy, and to +walk humbly with their God"!</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI.</a></h2> + +<h3><i>FROM JERUSALEM TO MAHANAIM.</i></h3> + +<h5>2 <span class="smcap">Samuel</span> xvi. 1-14; xvii. 15-22 and 24-26.</h5> + + +<p>As David proceeds on his painful journey, there +flows from his heart a gentle current of humble, +contrite, gracious feeling. If recent events have +thrown any doubt on the reality of his goodness, this +fragrant narrative will restore the balance. Many a +man would have been beside himself with rage at the +treatment he had undergone. Many another man would +have been restless with terror, looking behind him +every other moment to see if the usurper's army was +not hastening in pursuit of him. It is touching to see +David, mild, self-possessed, thoroughly humble, and +most considerate of others. Adversity is the element +in which he shines; it is in prosperity he falls; in +adversity he rises beautifully. After the humbling +events in his life to which our attention has been lately +called, it is a relief to witness the noble bearing of the +venerable saint amid the pelting of this most pitiless +storm.</p> + +<p>It was when David was a little past the summit of +Mount Olivet, and soon after he had sent back Hushai, +that Ziba came after him,—that servant of Saul that +had told him of Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, and +whom he had appointed to take charge of the property<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> +that had belonged to Saul, now made over to Mephibosheth. +The young man himself was to be as one of +the king's sons, and was to eat at the royal table. +Ziba's account of him was, that when he heard of the +insurrection he remained at Jerusalem, in the expectation +that on that very day the kingdom of his father +would be restored to him. It can hardly be imagined +that Mephibosheth was so silly as to think or say anything +of the kind. Either Ziba must have been slandering +him now, or Mephibosheth must have slandered +Ziba when David returned (see 2 Sam. xix. 24-30). +With that remarkable impartiality which distinguishes +the history, the facts and the statements of the parties +are recorded as they occurred, but we are left to form +our own judgment regarding them. All things considered, +it is likely that Ziba was the slanderer and +Mephibosheth the injured man. Mephibosheth was +too feeble a man, both in mind and in body, to be +forming bold schemes by which he might benefit from +the insurrection. We prefer to believe that the son +of Jonathan had so much of his father's nobility as to +cling to David in the hour of his trial, and be desirous +of throwing in his lot with him. If, however, Ziba +was a slanderer and a liar, the strange thing about him +is that he should have taken this opportunity to give +effect to his villainy. It is strange that, with a soul full +of treachery, he should have taken the trouble to come +after David at all, and still more that he should have +made a contribution to his scanty stores. We should +have expected such a man to remain with Absalom, +and look to him for the reward of unrighteousness. +He brought with him for David's use a couple of asses +saddled, and two hundred loaves of bread, and an +hundred clusters of raisins, and an hundred of summer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> +fruits, and a bottle of wine. We get a vivid idea of the +extreme haste with which David and his company must +have left Jerusalem, and their destitution of the very +necessaries of life as they fled, from this catalogue of +Ziba's contributions. Not even were there beasts of +burden "for the king's household"—even Bathsheba +and Solomon may have been going on foot. David +was evidently impressed by the gift, and his opinion of +Mephibosheth was not so high as to prevent him from +believing that he was capable of the course ascribed to +him. Yet we cannot but think there was undue haste +in his at once transferring to Ziba the whole of Mephibosheth's +property. We can only say, in vindication +of David, that his confidence even in those who had +been most indebted to him had received so rude a +shock in the conduct of Absalom, that he was ready to +say in his haste, "All men are liars;" he was ready +to suspect every man of deserting him, except those +that gave palpable evidence that they were on his side. +In this number it seemed at the moment that Ziba +was, while Mephibosheth was not; and trusting to his +first impression, and acting with the promptitude necessary +in war, he made the transfer. It is true that +afterwards he discovered his mistake; and some may +think that when he did he did not make a sufficient +rectification. He directed Ziba and Mephibosheth to +divide the property between them; but in explanation +it has been suggested that this was equivalent to the +old arrangement, by which Ziba was to cultivate the +land, and Mephibosheth to receive the fruits; and if +half the produce went to the proprietor, and the other +half to the cultivator, the arrangement may have been +a just and satisfactory one after all.</p> + +<p>But if Ziba sinned in the way of smooth treachery,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> +Shimei, the next person with whom David came in +contact, sinned not less in the opposite fashion, by his +outrageous insolence and invective. It is said of this +man that he was of the family of the house of Saul, and +that fact goes far to account for his atrocious behaviour. +We get a glimpse of that inveterate jealousy of David +which during the long period of his reign slept in the +bosom of the family of Saul, and which seemed now, like +a volcano, to burst out all the more fiercely for its long +suppression. When the throne passed from the family +of Saul, Shimei would of course experience a great social +fall. To be no longer connected with the royal family +would be a great mortification to one who was vain of +such distinctions. Outwardly, he was obliged to bear +his fall with resignation, but inwardly the spirit of disappointment +and jealousy raged in his breast. When +the opportunity of revenge against David came, the +rage and venom of his spirit poured out in a filthy +torrent. There is no mistaking the mean nature of the +man to take such an opportunity of venting his malignity +on David. To trample on the fallen, to press a man +when his back is at the wall, to pierce with fresh +wounds the body of a stricken warrior, is the mean +resource of ungenerous cowardice. But it is too much +the way of the world. "If there be any quarrels, any +exceptions," says Bishop Hall, "against a man, let him +look to have them laid in his dish when he fares the +hardest. This practice have wicked men learned of +their master, to take the utmost advantage of their +afflictions."</p> + +<p>If Shimei had contented himself with denouncing the +policy of David, the forbearance of his victim would +not have been so remarkable. But Shimei was guilty +of every form of offensive and provoking assault. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span> +threw stones, he called abusive names, he hurled wicked +charges against David; he declared that God was +fighting against him, and fighting justly against such +a man of blood, such a man of Belial. And, as if this +were not enough, he stung him in the most sensitive +part of his nature, reproaching him with the fact that it +was his son that now reigned instead of him, because +the Lord had delivered the kingdom into his hand. +But even all this accumulation of coarse and shameful +abuse failed to ruffle David's equanimity. Abishai, +Joab's brother, was enraged at the presumption of a +fellow who had no right to take such an attitude, and +whose insolence deserved a prompt and sharp castigation. +But David never thirsted for the blood of foes. +Even while the rocks were echoing Shimei's charges, +David gave very remarkable evidence of the spirit of a +chastened child of God. He showed the same forbearance +that he had shown twice on former occasions +in sparing the life of Saul. "Why," asked Abishai, +"should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let +me go, I pray thee, and take off his head." "So let +him curse," was David's answer, "because the Lord hath +said unto him, Curse David." It was but partially true +that the Lord had told him to do so. The Lord had +only permitted him to do it; He had only placed David +in circumstances which allowed Shimei to pour out his +insolence. This use of the expression, "The Lord hath +said unto him," may be a useful guide to its true meaning +in some passages of Scripture where it has seemed +at first as if God gave very strange directions. The +pretext that Providence had afforded to Shimei was +this, "Behold, my son, which came out of my bowels, +seeketh my life; how much more then may this +Benjamite do it? Let him alone, and let him curse,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> +for the Lord hath bidden him. It may be that the Lord +will requite me good for his cursing this day." It is +touching to remark how keenly David felt this dreadful +trial as coming from his own son.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"So the struck eagle stretched upon the plain,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">No more through rolling clouds to soar again,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Viewed his own feather on the fatal dart<br /></span> +<span class="i1">That winged the shaft that quivered in his heart;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Keen were his pangs, but keener far to feel<br /></span> +<span class="i1">He nursed the pinion which impelled the steel;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">While the same plumage that had warmed his nest<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Drank the last lifedrop of his bleeding breast."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>But even the fact that it was his own son that was +the author of all his present calamities would not have +made David so meek under the outrage of Shimei if he +had not felt that God was using such men as instruments +to chastise him for his sins. For though God had +never said to Shimei, "Curse David," He had let him +become an instrument of chastisement and humiliation +against him. It was the fact of his being such an instrument +in God's hands that made the King so unwilling +to interfere with him. David's reverence for God's +appointment was like that which afterwards led our +Lord to say, "The cup which My Father hath given +Me, shall I not drink of it?" Unlike though David and +Jesus were in the cause of their sufferings, yet there is +a remarkable resemblance in their bearing under them. +The meek resignation of David as he went out from the +holy city had a strong resemblance to the meek resignation +of Jesus as He was being led from the same city +to Calvary. The gentle consideration of David for the +welfare of his people as he toiled up Mount Olivet was +parallel to the same feeling of Jesus expressed to the +daughters of Jerusalem as He toiled up to Calvary. +The forbearance of David to Shimei was like the spirit<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> +of the prayer—"Father, forgive them: for they know +not what they do." The overawing sense that God +had ordained their sufferings was similar in both. +David owed his sufferings solely to himself; Jesus +owed His solely to the relation in which He had placed +Himself to sinners as the Sin-bearer. It is beautiful to +see David so meek and lowly under the sense of his +sins—breathing the spirit of the prophet's words, "I +will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, +and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and +what I shall answer when I am reproved."</p> + +<p>There was another thought in David's mind that +helped him to bear his sufferings with meek submission. +It is this that is expressed in the words, "It may be +that the Lord will requite me good for his cursing this +day." He felt that, as coming from the hand of God, +all that he had suffered was just and righteous. He +had done wickedly, and he deserved to be humbled and +chastened by God, and by such instruments as God +might appoint. But the particular words and acts of +these instruments might be highly unjust to him: +though Shimei was God's instrument for humiliating +him, yet the curses of Shimei were alike unrighteous +and outrageous; the charge that he had shed the blood +of Saul's house, and seized Saul's kingdom by violence, +was outrageously false; but it was better to bear the +wrong, and leave the rectifying of it in God's hands; +for God detests unfair dealing, and when His servants +receive it He will look to it and redress it in His own +time and way. And this is a very important and +valuable consideration for those servants of God who +are exposed to abusive language and treatment from +scurrilous opponents, or, what is too common in our +day, scurrilous newspapers. If injustice is done them,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span> +let them, like David, trust to God to redress the wrong; +God is a God of justice, and God will not see them +treated unjustly. And hence that remarkable statement +which forms a sort of appendix to the seven beatitudes—"Blessed +are ye when men shall revile you and persecute +you, and speak all manner of evil against you +falsely for My name's sake. Rejoice and be exceeding +glad, for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted +they the prophets that were before you."</p> + +<p>Ere we return to Jerusalem to witness the progress +of events in Absalom's camp and cabinet, let us +accompany David to his resting-place beyond the +Jordan. Through the counsel of Hushai, afterwards to +be considered, he had reached the plains of Jordan in +safety; had accomplished the passage of the river, and +traversed the path on the other side as far as Mahanaim, +somewhere to the south of the Lake of Gennesareth, +the place where Ishbosheth had held his court. It was +a singular mercy that he was able to accomplish this +journey, which in the condition of his followers must +have occupied several days, without opposition in front +or molestation in his rear. Tokens of the Lord's +loving care were not wanting to encourage him on the +way. It must have been a great relief to him to learn +that Ahithophel's proposal of an immediate pursuit had +been arrested through the counsel of Hushai. It was a +further token for good, that the lives of the priests' sons, +Jonathan and Ahimaaz, which had been endangered +as they bore tidings for him, had been mercifully +preserved. After learning the result of Hushai's +counsel, they proceeded, incautiously perhaps, to reach +David, and were observed and pursued. But a friendly +woman concealed them in a well, as Rahab the harlot +had hid the spies in the roof of her house; and though<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> +they ran a great risk, they contrived to reach David's +camp in peace.</p> + +<p>And when David reached Mahanaim, where he +halted to await the course of events, Shobi, the son +of Nahash, king of Ammon, and Machir, the son +of Ammiel of Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite +of Rogelim, brought beds, and basons, and earthen +vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched +corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse, +and honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of +kine, for David and for the people that were with +him to eat; for they said, "The people is hungry, and +weary, and thirsty in the wilderness." Some of +those who thus befriended him were only requiting +former favours. Shobi may be supposed to have been +ashamed of his father's insulting conduct when David +sent messengers to comfort him on his father's death. +Machir, the son of Ammiel of Lo-debar, was the friend +who had cared for Mephibosheth, and was doubtless +thankful for David's generosity to him. Of Barzillai +we know nothing more than is told us here. But +David could not have reckoned on the friendship +of these men, nor on its taking so useful and practical +a turn. The Lord's hand was manifest in the turning +of the hearts of these people to him. How hard +bestead he and his followers were is but too apparent +from the fact that these supplies were most welcome in +their condition. And David must have derived no small +measure of encouragement even from these trifling +matters; they showed that God had not forgotten him, +and they raised the expectation that further tokens +of His love and care would not be withheld.</p> + +<p>The district where David now was, "the other side +of Jordan," lay far apart from Jerusalem and the more<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> +frequented places in the country, and, in all probability, +it was but little affected by the arts of Absalom. The +inhabitants lay under strong obligations to David; +in former times they had suffered most from their +neighbours, Moab, Ammon, and especially Syria; and +now they enjoyed a very different lot, owing to the +fact that those powerful nations had been brought +under David's rule. It was a fertile district, abounding +in all kinds of farm and garden produce, and therefore +well adapted to support an army that had no regular +means of supply. The people of this district seem to +have been friendly to David's cause. The little force +that had followed him from Jerusalem would now be +largely recruited; and, even to the outward sense, he +would be in a far better condition to receive the assault +of Absalom than on the day when he left the city.</p> + +<p>The third Psalm, according to the superscription—and +in this case there seems no cause to dispute it—was +composed "when David fled from Absalom his son." +It is a psalm of wonderful serenity and perfect trust. +It begins with a touching reference to the multitude +of the insurgents, and the rapidity with which they +increased. Everything confirms the statement that +"the conspiracy was strong, and that the people +increased continually with Absalom." We seem to +understand better why David fled from Jerusalem; +even there the great bulk of the people were with the +usurper. We see, too, how godless and unbelieving +the conspirators were—"Many there be which say of +my soul, There is no help for him in God." God was +cast out of their reckoning as of no consideration in the +case; it was all moonshine, his pretended trust in Him. +Material forces were the only real power; the idea of +God's favour was only cant, or at best but "a devout<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span> +imagination." But the foundation of his trust was +too firm to be shaken either by the multitude of the +insurgents or the bitterness of their sneers. "Thou, +Lord, art a shield unto me"—ever protecting me, "my +glory,"—ever honouring me, "and the lifter up of mine +head,"—ever setting me on high because I have +known Thy name. No doubt he had felt some tumult +of soul when the insurrection began. But prayer +brought him tranquillity. "I cried unto God with my +voice, and He heard me out of His holy hill." How real +the communion must have been that brought tranquillity +to him amid such a sea of trouble! Even in the +midst of his agitation he can lie down and sleep, and +awake refreshed in mind and body. "I will not be +afraid of ten thousands of the people that have set +themselves against me round about." Faith already +sees his enemies defeated and receiving the doom of +ungodly men. "Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God; +for Thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek +bone; Thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly." +And he closes as confidently and serenely as if victory +had already come—"Salvation belongeth unto the +Lord; Thy blessing is upon Thy people."</p> + +<p>If, in this solemn crisis of his history, David is +a pattern to us of meek submission, not less is he a +pattern of perfect trust. He is strong in faith, giving +glory to God, and feeling assured that what He has +promised He is able also to perform. Deeply conscious +of his own sin, he at the same time most cordially +believes in the word and promise of God. He knows +that, though chastened, he is not forsaken. He bows +his head in meek acknowledgment of the righteousness +of the chastisement; but he lays hold with unwavering +trust on the mercy of God. This union of submission<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> +and trust, is one of priceless value, and much to be +sought by every good man. Under the deepest sense +of sin and unworthiness, you may rejoice and you +ought to rejoice, in the provision of grace. And while +rejoicing most cordially in the provision of grace, you +ought to be contrite and humble for your sin. You +are grievously defective if you want either of these +elements. If the sense of sin weighs on you with +unbroken pressure, if it keeps you from believing in +forgiving mercy, if it hinders you from looking to the +cross, to Him who taketh away the sin of the world, +there is a grievous defect. If your joy in forgiving +mercy has no element of contrition, no chastened sense +of unworthiness, there is no less grievous a defect in +the opposite direction. Let us try at once to feel our +unworthiness, and to rejoice in the mercy that freely +pardons and accepts. Let us look to the rock whence +we are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence we +are digged; feeling that we are great sinners, but that +the Lord Jesus Christ is a great Saviour; and finding +our joy in that faithful saying, ever worthy of all +acceptation, that "Jesus Christ came into the world to +save sinners," even the chief.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII.</a></h2> + +<h3><i>ABSALOM IN COUNCIL.</i></h3> + +<h5>2 <span class="smcap">Samuel</span> xvi. 15-23; xvii. 1-14, and ver. 23.</h5> + + +<p>We must now return to Jerusalem, and trace the +course of events there on that memorable day +when David left it, to flee toward the wilderness, just +a few hours before Absalom entered it from Hebron.</p> + +<p>When Absalom came to the city, there was no trace +of an enemy to oppose him. His supporters in Jerusalem +would no doubt go out to meet him, and conduct +him to the palace with great demonstrations of delight. +Eastern nations are so easily roused to enthusiasm +that we can easily believe that, even for Absalom, there +would be an overpowering demonstration of loyalty. +Once within the palace, he would receive the adherence +and congratulations of his friends.</p> + +<p>Among these, Hushai the Archite presents himself, +having returned to Jerusalem at David's request, and it +is to Hushai's honour that Absalom was surprised to +see him. He knew him to be too good a man, too congenial +with David "his friend," to be likely to follow +such a standard as his. There is much to be read +between the lines here. Hushai was not only a counsellor, +but a friend, of David's. They were probably of +kindred feeling in religious matters, earnest in serving +God. A man of this sort did not seem to be in his own<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span> +place among the supporters of Absalom. It was a silent +confession by Absalom that his supporters were a +godless crew, among whom a man of godliness must +be out of his element. The sight of Hushai impressed +Absalom as the sight of an earnest Christian in a +gambling saloon or on a racecourse would impress the +greater part of worldly men. For even the world has +a certain faith in godliness,—to this extent, at least, +that it ought to be consistent. You may stretch a point +here and there in order to gain favour with worldly men; +you may accommodate yourselves to their ways, go to +this and to that place of amusement, adopt their tone of +conversation, join with them in ridiculing the excesses +of this or that godly man or woman; but you are not +to expect that by such approaches you will rise in their +esteem. On the contrary, you may expect that in their +secret hearts they will despise you. A man that acts +according to his convictions and in the spirit of what +he professes they may very cordially hate, but they are +constrained to respect. A man that does violence to +the spirit of his religion, in his desire to be on friendly +terms with the world and further his interests, and that +does many things to please them, they may not hate +so strongly, but they will not respect. There is a +fitness of things to which the world is sometimes more +alive than Christians themselves. Jehoshaphat is not +in his own place making a league with Ahab, and going +up with him against Ramoth-gilead; he lays himself +open to the rebuke of the seer—"Shouldest thou help +the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? therefore +is wrath upon thee from before the Lord." There +is no New Testament precept needing to be more +pondered than this—"Be ye not unequally yoked with +unbelievers; for what communion hath light with darkness?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span> +or what fellowship hath Christ with Belial? or +what communion hath he that believeth with an +infidel?"</p> + +<p>But Hushai was not content with putting in a silent +appearance for Absalom. When his consistency is +challenged, he must repudiate the idea that he has any +preference for David; he is a loyal man in this sense, +that he attaches himself to the reigning monarch, and +as Absalom has received overwhelming tokens in his +favour from every quarter, Hushai is resolved to stand +by him. But can we justify these professions of +Hushai? It is plain enough he went on the principle +of fighting Absalom with his own weapons, of paying +him with his own coin; Absalom had dissembled +so profoundly, he had made treachery, so to speak, so +much the current coin of the kingdom, that Hushai +determined to use it for his own purposes. Yet, even +in these circumstances, the deliberate dissembling of +Hushai grates against every tender conscience, and +more especially his introduction of the name of Jehovah—"Nay, +but whom the Lord, and this people, and all the +men of Israel choose, his will I be, and with him will I +abide." Was not this taking the name of the Lord his +God in vain? The stratagem had been suggested by +David; it was not condemned by the voice of the age; +and we are not prepared to say that stratagem is +always to be condemned; but surely, in our time, the +claims of truth and fair dealing would stamp it as a +disreputable device, not sanctified by the end for +which it was resorted to, and not worthy the followers +of Him "who did no sin, neither was guile found in +His mouth."</p> + +<p>Having established himself in the confidence of +Absalom, Hushai gained a right to be consulted in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> +the deliberations of the day. He enters the room +where the new king's counsellors are met, but he finds +it a godless assemblage. In planning the most awful +wickedness, a cool deliberation prevails that shows +how familiar the counsellors are with the ways of +sin. "Give counsel among you," says the royal president, +"what we shall do." How different from David's +way of opening the business—"Bring hither the ephod, +and enquire of the Lord." In Absalom's council help +of that kind is neither asked nor desired.</p> + +<p>The first to propose a course is Ahithophel, and +there is something so revolting in the first scheme +which he proposed that we wonder much that such +a man should ever have been a counsellor of David. +His first piece of advice, that Absalom should publicly +take possession of his father's concubines, was designed +to put an end to any wavering among the people; it +was, according to Eastern ideas, the grossest insult +that could be offered to a king, and that king a father, +and it would prove that the breach between David and +Absalom was irreparable, that it was vain to hope for +any reconciliation. They must all make up their minds +to take a side, and as Absalom's cause was so popular, +it was far the most likely they would side with him. +Without hesitation Absalom complied with the advice. +It is a proof how hard his heart had become, that he +did not hesitate to mock his father by an act which +was as disgusting as it was insulting. And what a +picture we get of the position of women even in the +court of King David! They were slaves in the worst +sense of the term, with no right even to guard their +virtue, or to protect their persons from the very worst +of men; for the custom of the country, when it gave +him the throne, gave him likewise the bodies and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> +souls of the women of the harem to do with as he +pleased!</p> + +<p>The next piece of Ahithophel's counsel was a masterpiece +alike of sagacity and of wickedness. He proposed +to take a select body of twelve thousand out of the +troops that had already flocked to Absalom's standard, +and follow the fugitive king. That very night he +would set out; and in a few hours they would overtake +the king and his handful of defenders; they would +destroy no life but the king's only; and thus, by an +almost bloodless revolution, they would place Absalom +peacefully on the throne. The advantages of the plan +were obvious. It was prompt, it seemed certain of +success, and it would avoid an unpopular slaughter. +So strongly was Ahithophel impressed with the advantages +that it seemed impossible that it could be opposed, +far less rejected. One element only he left out of his +reckoning—that "as the mountains are round about +Jerusalem, so the Lord God is round about His people +from henceforth even for ever." He forgot how many +methods of protecting David God had already employed. +From the lion and the bear He had delivered him in +his youth, by giving strength to his arm and courage +to his heart; from the uncircumcised Philistine He +had delivered him by guiding the stone projected from +his sling to the forehead of the giant; from Saul, at +one time through Michal letting him down from a +window; at another, through Jonathan taking his side; +at a third, by an invasion of the Philistines calling +Saul away; and now He was preparing to deliver him +from Absalom by a still different method: by causing +the shallow proposal of Hushai to find more favour +than the sagacious counsel of Ahithophel.</p> + +<p>It must have been a moment of great anxiety to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span> +Hushai when the man whose counsel was as the oracle +of God sat down amid universal approval, after having +propounded the very advice of which he was most afraid. +But he shows great coolness and skill in recommending +his own course, and in trying to make the worse +appear the better reason. He opens with an implied +compliment to Ahithophel—his counsel is not good <i>at +this time</i>. It may have been excellent on all other +occasions, but the present is an exception. Then he +dwells on the warlike character of David and his men, +and on the exasperated state of mind in which they +might be supposed to be; probably they were at that +moment in some cave, where no idea of their numbers +could be got, and from which they might make a +sudden sally on Absalom's troops; and if, on occasion +of an encounter between the two armies, some of +Absalom's were to fall, people would take it as a defeat; +a panic might seize the army, and his followers might +disperse as quickly as they had assembled.</p> + +<p>But the concluding stroke was the masterpiece. He +knew that vanity was Absalom's besetting sin. The +young man that had prepared chariots and horses, and +fifty men to run before him, that had been accustomed +to poll his head from year to year and weigh it with +so much care, and whose praise was throughout all +Israel for beauty, must be flattered by a picture of the +whole host of Israel marshalled around him, and going +forth in proud array, with him at its head. "Therefore +I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, +from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by +the sea for multitude, and that thou go to battle in +thine own person. So shall we come upon him in +some place where he may be found, and we will light +upon him as the dew falleth on the ground; and of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span> +him and of all the men that are with him there shall +not be left so much as one. Moreover, if he be gotten +into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that +city, and we will draw it into the river until there shall +not be one small stone left there."</p> + +<p>It is with counsel as with many other things: what +pleases best is thought best; solid merit gives way to +superficial plausibility. The counsel of Hushai pleased +better than that of Ahithophel, and so it was preferred. +Satan had outwitted himself. He had nursed in +Absalom an overweening vanity, intending by its means +to overturn the throne of David; and now that very +vanity becomes the means of defeating the scheme, +and laying the foundation of Absalom's ruin. The +turning-point in Absalom's mind seems to have been +the magnificent spectacle of the whole of Israel +mustered for battle, and Absalom at their head. He +was fascinated by the brilliant imagination. How +easily may God, when He pleases, defeat the most able +schemes of His enemies! He does not need to create +weapons to oppose them; He has only to turn their +own weapons against themselves. What an encouragement +to faith even when the fortunes of the Church +are at their lowest ebb! "The kings of the earth set +themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against +the Lord, and against His anointed, saying, Let us break +their bonds asunder, and cast away their cords from us. +He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord +shall have them in derision. Then shall He speak to +them in wrath, and vex them in His sore displeasure. +Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion."</p> + +<p>The council is over; Hushai, unspeakably relieved, +hastens to communicate with the priests, and through +them send messengers to David; Absalom withdraws to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span> +delight himself with the thought of the great military +muster that is to flock to his standard; while Ahithophel, +in high dudgeon, retires to his house. The +character of Ahithophel was a singular combination. +To deep natural sagacity he united great spiritual +blindness and lack of true manliness. He saw at once +the danger to the cause of Absalom in the plan that +had been preferred to his own; but it was not that +consideration, it was the gross affront to himself that +preyed on him, and drove him to commit suicide. +"When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not +followed, he saddled his ass and arose and gat him +home to his house, to his city, and put his household +in order, and hanged himself and died, and was buried +in the sepulchre of his father." In his own way he +was as much the victim of vanity as Absalom. The +one was vain of his person, the other of his wisdom. +In each case it was the man's vanity that was the +cause of his death. What a contrast Ahithophel was +to David in his power of bearing disgrace!—David, +though with bowed head, bearing up so bravely, and +even restraining his followers from chastising some +of those who were so vehemently affronting him; +Ahithophel unable to endure life because for once +another man's counsel had been preferred to his. Men +of the richest gifts have often shown themselves babes +in self-control. Ahithophel is the Judas of the New +Testament, lays plans for the destruction of his master, +and, like Judas, falls almost immediately, by his own +hand. "What a mixture," says Bishop Hall, "do we +find here of wisdom and madness! Ahithophel will +needs hang himself, <i>there</i> is madness; he will yet set +his house in order, <i>there</i> is wisdom. And could it be +possible that he that was so wise as to set his house<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> +in order was so mad as to hang himself? that he +should be so careful to order his house who had no +care to order his unruly passions? that he should care +for his house who cared not for his body or his soul? +How vain is it for man to be wise if he is not wise in +God. How preposterous are the cares of idle worldlings, +that prefer all other things to themselves, and +while they look at what they have in their coffers +forget what they have in their breasts."</p> + +<p>This council-chamber of Absalom is full of material +for profitable reflection. The manner in which he was +turned aside from the way of wisdom and safety is a remarkable +illustration of our Lord's principle—"If thine +eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light." +We are accustomed to view this principle chiefly in its +relation to moral and spiritual life; but it is applicable +likewise even to worldly affairs. Absalom's eye was +not single. Success, no doubt, was the chief object at +which he aimed, but another object was the gratification +of his vanity. This inferior object was allowed to come +in and disturb his judgment. If Absalom had had a +single eye, even in a worldly sense, he would have felt +profoundly that the one thing to be considered was, how +to get rid of David and establish himself firmly on the +throne. But instead of studying this one thing with +firm and immovable purpose, he allowed the vision of +a great muster of troops commanded by himself to come +in, and so to distract his judgment that he gave his +decision for the latter course. No doubt he thought +that his position was so secure that he could afford the +few days' delay which this scheme involved. All the +same, it was this disturbing element of personal vanity +that gave a twist to his vision, and led him to the conclusion +which lost him everything.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span></p> + +<p>For even in worldly things, singleness of eye is a great +help towards a sound conclusion. "To the upright there +ariseth light in the darkness." And if this rule hold true +in the worldly sphere, much more in the moral and +spiritual. It is when you have the profoundest desire +to do what is right that you are in the best way to +know what is wise. In the service of God you are +grievously liable to be distracted by private feelings and +interests of your own. It is when these private interests +assert themselves that you are most liable to lose the +clear line of duty and of wisdom. You wish to do +God's will, but at the same time you are very unwilling +to sacrifice this interest, or expose yourself to that +trouble. Thus your own feeling becomes a screen that +dims your vision, and prevents you from seeing the path +of duty and wisdom alike. You have not a clear sight +of the right path. You live in an atmosphere of perplexity; +whereas men of more single purpose, and +more regardless of their own interests, see clearly and +act wisely. Was there anything more remarkable in +the Apostle Paul than the clearness of his vision, the +decisive yet admirable way in which he solved perplexing +questions, and the high practical wisdom that guided +him throughout? And is not this to be connected with +his singleness of eye, his utter disregard of personal +interests in his public life—his entire devotion to the +will and to the service of his Master? From that +memorable hour on the way to Damascus, when he put +the question, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to +do?" onward to the day when he laid his head on the +block in imperial Rome, the one interest of his heart, +the one thought of his mind, was to do the will of Christ. +Never was an eye more single, and never was a body +more full of light.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span></p> + +<p>But again, from that council-chamber of Absalom +and its results we learn how all projects founded on +godlessness and selfishness carry in their bosom the +elements of dissolution. They have no true principle +of coherence, no firm, binding element, to secure them +against disturbing influences arising from further manifestations +of selfishness on the part of those engaged in +them. Men may be united by selfish interest in some +undertaking up to a certain point, but, like a rocket in +the air, selfishness is liable to burst up in a thousand +different directions, and then the bond of union is destroyed. +The only bond of union that can resist distracting +tendencies is an immovable regard to the will +of God, and, in subordination thereto, to the welfare of +men. In our fallen world it is seldom—rather, it is never—that +any great enterprise is undertaken and carried +forward on grounds where selfishness has no place +whatever. But we may say this very confidently, that +the more an undertaking is based on regard to God's +will and the good of men, the more stability and +true prosperity will it enjoy; whereas every element of +selfishness or self-seeking that may be introduced into +it is an element of weakness, and tends to its dissolution. +The remark is true of Churches and religious societies, +of religious movements and political movements too.</p> + +<p>Men that are not overawed, as it were, by a supreme +regard to the will of God; men to whom the consideration +of that will is not strong enough at once to smite +down every selfish feeling that may arise in their +minds, will always be liable to desire some object of +their own rather than the good of the whole. They +will begin to complain if they are not sufficiently considered +and honoured. They will allow jealousies and +suspicions towards those who have most influence to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span> +arise in their hearts. They will get into caves to air +their discontent with those like-minded. All this tends +to weakness and dissolution. Selfishness is the serpent +that comes crawling into many a hopeful garden, and +brings with it division and desolation. In private life, +it should be watched and thwarted as the grievous foe +of all that is good and right. The same course should +be taken with regard to it in all the associations of +Christians. And it is Christian men only that are +capable of uniting on grounds so high and pure as to +give some hope that this evil spirit will not succeed +in disuniting them—that is to say, men who feel and +act on the obligations under which the Lord Jesus +Christ has placed them; men that feel that their own +redemption, and every blessing they have or hope to +have, come through the wonderful self-denial of the Son +of God, and that if they have the faintest right to His +holy name they must not shrink from the like self-denial. +It is a happy thing to be able to adopt as our +rule—"None of us liveth to himself; for whether +we live, we live unto the Lord, or whether we die, we +die unto the Lord; whether we live therefore or die, +we are the Lord's." The more this rule prevails in +Churches and Christian societies, the more will there +be of union and stability too; but with its neglect, all +kinds of evil and trouble will come in, and very probably, +disruption and dissolution in the end.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII.</a></h2> + +<h5>2 <span class="smcap">Samuel</span> xviii. 1-18.</h5> + +<h3><i>ABSALOM'S DEFEAT AND DEATH.</i></h3> + + +<p>Whatever fears of defeat and destruction might +occasionally flit across David's soul between his +flight from Jerusalem and the battle in the wood of +Ephraim, it is plain both from his actions and from his +songs that his habitual frame was one of serenity and +trust. The number of psalms ascribed to this period +of his life may be in excess of the truth; but that his +heart was in near communion with God all the time +we cannot doubt. Situated as his present refuge was +not far from Peniel, where Jacob had wrestled with the +angel, we may believe that there were wrestlings again +in the neighbourhood not unworthy to be classed with +that from which Peniel derived its memorable name.</p> + +<p>In the present emergency the answer to prayer +consisted, first, in the breathing-time secured by the +success of Hushai's counsel; second, in the countenance +and support of the friends raised up to David near +Mahanaim; and last, not least, in the spirit of wisdom +and harmony with which all the arrangements were +made for the inevitable encounter. Every step was +taken with prudence, while every movement of his +opponents seems to have been a blunder. It was wise +in David, as we have already seen, to cross the Jordan<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> +and retire into Gilead; it was wise in him to make +Mahanaim his headquarters; it was wise to divide his +army into three parts, for a reason that will presently +be seen; and it was wise to have a wood in the neighbourhood +of the battlefield, though it could not have +been foreseen how this was to bear on the individual +on whose behalf the insurrection had taken place.</p> + +<p>By this time the followers of David had grown to +the dimensions of an army. We are furnished with no +means of knowing its actual number. Josephus puts it +at four thousand, but, judging from some casual expressions +("David set captains of hundreds and <i>captains +of thousands</i> over them," ver. 1; "Now thou art worth +<i>ten thousand</i> of us," ver. 3; "The people came by +thousands," ver. 4), we should infer that David's force +amounted to a good many thousands. The division of +the army into three parts, however, reminding us, as +it does, of Gideon's division of his little force into +three, would seem to imply that David's force was far +inferior in number to Absalom's. The insurrectionary +army must have been very large, and stretching over a +great breadth of country, would have presented far too +wide a line to be effectually dealt with by a single body +of troops, comparatively small. Gideon had divided his +handful into three that he might make a simultaneous +impression on three different parts of the Midianite +host, and thus contribute the better to the defeat of the +whole. So David divided his army into three, that, +meeting Absalom's at three different points, he might +prevent a concentration of the enemy that would have +swallowed up his whole force. David had the advantage +of choosing his ground, and his military instinct +and long experience would doubtless enable him to do +this with great effect. His three generals were able<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> +and valuable leaders. The aged king was prepared to +take part in the battle, believing that his presence +would be helpful to his men; but the people would not +allow him to run the risk. Aged and somewhat infirm +as he seems to have been, wearied with his flight, and +weakened with the anxieties of so distressing an +occasion, the excitement of the battle might have +proved too much for him, even if he had escaped the +enemy's sword. Besides, everything depended on him; +if his place were discovered by the enemy, their hottest +assault would be directed to it; and if he should fall, +there would be left no cause to fight for. "It is better," +they said to him, "that thou succour us out of the city." +What kind of succour could he render there? Only +the succour that Moses and his two attendants rendered +to Israel in the fight with Amalek in the wilderness, +when Moses held up his hands, and Aaron and Hur +propped them up. He might pray for them; he could +do no more.</p> + +<p>By this time Absalom had probably obtained the +great object of his ambition; he had mustered Israel +from Dan to Beersheba, and found himself at the head +of an array very magnificent in appearance, but, like +most Oriental gatherings of the kind, somewhat unwieldy +and unworkable. This great conglomeration was +now in the immediate neighbourhood of Mahanaim, and +must have seemed as if by sheer weight of material it +would crush any force that could be brought against it. +We read that the battle took place "in the wood of +Ephraim." This could not be a wood in the tribe of +Ephraim, for that was on the other side of Jordan, but +a wood in Gilead, that for some reason unknown to us +had been called by that name. The whole region is +still richly wooded, and among its prominent trees is one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span> +called the prickly oak. A <i>dense</i> wood would obviously +be unsuitable for battle, but a wooded district, with +clumps here and there, especially on the hill-sides, and +occasional trees and brushwood scattered over the plains, +would present many advantages to a smaller force +opposing the onset of a larger. In the American war of +1755 some of the best troops of England were nearly +annihilated in a wood near Pittsburg in Pennsylvania, +the Indians levelling their rifles unseen from behind +the trees, and discharging them with yells that were +even more terrible than their weapons. We may +fancy the three battalions of David making a vigorous +onslaught on Absalom's troops as they advanced into +the wooded country, and when they began to retreat +through the woods, and got entangled in brushwood, or +jammed together by thickset trees, discharging arrows +at them, or falling on them with the sword, with most +disastrous effect. "There was a great slaughter that +day of twenty thousand men. For the battle there was +scattered over the face of all the country, and the wood +devoured more people that day than the sword devoured." +Many of David's men were probably natives +of the country, and in their many encounters with +the neighbouring nations had become familiar with the +warfare of "the bush." Here was one benefit of the +choice of Mahanaim by David as his rallying-ground. +The people that joined him from that quarter knew the +ground, and knew how to adapt it to fighting purposes; +the most of Absalom's forces had been accustomed +to the bare wadies and limestone rocks of Western +Palestine, and, when caught in the thickets, could +neither use their weapons nor save themselves by +flight.</p> + +<p>Very touching, if not very business-like, had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span> +David's instructions to his generals about Absalom: +"The king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai +saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, +even with Absalom. And all the people heard when +the king gave all the captains charge concerning +Absalom." It is interesting to observe that David fully +expects to win. There is no hint of any alternative, +as if Absalom would not fall into their hands. David +knows that he is going to conquer, as well as he knew +it when he went against the giant. The confidence +which is breathed in the third Psalm is apparent here. +Faith saw his enemies already defeated. "Thou hast +smitten all mine enemies upon the cheekbone; Thou +hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongeth +unto the Lord; Thy blessing is upon Thy +people." In a pitched battle, God could not give +success to a godless crew, whose whole enterprise was +undertaken to drive God's anointed one from his +throne. Temporary and partial successes they might +have, but final success it was morally impossible for +God to accord. It was not the spirit of his own troops, +nor the undisciplined condition of the opposing host, +that inspired this confidence, but the knowledge that +there was a God in Israel, who would not suffer His +anointed to perish, nor the impious usurper to triumph +over him.</p> + +<p>We cannot tell whether Absalom was visited with +any misgivings as to the result before the battle began. +Very probably he was not. Having no faith in God, +he would make no account whatever of what David +regarded as the Divine palladium of his cause. But +if he entered on the battle confident of success, his +anguish is not to be conceived when he saw his troops +yield to panic, and, in wild disorder, try to dash through<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span> +the wood. Dreadful miseries must have overwhelmed +him. He does not appear to have made any attempt +to rally his troops. Riding on a mule, in his haste to +escape, he probably plunged into some thick part of the +wood, where his head came in contact with a mass of +prickly oak; struggling to make a way through it, he +only entangled his hair more hopelessly in the thicket; +then, raising himself in the saddle to attack it with +his hands, his mule went from under him, and left him +hanging between heaven and earth, maddened by pain, +enraged at the absurdity of his plight, and storming +against his attendants, none of whom was near him +in his time of need. Nor was this the worst of it. +Absalom was probably among the foremost of the +fugitives, and we can hardly suppose but that many of +his own people fled that way after him. Could it be +that all of them were so eager to escape that not one +of them would stop to help their king? What a contrast +the condition of Absalom when fortune turned +against him to that of his father! Dark though +David's trials had been, and seemingly desperate his +position, he had not been left alone in its sudden +horrors; the devotion of strangers, as well as the +fidelity of a few attached friends, had cheered him, and +had the worst disaster befallen him, had his troops +been routed and his cause ruined, there were warm +and bold hearts that would not have deserted him in +his extremity, that would have formed a wall around +him, and with their lives defended his grey hairs. But +when the hour of calamity came to Absalom it found +him alone. Even Saul had his armour-bearer at his +side when he fled over Gilboa; but neither armour-bearer +nor friend attended Absalom as he fled from +the battle of the wood of Ephraim. It would have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span> +been well for him if he had really gained a few of the +many hearts he stole. Much though moralists tell us +of the heartlessness of the world in the hour of adversity, +we should not have expected to light on so +extreme a case of it. We can hardly withhold a tear +at the sight of the unhappy youth, an hour ago with +thousands eager to obey him, and a throne before him, +apparently secure from danger; now hanging helpless +between earth and heaven, with no companion but an +evil conscience, and no prospect but the judgment of +an offended God.</p> + +<p>A recent writer, in his "History of the English +People" (Green), when narrating the fall of Cardinal +Wolsey, powerfully describes the way of Providence in +suffering a career of unexampled wickedness and ambition +to go on from one degree of prosperity to another, +till the moment of doom arrives, when all is shattered +by a single blow. There was long delay, but "the +hour of reckoning at length arrived. Slowly the hand +had crawled along the dial-plate, slowly as if the +event would never come; and wrong was heaped on +wrong, and oppression cried, and it seemed as if no ear +had heard its voice, till the measure of the wickedness +was at length fulfilled. The finger touched the hour; +and as the strokes of the great hammer rang out above +the nation, in an instant the whole fabric of iniquity +was shivered to ruins."</p> + +<p>This hour had now come to Absalom. He had often +been reproved, but had hardened his heart, and was +now to be destroyed, and that without remedy. In +the person of Joab, God found a fitting instrument +for carrying His purpose into effect. The character of +Joab is something of a riddle. We cannot say that he +was altogether a bad man, or altogether without the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span> +fear of God. Though David bitterly complained of him +in some things, he must have valued him on the whole, +for during the whole of his reign Joab had been his +principal general. That he wanted all tenderness of +heart seems very plain. That he was subject to +vehement and uncontrollable impulses, in the heat of +which fearful deeds of blood were done by him, but +done in what seemed to him the interest of the public, +is also clear. There is no evidence that he was habitually +savage or grossly selfish. When David charged +him and the other generals to deal tenderly with the +young man Absalom, it is quite possible that he was +minded to do so. But in the excitement of the battle, +that uncontrollable impulse seized him which urged +him to the slaughter of Amasa and Abner. The chance +of executing judgment on the arch-rebel who had caused +all this misery, and been guilty of crimes never before +heard of in Israel, and thus ending for ever an insurrection +that might have dragged its slow length along +for harassing years to come, was too much for him. +"How could you see Absalom hanging in an oak and +not put an end to his mischievous life?" he asks the +man that tells him he had seen him in that plight. And +he has no patience with the man's elaborate apology. +Seizing three darts, he rushes to the place, and thrusts +them through Absalom's heart. And his ten armour-bearers +finish the business with their swords. We need +not suppose that he was altogether indifferent to the +feelings of David; but he may have been seized by an +overwhelming conviction that Absalom's death was the +only effectual way of ending this most guilty and pernicious +insurrection, and so preserving the country from +ruin. Absalom living, whether banished or imprisoned, +would be a constant and fearful danger. Absalom dead,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span> +great though the king's distress for the time might be, +would be the very salvation of the country. Under the +influence of this conviction he thrust the three darts +through his heart, and he allowed his attendants to hew +that comely body to pieces, till the fair form that all +had admired so much became a mere mass of hacked +and bleeding flesh. But whatever may have been the +process by which Joab found himself constrained to disregard +the king's order respecting Absalom, it is plain +that to his dying day David never forgave him.</p> + +<p>The mode of Absalom's death, and also the mode +of his burial, were very significant. It had probably +never happened to any warrior, or to any prince, to +die from a similar cause. And but for the vanity that +made him think so much of his bodily appearance, and +especially of his hair, death would never have come to +him in such a form. Vanity of one's personal appearance +is indeed a weakness rather than a crime. It would +be somewhat hard to punish it directly, but it is +just the right way of treating it, to make it punish +itself. And so it was in the case of Absalom. His +bitterest enemy could have desired nothing more +ludicrously tragical than to see those beautiful locks +fastening him as with a chain of gold to the arm of +the scaffold, and leaving him dangling there like the +most abject malefactor. And what of the beautiful +face and handsome figure that often, doubtless, led his +admirers to pronounce him every inch a king? So +slashed and mutilated under the swords of Joab's ten +men, that no one could have told that it was Absalom +that lay there. This was God's judgment on the young +man's vanity.</p> + +<p>The mode of his burial is particularly specified. +"They took Absalom and cast him into a great pit in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span> +the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon +him; and all Israel fled every one to his tent." The +purpose of this seems to have been to show that +Absalom was deemed worthy of the punishment of the +rebellious son, as appointed by Moses; and a more +significant expression of opinion could not have been +given. The punishment for the son who remained +incorrigibly rebellious was to be taken beyond the +walls of the city, and stoned to death. It is said by +Jewish writers that this punishment was never actually +inflicted, but the mode of Absalom's burial was fitted +to show that he at least was counted as deserving of it. +The ignominious treatment of that graceful body, which +he adorned and set off with such care, did not cease +even after it was gashed by the weapons of the young +men; no place was found for it in the venerable cave +of Machpelah; it was not even laid in the family sepulchre +at Jerusalem, but cast ignominiously into a pit in +the wood; it was bruised and pounded by stones, and +left to rot there, like the memory of its possessor, and +entail eternal infamy on the place. What a lesson to +all who disown the authority of parents! What a +warning to all who cast away the cords of self-restraint! +It is said by Jewish writers that every by-passer was +accustomed to throw a stone on the heap that covered +the remains of Absalom, and as he threw it to say, +"Cursed be the memory of rebellious Absalom; and +cursed for ever be all wicked children that rise up in +rebellion against their parents!"</p> + +<p>And here it may be well to say a word to children. +You all see the lesson that is taught by the doom of +Absalom, and you all feel that in that doom, terrible +though it was, he just reaped what he had sowed. +You see the seed of his offence, disobedience to parents,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span> +bringing forth the most hideous fruit, and receiving +in God's providence a most frightful punishment. You +see it without excuse and without palliation; for David +had been a kind father, and had treated Absalom better +than he deserved. Mark, then, that this is the final +fruit of that spirit of disobedience to parents which +often begins with very little offences. These little +offences are big enough to show that you prefer your +own will to the will of your parents. If you had a just +and true respect for their authority, you would guard +against little transgressions—you would make conscience +of obeying in all things great and small. +Then remember that every evil habit must have a +beginning, and very often it is a small beginning. By +imperceptible stages it may grow and grow, till it +becomes a hideous vice, like this rebellion of Absalom. +Nip it in the bud; if you don't, who can tell whether +it may not grow to something terrible, and at last +brand you with the brand of Absalom?</p> + +<p>If this be the lesson to children from the doom +of Absalom, the lesson to parents is not less manifest +from the case of David. The early battle between +the child's will and the parent's is often very difficult +and trying; but God is on the parent's side, and will +give him the victory if he seeks it aright. It certainly +needs great vigilance, wisdom, patience, firmness, and +affection. If you are careless and unwatchful, the +child's will will speedily assert itself. If you are foolish, +and carry discipline too far, if you thwart the child +at every point, instead of insisting on one thing, or +perhaps a few things, at a time, you will weary him +and weary yourself without success. If you are fitful, +insisting at one time and taking no heed at another, +you will convey the impression of a very elastic law,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span> +not entitled to much respect. If you lose your temper, +and speak unadvisedly, instead of mildly and lovingly, +you will most effectually set the child's temper up +against the very thing you wish him to do. If you +forget that you are not independent agents, but have +got the care of your beloved child from God, and +ought to bring him up as in God's stead, and in +the most humble and careful dependence on God's +grace, you may look for blunder upon blunder in sad +succession, with results in the end that will greatly +disappoint you. How close every Christian needs to +lie to God in the exercise of this sacred trust! And +how much, when conscious of weakness and fearing +the consequences, ought he to prize the promise—"My +grace is sufficient for thee!"</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV.</a></h2> + +<h3><i>DAVID'S GRIEF FOR ABSALOM.</i></h3> + +<h5>2 <span class="smcap">Samuel</span> xviii. 19-33; xix. 1-4.</h5> + + +<p>"Next to the calamity of losing a battle," a great +general used to say, "is that of gaining a +victory." The battle in the wood of Ephraim left twenty +thousand of King David's subjects dead or dying on +the field. It is remarkable how little is made of this +dismal fact. Men's lives count for little in time of +war, and death, even with its worst horrors, is just +the common fate of warriors. Yet surely David and +his friends could not think lightly of a calamity that +cut down more of the sons of Israel than any battle +since the fatal day of Mount Gilboa. Nor could they +form a light estimate of the guilt of the man whose +inordinate vanity and ambition had cost the nation such +a fearful loss.</p> + +<p>But all thoughts of this kind were for the moment +brushed aside by the crowning fact that Absalom himself +was dead. And this fact, as well as the tidings of the +victory, must at once be carried to David. Mahanaim, +where David was, was probably but a little distance +from the field of battle. A friend offered to Joab to +carry the news—Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok the priest. +He had formerly been engaged in the same way, for he +was one of those that had brought word to David of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span> +result of Absalom's council, and of other things that +were going on in Jerusalem. But Joab did not wish +that Ahimaaz should be the bearer of the news. He +would not deprive him of the character of king's +messenger, but he would employ him as such another +time. Meanwhile the matter was entrusted to another +man, called in the Authorized Version Cushi, but in the +Revised Version the Cushite. Whoever this may have +been, he was a simple official, not like Ahimaaz, a +personal friend of David. And this seems to have +been Joab's reason for employing him. It is evident +that physically he was not better adapted to the task +than Ahimaaz, for when the latter at last got leave to +go he overran the Cushite. But Joab appears to have +felt that it would be better that David should receive +his first news from a mere official than from a personal +friend. The personal friend would be likely to enter +into details that the other would not give. It is clear +that Joab was ill at ease in reference to his own share +in the death of Absalom. He would fain keep that +back from David, at least for a time; it would be +enough for him at the first to know that the battle had +been gained, and that Absalom was dead.</p> + +<p>But Ahimaaz was persistent, and after the Cushite +had been despatched he carried his point, and was +allowed to go. Very graphic is the description of the +running of the two men and of their arrival at +Mahanaim. The king had taken his place at the gate +of the city, and stationed a watchman on the wall above +to look out eagerly lest any one should come bringing +news of the battle. In those primitive times there was +no more rapid way of despatching important news than +by a swift well-trained runner on foot. In the clear +atmosphere of the East first one man, then another,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span> +was seen running alone. By-and-bye, the watchman +surmised that the foremost of the two was Ahimaaz; +and when the king heard it, remembering his former +message, he concluded that such a man must be the +bearer of good tidings. As soon as he came within +hearing of the king, he shouted out, "All is well." +Coming close, he fell on his face and blessed God for +delivering the rebels into David's hands. Before thanking +him or thanking God, the king showed what was +uppermost in his heart by asking, "Is the young man +Absalom safe?" And here the moral courage of +Ahimaaz failed him, and he gave an evasive answer: +"When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy +servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what +it was." When he heard this the king bade him stand +aside, till he should hear what the other messenger had +to say. And the official messenger was more frank +than the personal friend. For when the king repeated +the question about Absalom, the answer was, "The +enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against +thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is." The +answer was couched in skilful words. It suggested +the enormity of Absalom's guilt, and of the danger to +the king and the state which he had plotted, and the +magnitude of the deliverance, seeing that he was now +beyond the power of doing further evil.</p> + +<p>But such soothing expressions were lost upon the +king. The worst fears of his heart were realized—Absalom +was dead. Gone from earth for ever, beyond +reach of the yearnings of his heart; gone to answer for +crimes that were revolting in the sight of God and man. +"The king was much moved; and he went up to the +chamber over the gate and wept; and as he went, thus +he said, O my son Absalom! my son, my son Absalom!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span> +Would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, +my son!"</p> + +<p>He had been a man of war, a man of the sword; he +had been familiar with death, and had seen it once and +again in his own family; but the tidings of Absalom's +death fell upon him with all the force of a first bereavement. +Not more piercing is the wail of the young +widow when suddenly the corpse of her beloved is +borne into the house, not more overwhelming is her +sensation, as if the solid earth were giving way beneath +her, than the emotion that now prostrated King David.</p> + +<p>Grief for the dead is always sacred; and however +unworthy we may regard the object of it, we cannot +but respect it in King David. Viewed simply as an +expression of his unquenched affection for his son, +and separated from its bearing on the interests of +the kingdom, and from the air of repining it seemed +to carry against the dispensation of God, it showed a +marvellously tender and forgiving heart. In the midst +of an odious and disgusting rebellion, and with the +one object of seeking out his father and putting him +to death, the heartless youth had been arrested and +had met his deserved fate. Yet so far from showing +satisfaction that the arm that had been raised to crush +him was laid low in death, David could express no +feelings but those of love and longing. Was it not a +very wonderful love, coming very near to the feeling +of Him who prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they +know not what they do," like that "love Divine, all +love excelling," that follows the sinner through all his +wanderings, and clings to him amid all his rebellions; +the love of Him that not merely wished in a moment of +excitement that He could die for His guilty children +but did die for them, and in dying bore their guilt and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span> +took it away, and of which the brief but matchless record +is that "having once loved His own that were with +Him in the world, He loved them even unto the end?"</p> + +<p>The elements of David's intense agony, when he +heard of Absalom's death, were mainly three. In the +first place, there was the loss of his son, of whom he +could say that, with all his faults, he loved him still. +A dear object had been plucked from his heart, and +left it sick, vacant, desolate. A face he had often +gazed on with delight lay cold in death. He had not +been a good son, he had been very wicked; but affection +has always its visions of a better future, and is ready +to forgive unto seventy times seven. And then death +is so dreadful when it fastens on the young. It seems +so cruel to fell to the ground a bright young form; +to extinguish by one blow his every joy, every hope, +every dream; to reduce him to nothingness, so far +as this life is concerned. An infinite pathos, in a +father's experience, surrounds a young man's death. +The regret, the longing, the conflict with the inevitable, +seem to drain him of all energy, and leave him helpless +in his sorrow.</p> + +<p>Secondly, there was the terrible fact that Absalom +had died in rebellion, without expressing one word +of regret, without one request for forgiveness, without +one act or word that it would be pleasant to recall in +time to come, as a foil to the bitterness caused by his +unnatural rebellion. Oh, if he had had but an hour to +think of his position, to realise the lesson of his defeat, +to ask his father's forgiveness, to curse the infatuation +of the last few years! How would one such word +have softened the sting of his rebellion in his father's +breast! What a change it would have given to the +aspect of his evil life! But not even the faint vestige<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span> +of such a thing was ever shown; the unmitigated glare +of that evil life must haunt his father evermore!</p> + +<p>Thirdly, there was the fact that in this rebellious +condition he had passed to the judgment of God. +What hope could there be for such a man, living and +dying as he had done? Where could he be now? +Was not "the great pit in the wood," into which his +unhonoured carcase had been flung, a type of another +pit, the receptacle of his soul? What agony to the +Christian heart is like that of thinking of the misery +of dear ones who have died impenitent and unpardoned?</p> + +<p>To these and similar elements of grief David appears +to have abandoned himself without a struggle. But +was this right? Ought he not to have made some +acknowledgment of the Divine hand in his trial, as he +did when Bathsheba's child died? Ought he not to have +acted as he did on another occasion, when he said, "I +was dumb with silence, I opened not my mouth, because +Thou didst it"? We have seen that in domestic +matters he was not accustomed to place himself so +thoroughly under the control of the Divine will as in +the more public business of his life; and now we see +that, when his parental feelings are crushed, he is left +without the steadying influence of submission to the +will of God. And in the agony of his private grief he +forgets the public welfare of the nation. Noble and +generous though the wish be, "Would God I had died +for thee," it was on public grounds out of the question. +Let us imagine for one moment the wish realized. +David has fallen and Absalom survives. What sort +of kingdom would it have been? What would have +been the fate of the gallant men who had defended +David? What would have been the condition of God's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span> +servants throughout the kingdom? What would have +been the influence of so godless a monarch upon the +interests of truth and the cause of God? It was a +rash and unadvised utterance of affection. But for the +rough faithfulness of Joab, the consequences would have +been disastrous. "The victory that day was turned +into mourning, for the people heard say that day how +the king was grieved for his son." Every one was +discouraged. The man for whom they had risked +their lives had not a word of thanks to any of them, +and could think of no one but that vile son of his, who +was now dead. In the evening Joab came to him, and +in his blunt way swore to him that if he was not more +affable to the people they would not remain a night +longer in his service. Roused by the reproaches and +threatenings of his general, the king did now present +himself among them. The people responded and came +before him, and the effort he made to show himself +agreeable kept them to their allegiance, and led on to +the steps for his restoration that soon took place.</p> + +<p>But it must have been an effort to abstract his +attention from Absalom, and fix it on the brighter +results of the battle. And not only that night, in the +silence of his chamber, but for many a night, and +perhaps many a day, during the rest of his life, the +thought of that battle and its crowning catastrophe +must have haunted David like an ugly dream. We +seem to see him in some still hour of reverie recalling +early days;—happy scenes rise around him; lovely +children gambol at his side; he hears again the merry +laugh of little Tamar, and smiles as he recalls some +childish saying of Absalom; he is beginning, as of old, +to forecast the future and shape out for them careers +of honour and happiness; when, horror of horrors!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span> +the spell breaks; the bright vision gives way to +dismal realities—Tamar's dishonour, Amnon's murder, +Absalom's insurrection, and, last not least, Absalom's +death, glare in the field of memory! Who will venture +to say that David did not smart for his sins? Who +that reflects would be willing to take the cup of sinful +indulgence from his hands, sweet though it was in his +mouth, when he sees it so bitter in the belly?</p> + +<p>Two remarks may appropriately conclude this +chapter, one with reference to grief from bereavements +in general, the other with reference to the grief that +may arise to Christians in connection with the spiritual +condition of departed children.</p> + +<p>1. With reference to grief from bereavements in +general, it is to be observed that they will prove either +a blessing or an evil according to the use to which they +are turned. All grief in itself is a weakening thing—weakening +both to the body and the mind, and it were +a great error to suppose that it <i>must</i> do good in the end. +There are some who seem to think that to resign themselves +to overwhelming grief is a token of regard to the +memory of the departed, and they take no pains to +counteract the depressing influence. It is a painful thing +to say, yet it is true, that a long-continued manifestation +of overwhelming grief, instead of exciting sympathy, is +more apt to cause annoyance. Not only does it depress +the mourner himself, and unfit him for his duties to the +living, but it depresses those that come in contact with +him, and makes them think of him with a measure of +impatience. And this suggests another remark. It is +not right to obtrude our grief overmuch on others, +especially if we are in a public position. Let us take +example in this respect from our blessed Lord. Was +any sorrow like unto His sorrow? Yet how little did<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span> +He obtrude it even on the notice of His disciples! It +was towards the end of His ministry before He even +began to tell them of the dark scenes through which He +was to pass; and even when He did tell them how He +was to be betrayed and crucified, it was not to court +their sympathy, but to prepare them for their part +of the trial. And when the overwhelming agony of +Gethsemane drew on, it was only three of the twelve +that were permitted to be with Him. All such considerations +show that it is a more Christian thing to +conceal our griefs than to make others uncomfortable +by obtruding them upon their notice. David was on +the very eve of losing the affections of those who had +risked everything for him, by abandoning himself to +anguish for his private loss, and letting his distress for +the dead interfere with his duty to the living.</p> + +<p>And how many things are there to a Christian mind +fitted to abate the first sharpness even of a great +bereavement. Is it not the doing of a Father, infinitely +kind? Is it not the doing of Him "who spared not +His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all"? You +say you can see no light through it,—it is dark, all dark, +fearfully dark. Then you ought to fall back on the +inscrutability of God. Hear Him saying, "What I do, +thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter." +Resign yourself patiently to His hands, till He make +the needed revelation, and rest assured that when it is +made it will be worthy of God. "Ye have heard of +the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, +that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy." +Meanwhile, be impressed with the vanity of this life, +and the infinite need of a higher portion. "Set your +affection on things above, and not on the things on the +earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span> +in God. When Christ, who is your Life, shall appear, +then shall ye also appear with Him in glory."</p> + +<p>2. The other remark that falls to be made here concerns +the grief that may arise to Christians in connection +with the spiritual condition of departed children.</p> + +<p>When the parent is either in doubt as to the happiness +of a beloved one, or has cause to apprehend that +the portion of that child is with the unbelievers, the +pang which he experiences is one of the most acute +which the human heart can know. Now here is a +species of suffering which, if not peculiar to believers, +falls on them far the most heavily, and is, in many +cases, a haunting spectre of misery. The question +naturally arises, Is it not strange that their very +beliefs, as Christians, subject them to such acute sufferings? +If one were a careless, unbelieving man, and +one's child died without evidence of grace, one would +probably think nothing of it, because the things that +are unseen and eternal are never in one's thoughts. +But just because one believes the testimony of God +on this great subject, one becomes liable to a peculiar +agony. Is this not strange indeed?</p> + +<p>Yes, there is a mystery in it which we cannot wholly +solve. But we must remember that it is in thorough +accordance with a great law of Providence, the operation +of which, in other matters, we cannot overlook. +That law is, that the cultivation and refinement of any +organ or faculty, while it greatly increases your capacity +of enjoyment, increases at the same time your capacity, +and it may be your occasions, of suffering. Let us +take, for example, the habit of cleanliness. Where +this habit prevails, there is much more enjoyment in +life; but let a person of great cleanliness be surrounded +by filth, his suffering is infinitely greater. Or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span> +take the cultivation of taste, and let us say of musical +taste. It adds to life an immense capacity of enjoyment, +but also a great capacity and often much +occasion of suffering, because bad music or tasteless +music, such as one may often have to endure, creates +a misery unknown to the man of no musical culture. +To a man of classical taste, bad writing or bad speaking, +such as is met with every day, is likewise a source of +irritation and suffering. If we advance to a moral and +spiritual region, we may see that the cultivation of one's +ordinary affections, apart from religion, while on the +whole it increases enjoyment, does also increase sorrow. +If I lived and felt as a Stoic, I should enjoy family life +much less than if I were tender-hearted and affectionate; +but when I suffered a family bereavement I should +suffer much less. These are simply illustrations of the +great law of Providence that culture, while it increases +happiness, increases suffering too. It is a higher +application of the same law, that gracious culture, the +culture of our spiritual affections under the power of the +Spirit of God, in increasing our enjoyment does also +increase our capacity of suffering. In reference to that +great problem of natural religion, Why should a God +of infinite benevolence have created creatures capable +of suffering? one answer that has often been given is, +that if they had not been capable of suffering they +might not have been capable of enjoyment. But in +pursuing these inquiries we get into an obscure region, +in reference to which it is surely our duty patiently to +wait for that increase of light which is promised to us +in the second stage of our existence.</p> + +<p>Yet still it remains to be asked, What comfort can +there possibly be for Christian parents in such a case +as David's? What possible consideration can ever<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span> +reconcile them to the thought that their beloved ones +have gone to the world of woe? Are not their +children parts of themselves, and how is it possible +for them to be completely saved if those who are so +identified with them are lost? How can they ever be +happy in a future life if eternally separated from +those who were their nearest and dearest on earth? +On such matters it has pleased God to allow a great +cloud to rest which our eyes cannot pierce. We cannot +solve this problem. We cannot reconcile perfect +personal happiness, even in heaven, with the knowledge +that beloved ones are lost. But God must have some +way, worthy of Himself, of solving the problem. And +we must just wait for His time of revelation. "God is +His own interpreter, and He will make it plain." The +Judge of all the earth must act justly. And the song +which will express the deepest feelings of the redeemed, +when from the sea of glass, mingled with fire, they +look back on the ways of Providence toward them, will +be this: "Great and marvellous are Thy works, Lord +God Almighty; <i>just and true are all Thy ways</i>, Thou +King of saints. Who would not fear Thee and glorify +Thy name, for Thou only art holy?"</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV.</a></h2> + +<h3><i>THE RESTORATION.</i></h3> + +<h5>2 <span class="smcap">Samuel</span> xix. 5-30.</h5> + + +<p>To rouse one's self from the prostration of grief, +and grapple anew with the cares of life, is hard +indeed. Among the poorer classes of society, it +is hardly possible to let grief have its swing; amid +suppressed and struggling emotions the poor man +must return to his daily toil. The warrior, too, in the +heat of conflict has hardly time to drop a tear over +the tomb of his comrade or his brother. But where +leisure is possible, the bereaved heart does crave a time +of silence and solitude; and it seems reasonable, in +order that its fever may subside a little, before the +burden of daily work is resumed. It was somewhat +hard upon David, then, that his grief could not get a +single evening to flow undisturbed. A rough voice +called him to rouse himself, and speak comfortably +to his people, otherwise they would disband before +morning, and all that he had gained would be +lost to him again. In the main, Joab was no doubt +right; but in his manner there was a sad lack of +consideration for the feelings of the king. He might +have remembered that, though he had gained a battle +David had lost a son, and that, too, under circumstances +peculiarly heart-breaking. Faithful in the main and +shrewd as Joab was, he was no doubt a useful officer;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span> +but his harshness and want of feeling went far to +neutralise the benefit of his services. It ought surely +to be one of the benefits of civilisation and culture +that, where painful duties have to be done, they should +be done with much consideration and tenderness. +For the real business of life is not so much to get +right things done in any way, as to diffuse a right spirit +among men, and get them to do things well. Men of +enlightened goodness will always aim at purifying the +springs of conduct, at increasing virtue, and deepening +faith and holiness. The call to the royal bridegroom +in the forty-fifth Psalm is to "gird his sword on his +thigh, and ride forth prosperously, <i>because of truth, and +meekness, and righteousness</i>." To increase these three +things is to increase the true wealth of nations and +advance the true prosperity of kingdoms. In his +eagerness to get a certain thing done, Joab showed +little or no regard for those higher interests to which +outward acts should ever be subordinate.</p> + +<p>But David felt the call of duty—"He arose and sat in +the gate. And they told unto all the people saying, +Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the +people came before the king: for Israel had fled every +man to his tent." And very touching it must have +been to look on the sad, pale, wasted face of the king, +and mark his humble, chastened bearing, and yet to +receive from him words of winning kindness that +showed him still caring for them and loving them, as a +shepherd among his sheep; in no wise exasperated by +the insurrection, not breathing forth threatenings and +slaughter on those who had taken part against him; +but concerned as ever for the welfare of the whole +kingdom, and praying for Jerusalem, for his brethren +and companions' sakes, "Peace be within thee."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was now open to him to follow either of two +courses: either to march to Jerusalem at the head of +his victorious army, take military possession of the +capital, and deal with the remains of the insurrection +in the stern fashion common among kings; or to wait +till he should be invited back to the throne from which +he had been driven, and then magnanimously proclaim +an amnesty to all the rebels. We are not surprised +that he preferred the latter alternative. It is more +agreeable to any man to be offered what is justly due +to him by those who have deprived him of it than to +have to claim it as his right. It was far more like him +to return in peace than in that vengeful spirit that +must have hecatombs of rebels slain to satisfy it. +The people knew that David was in no bloodthirsty +mood. And it was natural for him to expect that an +advance would be made to him, after the frightful +wrong which he had suffered from the people. He +was therefore in no haste to leave his quarters at +Mahanaim.</p> + +<p>The movement that he looked for did take place, but +it did not originate with those who might have been +expected to take the lead. It was among the ten tribes +of Israel that the proposal to bring him back was first +discussed, and his own tribe, the tribe of Judah, held +back after the rest were astir. He was much chagrined +at this backwardness on the part of Judah. It was +hard that his own tribe should be the last to stir, that +those who might have been expected to head the movement +should lag behind. But in this David was only +experiencing the same thing as the Son of David a +thousand years after, when the people of Nazareth, +His own city, not only refused to listen to Him, but +were about to hurl Him over the edge of a precipice,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span> +So important, however, did he see it to be for the general +welfare that Judah should share the movement, that he +sent Zadok and Abiathar the priests to stir them up to +their duty. He would not have taken this step but for +his jealousy for the honour of Judah; it was the fact +that the movement was now going on in some places +and not in all that induced him to interfere. He dreaded +disunion in any case, especially a disunion between +Judah and Israel. For the jealousy between these two +sections of the people that afterwards broke the kingdom +into two under Jeroboam was now beginning to show +itself, and, indeed, led soon after to the revolt of Sheba.</p> + +<p>Another step was taken by David, of very doubtful +expediency, in order to secure the more cordial support +of the rebels. He superseded Joab, and gave the command +of his army to Amasa, who had been general of +the rebels. In more ways than one this was a strong +measure. To supersede Joab was to make for himself +a very powerful enemy, to rouse a man whose passions, +when thoroughly excited, were capable of any crime. +But on the other hand, David could not but be highly +offended with Joab for his conduct to Absalom, and he +must have looked on him as a very unsuitable coadjutor +to himself in that policy of clemency that he had determined +to pursue. This was significantly brought out by +the appointment of Amasa in room of Joab. Both were +David's nephews, and both were of the tribe of Judah; +but Amasa had been at the head of the insurgents, and +therefore in close alliance with the insurgents of Judah. +Most probably the reason why the men of Judah hung +back was that they were afraid lest, if David were restored +to Jerusalem, he would make an example of them; +for it was at Hebron, in the tribe of Judah, that Absalom +had been first proclaimed; and the people of Jerusalem<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span> +who had favoured him were mostly of that tribe. +But when it became known that the leader of the rebel +forces was not only not to be punished, but actually +promoted to the highest office in the king's service, all +fears of that sort were completely scattered. It was an +act of wonderful clemency. It was such a contrast to +the usual treatment of rebels! But this king was not +like other kings; he gave gifts even to the rebellious. +There was no limit to his generosity. Where sin +abounded grace did much more abound. Accordingly +a new sense of the goodness and generosity of their +ill-treated but noble king took possession of the people. +"He bowed the heart of the men of Judah, even as the +heart of one man, so that they sent this word unto the +king, Return thou, and all thy servants." From the +extreme of backwardness they started to the extreme +of forwardness; the last to speak for David, they were +the first to act for him; and such was their vehemence +in his cause that the evil of national disunion which +David dreaded from their indifference actually sprang +from their over-impetuous zeal.</p> + +<p>Thus at length David bade farewell to Mahanaim, +and began his journey to Jerusalem. His route in +returning was the reverse of that followed in his flight. +First he descends the eastern bank of the Jordan as +far as opposite Gilgal; then he strikes up through the +wilderness the steep ascent to Jerusalem. At Gilgal +several events of interest took place.</p> + +<p>The first of these was the meeting with the representatives +of Judah, who came to conduct the king over +Jordan, and to offer him their congratulations and loyal +assurances. This step was taken by the men of Judah +alone, and without consultation or co-operation with +the other tribes. A ferry-boat to convey the king's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span> +household over the river, and whatever else might be +required to make the passage comfortable, these men +of Judah provided. Some have blamed the king for +accepting these attentions from Judah, instead of inviting +the attendance of all the tribes. But surely, as +the king had to pass the Jordan, and found the means +of transit provided for him, he was right to accept +what was offered. Nevertheless, this act of Judah and +its acceptance by David gave serious offence, as we +shall presently see, to the other tribes.</p> + +<p>Neither Judah nor Israel comes out well in this little +incident. We get an instructive glimpse of the hot-headedness +of the tribes, and the childishness of their +quarrels. It is members of the same nation a thousand +years afterwards that on the very eve of the Crucifixion +we see disputing among themselves which of them +should be the greatest. Men never appear in a +dignified attitude when they are contending that on +some occasion or other they have been treated with +too little consideration. And yet how many of the +quarrels of the world, both public and private, have +arisen from this, that some one did not receive the +attention which he deserved! Pride lies at the bottom +of it all. And quarrels of this kind will sometimes, +nay often, be found even among men calling themselves +the followers of Christ. If the blessed Lord Himself +had acted on this principle, what a different life He +would have led! If He had taken offence at every +want of etiquette, at every want of the honour due to +the Son of God, when would our redemption ever have +been accomplished? Was His mother treated with +due consideration when forced into the stable, because +there was no room for her in the inn? Was Jesus +Himself treated with due honour when the people of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span> +Nazareth took Him to the brow of the hill, or when the +foxes had holes, and the birds of the air had nests, but +the Son of Man had not where to lay His head? What +if He had resented the denial of Peter, the treachery +of Judas, and the forsaking of Him by all the apostles? +How admirable was the humility that made Himself of +no reputation, so that when He was reviled He reviled +not again, when He suffered He threatened not, but +committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously! +Yet how utterly opposite is the bearing of many, who +are ever ready to take offence if anything is omitted to +which they have a claim—standing upon their rights, +claiming precedence over this one and the other, maintaining +that it would never do to allow themselves to +be trampled on, thinking it spirited to contend for their +honours! It is because this tendency is so deeply +seated in human nature that you need to be so watchful +against it. It breaks out at the most unseasonable +times. Could any time have been more unsuitable +for it on the part of the men of Israel and Judah than +when the king was giving them such a memorable +example of humility, pardoning every one, great and +small, that had offended him, even though their offence +was as deadly as could be conceived? Or could any +time have been more unsuitable for it on the part of +the disciples of our Lord than when He was about to +surrender His very life, and submit to the most shameful +form of death that could be devised? Why do +men not see that the servant is not above his lord, +nor the disciple above his master? "Is not the heart +deceitful above all things and desperately wicked"? +Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he +fall.</p> + +<p>The next incident at Gilgal was the cringing entreaty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span> +of Shimei, the Benjamite, to be pardoned the insult +which he had offered the king when he left Jerusalem. +The conduct of Shimei had been such an outrage on +all decency that we wonder how he could have dared +to present himself at all before David; even though, as +a sort of screen, he was accompanied by a thousand +Benjamites. His prostration of himself on the ground +before David, his confession of his sin and abject deprecation +of the king's anger, are not fitted to raise him in +our estimation; they were the fruits of a base nature +that can insult the fallen, but lick the dust off the feet +of men in power. It was not till David had made it +known that his policy was to be one of clemency that +Shimei took this course; and even then he must have +a thousand Benjamites at his back before he could trust +himself to his mercy. Abishai, Joab's brother, would +have had him slain; but his proposal was rejected by +David with warmth and even indignation. He knew +that his restoration was an accomplished fact, and he +would not spoil a policy of forgiveness by shedding the +blood of this wicked man. Not content with passing +his word to Shimei, "he sware unto him." But he +afterwards found that he had carried clemency too far, +and in his dying charge to Solomon he had to warn +him against this dangerous enemy, and instruct him to +bring down his hoar head with blood. But this needs +not to make us undervalue the singular quality of heart +which led David to show such forbearance to one utterly +unworthy. It was a strange thing in the annals of +Eastern kingdoms, where all rebellion was usually +punished with the most fearful severity. It brings to +mind the gentle clemency of the great Son of David +in His dealings, a thousand years after, with another +Benjamite as he was travelling, on that very route, on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span> +the way to Damascus, breathing out threatenings and +slaughter against His disciples. Was there ever such +clemency as that which met the persecutor with the +words, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? Only +in this case the clemency accomplished its object; in +Shimei's case it did not. In the one case the persecutor +became the chief of Apostles; in the other he acted +more like the evil spirit in the parable, whose last end +was worse than the first.</p> + +<p>The next incident in the king's return was his meeting +with Mephibosheth. He came down to meet the +king, "and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed +his beard, nor washed his clothes from the day the king +departed unto the day when he came again in peace." +Naturally, the king's first question was an inquiry why +he had not left Jerusalem with him. And Mephibosheth's +reply was simply, that he had wished to do +so, but, owing to his lameness, had not been able. And, +moreover, Ziba had slandered him to the king when +he said that Mephibosheth hoped to receive back the +kingdom of his grandfather. The words of this poor +man had all the appearance of an honest narrative. The +ass which he intended to saddle for his own use was +probably one of those which Ziba took away to present +to David, so that Mephibosheth was left helpless in +Jerusalem. If the narrative commends itself by its +transparent truthfulness, it shows also how utterly +improbable was the story of Ziba, that he had expectations +of being made king. For he seems to have been +as feeble in mind as he was frail in body, and he +undoubtedly carried his compliments to David to a +ridiculous pitch when he said, "All my father's house +were but dead men before my lord the king." Was +that a fit way to speak of his father Jonathan?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span></p> + +<p>We cannot greatly admire one who would depreciate +his family to such a degree because he desired +to obtain David's favour. And for some reason David +was somewhat sharp to him. No man is perfect, and +we cannot but wonder that the king who was so gentle +to Shimei should have been so sharp to Mephibosheth. +"Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I +have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land." David +appears to have been irritated at discovering his mistake +in believing Ziba, and hastily transferring Mephibosheth's +property to him. Nothing is more common +than such irritation, when men discover that through +false information they have made a blunder, and gone +into some arrangement that must be undone. But +why did not the king restore all his property to +Mephibosheth? Why say that he and Ziba were to +divide it? Some have supposed (as we remarked +before) that this meant simply that the old arrangement +was to be continued—Ziba to till the ground, +and Mephibosheth to receive as his share half the +produce. But in that case Mephibosheth would not +have added, "Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my +lord the king is come again in peace unto his own +house." Our verdict would have been the very opposite,—Let +Mephibosheth take all. But David was in +a difficulty. The temper of the Benjamites was very +irritable; they had never been very cordial to David, +and Ziba was an important man among them. There +he was, with his fifteen sons and twenty servants, a +man not to be hastily set aside. For once the king +appeared to prefer the rule of expediency to that of +justice. To make some amends for his wrong to +Mephibosheth, and at the same time not to turn Ziba +into a foe, he resorted to this rough-and-ready method<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span> +of dividing the land between them. But surely it was +an unworthy arrangement. Mephibosheth had been +loyal, and should never have lost his land. He had +been slandered by Ziba, and therefore deserved some +solace for his wrong. David restores but half his land, +and has no soothing word for the wrong he has done +him. Strange that when so keenly sensible of the +wrong done to himself when he lost his kingdom unrighteously, +he should not have seen the wrong he +had done to Mephibosheth. And strange that when +his whole kingdom had been restored to himself, he +should have given back but half to Jonathan's son.</p> + +<p>The incident connected with the meeting with Barzillai +we reserve for separate consideration.</p> + +<p>Amid the greatest possible diversity of circumstance, +we are constantly finding parallels in the life of David +to that of Him who was his Son according to the flesh. +Our Lord can hardly be said to have ever been driven +from His kingdom. The hosannahs of to-day were +indeed very speedily exchanged into the "Away with +Him! away with Him! Crucify Him! crucify Him!" +of to-morrow. But what we may remark of our Lord is +rather that He has been kept out of His kingdom than +driven from it. He who came to redeem the world, and +of whom the Father said, "Yet have I set My King upon +My holy hill of Zion," has never been suffered to exercise +His sovereignty, at least in a conspicuous manner and +on a universal scale. Here is a truth that ought to be +a constant source of humiliation and sorrow to every +Christian. Are you to be content that the rightful +Sovereign should be kept in the background, and the +great ruling forces of the world should be selfishness, +and mammon, and pleasure, the lust of the flesh, and +the lust of the eye, and the pride of life? Why speak<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span> +ye not of bringing the King back to His house? You +say you can do so little. But every subject of King +David might have said the same. The question is, +not whether you are doing much or little, but whether +you are doing what you can. Is the exaltation of +Jesus Christ to the supreme rule of the world an object +dear to you? Is it matter of humiliation and concern +to you that He does not occupy that place? Do you +humbly try to give it to Him in your own heart and +life? Do you try to give it to Him in the Church, +in the State, in the world? The supremacy of Jesus +Christ must be the great rallying cry of the members +of the Christian Church, whatever their denomination. +It is a point on which surely all ought to be agreed, +and agreement there might bring about agreement in +other things. Let us give our minds and hearts to +realise in our spheres that glorious plan of which we +read in the first chapter of Ephesians: "That, in the +dispensation of the fulness of time, God might gather +together in one all things in Christ, both which are in +heaven, and which are on earth, even in Him, in whom +also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated +according to the purpose of Him who worketh +all things according to the counsel of His own will, +that we should be to the praise of His glory, who first +trusted in Christ."</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI.</a></h2> + +<h3><i>DAVID AND BARZILLAI.</i></h3> + +<h5>2 <span class="smcap">Samuel</span> xix. 31-40.</h5> + + +<p>It is very refreshing to fall in with a man like Barzillai +in a record which is so full of wickedness, +and without many features of a redeeming character. +He is a sample of humanity at its best—one of those +men who diffuse radiance and happiness wherever +their influence extends. Long before St. Peter wrote +his epistle, he had been taught by the one Master +to "put away all wickedness, and all guile, and +hypocrisies, and envies, and evil-speakings;" and he +had adopted St. Paul's rule for rich men, "that they +do good, that they be rich in good works, that +they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate." +We cannot well conceive a greater contrast than +that between Barzillai and another rich farmer with +whom David came in contact at an earlier period +of his life—Nabal of Carmel: the one niggardly, +beggarly, and bitter, not able even to acknowledge +an obligation, far less to devise anything liberal, +adding insult to injury when David modestly stated his +claim, humiliating him before his messengers, and +meeting his request with a flat refusal of everything +great or small; the other hastening from his home +when he heard of David's distress, carrying with him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span> +whatever he could give for the use of the king and his +followers, continuing to send supplies while he was at +Mahanaim, and now returning to meet him on his way +to Jerusalem, conduct him over Jordan, and show his +loyalty and goodwill in every available way. While +we grieve that there are still so many Nabals let us +bless God that there are Barzillais too.</p> + +<p>Of Barzillai's previous history we know nothing. +We do not even know where Rogelim, his place of +abode, was, except that it was among the mountains of +Gilead. The facts stated regarding him are few, but +suggestive.</p> + +<p>1. He was "a very great man." The expression +seems to imply that he was both rich and influential. +Dwelling among the hills of Gilead, his only occupation, +and main way of becoming rich, must have been as +a farmer. The two and a half tribes that settled on +the east of the Jordan, while they had a smaller share +of national and spiritual privileges, were probably +better provided in a temporal sense. That part of the +country was richer in pasturage, and therefore better +adapted for cattle. It is probable, too, that the allotments +were much larger. The kingdoms of Sihon and +Og, especially the latter, were of wide extent. If the +two and a half tribes had been able thoroughly to +subdue the original inhabitants, they would have had +possessions of great extent and value. Barzillai's +ancestors had probably received a valuable and extensive +allotment, and had been strong enough and courageous +enough to keep it for themselves. Consequently, +when their flocks and herds multiplied, they were not +restrained within narrow dimensions, but could spread +over the mountains round about. But however his +riches may have been acquired, Barzillai was evidently<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span> +a man of very large means. He was rich apparently +both in flocks and servants, a kind of chief or sheikh, +not only with a large establishment of his own, but +enjoying the respect, and in some degree able to command +the services, of many of the humble people +around him.</p> + +<p>2. His generosity was equal to his wealth. The +catalogue of the articles which he and another friend +of David's brought him in his extremity (2 Sam. xvii. +28, 29) is instructive from its minuteness and its length. +Like all men liberal in heart, he devised liberal things. +He did not ask to see a subscription list, or inquire +what other people were giving. He did not consider +what was the smallest amount that he could give without +appearing to be shabby. His only thought seems +to have been, what there was he had to give that could +be of use to the king. It is this large inborn generosity +manifested to David that gives one the assurance +that he was a kind, generous helper wherever there +was a case deserving and needing his aid. We class +him with the patriarch of Uz, with whom no doubt he +could have said, "When the eye saw me, then it +blessed me, and when the ear heard me, it bare witness +unto me; the blessing of him that was ready to perish +came upon me, and I made the widow's heart to leap +for joy."</p> + +<p>3. His loyalty was not less thorough than his +generosity. When he heard of the king's troubles, he +seems never to have hesitated one instant as to throwing +in his lot with him. It mattered not that the king +was in great trouble, and apparently in a desperate +case. Neighbours, or even members of his own family, +might have whispered to him that it would be better +not to commit himself, seeing the rebellion was so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span> +strong. He was living in a sequestered part of the +country; there was no call on him to declare himself at +that particular moment; and if Absalom got the upper +hand, he would be sure to punish severely those who +had been active on his father's side. But none of these +things moved him. Barzillai was no sunshine courtier, +willing to enjoy the good things of the court in days of +prosperity, but ready in darker days to run off and leave +his friends in the midst of danger. He was one of those +true men that are ready to risk their all in the cause of +loyalty when persuaded that it is the cause of truth +and right. We cannot but ask, What could have given +him a feeling so strong? We are not expressly told that +he was a man deeply moved by the fear of God, but we +have every reason to believe it. If so, the consideration +that would move him most forcibly in favour of +David must have been that he was God's anointed. +God had called him to the throne, and had never +declared, as in the case of Saul, that he had forfeited it; +the attempt to drive him from it was of the devil, and +therefore to be resisted to the last farthing of his +property, and if he had been a younger man, to the last +drop of his blood. Risk? Can you frighten a man +like this by telling him of the risk he runs by supporting +David in the hour of adversity? Why, he is ready not +only to risk all, but to lose all, if necessary, in a cause +which appears so obviously to be Divine, all the more +because he sees so well what a blessing David has been +to the country. Why, he has actually made the kingdom. +Not only has he expelled all its internal foes, +but he has cowed those troublesome neighbours that +were constantly pouncing upon the tribes, and especially +the tribes situated in Gilead and Bashan. Moreover, +he has given unity and stability to all the internal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span> +arrangements of the kingdom. See what a grand +capital he has made for it at Jerusalem. Look how he +has planted the ark on the strongest citadel of the +country, safe from every invading foe. Consider how +he has perfected the arrangements for the service of the +Levites, what a delightful service of song he has +instituted, and what beautiful songs he has composed +for the use of the sanctuary. Doubtless it was considerations +of this kind that roused Barzillai to such a +pitch of loyalty. And is not a country happy that has +such citizens, men who place their personal interest +far below the public weal, and are ready to make any +sacrifice, of person or of property, when the highest +interests of their country are concerned? We do not +plead for the kind of loyalty that clings to a monarch +simply because he is king, apart from all considerations, +personal and public, bearing on his worthiness or +unworthiness of the office. We plead rather for the +spirit that makes duty to country stand first, and +personal or family interest a long way below. We +deprecate the spirit that sneers at the very idea of +putting one's self to loss or trouble of any kind for the +sake of public interests. We long for a generation of +men and women that, like many in this country in +former days, are willing to give "all for the Church +and a little less for the State." And surely in these +days, when no deadly risk is incurred, the demand is +not so very severe. Let Christian men lay it on their +consciences to pay regard to the claims under which +they lie to serve their country. Whether it be in the +way of serving on some public board, or fighting against +some national vice, or advancing some great public +interest, let it be considered even by busy men that +their country, and must add, their Church, have true<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span> +claims upon them. Even heathens and unbelievers +have said, "It is sweet and glorious to die for one's +country." It is a poor state of things when in a +Christian community men are so sunk in indolence +and selfishness that they will not stir a finger on its +behalf.</p> + +<p>4. Barzillai was evidently a man of attractive personal +qualities. The king was so attracted by him, +that he wished him to come with him to Jerusalem, +and promised to sustain him at court. The heart of +King David was not too old to form new attachments. +And towards Barzillai he was evidently drawn. We +can hardly suppose but that there were deeper qualities +to attract the king than even his loyalty and generosity. +It looks as if David perceived a spiritual congeniality +that would make Barzillai, not only a pleasant inmate, +but a profitable friend. For indeed in many ways +Barzillai and David seem to have been like one another. +God had given them both a warm, sunny nature. He +had prospered them in the world. He had given them +a deep regard for Himself and delight in His fellowship. +David must have found in Barzillai a friend +whose views on the deepest subjects were similar to +his own. At Jerusalem the men who were of his mind +were by no means too many. To have Barzillai beside +him, refreshing him with his experiences of God's +ways and joining with him in songs of praise and +thanksgiving, would be delightful. "Behold, how +good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell +together in unity!" But however pleasant the prospect +may have been to David, it was not one destined to be +realized.</p> + +<p>5. For Barzillai was not dazzled even by the highest +offers of the king, because he felt that the proposal was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span> +unsuitable for his years. He was already eighty, and +every day was adding to his burden, and bringing +him sensibly nearer the grave. Even though he might +be enjoying a hale old age, he could not be sure that +he would not break down suddenly, and thus become +an utter burden to the king. David had made the +offer as a compliment to Barzillai, although it might +also be a favour to himself, and as a compliment the +aged Gileadite was entitled to view it. And viewing it +in that light, he respectfully declined it. He was a +home-loving man, his habits had been formed for a +quiet domestic sphere, and it was too late to change +them. His faculties were losing their sharpness; his +taste had become dulled, his ear blunted, so that both +savoury dishes and elaborate music would be comparatively +thrown away on him. The substance of his +answer was, I am an old man, and it would be unsuitable +in me to begin a courtier's life. In a word, he +understood what was suitable for old age. Many a +man and woman too, perhaps, even of Barzillai's years, +would have jumped at King David's offer, and rejoiced +to share the dazzling honours of a court, and would +have affected youthful feelings and habits in order to +enjoy the exhilaration and the excitement of a courtier's +life. In Barzillai's choice, we see the predominance +of a sanctified common sense, alive to the proprieties +of things, and able to see how the enjoyment most +suitable to an advanced period of life might best be +had. It was not by aping youth or grasping pleasures +for which the relish had gone. Some may think this +a painful view of old age. Is it so that as years +multiply the taste for youthful enjoyments passes away, +and one must resign one's self to the thought that life +itself is near its end? Undoubtedly it is. But even a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span> +heathen could show that this is by no means an evil. +The purpose of Cicero's beautiful treatise on old age, +written when he was sixty-two, but regarded as spoken +by Cato at the age of eighty-four, was to show that the +objections commonly brought against old age were not +really valid. These objections were—that old age +unfits men for active business, that it renders the +body feeble, that it deprives them of the enjoyment of +almost all pleasures, and that it heralds the approach +of death. Let it be granted, is the substance of Cicero's +argument; nevertheless, old age brings enjoyments of +a new order that compensate for those which it withdraws. +If we have wisdom to adapt ourselves to our +position, and to lay ourselves out for those compensatory +pleasures, we shall find old age not a burden, but +a joy. Now, if even a heathen could argue in that +way, how much more a Christian! If he cannot +personally be so lively as before, he may enjoy the +young life of his children and grandchildren or other +young friends, and delight to see them enjoying what +he cannot now engage in. If active pleasures are not to +be had, there are passive enjoyments—the conversation +of friends, reading, meditation, and the like—of which +all the more should be made. If one world is gliding +from him, another is moving towards him. As the +outward man perisheth, let the inward man be renewed +day by day.</p> + +<p>There are few more jarring scenes in English history +than the last days of Queen Elizabeth. As life was +passing away, a historian of England says, "she clung +to it with a fierce tenacity. She hunted, she danced, +she jested with her young favourites, she coquetted, and +frolicked, and scolded at sixty-seven as she had done at +thirty." "The Queen," wrote a courtier, "a few months<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span> +before her death was never so gallant these many +years, nor so set upon jollity." She persisted, in spite +of opposition, in her gorgeous progresses from country +house to country house. She clung to business as of +old, and rated in her usual fashion one "who minded +not to giving up some matter of account." And then a +strange melancholy settled on her. Her mind gave +way, and food and rest became alike distasteful. Clever +woman, yet very foolish in not discerning how vain +it was to attempt to carry the brisk habits of youth +into old age, and most profoundly foolish in not having +taken pains to provide for old age the enjoyments +appropriate to itself! How differently it has fared +with those who have been wise in time and made +the best provision for old age! "I have waited for +Thy salvation, O my God," says the dying Jacob, relieved +and happy to think that the object for which he +had waited had come at last. "I am now ready to be +offered," says St. Paul, "and the time of my departure +is at hand. I have fought the good fight; I have finished +my course; I have kept the faith: henceforth there is +laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the +Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me at that day, and +not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing." +Which is the better portion—he whose old +age is spent in bitter lamentation over the departed joys +and brightness of his youth? or he whose sun goes +down with the sweetness and serenity of an autumn +sunset, but only to rise in a brighter world, and shine +forth in the glory of immortal youth?</p> + +<p>6. Holding such views of old age, it was quite natural +and suitable for Barzillai to ask for his son Chimham +what he respectfully declined for himself. For his +declinature was not a rude rejection of an honour<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span> +deemed essentially false and vain. Barzillai did not +tell the king that he had lived to see the folly and the +sin of those pleasures which in the days of youth and +inexperience men are so greedy to enjoy. That +would have been an affront to David, especially as he +was now getting to be an old man himself. He recognised +that a livelier mode of life than befitted the old +was suitable for the young. The advantages of residence +at the court of David were not to be thought +little of by one beginning life, especially where the +head of the court was such a man as David, himself +so affectionate and attractive, and so deeply imbued +with the fear and love of God. The narrative is so +short that not a word is added as to how it fared with +Chimham when he came to Jerusalem. Only one thing +is known of him: it is said that, after the destruction of +Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, when Johanan conducted +to Egypt a remnant of Jews that he had saved from the +murderous hand of Ishmael, "they departed and dwelt +in the habitation of Chimham, which is by Bethlehem, +to go into Egypt." We infer that David bestowed on +Chimham some part of his paternal inheritance at +Bethlehem. The vast riches which he had amassed +would enable him to make ample provision for his +sons; but we might naturally have expected that the +whole of the paternal inheritance would have remained +in the family. For some reason unknown to us, +Chimham seems to have got a part of it. We cannot +but believe that David would desire to have a good +man there, and it is much in favour of Chimham that he +should have got a settlement at Bethlehem. And there +is another circumstance that tells in his favour: during +the five centuries that elapsed between David's time +and the Captivity, the name of Chimham remained<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span> +in connection with that property, and even so late as +the time of Jeremiah it was called "Chimham's habitation." +Men do not thus keep alive dishonoured names, +and the fact that Chimham's was thus preserved would +seem to indicate that he was one of those of whom it is +said, "The memory of the just is blessed."</p> + +<p>Plans for life were speedily formed in those countries; +and as Rebekah wished no delay in accompanying +Abraham's servant to be the wife of Isaac, nor Ruth +in going forth with Naomi to the land of Judah, so +Chimham at once went with the king. The interview +between David and Barzillai was ended in the way +that in those countries was the most expressive sign +of regard and affection: "David kissed Barzillai," but +"Chimham went on with him."</p> + +<p>The meeting with Barzillai and the finding of a new +son in Chimham must have been looked back on by +David with highly pleasant feelings. In every sense +of the term, he had lost a son in Absalom; he seems +now to find one in Chimham. We dare not say that +the one was compensation for the other. Such a blank +as the death of Absalom left in the heart of David could +never be filled up from any earthly source whatever. +Blanks of that nature can be filled only when God gives +a larger measure of His own presence and His own +love. But besides feeling very keenly the blank of +Absalom's death, David must have felt distressed at the +loss as it seemed, of power, to secure the affections +of the younger generation of his people, many of whom, +there is every reason to believe, had followed Absalom. +The ready way in which Chimham accepted of the proposal +in regard to him would therefore be a pleasant +incident in his experience; and the remembrance of his +father's fast attachment and most useful friendship would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span> +ever be in David's memory like an oasis in the +desert.</p> + +<p>We return for a moment to the great lesson of this +passage. Aged men, it is a lesson for you. Titus was +instructed to exhort the aged men of Crete to be +"sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in +patience." It is a grievous thing to see grey hairs +dishonoured. It is a humiliating sight when Noah +excites either the shame or the derision of his sons. +But "the hoary head is a crown of glory if it is found +in the way of uprightness." And the crown is described +in the six particulars of the exhortation to Titus. +It is a crown of six jewels. Jewel the first is "sobriety," +meaning here self-command, self-control, ability to +stand erect before temptation, and calmness under provocation +and trial. Jewel the second is "gravity," not +sternness, nor sullenness, nor censoriousness, but the +bearing of one who knows that "life is real, life is +earnest," in opposition to the frivolous tone of those +who act as if there were no life to come. Jewel the +third is "temperance," especially in respect of bodily +indulgence, keeping under the body, never letting it be +master, but in all respects a servant. Jewel the fourth, +"soundness in faith," holding the true doctrine of +eternal life, and looking forward with hope and expectation +to the inheritance of the future. Jewel the fifth, +"soundness in charity," the charity of the thirteenth +chapter of 1 Corinthians, itself a coruscation of the +brightest gem in the Christian cabinet. Jewel the +sixth, "soundness in patience," that grace so needful, +but so often neglected, that grace that gives an air +of serenity to one's character, that allies it to heaven, +that gives it sublimity, that bears the unbearable, +and hopes and rejoices on the very edge of despair.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span> +Onward, then, ye aged men, in this glorious path! +By God's grace, gather round your head these incorruptible +jewels, which shine with the lustre of +God's holiness, and which are the priceless gems of +heaven. Happy are ye, if indeed you have these +jewels for your crown; and happy is your Church +where the aged men are crowned with glory like the +four-and-twenty elders before the throne!</p> + +<p>But what of those who dishonour God, and their +own grey hairs, and the Church of Christ by stormy +tempers, profane tongues, drunken orgies, and disorderly +lives? "O my soul, come not thou into their secret! +To their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united!"</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII.</a></h2> + +<h3><i>THE INSURRECTION OF SHEBA.</i></h3> + +<h5>2 <span class="smcap">Samuel</span> xix. 41-43; xx.</h5> + + +<p>David was now virtually restored to his kingdom; +but he had not even left Gilgal when fresh troubles +began. The jealousy between Judah and Israel broke +out in spite of him. The cause of complaint was on +the part of the ten tribes; they were offended at not +having been waited for to take part in escorting the +king to Jerusalem. First, the men of Israel, in harsh +language, accused the men of Judah of having stolen +the king away, because they had transported him over +the Jordan. To this the men of Judah replied that the +king was of their kin; therefore they had taken +the lead, but they had received no special reward or +honour in consequence. The men of Israel, however, +had an argument in reply to this: they were ten +tribes, and therefore had so much more right to the +king; and Judah had treated them with contempt in not +consulting or co-operating with them in bringing him +back. It is added that the words of the men of Judah +were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.</p> + +<p>It is in a poor and paltry light that both sides +appear in this inglorious dispute. There was no solid +grievance whatever, nothing that might not have been +easily settled if the soft answer that turneth away<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span> +wrath had been resorted to instead of fierce and +exasperating words. Alas! that miserable tendency of +our nature to take offence when we think we have been +overlooked,—what mischief and misery has it bred +in the world! The men of Israel were foolish to take +offence; but the men of Judah were neither magnanimous +nor forbearing in dealing with their unreasonable +humour. The noble spirit of clemency that +David had shown awakened but little permanent +response. The men of Judah; who were foremost in +Absalom's rebellion, were like the man in the parable +that had been forgiven ten thousand talents, but had +not the generosity to forgive the trifling offence +committed against them, as they thought, by their +brethren of Israel. So they seized their fellow-servant +by the throat and demanded that he should pay them +the uttermost farthing. Judah played false to his +national character; for he was not "he whom his +brethren should praise."</p> + +<p>What was the result? Any one acquainted with +human nature might have foretold it with tolerable +certainty. Given on one side a proneness to take +offence, a readiness to think that one has been overlooked, +and on the other a want of forbearance, a +readiness to retaliate,—it is easy to see that the result +will be a serious breach. It is just what we witness +so often in children. One is apt to be dissatisfied, and +complains of ill-treatment; another has no forbearance, +and retorts angrily: the result is a quarrel, with this +difference, that while the quarrels of children pass +quickly away, the quarrels of nations or of factions last +miserably long.</p> + +<p>Much inflammable material being thus provided, a +casual spark speedily set it on fire. Sheba, an artful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span> +Benjamite, raised the standard of revolt against David, +and the excited ten tribes, smarting with the fierce +words of the men of Judah, flocked to his standard. +Most miserable proceeding! The quarrel had begun +about a mere point of etiquette, and now they cast +off God's anointed king, and that, too, after the most +signal token of God's anger had fallen on Absalom +and his rebellious crew. There are many wretched +enough slaveries in this world, but the slavery of +pride is perhaps the most mischievous and humiliating +of all.</p> + +<p>And here it cannot be amiss to call attention to the +very great neglect of the rules and spirit of Christianity +that is apt, even at the present day, to show itself +among professing Christians in connection with their +disputes. This is so very apparent that one is apt to +think that the settlement of quarrels is the very last +matter to which Christ's followers learn to apply the +example and instructions of their Master. When men +begin in earnest to follow Christ, they usually pay +considerable attention to certain of His precepts; they +turn away from scandalous sins, they observe prayer, +they show some interest in Christian objects, and they +abandon some of the more frivolous ways of the world. +But alas! when they fall into differences, they are prone +in dealing with them to leave all Christ's precepts +behind them. See in what an unlovely and unloving +spirit the controversies of Christians have usually +been conducted; how much of bitterness and personal +animosity they show, how little forbearance and generosity; +how readily they seem to abandon themselves +to the impulses of their own hearts. Controversy +rouses temper, and temper creates a tempest through +which you cannot see clearly. And how many are the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span> +quarrels in Churches or congregations that are carried +on with all the heat and bitterness of unsanctified men! +How much offence is taken at trifling neglects or +mistakes! Who remembers, even in its spirit, the +precept in the Sermon on the Mount, "If any man +smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other +also"? Who remembers the beatitude, "Blessed are +the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of +God"? Who bears in mind the Apostle's horror at +the unseemly spectacle of saints carrying their quarrels +to heathen tribunals, instead of settling them as Christians +quietly among themselves? Who weighs the +earnest counsel, "Endeavour to keep the unity of the +Spirit in the bond of peace"? Who prizes our gracious +Lord's most blessed legacy, "Peace I leave with you, +My peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth give +I unto you"? Do not all such texts show that it is +incumbent on Christians to be most careful and watchful, +when any difference arises, to guard against carnal +feeling of every kind, and strive to the very utmost to +manifest the spirit of Christ? Yet is it not at such +times that they are most apt to leave all their Christianity +behind them, and engage in unseemly wrangles +with one another? Does not the devil very often get +it all his own way, whoever may be in the right, and +whoever in the wrong? And is not frequent occasion +given thereby to the enemy to blaspheme, and, in the +very circumstances that should bring out in clear and +strong light the true spirit of Christianity, is there not +often, in place of that, an exhibition of rudeness and +bitterness that makes the world ask, What better are +Christians than other men?</p> + +<p>But let us return to King David and his people. +The author of the insurrection was "a man of Belial,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span> +whose name was Sheba." He is called "the son of +Bichri, a Benjamite." Benjamin had a son whose +name was Becher, and the adjective formed from that +would be Bichrite; some have thought that Bichri +denotes not his father, but his family. Saul appears +to have been of the same family (see <i>Speaker's +Commentary in loco</i>). It is thus quite possible that Sheba +was a relation of Saul, and that he had always +cherished a grudge against David for taking the throne +which he had filled. Here, we may remark in passing, +would have been a real temptation to Mephibosheth +to join an insurrection, for if this had succeeded he was +the man who would naturally have become king. But +there is no reason to believe that Mephibosheth +favoured Sheba, and therefore no reason to doubt the +truth of the account he gave of himself to David. The +war-cry of Sheba was an artful one—"We have no +part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son +of Jesse." It was a scornful and exaggerated mockery +of the claim that Judah had asserted as being of the +same tribe with the king, whereas the other tribes +stood in no such relation to him. "Very well," was +virtually the cry of Sheba—"if we have no part in +David, neither any inheritance in the son of Jesse, let +us get home as fast as possible, and leave his friends, +the tribe of Judah, to make of him what they can." +It was not so much a setting up of a new rebellion +as a scornful repudiation of all interest in the existing +king. Instead of going with David from Gilgal to +Jerusalem, they went up every man to his tent or +to his home. It is not said that they intended actively +to oppose David, and from this part of the narrative +we should suppose that all that they intended was +to make a public protest against the unworthy treatment<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span> +which they held that they had received. It must +have greatly disturbed the pleasure of David's return +to Jerusalem that this unseemly secession occurred +by the way. A chill must have fallen upon his heart +just as it was beginning to recover its elasticity. And +much anxiety must have haunted him as to the issue—whether +or not the movement would go on to another +insurrection like Absalom's; or whether, having discharged +their dissatisfied feeling, the people of Israel +would return sullenly to their allegiance.</p> + +<p>Nor could the feelings of King David be much +soothed when he re-entered his home. The greater +part of his family had been with him in his exile, and +when he returned his house was occupied by the ten +women whom he had left to keep it, and with whom +Absalom had behaved dishonourably. And here was +another trouble resulting from the rebellion that could +not be adjusted in a satisfactory way. The only way +of disposing of them was to put them in ward, to +shut them up in confinement, to wear out the rest of +their lives in a dreary, joyless widowhood. All joy +and brightness was thus taken out of their lives, and +personal freedom was denied them. They were doomed, +for no fault of theirs, to the weary lot of captives, cursing +the day, probably, when their beauty had brought +them to the palace, and wishing that they could +exchange lots with the humblest of their sisters that +breathed the air of freedom. Strange that, with all his +spiritual instincts, David could not see that a system +which led to such miserable results must lie under +the curse of God!</p> + +<p>As events proceeded, it appeared that active mischief +was likely to arise from Sheba's movement. He was +accompanied by a body of followers, and the king was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span> +afraid lest he should get into some fenced city, and +escape the correction which his wickedness deserved. +He accordingly sent Amasa to assemble the men of +Judah, and return within three days. This was +Amasa's first commission after his being appointed +general of the troops. Whether he found the people +unwilling to go out again immediately to war, or +whether they were unwilling to accept him as their +general, we are not told, but certainly he tarried longer +than the time appointed. Thereupon the king, who +was evidently alarmed at the serious dimensions which +the insurrection of Sheba was assuming, sent for +Abishai, Joab's brother, and ordered him to take what +troops were ready and start immediately to punish +Sheba. Abishai took "Joab's men, and the Cherethites +and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men." With +these he went out from Jerusalem to pursue after +Sheba. How Joab conducted himself on this occasion +is a strange but characteristic chapter of his history. +It does not appear that he had any dealings with David, +or that David had any dealings with him. He simply +went out with his brother, and, being a man of the +strongest will and greatest daring, he seems to have +resolved on some fit occasion to resume his command +in spite of all the king's arrangements.</p> + +<p>They had not gone farther from Jerusalem than the +Pool of Gibeon when they were overtaken by Amasa, +followed doubtless by his troops. When Joab and Amasa +met, Joab, actuated by jealousy towards him as having +superseded him in the command of the army, treacherously +slew him, leaving his dead body on the +ground, and, along with Abishai, prepared to give pursuit +after Sheba. An officer of Joab's was stationed beside +Amasa's dead body, to call on the soldiers, when they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</a></span> +saw that their chief was dead, to follow Joab as the +friend of David. But the sight of the dead body of +Amasa only made them stand still—horrified, most +probably, at the crime of Joab, and unwilling to place +themselves under one who had been guilty of such a +crime. The body of Amasa was accordingly removed +from the highway into the field, and his soldiers were +then ready enough to follow Joab. Joab was now in +undisturbed command of the whole force, having set +aside all David's arrangements as completely as if they +had never been made. Little did David thus gain +by superseding Joab and appointing Amasa in his +room. The son of Zeruiah proved himself again too +strong for him. The hideous crime by which he got +rid of his rival was nothing to him. How he could +reconcile all this with his duty to his king we are +unable to see. No doubt he trusted to the principle +that "success succeeds," and believed firmly that if he +were able entirely to suppress Sheba's insurrection and +return to Jerusalem with the news that every trace of +the movement was obliterated, David would say nothing +of the past, and silently restore the general who, with +all his faults, did so well in the field.</p> + +<p>Sheba was quite unable to offer opposition to the +force that was thus led against him. He retreated +northwards from station to station, passing in succession +through the different tribes, until he came to the +extreme northern border of the land. There, in a town +called Abel-beth-Maachah, he took refuge, till Joab +and his forces, accompanied by the Berites, a people +of whom we know nothing, having overtaken him at +Abel, besieged the town. Works were raised for the +purpose of capturing Abel, and an assault was made on +the wall for the purpose of throwing it down. Then a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</a></span> +woman, gifted with the wisdom for which the place +was proverbial, came to Joab to remonstrate against the +siege. The ground of her remonstrance was that the +people of Abel had done nothing on account of which +their city should be destroyed. Joab, she said, was +trying to destroy "a city and a mother in Israel," and +thereby to swallow up the inheritance of the Lord. In +what sense was Joab seeking to destroy a <i>mother</i> in +Israel? The word seems to be used to denote a +mother-city or district capital, on which other places +were depending. What you are trying to destroy is +not a mere city of Israel, but a city which has its family +of dependent villages, all of which must share in the +ruin if we are destroyed. But Joab assured the woman +that he had no such desire. All that he wished was to +get at Sheba, who had taken refuge within the city. +If that be all, said the woman, I will engage to throw +his head to thee over the wall. It was the interest of +the people of the city to get rid of the man who was +bringing them into so serious a danger. It was not +difficult for them to get Sheba decapitated, and to throw +his head over the wall to Joab. By this means the +conspiracy was ended. As in Absalom's case, the +death of the leader was the ruin of the cause. No +further stand was made by any one. Indeed, it is +probable that the great body of Sheba's followers had +fallen away from him in the course of his northern +flight, and that only a handful were with him in Abel. +So "Joab blew a trumpet, and they retired from the +city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned unto +Jerusalem, to the king."</p> + +<p>Thus, once again, the land had rest from war. At +the close of the chapter we have a list of the chief +officers of the kingdom, similar to that given in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</a></span> +ch. viii. at the close of David's foreign wars. It would +appear that, peace being again restored, pains were +taken by the king to improve and perfect the arrangements +for the administration of the kingdom. The +changes on the former list are not very numerous. Joab +was again at the head of the army; Benaiah, as before, +commanded the Cherethites and the Pelethites; Jehoshaphat +was still recorder; Sheva (same as Seraiah) was +scribe; and Zadok and Abiathar were priests. In two +cases there was a change. A new office had been +instituted—"Adoram was over the tribute;" the subjugation +of so many foreign states which had to pay a +yearly tribute to David called for this change. In the +earlier list it is said that the king's sons were chief +rulers. No mention is made of king's sons now; the +chief ruler is Ira the Jairite. On the whole, there was +little change; at the close of this war the kingdom was +administered in the same manner and almost by the +same men as before.</p> + +<p>There is nothing to indicate that the kingdom was +weakened in its external relations by the two insurrections +that had taken place against David. It is to be +observed that both of them were of very short duration. +Between Absalom's proclamation of himself at Hebron +and his death in the wood of Ephraim there must have +been a very short interval, not more than a fortnight. +The insurrection of Sheba was probably all over in a +week. Foreign powers could scarcely have heard of the +beginning of the revolts before they heard of the close +of them. There would be nothing therefore to give +them any encouragement to rebel against David, and +they do not appear to have made any such attempt. +But in another and higher sense these revolts left +painful consequences behind them. The chastening to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</a></span> +which David was exposed in connection with them was +very humbling. His glory as king was seriously impaired. +It was humiliating that he should have had +to fly from before his own son. It was hardly less +humiliating that he was seen to lie so much at the +mercy of Joab. He is unable to depose Joab, and +when he tries to do so, Joab not only kills his successor, +but takes possession by his own authority of the vacant +place. And David can say nothing. In this relation +of David to Joab we have a sample of the trials of +kings. Nominally supreme, they are often the servants +of their ministers and officers. Certainly David was +not always his own master. Joab was really above +him; frustrated, doubtless, some excellent plans; did +great service by his rough patriotism and ready valour, +but injured the good name of David and the reputation +of his government by his daring crimes. The retrospect +of this period of his reign could have given +little satisfaction to the king, since he had to trace it, +with all its calamities and sorrows, to his own evil conduct. +And yet what David suffered, and what the +nation suffered, was not, strictly speaking, the punishment +of his sin. God had forgiven him his sin. David +had sung, "Blessed is the man whose iniquity is forgiven, +whose sin is covered." What he now suffered +was not the visitation of God's wrath, but a fatherly +chastening, designed to deepen his contrition and +quicken his vigilance. And surely we may say, If the +fatherly chastening was so severe, what would the +Divine retribution have been? If these things were +done in the green tree, what would have been done in +the dry? If David, even though forgiven, could not but +shudder at all the terrible results of that course of sin +which began with his allowing himself to lust after<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</a></span> +Bathsheba, what must be the feeling of many a lost +soul, in the world of woe, recalling its first step in open +rebellion against God, and thinking of all the woes, +innumerable and unutterable, that have sprung therefrom? +Oh, sin, how terrible a curse thou bringest! +What serpents spring up from the dragon's teeth! +And how awful the fate of those who awake all too late +to a sense of what thou art! Grant, O God, of Thine +infinite mercy, that we all may be wise in time; that we +may ponder the solemn truth, that "the wages of sin +is death"; and that, without a day's delay, we may +flee for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us, +and find peace in believing on Him who came to take +sin away by the sacrifice of Himself!</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII.</a></h2> + +<h3><i>THE FAMINE.</i></h3> + +<h5>2 <span class="smcap">Samuel</span> xxi. 1-14.</h5> + + +<p>We now enter on the concluding part of the reign +of David. Some of the matters in which he +was most occupied during this period are recorded only +in Chronicles. Among these, the chief was his preparations +for the building of the temple, which great +work was to be undertaken by his son. In the +concluding part of Samuel the principal things recorded +are two national judgments, a famine and a pestilence, +that occurred in David's reign, the one springing from +a transaction in the days of Saul, the other from one +in the days of David. Then we have two very remarkable +lyrical pieces, one a general song of thanksgiving, +forming a retrospect of his whole career; the other +a prophetic vision of the great Ruler that was to spring +from him, and the effects of His reign. In addition +to these, there is also a notice of certain wars of +David's, not previously recorded, and a fuller statement +respecting his great men than we have elsewhere. +The whole of this section has more the appearance of +a collection of pieces than a chronological narrative. +It is by no means certain that they are all recorded +in the order of their occurrence. The most characteristic +of the pieces are the two songs or psalms—the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</a></span> +one looking back, the other looking forward; the one +commemorating the goodness and mercy that had +followed him all the days of his life, the other picturing +goodness still greater and mercy more abundant, yet +to be vouchsafed under David's Son.</p> + +<p>The conjunction "then" at the beginning of the +chapter is replaced in the Revised Version by "and." +It does not denote that what is recorded here took +place immediately after what goes before. On the +contrary, the note of time is found in the general +expression, "in the days of David," that is, some time +in David's reign. On obvious grounds, most recent +commentators are disposed to place this occurrence +comparatively early. It is likely to have happened +while the crime of Saul was yet fresh in the public +recollection. By the close of David's reign a new +generation had come to maturity, and the transactions +of Saul's reign must have been comparatively forgotten. +It is clear from David's excepting Mephibosheth, that +the transaction occurred after he had been discovered +and cared for. Possibly the narrative of the discovery +of Mephibosheth may also be out of chronological +order, and that event may have occurred earlier than +is commonly thought. It will remove some of the +difficulties of this difficult chapter if we are entitled +to place the occurrence at a time not very far remote +from the death of Saul.</p> + +<p>It was altogether a singular occurrence, this famine +in the land of Israel. The calamity was remarkable, +the cause was remarkable, the cure most remarkable +of all. The whole narrative is painful and perplexing; +it places David in a strange light,—it seems to place +even God Himself in a strange light; and the only +way in which we can explain it, in consistency with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</a></span> +a righteous government, is by laying great stress on +a principle accepted without hesitation in those Eastern +countries, which made the father and his children "one +concern," and held the children liable for the misdeeds +of the father.</p> + +<p>1. As to the calamity. It was a famine that continued +three successive years, causing necessarily an +increase of misery year after year. There is a +presumption that it occurred in the earlier part of +David's reign, because, if it had been after the great +enlargement of the kingdom which followed his foreign +wars, the resources of some parts of it would probably +have availed to supply the deficiency. At first +it does not appear that the king held that there was +any special significance in the famine,—that it came +as a reproof for any particular sin. But when the +famine extended to a third year, he was persuaded that +it must have a special cause. Did he not in this just +act as we all are disposed to do? A little trial we deem +to be nothing; it does not seem to have any significance +or to be connected with any lesson. It is only +when the little trial swells into a large one, or the brief +trouble into a long-continued affliction, that we begin +to inquire why it was sent. If small trials were more +regarded, heavy trials would be less needed. The +horse that springs forward at the slightest touch of +the whip or prick of the spur needs no heavy lash; +it is only when the lighter stimulus fails that the +heavier has to be applied. Man's tendency, even under +God's chastenings, has ever been to ignore the source +of them,—when God "poured upon him the fury of +His anger and the strength of battle, and it set him +on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned +him, yet he laid it not to heart" (Isa. xlii. 25). Trials<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</a></span> +would neither be so long nor so severe if more regard +were had to them in an earlier stage; if they were +accepted more as God's message—"Thus saith the +Lord of hosts, Consider your ways."</p> + +<p>2. The cause of the calamity was made known when +David inquired of the Lord—"It is for Saul and his +bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites."</p> + +<p>The history of the crime for which this famine was +sent can be gathered only from incidental notices. +It appears from the narrative before us that Saul +"consumed the Gibeonites, and devised against them +that they should be destroyed from remaining in any of +the coasts of Israel." The Gibeonites, as is well known, +were a Canaanite people, who, through a cunning +stratagem, obtained leave from Joshua to dwell in their +old settlements, and being protected by a solemn +national oath, were not disturbed even when it was +found out that they had been practising a fraud. They +possessed cities, situated principally in the tribe of +Benjamin; the chief of them, Gibeon, "was a great city, +one of the royal cities, greater than Ai." In the time +of Saul they were a quiet, inoffensive people; yet he +seems to have fallen on them with a determination to +sweep them from all the coasts of Israel. Death or +banishment was the only alternative he offered. His +desire to exterminate them evidently failed, otherwise +David would have found none of them to consult; but +the savage attack which he made on them affords an +incidental proof that it was no feeling of humanity that +led him to spare the Amalekites when he was ordered +to destroy them.</p> + +<p>We are not told of any offence that the Gibeonites +had committed; and perhaps covetousness lay at the +root of Saul's policy. There is reason to believe that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</a></span> +when he saw his popularity declining and David's +advancing, he had recourse to unscrupulous methods +of increasing his own. Addressing his servants, before +the slaughter of Abimelech and the priests, he asked, +"Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give +you fields and vineyards, that all of you have conspired +against me?" Evidently he had rewarded his favourites, +especially those of his own tribe, with fields and +vineyards. But how had he got these to bestow? +Very probably by dispossessing the Gibeonites. Their +cities, as we have seen, were in the tribe of Benjamin. +But to prevent jealousy, others, both of Judah and of +Israel, would get a share of the spoil. For he is said +to have sought to slay the Gibeonites "in his zeal for +the children of Israel and Judah." If this was the way +in which the slaughter of the Gibeonites was compassed, +it was fair that the nation should suffer for +it. If the nation profited by the unholy transaction, +and was thus induced to wink at the violation of the +national faith and the massacre of an inoffensive people, +it shared in Saul's guilt, and became liable to chastisement. +Even David himself was not free from blame. +When he came to the throne he should have seen +justice done to this injured people. But probably he +was afraid. He felt his own authority not very secure, +and probably he shrank from raising up enemies in +those whom justice would have required him to dispossess. +Prince and people therefore were both at +fault, and both were suffering for the wrongdoing of +the nation. Perhaps Solomon had this case in view +when he wrote: "Rob not the poor because he is poor, +neither oppress the afflicted in the gate; for the Lord +will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that +spoiled them."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</a></span></p> + +<p>But whatever may have been Saul's motive, it is +certain that by his attempt to massacre and banish +the Gibeonites a great national sin was committed, +and that for this sin the nation had never humbled +itself, and never made reparation.</p> + +<p>3. What, then, was now to be done? The king +left it to the Gibeonites themselves to prescribe the +satisfaction which they claimed for this wrong. This +was in accordance with the spirit of the law that gave +a murdered man's nearest of kin a right to exact justice +of the murderer. In their answer the Gibeonites disclaimed +all desire for compensation in money; and +very probably this was a surprise to the people. To +surrender lands might have been much harder than +to give up lives. What the Gibeonites asked had a +grim look of justice; it showed a burning desire to +bring home the punishment as near as possible to +the offender: "The man that consumed us, and +that devised against us that we should be destroyed +from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel, let +seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and +we will hang them up unto the Lord in Gibeah of +Saul, whom the Lord did choose." Seven was a +perfect number, and therefore the victims should be +seven. Their punishment was, to be hanged or +crucified, but in inflicting this punishment the Jews +were more merciful than the Romans; the criminals +were first put to death, then their dead bodies were +exposed to open shame. They were to be hanged +"unto the Lord," as a satisfaction to expiate His just +displeasure. They were to be hanged "in Gibeah of +Saul," to bring home the offence visibly to him, so +that the expiation should be at the same place as the +crime. And when mention is made of Saul, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</a></span> +Gibeonites add, "Whom the Lord did choose." For +Jehovah was intimately connected with Saul's call to +the throne; He was in some sense publicly identified +with him; and unless something were done to disconnect +Him with this crime, the reproach of it would, +in measure, rest upon Him.</p> + +<p>Such was the demand of the Gibeonites; and David +deemed it right to comply with it, stipulating only that +the descendants of Jonathan should not be surrendered. +The sons or descendants of Saul that were given up +for this execution were the two sons of Rizpah, Saul's +concubine, and along with them five sons of Michal, +or, as it is in the margin, of Merab, the elder daughter +of Saul, whom she bare (R. V.—not "brought up," A. V.) +to Adriel the Meholathite. These seven men were put +to death accordingly, and their bodies exposed in the +hill near Gibeah.</p> + +<p>The transaction has a very hard look to us, though +it had nothing of the kind to the people of those days. +Why should these unfortunate men be punished so +terribly for the sin of their father? How was it possible +for David, in cold blood, to give them up to an +ignominious death? How could he steel his heart +against the supplications of their friends? With +regard to this latter aspect of the case, it is ridiculous +to cast reproach on David. As we have remarked +again and again, if he had acted like other Eastern +kings, he would have consigned every son of Saul +to destruction when he came to the throne, and left +not one remaining, for no other offence than being the +children of their father. On the score of clemency to +Saul's family the character of David is abundantly +vindicated.</p> + +<p>The question of justice remains. Is it not a law of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</a></span> +nature, it may be asked, and a law of the Bible too, +that the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, +but that the soul that sinneth it shall die? It is +undoubtedly the rule both of nature and the Bible that +the son is not to be substituted <i>for</i> the father when +the father is there to bear the penalty. But it is +neither the rule of the one nor of the other that the son +is never to suffer <i>with</i> the father for the sins which the +father has committed. On the contrary, it is what we +see taking place, in many forms, every day. It is an +arrangement of Providence that almost baffles the +philanthropist, who sees that children often inherit +from their parents a physical frame disposing them to +their parents' vices, and who sees, moreover, that, when +brought up by vicious parents, children are deprived +of their natural rights, and are initiated into a life of +vice. But the law that identified children and parents +in Old Testament times was carried out to consequences +which would not be tolerated now. Not only were +children often punished because of their physical connection +with their fathers, but they were regarded as +judicially one with them, and so liable to share in their +punishment. The Old Testament (as Canon Mozley +has so powerfully shown<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a>) was in some respects an imperfect +economy; the rights of the individual were not +so clearly acknowledged as they are under the New; the +family was a sort of moral unit, and the father was the +responsible agent for the whole. When Achan sinned, +his whole household shared his punishment. The +solidarity of the family was such that all were involved +in the sin of the father. However strange it may seem +to us, it did not appear at all strange in David's time<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</a></span> +that this rule should be applied in the case of Saul. +On the contrary, it would probably be thought that +it showed considerable moderation of feeling not to +demand the death of the whole living posterity of Saul, +but to limit the demand to the number of seven. +Doubtless the Gibeonites had suffered to an enormous +extent. Thousands upon thousands of them had probably +been slain. People might be sorry for the seven +young men that had to die, but that there was anything +essentially unjust or even harsh in the transaction +is a view of the case that would occur to no one. +Justice is often hard; executions are always grim; but +here was a nation that had already experienced three +years of famine for the sin of Saul, and that would +experience yet far more if no public expiation should +take place; and seven men were not very many to die +for a nation.</p> + +<p>The grimness of the mode of punishment was +softened by an incident of great moral beauty, which +cannot but touch the heart of every man of sensibility. +Rizpah, the concubine of Saul, and mother of two of +the victims, combining the tenderness of a mother and +the courage of a hero, took her position beside the +gibbet; and, undeterred by the sight of the rotting +bodies and the stench of the air, she suffered neither +the birds of the air to rest on them by day nor the +beasts of the field by night. The poor woman must +have looked for a very different destiny when she became +the concubine of Saul. No doubt she expected +to share in the glory of his royal state. But her lord +perished in battle, and the splendour of royalty passed +for ever from him and his house. Then came the +famine; its cause was declared from heaven, its cure +was announced by the Gibeonites. Her two sons were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</a></span> +among the slain. Probably they were but lads, not +yet beyond the age which rouses a mother's sensibilities +to the full. (This consideration likewise points +to an early date.) We cannot attempt to picture her +feelings. The last consolation that remained for her +was to guard their remains from the vulture and the +tiger. Unburied corpses were counted to be disgraced, +and this, in some degree, because they were liable to +be devoured by birds and beasts of prey. Rizpah +could not prevent the exposure, but she could try to +prevent the wild animals from devouring them. The +courage and self-denial needed for this work were +great, for the risk of violence from wild beasts was +very serious. All honour to this woman and her noble +heart! David appears to have been deeply impressed +by her heroism. When he heard of it he went and +collected the bones of Jonathan and his sons, which +had been buried under a tree at Jabesh-gilead, and +likewise the bones of the men that had been hanged; +and he buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan in +Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish, Saul's father. And +after that God was entreated for the land.</p> + +<p>We offer a concluding remark, founded on the tone +of this narrative. It is marked, as every one must +perceive, by a subdued, solemn tone. Whatever may +be the opinion of our time as to the need of apologizing +for it, it is evident that no apology was deemed necessary +for the transaction at the time this record was +written. The feeling of all parties evidently was, that +it was indispensable that things should take the course +they did. No one expressed wonder when the famine +was accounted for by the crime of Saul. No one +objected when the question of expiation was referred +to the Gibeonites. The house of Saul made no protest<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</a></span> +when seven of his sons were demanded for death. +The men themselves, when they knew what was +coming, seem to have been restrained from attempting +to save themselves by flight. It seemed as if God +were speaking, and the part of man was simply to +obey. When unbelievers object to passages in the +Bible like this, or like the sacrifice of Isaac, or the +death of Achan, they are accustomed to say that they +exemplify the worst passions of the human heart +consecrated under the name of religion. We affirm +that in this chapter there is no sign of any outburst +of passion whatever; everything is done with gravity, +with composure and solemnity. And, what is more, +the graceful piety of Rizpah is recorded, with simplicity, +indeed, but in a tone that indicates appreciation +of her tender motherly soul. Savages thirsting for +blood are not in the habit of appreciating such touching +marks of affection. And further, we are made to +feel that it was a pleasure to David to pay that mark +of respect for Rizpah's feelings in having the men +buried. He did not desire to lacerate the feelings of +the unhappy mother; he was glad to soothe them as +far as he could. To him, as to his Lord, judgment +was a strange work, but he delighted in mercy. And +he was glad to be able to mingle a slight streak of +mercy with the dark colours of a picture of God's judgment +on sin.</p> + +<p>To all right minds it is painful to punish, and when +punishment has to be inflicted it is felt that it ought to +be done with great solemnity and gravity, and with an +entire absence of passion and excitement. In a sinful +world God too must inflict punishment. And the +future punishment of the wicked is the darkest thing +in all the scheme of God's government. But it must<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</a></span> +take place. And when it does take place it will be +done deliberately, solemnly, sadly. There will be no +exasperation, no excitement. There will be no disregard +of the feelings of the unhappy victims of the Divine +retribution. What they are able to bear will be well +considered. What condition they shall be placed in +when the punishment comes, will be calmly weighed. +But may we not see what a distressing thing it will be +(if we may use such an expression with reference to +God) to consign His creatures to punishment? How +different His feelings when He welcomes them to eternal +glory! How different the feelings of His angels when +that change takes place by which punishment ceases to +hang over men, and glory takes its place! "There is +joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner +that repenteth." Is it not blessed to think that this is +the feeling of God, and of all Godlike spirits? Will +you not all believe this,—believe in the mercy of God, +and accept the provision of His grace? "For God so +loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, +that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, +but should have eternal life."</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX">CHAPTER XXIX.</a></h2> + +<h3><i>LAST BATTLES AND THE MIGHTY MEN.</i></h3> + +<h5>2 <span class="smcap">Samuel</span> xxi. 15-22; xxiii. 8-39.</h5> + + +<p>In entering on the consideration of these two portions +of the history of David, we must first observe that +the events recorded do not appear to belong to the +concluding portion of his reign. It is impossible for +us to assign a precise date to them, or at least to +most of them, but the displays of physical activity and +courage which they record would lead us to ascribe +them to a much earlier period. Originally, they seem +to have formed parts of a record of David's wars, and +to have been transferred to the Books of Samuel +and Chronicles in order to give a measure of completeness +to the narrative. The narrative in Chronicles is +substantially the same as that in Samuel, but the text +is purer. From notes of time in Chronicles it is seen +that some at least of the encounters took place after +the war with the children of Ammon.</p> + +<p>Why have these passages been inserted in the +history of the reign of David? Apparently for two +chief purposes. In the first place, to give us some +idea of the dangers to which he was exposed in his +military life, dangers manifold and sometimes overwhelming, +and all but fatal; and thus enable us to see +how wonderful were the deliverances he experienced,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</a></span> +and prepare us for entering into the song of thanksgiving +which forms the twenty-second chapter, and of +which these deliverances form the burden. In the +second place, to enable us to understand the human +instrumentality by which he achieved so brilliant a +success, the kind of men by whom he was helped, +the kind of spirit by which they were animated, and +their intense personal devotion to David himself. The +former purpose is that which is chiefly in view in the +end of the twenty-first chapter, the latter in the +twenty-third. The exploits themselves occur in encounters +with the Philistines, and may therefore be +referred partly to the time after the slaughter of +Goliath, when he first distinguished himself in warfare, +and the daughters of Israel began to sing, "Saul +hath slain his thousands, but David his tens of thousands;" +partly to the time in his early reign when +he was engaged driving them out of Israel, and putting +a bridle on them to restrain their inroads; and +partly to a still later period. It is to be observed +that nothing more is sought than to give a sample +of David's military adventures, and for this purpose +his wars with the Philistines alone are examined. If +the like method had been taken with all his other campaigns,—against +Edom, Moab, and Ammon; against +the Syrians of Rehob, and Maacah, and Damascus, +and the Syrians beyond the river,—we might borrow +the language of the Evangelist, and say that the world +itself would not have been able to contain the books +that should be written.</p> + +<p>Four exploits are recorded in the closing verses of +the twenty-first chapter, all with "sons of the giant," +or, as it is in the margin, of Rapha. The first was with +a man who is called Ishbi-benob, but there is reason to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</a></span> +suspect that the text is corrupt here, and in Chronicles +this incident is not mentioned. The language applied +to David, "David and his servants went down," would +lead us to believe that the incident happened at an +early period, when the Philistines were very powerful +in Israel, and it was a mark of great courage to "go +down" to their plains, and attack them in their own +country. To do this implied a long journey, over steep +and rough roads, and it is no wonder if between the +journey and the fighting David "waxed faint." Then +it was that the son of the giant, whose spear or spearhead +weighed three hundred shekels of brass, or about +eight pounds, fell upon him "with a new sword, and +thought to have slain him." There is no noun in the +original for sword; all that is said is, that the giant fell +on David with something new, and our translators have +made it a sword. The Revised Version in the margin +gives "new armour." The point is evidently this, that +the newness of the thing made it more formidable. +This could hardly be said of a common sword, which +would be really more formidable after it had ceased to +be quite new, since, by having used it, the owner would +know it better and wield it more perfectly. It seems +better to take the marginal reading "new armour," that +is, new defensive armour, against which the weary +David would direct his blows in vain. Evidently he +was in the utmost peril of his life, but was rescued +by his nephew Abishai, who killed the giant. The +risk to which he was exposed was such that his +people vowed they would not let him go out with +them to battle any more, lest the light of Israel +should be quenched.</p> + +<p>During the rest of that campaign the vow seems to +have been respected, for the other three giants were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</a></span> +not slain by David personally, but by others. As to +other campaigns, David usually took his old place as +leader of the army, until the battle against Absalom, +when his people prevailed on him to remain in the city.</p> + +<p>Three of the four duels recorded here took place at +Gob,—a place not now known, but most probably in +the neighbourhood of Gath. In fact, all the encounters +probably took place near that city. One of the giants +slain is said in Samuel, by a manifest error, to have +been Goliath the Gittite; but the error is corrected in +Chronicles, where he is called the brother of Goliath. +The very same expression is used of his spear as in +the case of Goliath: "the staff of whose spear was like +a weaver's beam." Of the fourth giant it is said that +he defied Israel, as Goliath had done. Of the whole +four it is said that "they were born to the giant in +Gath." This does not necessarily imply that they +were all sons of the same father, "the giant" being +used generically to denote the race rather than the +individual.</p> + +<p>But the tenor of the narrative and many of its +expressions carry us back to the early days of David. +There seems to have been a nest at Gath of men of +gigantic stature, brothers or near relations of Goliath. +Against these he was sent, perhaps in one of the +expeditions when Saul secretly desired that he should +fall by the hand of the Philistines. If it was in this +way that he came to encounter the first of the four, +Saul had calculated well, and was very nearly carrying +his point. But though man proposes, God disposes. +The example of David in his encounter with +Goliath, even at this early period, had inspired several +young men of the Hebrews, and even when David was +interdicted from going himself into battle, others were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</a></span> +raised up to take his place. Every one of the giants +found a match either in David or among his men. It +was indeed highly perilous work; but David was encompassed +by a Divine Protector, and being destined +for high service in the kingdom of God, he was "immortal +till his work was done."</p> + +<p>We have said that these were but samples of David's +trials, and that they were probably repeated again and +again in the course of the many wars in which he +was engaged. One can see that the danger was often +very imminent, making him feel that his only possible +deliverance must come from God. Such dangers, +therefore, were wonderfully fitted to exercise and +discipline the spirit of trust. Not once or twice, but +hundreds of times, in his early experience he would +find himself constrained to cry to the Lord. And +protected as he was, delivered as he was, the conviction +would become stronger and stronger that God +cared for him and would deliver him to the end. We +see from all this how unnecessary it is to ascribe all +the psalms where David is pressed by enemies either +to the time of Saul or to the time of Absalom. There +were hundreds of other times in his life when he had +the same experience, when he was reduced to similar +straits, and his appeal lay to the God of his life.</p> + +<p>And this was in truth the healthiest period of his +spiritual life. It was amid these perilous but bracing +experiences that his soul prospered most. The north +wind of danger and difficulty braced him to spiritual +self-denial and endurance; the south wind of prosperity +and luxurious enjoyment was what nearly destroyed +him. Let us not become impatient when anxieties +multiply around us, and we are beset by troubles, +and labours, and difficulties. Do not be tempted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</a></span> +to contrast your miserable lot with that of others, +who have health while you are sick, riches while +you are poor, honour while you are despised, ease +and enjoyment while you have care and sorrow. By +all these things God desires to draw you to Himself, +to discipline your soul, to lead you away from +the broken cisterns that can hold no water to the +fountain of living waters. Guard earnestly against the +unbelief that at such times would make your hands +hang down and your heart despond; rally your sinking +spirit. "Why art thou cast down, O my soul, and +why art thou disquieted within me?" Remember the +promise, "I will never leave you nor forsake you;" +and one day you shall have cause to look back on +this as the most useful, the most profitable, the most +healthful, period of your spiritual life.</p> + +<p>We pass to the twenty-third chapter, which tells us +of David's mighty men. The narrative, at some points, +is not very clear; but we gather from it that David +had an order of thirty men distinguished for their +valour; that besides these there were three of supereminent +merit, and another three, who were also +eminent, but who did not attain to the distinction of the +first three. Of the first three, the first was Jashobeam +the Hachmonite (see 1 Chron. xi. 11), the second +Eleazar, and the third Shammah. Of the second three, +who were not quite equal to the first, only two are +mentioned, Abishai and Benaiah; thereafter we have +the names of the thirty. It is remarkable that Joab's +name does not occur in the list, but as he was captain +of the host, he probably held a higher position than +any. Certainly Joab was not wanting in valour, and +must have held the highest rank in a legion of honour.</p> + +<p>Of the three mighties of the first rank, and the two<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[Pg 344]</a></span> +of the second, characteristic exploits of remarkable +courage and success are recorded. The first of the +first rank, whom the Chronicles call Jashobeam, lifted +up his spear against three hundred slain at one time. +(In Samuel the number is eight hundred.) The exploit +was worthy to be ranked with the famous achievement +of Jonathan and his armour-bearer at the pass of +Michmash. The second, Eleazar, defied the Philistines +when they were gathered to battle, and when the men +of Israel had gone away he smote the Philistines till +his hand was weary. The third, Shammah, kept the +Philistines at bay on a piece of ground covered with +lentils, after the people had fled, and slew the Philistines, +gaining a great victory.</p> + +<p>Next we have a description of the exploit of three of +the mighty men when the Philistines were in possession +of Bethlehem, and David in a hold near the cave of +Adullam (see 2 Sam. v. 15-21). The occasion of their +exploit was an interesting one. Contemplating the +situation, and grieved to think that his native town +should be in the enemy's hands, David gave expression +to a wish—"Oh that some one would give me water to +drink of the well of Bethlehem which is before the +gate!" It was probably meant for little more than the +expression of an earnest wish that the enemy were +dislodged from their position—that there were no +obstruction between him and the well, that access to it +were as free as in the days of his youth. But the three +mighty men took him at his word, and breaking +through the host of the Philistines, brought the water +to David. It was a singular proof of his great personal +influence; he was so loved and honoured that to +gratify his wish these three men took their lives in +their hands to obtain the water. Water got at such a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[Pg 345]</a></span> +cost was sacred in his eyes; it was a thing too holy +for man to turn to his use, so he poured it out before +the Lord.</p> + +<p>Next we have a statement bearing on two of the +second three. Abishai, David's nephew, who was one +of them, lifted up his spear against three hundred and +slew them. Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, slew two lion-like +men of Moab (the two sons of Ariel of Moab, R.V.); +also, in time of snow, he slew a lion in a pit; and finally +he slew an Egyptian, a powerful man, attacking him +when he had only a staff in his hand, wrenching his +spear from him, and killing him with his own spear. +The third of this trio has not been mentioned; some +conjecture that he was Amasa ("chief of the captains"—"the +thirty," R.V., 1 Chron. xii. 18), and that his +name was not recorded because he deserted David to +side with Absalom. Among the other thirty, we cannot +but be struck with two names—Eliam the son of +Ahithophel the Gilonite, and apparently the father of +Bathsheba; and Uriah the Hittite. The sin of David +was all the greater if it involved the dishonour of +men who had served him so bravely as to be enrolled +in his legion of honour.</p> + +<p>With regard to the kind of exploits ascribed to some +of these men, a remark is necessary. There is an +appearance of exaggeration in statements that ascribe +to a single warrior the routing and killing of hundreds +through his single sword or spear. In the eyes of some +such statements give the narrative an unreliable look, +as if the object of the writer had been more to give <i>éclat</i> +to the warriors than to record the simple truth. But +this impression arises from our tendency to ascribe the +conditions of modern warfare to the warfare of these +times. In Eastern history, cases of a single warrior<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[Pg 346]</a></span> +putting a large number to flight, and even killing them, +are not uncommon. For though the strength of the +whole number was far more than a match for his, the +strength of each individual was far inferior; and if the +mass of them were scarcely armed, and the few who +had arms were far inferior to him, the result would be +that after some had fallen the rest would take to flight; +and the destruction of life in a retreat was always +enormous. The incident recorded of Eleazar is very +graphic and truth-like. "He smote the Philistines +until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto his +sword." A Highland sergeant at Waterloo had done +such execution with his basket-handled sword, and so +much blood had coagulated round his hand, that it had +to be released by a blacksmith, so firmly were they +glued together. The style of Eastern warfare was highly +favourable to deeds of great courage being done by +individuals, and in the terrific panic which followed +their first successes prodigious slaughter often ensued. +Under present conditions of fighting such things cannot +be done.</p> + +<p>The glimpse which these little notices give us of King +David and his knights is extremely interesting. The +story of Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table +bears a resemblance to it. We see the remarkable personal +influence of David, drawing to himself so many +men of spirit and energy, firing them by his own +example, securing their warm personal attachment, and +engaging them in enterprises equal to his own. How +far they shared his devotional spirit we have no means +of judging. If the historian reflects the general sentiment +in recording their victories when he says, once +and again, "The Lord wrought a great victory that +day" (xxiii. 10, 12), we should say that trust in God<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[Pg 347]</a></span> +must have been the general sentiment. "If it had not +been the Lord that was on our side, ... they had +swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled +against us." It is no wonder that David soon gained a +great military renown. Such a king, surrounded by such +a class of lieutenants, might well spread alarm among +all his enemies. One who, besides having such a body +of helpers, could claim the assistance of the Lord of +hosts, and could enter battle with the shout, "Let God +arise; and let His enemies be scattered; and let them +also that hate Him flee before Him," might well look +for universal victory. Trustworthy generals, we are +told, double the value of the troops; and the soldiers that +were led by such leaders, trusting in the Lord of hosts, +could hardly fail of triumph.</p> + +<p>And thus, too, we may see how David came to be +thoroughly under the influence of the military spirit, +and of some of the less favourable features of that +spirit. Accustomed to such scenes of bloodshed, he +would come to think lightly of the lives of his enemies. +A hostile army he would be prone to regard as a kind of +infernal machine, an instrument of evil only, and therefore +to be destroyed. Hence the complacency he expresses +in the destruction of his enemies. Hence the +judgment he calls down on those who thwarted and +opposed him. If, in the songs of David, this feeling +sometimes disappears, and the expressed desire of his +heart is that the nations may be glad and sing for joy, +that the people may praise God, that all the people may +praise Him, this seems to be in the later period of his +life, when all his enemies had been subdued, and he +had rest on every side. Even in earnest and spiritually-minded +men, religion is often coloured by their worldly +calling; and in no case more so, sometimes for better<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[Pg 348]</a></span> +and sometimes for worse, than in those who follow the +profession of arms.</p> + +<p>But in all this military career and influence of David, +may we not trace a type of character which was +realised in a far higher sphere, and to far grander purpose, +in the career of Jesus, David's Son? David on an +earthly level is Jesus on a higher. Every noble quality +of David, his courage, his activity, his affection, his +obedience and trust toward God, his devotion to the +welfare of others, reappears purer and higher in Jesus. +If David is surrounded by his thirty mighties and his +two threes, so is Jesus by His twelve apostles, His +seventy disciples, and pre-eminently the three apostles +who went with Him into the innermost scenes. If +David's men are roused by his example to deeds of +daring like his own, so the apostles and disciples go +into the world to teach, to fight, to heal, and to bless, +as Christ had done before them. Looking back from +the present moment to David's time, what young man +of spirit but feels that it would have been a great joy to +belong to his company, much better than to be among +those who were always carping and criticising, and +laughing at the men who shared his danger and sacrifices? +And does any one think that, when another +cycle of ages has gone past, he will have occasion to +congratulate himself that while he lived on earth he +had nothing to do with Christ and earnest Christians, +that he bore no part in any Christian battle, that he +kept well away from Christ and His staff, that he preferred +the service and pleasure of the world? Surely +no. Shall any of us, then, deliberately do to-day what +we know we shall repent to-morrow? Is it not certain +that Jesus Christ is an unrivalled Commander, pure and +noble above all His fellows, that His life was the most<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[Pg 349]</a></span> +glorious ever led on earth, and that His service is by +far the most honourable? We do not dwell at this +moment on the great fact that only in His faith and +fellowship can any of us escape the wrath to come, or +gain the favour of God. We ask you to say in what +company you can spend your lives to most profit, under +whose influence you may receive the highest impulses, +and be made to do the best service for God and man? +It must have been interesting in David's time to see his +people "willing in the day of his power," to see young +men flocking to his standard in the beauties of holiness, +like dewdrops from the womb of the morning. And +still more glorious is the sight when young men, even +the highest born and the highest gifted, having had +grace to see who and what Jesus Christ is, find no +manner of life worthy to be compared in essential +dignity and usefulness with His service, and, in spite of +the world, give themselves to Him. Oh that we could +see many such rallying to His standard, contrasting, as +St. Paul did, the two services, and counting all things +but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ +Jesus their Lord!</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[Pg 350]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX">CHAPTER XXX.</a></h2> + +<h3><i>THE SONG OF THANKSGIVING.</i></h3> + +<h5>2 <span class="smcap">Samuel</span> xxii.</h5> + + +<p>Some of David's actions are very characteristic of +himself; there are other actions quite out of +harmony with his character. This psalm of thanksgiving +belongs to the former order. It is quite like +David, at the conclusion of his military enterprises, to +cast his eye gratefully over the whole, and acknowledge +the goodness and mercy that had followed him all along. +Unlike many, he was as careful to thank God for +mercies past and present as to entreat Him for mercies +to come. The whole Book of Psalms resounds with +halleluiahs, especially the closing part. In the song +before us we have something like a grand halleluiah, +in which thanks are given for all the deliverances and +mercies of the past, and unbounded confidence expressed +in God's mercy and goodness for the time to +come.</p> + +<p>The date of this song is not to be determined by the +place which it occupies in the history. We have +already seen that the last few chapters of Samuel consist +of supplementary narratives, not introduced at their +regular places, but needful to give completeness to the +history. It is likely that this psalm was written considerably +before the end of David's reign. Two considerations<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[Pg 351]</a></span> +make it all but certain that its date is +earlier than Absalom's rebellion. In the first place, the +mention of the name of Saul in the first verse—"in the +day when God delivered him out of the hand of all his +enemies and out of the hand of Saul"—would seem to +imply that the deliverance from Saul was somewhat +recent, certainly not so remote as it would have been +at the end of David's reign. And secondly, while the +affirmation of David's sincerity and honesty in serving +God might doubtless have been made at any period of +his life, yet some of his expressions would not have +been likely to be used after his deplorable fall. It is +not likely that after that, he would have spoken, for +example, of the cleanness of his hands, stained as they +had been by wickedness that could hardly have been +surpassed. On the whole, it seems most likely that the +psalm was written about the time referred to in 2 Sam. +vii. 1—"when the Lord had given him rest from all +his enemies round about." This was the time when it +was in his heart to build the temple, and we know from +that and other circumstances that he was then in a +state of overflowing thankfulness.</p> + +<p>Besides the introduction, the song consists of three +leading parts not very definitely separated from each +other, but sufficiently marked to form a convenient +division, as follows:—</p> + +<p>I. Introduction: the leading thought of the song, +an adoring acknowledgment of what God had been and +was to David (vv. 2-4).</p> + +<p>II. A narrative of the Divine interpositions on his +behalf, embracing his dangers, his prayers, and the +Divine deliverances in reply (vv. 5-19).</p> + +<p>III. The grounds of his protection and success +(vv. 20-30).</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[Pg 352]</a></span></p> + +<p>IV. References to particular acts of God's goodness +in various parts of his life, interspersed with reflections +on the Divine character, from all which the assurance +is drawn that that goodness would be continued to him +and his successors, and would secure through coming +ages the welfare and extension of the kingdom. And +here we observe what is so common in the Psalms: a +gradual rising above the idea of a mere earthly kingdom; +the type passes into the antitype; the kingdom of David +melts, as in a dissolving view, into the kingdom of the +Messiah; thus a more elevated tone is given to the +song, and the assurance is conveyed to every believer +that as God protected David and his kingdom, so shall +He protect and glorify the kingdom of His Son for +ever.</p> + +<p>I. In the burst of adoring gratitude with which the +psalm opens as its leading thought, we mark David's +recognition of Jehovah as the source of all the protection, +deliverance, and success he had ever enjoyed, +along with a special assertion of closest relationship +to Him, in the frequent use of the word "my," +and a very ardent acknowledgment of the claim to his +gratitude thus arising—"God, who is worthy to be +praised."</p> + +<p>The feeling that recognised God as the Author of +all his deliverances was intensely strong, for every +expression that can denote it is heaped together: "My +rock, my portion, my deliverer; the God of my rock, +my shield; the horn of my salvation, my high tower, +my refuge, my Saviour." He takes no credit to +himself; he gives no glory to his captains; the glory +is all the Lord's. He sees God so supremely the +Author of his deliverance that the human instruments +that helped him are for the moment quite out of view.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[Pg 353]</a></span> +He who, in the depths of his penitence, sees but one +supremely injured Being, and says, "Against Thee, +Thee only, have I sinned," at the height of his prosperity +sees but one gracious Being, and adores Him, who +only is his rock and his salvation. In an age when +all the stress is apt to be laid on the human instruments, +and God left out of view, this habit of mind +is instructive and refreshing. It was a touching +incident in English history when, after the battle of +Agincourt, Henry V. of England directed the hundred +and fifteenth Psalm to be sung; prostrating himself on +the ground, and causing his whole army to do the +same, when the words were sounded out, "Not unto +us, O Lord, not unto us, but to Thy name give +glory."</p> + +<p>The emphatic use of the pronoun "my" by the +Psalmist is very instructive. It is so easy to speak +in general terms of what God is, and what God does; +but it is quite another thing to be able to appropriate +Him as ours, and rejoice in that relation. Luther said +of the twenty-third Psalm that the word "my" in the +first verse was the very hinge of the whole. There +is a whole world of difference between the two expressions, +"The Lord is a Shepherd" and "The Lord is +my Shepherd." The use of the "my" indicates a +personal transaction, a covenant relation into which +the parties have solemnly entered. No man is entitled +to use this expression who has merely a reverential +feeling towards God, and respect for His will. You +must have come to God as a sinner, owning and feeling +your unworthiness, and casting yourself on His grace. +You must have transacted with God in the spirit of +His exhortation, "Come out from among them, and +be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing; and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[Pg 354]</a></span> +I will be a Father unto you; and ye shall be My sons +and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."</p> + +<p>One other point has to be noticed in this introduction—when +David comes to express his dependence on +God, he very specially sets Him before his mind as +"worthy to be praised." He calls to mind the gracious +character of God,—not an austere God, reaping where +He has not sown, and gathering where He has not +strawed, but "the Lord, the Lord God merciful and +gracious, long-suffering and abundant in goodness and +truth." "This doctrine," says Luther, "is in tribulation +the most ennobling and truly golden. One cannot +imagine what assistance such praise of God is in +pressing danger. For as soon as you begin to praise +God the sense of the evil will also begin to abate, the +comfort of your heart will grow; and then God will +be called on with confidence. There are some who +cry to the Lord and are not heard. Why is this? +Because they do not praise the Lord when they cry +to Him, but go to Him with reluctance; they have +not represented to themselves how sweet the Lord +is, but have looked only to their own bitterness. But +no one gets deliverance from evil by looking simply +upon his evil and becoming alarmed at it; he can get +deliverance only by rising above his evil, hanging it +on God, and having respect to His goodness. Oh, hard +counsel, doubtless, and a rare thing truly, in the midst +of trouble to conceive of God as sweet, and worthy to +be praised; and when He has removed Himself from +us and is incomprehensible, even then to regard Him +more intensely than we regard our misfortune that +keeps us from Him! Only let one try it, and make the +endeavour to praise God, though in little heart for it +he will soon experience an enlightenment."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">[Pg 355]</a></span></p> + +<p>II. We pass on to the part of the song where the +Psalmist describes his trials and God's deliverances in +his times of danger (vv. 5-20).</p> + +<p>The description is eminently poetical. First, there is +a vivid picture of his troubles. "The waves of death +compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me +afraid; the sorrows of hell compassed me; the snares +of death prevented me" ("The cords of death compassed +me, and the floods of ungodliness made me afraid; the +cords of sheol were round about me; the snares of +death came upon me," R.V.). It is no overcharged +picture. With Saul's javelins flying at his head in the +palace, or his best troops scouring the wilderness in +search of him; with Syrian hosts bearing down on him +like the waves of the sea, and a confederacy of nations +conspiring to swallow him up, he might well speak of +the waves of death and the cords of Hades. He +evidently desires to describe the extremest peril and +distress that can be conceived, a situation where the +help of man is vain indeed. Then, after a brief account +of his calling upon God, comes a most animated description +of God coming to his help. The description is +ideal, but it gives a vivid view how the Divine energy +is roused when any of God's children are in distress. +It is in heaven as in an earthly home when an alarm is +given that one of the little children is in danger, has wandered +away into a thicket where he has lost his way: +every servant is summoned, every passer-by is called to +the rescue, the whole neighbourhood is roused to the +most strenuous efforts; so when the cry reached heaven +that David was in trouble, the earthquake and the +lightning and all the other messengers of heaven were +sent out to his aid; nay, these were not enough; God +Himself flew, riding on a cherub, yea, He did fly upon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">[Pg 356]</a></span> +the wings of the wind. Faith saw God bestirring Himself +for his deliverance, as if every agency of nature +had been set in motion on his behalf.</p> + +<p>And this being done, his deliverance was conspicuous +and complete. He saw God's hand stretched out with +remarkable distinctness. There could be no more doubt +that it was God that rescued him from Saul than that +it was He that snatched Israel from Pharaoh when +literally "the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations +of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of +the Lord, at the blast of the breath of His nostrils." +There could be no more doubt that it was God who protected +David when men rose to swallow him up than that +it was He who drew Moses from the Nile—"He sent from +above, He took me, He drew me out of many waters." +No miracles had been wrought on David's behalf; +unlike Moses and Joshua before him, and unlike Elijah +and Elisha after him, he had not had the laws of nature +suspended for his protection; yet he could see the hand +of God stretched out for him as clearly as if a miracle +had been wrought at every turn. Does this not show +that ordinary Christians, if they are but careful to watch, +and humble enough to watch in a chastened spirit, may +find in their history, however quietly it may have +glided by, many a token of the interest and care of +their Father in heaven? And what a blessed thing to +have accumulated through life a store of such providences—to +have Ebenezers reared along the whole +line of one's history! What courage after looking over +such a past might one feel in looking forward to the +future!</p> + + +<p>III. The next section of the song sets forth the +grounds on which the Divine protection was thus enjoyed +by David. Substantially these grounds were the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">[Pg 357]</a></span> +uprightness and faithfulness with which he had served +God. The expressions are strong, and at first sight +they have a flavour of self-righteousness. "The Lord +rewarded me according to my righteousness; according +to the cleanness of my hands hath He recompensed +me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have +not wickedly departed from my God. For all His +judgments were before me, and I put not away His +statutes from me. I was also perfect with Him, and +I kept myself from mine iniquity." But it is impossible +to read this Psalm without feeling that it is not pervaded +by the spirit of the self-righteous man. It is +pervaded by a profound sense of dependence on God, +and of obligation to His mercy and love. Now that is +the very opposite of the self-righteous spirit. We may +surely find another way of accounting for such expressions +used by David here. We may surely believe that +all that was meant by him was to express the unswerving +sincerity and earnestness with which he had +endeavoured to serve God, with which he had resisted +every temptation to conscious unfaithfulness, with which +he had resisted every allurement to idolatry on the one +hand or to the neglect of the welfare of God's nation on +the other. What he here celebrates is, not any personal +righteousness that might enable him as an individual +to claim the favour and reward of God, but the ground +on which he, as the public champion of God's cause +before the world, enjoyed God's countenance and +obtained His protection. There would be no self-righteousness +in an inferior officer of the navy or the +army who had been sent on some expedition saying, "I +obeyed your instructions in every particular; I never +deviated from the course you prescribed." There would +have been no self-righteousness in such a man as Luther<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">[Pg 358]</a></span> +saying, "I constantly maintained the principles of the +Bible; I never once abandoned Protestant ground." +Such affirmations would never be held to imply a claim +of personal sinlessness during the whole course of their +lives. Substantially all that is asserted is, that in their +public capacity they proved faithful to the cause entrusted +to them; they never consciously betrayed their +public charge. Now it is this precisely that David +affirms of himself. Unlike Saul, who abandoned the +law of the kingdom, David uniformly endeavoured to +carry it into effect. The success which followed he +does not claim as any credit to himself, but as due to +his having followed the instructions of his heavenly +Lord. It is the very opposite of a self-righteous spirit. +He would have us understand that if ever he had +abandoned the guidance of God, if ever he had relied +on his own wisdom and followed the counsels of his +own heart, everything would have gone wrong with +him; the fact that he had been successful was due +altogether to the Divine wisdom that guided and the +Divine strength that upheld him.</p> + +<p>Even with this explanation, some of the expressions +may seem too strong. How could he speak of the +cleanness of his hands, and of his not having wickedly +departed from his God? Granting that the song was +written before his sin in the case of Uriah, yet remembering +how he had lied at Nob and equivocated at Gath, +might he not have used less sweeping words? But it +is not the way of burning, enthusiastic minds to be for +ever weighing their words, and guarding against misunderstandings. +Enthusiasm sweeps along in a rapid +current. And David correctly describes the prevailing +features of his public endeavours. His public life was +unquestionably marked by a sincere and commonly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">[Pg 359]</a></span> +successful endeavour to follow the will of God. In +contrast with Saul and Ishbosheth, side by side with +Absalom or Sheba; his career was purity itself, and +bore out the rule of the Divine government, "With the +merciful Thou wilt show Thyself merciful, and with the +upright man Thou wilt show Thyself upright. With +the pure Thou wilt show Thyself pure, and with the +froward Thou wilt show Thyself unsavoury." If God +is to prosper us, there must be an inner harmony +between us and Him. If the habit of our life be opposed +to God, the result can only be collision and rebuke. +David was conscious of the inner harmony, +and therefore he was able to rely on being supported +and blessed.</p> + +<p>IV. In the wide survey of his life and of his providential +mercies, the eye of the Psalmist is particularly +fixed on some of his deliverances, in the remembrance +of which he specially praises God. One of the earliest +appears to be recalled in the words, "By my God have +I leaped over a wall,"—the wall, it may be supposed, +of Gibeah, down which Michal let him when Saul +sent to take him in his house. Still further back, +perhaps, in his life is the allusion in another expression—"Thy +gentleness hath made me great." He seems +to go back to his shepherd life, and in the gentleness with +which he dealt with the feeble lamb that might have +perished in rougher hands to find an emblem of God's +method with himself. If God had not dealt gently +with him, he never would have become what he was. +The Divine gentleness had made paths easy that +rougher treatment would have made intolerable. And +who of us that looks back but must own our obligations +to the gentleness of God, the tender, forbearing, nay +loving, treatment He has bestowed on us, even in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">[Pg 360]</a></span> +midst of provocations that would have justified far +harsher treatment?</p> + +<p>But what? Can David praise God's gentleness and +in the next words utter such terrible words against his +foes? How can he extol God's gentleness to him +and immediately dwell on his tremendous severity to +them? "I have consumed them and wounded them +that they could not arise; yea, they are fallen under my +feet.... Then did I beat them as small as the dust of +the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, +and did spread them abroad." It is the military spirit +which we have so often observed, looking on his +enemies in one light only, as identified with everything +evil and enemies of all that was good. To +show mercy to them would be like showing mercy to +destructive wild beasts, raging bears, venomous serpents, +and rapacious vultures. Mercy to them would +be cruelty to all God's servants; it would be ruin to +God's cause. No! for them the only fit doom was +destruction, and that destruction he had dealt to them +with no unsparing hand.</p> + +<p>But while we perceive his spirit, and harmonise it +with his general character, we cannot but regard it as +the spirit of one who was imperfectly enlightened. We +tremble when we think what fearful wickedness persecutors +and inquisitors have committed, under the idea +that the same course was to be followed against those +whom they deemed enemies of the cause of God. We +rejoice in the Christian spirit that teaches us to regard +even public enemies as our brothers, for whom individually +kindly and brotherly feelings are to be cherished. +And we remember the new aspect in which our relations +to such have been placed by our Lord: "Love your +enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">[Pg 361]</a></span> +that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use +you and persecute you."</p> + +<p>In the closing verses of the Psalm, the views of the +Psalmist seem to sweep beyond the limits of an earthly +kingdom. His eye seems to embrace the wide-spreading +dominion of Messiah; at all events, he dwells on +those features of his own kingdom that were typical of +the all-embracing kingdom of the Gospel: "Thou hast +made me the head of the nations; a people whom I +have not known shall serve me. As soon as they hear +of me they shall obey me; the strangers shall submit +themselves unto me." The forty-ninth verse is quoted +by St. Paul (Rom. xv. 9) as a proof that in the purpose +of God the salvation of Christ was designed for +Gentiles as well as Jews. "It is beyond doubt," +says Luther, "that the wars and victories of David +prefigured the passion and resurrection of Christ." +At the same time, he admits that it is very doubtful +how far the Psalm applies to Christ, and how far to +David, and he declines to press the type to particulars. +But we may surely apply the concluding words to +David's Son: "He showeth loving-kindness to his +anointed, to David and to his seed for evermore."</p> + +<p>It is interesting to mark the military aspect of the +kingdom gliding into the missionary. Other psalms +bring out more clearly this missionary element, exhibit +David rejoicing in the widening limits of his kingdom, +in the wider diffusion of the knowledge of the true God, +and in the greater happiness and prosperity accruing +to men. And yet, perhaps, his views on the subject +were comparatively dim; he may have been disposed to +identify the conquests of the sword and the conquests +of the truth instead of regarding the one as but typical +of the other. The visions and revelations of his later<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">[Pg 362]</a></span> +years seem to have thrown new light on this glorious +subject, and though not immediately, yet ultimately, to +have convinced him that truth, righteousness, and +meekness were to be the conquering weapons of +Messiah's reign.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">[Pg 363]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXI" id="CHAPTER_XXXI">CHAPTER XXXI.</a></h2> + +<h3><i>THE LAST WORDS OF DAVID.</i></h3> + +<h5>2 <span class="smcap">Samuel</span> xxiii. 1-7. (<i>See Revised Version and margin.</i>)</h5> + + +<p>Of these "the last words of David," we need not +understand that they were the last words he ever +spoke, but his last song or psalm, his latest vision, and +therefore the subject that was most in his mind in the +last period of his life. The Psalm recorded in the +preceding chapter was an earlier song, and its main +drift was of the past. Of this latest Psalm the main +drift is of the future. The colours of this vision are +brighter than those of any other. Aged though the +seer was, there is a glory in this his latest vision +unsurpassed in any that went before. The setting sun +spreads a lustre around as he sinks under the horizon +unequalled by any he diffused even when he rode in +the height of the heavens.</p> + +<p>The song falls into four parts. First, there is an +elaborate introduction, descriptive of the singer and +the inspiration which gave birth to his song; secondly, +the main subject of the prophecy, a Ruler among men, +of wonderful brightness and glory; thirdly, a reference +to the Psalmist's own house and the covenant God had +made with him; and finally, in the way of contrast to +the preceding, a prediction of the doom of the ungodly.</p> + +<p>I. In the introduction, we cannot but be struck with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">[Pg 364]</a></span> +the formality and solemnity of the affirmation respecting +the singer and the inspiration under which he sang.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"David, the son of Jesse, saith,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And the man who was raised on high saith,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">The anointed of the God of Jacob,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And the sweet psalmist of Israel:<br /></span> +<span class="i1">The Spirit of the Lord spake by me,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And His word was upon my tongue;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">The God of Israel said,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">The Rock of Israel spake to me" (R.V.).<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The first four clauses represent David as the speaker; +the second four represent God's Spirit as inspiring his +words. The introduction to Balaam's prophecies is the +only passage where we find a similar structure, nor is +this the only point of resemblance between the two +songs.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Balaam, the son of Beor, saith,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And the man whose eye was closed saith;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">He saith which heareth the words of God,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And knoweth the knowledge of the Most High;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Which seeth the vision of the Almighty,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Falling down, and having his eyes open"<br /></span> +<span class="i28">(Num. xxiv. 15, 16, R.V.).<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>In both prophecies, the word translated "saith" is +peculiar. While occurring between two and three hundred +times in the formula "Thus saith the Lord," it is +used by a human speaker only in these two places and +in Prov. xxx. 1. Both Balaam and David begin by +giving their own name and that of their father, thereby +indicating their native insignificance, and disclaiming +any right to speak on subjects so lofty through any +wisdom or insight of their own. Immediately after, they +claim to speak the words of God. All the grounds on +which David should be listened to fall under this head. +Was he not "raised up on high"? Was he not the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">[Pg 365]</a></span> +anointed of the God of Jacob? Was he not the sweet +Psalmist of Israel? Having been raised up on high, +David had established the kingdom of Israel on a firm +and lasting basis, he had destroyed all its enemies, +and he had established a comely order and prosperity +throughout all its borders; as the sweet singer of Israel, +or, as it has been otherwise rendered, "the lovely one +in Israel's songs of praise"—that is, the man who had +been specially gifted to compose songs of praise in +honour of Israel's God—it was fitting that he should be +made the organ of this very remarkable and glorious communication. +It is interesting to observe how David +must have been attracted by Balaam's vision. The dark +wall of the Moabite mountains was a familiar object to +him, and must often have recalled the strange but unworthy +prophet who spoke of the Star that was to shine +so gloriously, and the Sceptre that was to have such a +wonderful rule. Often during his life we may believe +that David devoutly desired to know something more +of that mysterious Star and Sceptre; and now that +desire is fulfilled; the Star is as the light of the morning +star; the Sceptre is that of a blessed ruler, "one +that ruleth over men righteously, that ruleth in the fear +of God."</p> + +<p>The second part of the introduction stamps the +prophecy with a fourfold mark of inspiration. 1. "The +Spirit of the Lord spake by me." For "the prophecy +came not of old time by the will of man; but holy men +of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." +2. "His word was in my tongue." For in high +visions like this, of which no wisdom of man can create +even a shadow, it is not enough that the Spirit should +merely guide the writer; this is one of the utterances +where verbal inspiration must have been enjoyed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366">[Pg 366]</a></span> +3. "The God of Israel said," He who entered into +covenant with Israel, and promised him great and +peculiar mercies. 4. "The Rock of Israel spake to +me," the faithful One, whose words are stable as +a rock, and who provides for Israel a foundation-stone, +elect and precious, immovable as the everlasting +hills.</p> + +<p>So remarkable an introduction must be followed by +no ordinary prophecy. If the prophecy should bear on +nothing more remarkable than some earthly successor +of David, all this preliminary glorification would be +singularly out of place. It would be like a great +procession of heralds and flourishing of trumpets in an +earthly kingdom to announce some event of the most +ordinary kind, the repeal of a tax or the appointment +of an officer.</p> + +<p>II. We come then to the great subject of the prophecy—a +Ruler over men. The rendering of the Authorized +Version is somewhat lame and obscure, "He that ruleth +over men must be just," there being nothing whatever +in the original corresponding to "must be." The +Revised Version is at once more literal and more +expressive:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"One that ruleth over men righteously,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Ruling in the fear of God,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">He shall be as the light of the morning."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>It is a vision of a remarkable Ruler, not a Ruler over +the kingdom of Israel merely, but a Ruler "over men." +The Ruler seen is One whose government knows no +earthly limits, but prevails wherever there are men. +Solomon could not be the ruler seen, for, wide though +his empire was, he was king of Israel only, not king +of men. It was but a speck of the habitable globe, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367">[Pg 367]</a></span> +a morsel of that part of it that was inhabited even then, +over which Solomon reigned. If the term "One that +ruleth over men" could have been appropriated by any +monarch, it would have been Ahasuerus, with his +hundred and twenty-seven provinces, or Alexander the +Great, or some other universal monarch, that would +have had the right to claim it. But every such +application is out of the question. The "Ruler over +men" of this vision must have been identified by +David with Him "in whom all the nations of the earth +were to be blessed."</p> + +<p>It is worthy of very special remark that the first +characteristic of this Ruler is "righteousness." There +is no grander or more majestic word in the language +of men. Not even love or mercy can be preferred to +righteousness. And this is no casual expression, +happening in David's vision, for it is common to the +whole class of prophecies that predict the Messiah. +"Behold, a King shall reign in righteousness, and +princes shall rule in judgment." "There shall come +forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and the spirit of +the fear of the Lord ... shall rest on Him, ... and +righteousness shall be the girdle of His loins." There +is no lack in the New Testament of passages to magnify +the love and mercy of the Lord Jesus, yet it is made +very plain that righteousness was the foundation of all +His work. "Thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness," +were the words with which He removed the +objections of John to His baptism, and they were words +that described the business of His whole life: to fulfil +all righteousness <i>for</i> His people and <i>in</i> His people—for +them, to satisfy the demands of the righteous law +and bear the righteous penalty of transgression; in +them to infuse His own righteous spirit and mould<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368">[Pg 368]</a></span> +them into the likeness of His righteous example, to +sum up the whole law of righteousness in the law of +love, and by His grace instil that law into their hearts. +Such essentially was the work of Christ. No man +can say of the religious life that Christ expounded +that it was a life of loose, feverish emotion or sentimental +spirituality that left the Decalogue far out of +view. Nothing could have been further from the mind +of Him that said, "Except your righteousness shall +exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, +ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven." +Nothing could have been more unlike the spirit of Him +who was not content with maintaining the letter of the +Decalogue, but with His "again, I say unto you," drove +its precepts so much further as into the very joints and +marrow of men's souls.</p> + +<p>It is the grand characteristic of Christ's salvation in +theory that it is through righteousness; it is not less +its effect in practice to promote righteousness. To +any who would dream, under colour of free grace, of +breaking down the law of righteousness, the words of +"the Holy One and the Just" stand out as an eternal +rebuke, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law +and the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to +fulfil."</p> + +<p>And as Christ's work was founded on righteousness, +so it was constantly done "in the fear of God,"—with +the highest possible regard for His will, and reverence +for His law. "Wist ye not that I must be about My +Father's business?" is the first word we hear from +Christ's lips; and among the last is, "Not My will, +but Thine, be done." No motto could have been more +appropriate for His whole life than this: "I delight to +do Thy will, O My God."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369">[Pg 369]</a></span></p> + +<p>Having shown the character of the Ruler, the vision +next pictures the effects of His rule:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"He shall be as the light of the morning when the sun riseth,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">A morning without clouds,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">When the tender grass springeth out of the earth<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Through clear shining after rain."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>But why introduce the future "shall be" in the +translation when it is not in the original? May we +not conceive the Psalmist reading off a vision—a scene +unfolding itself in all its beauty before his mind's +eye? A beautiful influence seems to come over the +earth as the Divine Ruler makes His appearance, +like the rising of the sun on a cloudless morning, like +the appearance of the grass when the sun shines out +clearly after rain. No imagery could be more delightful, +or more fitly applied to Christ. The image of the +morning sun presents Christ in His gladdening +influences, bringing pardon to the guilty, health to the +diseased, hope to the despairing; He is indeed like the +morning sun, lighting up the sky with splendour and +the earth with beauty, giving brightness to the languid +eye, and colour to the faded cheek, and health and +hope to the sorrowing heart. The chief idea under +the other emblem, the grass shining clearly after rain, +is that of renewed beauty and growth. The heavy +rain batters the grass, as heavy trials batter the soul, +but when the morning sun shines out clearly, the grass +recovers, it sparkles with a fresher lustre, and grows +with intenser activity. So when Christ shines on the +heart after trial, a new beauty and a new growth and +prosperity come to it. When this Sun of righteousness +shines forth thus, in the case of individuals the understanding +becomes more clear, the conscience more +vigorous, the will more firm, the habits more holy, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370">[Pg 370]</a></span> +temper more serene, the affections more pure, the +desires more heavenly. In communities, conversions +are multiplied, and souls advanced steadily in holy +beauties; intelligence spreads, love triumphs over +selfishness, and the spirit of Christ modifies the spirit +of strife and the spirit of mammon. It is with the +happiest skill that Solomon, appropriating part of his +father's imagery, draws the picture of the bride, with +the radiance of the bridegroom falling on her: "Who +is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the +moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with +banners?"</p> + +<p>III. Next comes David's allusion to his own house. +In our translation, and in the text of the Revised +Version, this comes in to indicate a sad contrast between +the bright vision just described and the Psalmist's own +family. It indicates that his house or family did not +correspond to the picture of the prophecy, and would +not realize the emblems of the rising sun and the +growing grass; but as God had made with himself +an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure, +that satisfied him; it was all his salvation and all his +desire, although his house was not to grow.</p> + +<p>But in the margin of the Revised Version we have +another translation, which reverses all this:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"For is not my house so with God?<br /></span> +<span class="i1">For He hath made with me an everlasting covenant,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Ordered in all things and sure:<br /></span> +<span class="i1">For all my salvation and all my desire,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Will He not make it to grow?"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Corresponding as this does with the translation of +many scholars (<i>e.g.</i>, Boothroyd, Hengstenberg, Fairbairn), +it must be regarded as admissible on the +strength of outward evidence. And if so, certainly it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371">[Pg 371]</a></span> +is very strongly recommended by internal evidence. +For what reason could David have for introducing his +family at all after the glorious vision if only to say +that they were excluded from it? And can it be +thought that David, whose nature was so intensely +sympathetic, would be so pleased because he was +personally provided for, though not his family? And +still further, why should he go on in the next verses +(6, 7) to describe the doom of the ungodly by way of +contrast to what precedes if the doom of ungodly +persons is the matter already introduced in the fifth +verse? The passage becomes highly involved and +unnatural in the light of the older translation.</p> + +<p>The key to the passage will be found, if we mistake +not, in the expression "my house." We are liable to +think of this as the domestic circle, whereas it ought to +be thought of as the reigning dynasty. What is denoted +by the house of Hapsburg, the house of Hanover, the +house of Savoy, is quite different from the personal +family of any of the kings. So when David speaks of +his house, he means his dynasty. In this sense his +"house" had been made the subject of the most gracious +promise. "Moreover, the Lord telleth thee that +He will make thee an house.... And thine house and +thy kingdom shall be made sure for ever before +thee.... Then David said, ... What is my house, that +Thou hast brought me thus far?... Thou hast spoken +also of Thy servant's house for a great while to come." +The king felt profoundly on that occasion that his house +was even more prominently the subject of Divine +promise than himself. What roused his gratitude to +its utmost height was the gracious provision for his +house. Surely the covenant referred to in the passage +now before us, "ordered in all things and sure," was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372">[Pg 372]</a></span> +this very covenant announced to him by the prophet +Nathan, the covenant that made this provision for his +house. It is impossible to think of him recalling this +covenant and yet saying, "Verily my house is not so +with God" (R.V.).</p> + +<p>But take the marginal reading—"Is not my house so +with God?" Is not my dynasty embraced in the scope +of this promise? Hath He not made with me an everlasting +covenant, ordered in all things and sure? And +will He not make this promise, which is all my salvation +and all my desire, to grow, to fructify? It is infinitely +more natural to represent David on this joyous occasion +congratulating himself on the promise of long continuance +and prosperity made to his dynasty, than dwelling +on the unhappy condition of the members of his +family circle.</p> + +<p>And the facts of the future correspond to this +explanation. Was not the government of David's +house or dynasty in the main righteous, at least for +many a reign, conducted in the fear of God, and followed +by great prosperity and blessing? David himself, +Solomon, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, Josiah—what +other nation had ever so many Christlike kings? +What a contrast was presented to this in the main by +the apostate kingdom of the ten tribes, idolatrous, God-dishonouring, +throughout! And as to the growth or +continued vitality of his house, its "clear shining after +rain," had not God promised that He would bless it, and +that it would continue for ever before Him? He knew +that, spiritually dormant at times, his house would +survive, till a living root came from the stem of Jesse, +till the Prince of life should be born from it, and once +that plant of renown was raised up, there was no fear +but the house would be preserved for ever. From this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373">[Pg 373]</a></span> +point it would start on a new career of glory; nay, this +was the very Ruler of whom he had been prophesying, +at once David's Son and David's Lord; this was the root +and the offspring of David, the bright and the morning +star. Conducted to this stage in the future experience +of his house, he needed no further assurance, he +cherished no further desire. The covenant that rested +on Him and that promised Him was ordered in all +things and sure. The glorious prospect exhausted his +every wish. "This is all my salvation and all my +desire."</p> + +<p>IV. The last part of the prophecy, in the way of +contrast to the leading vision, is a prediction of the +doom of the ungodly. The revised translation is much +the clearer:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"But the ungodly shall be all of them as thorns to be thrust away,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">For they cannot be taken with the hand,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">But the man that toucheth them<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Must be armed with iron and the staff and spear,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And they shall be utterly burned with fire in their place."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>While some would fain think of Christ's sceptre as +one of mercy only, the uniform representation of the +Bible is different. In this, as in most predictions of +Christ's kingly office, there is an instructive combination +of mercy and judgment. In the bosom of one +of Isaiah's sweetest predictions, he introduces the +Messiah as anointed by the Spirit of God to proclaim +"the day of vengeance of our God." In a subsequent +vision, Messiah appears marching triumphantly +"with dyed garments from Bozrah, after treading the +people in His anger and trampling them in His fury." +Malachi proclaimed Him "the Sun of righteousness, +with healing under His wings," while His day was to +burn as an oven and consume the proud and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374">[Pg 374]</a></span> +wicked like stubble. John the Baptist saw Him "with +His fan in His hand, throughly purging His floor, +gathering the wheat into His garner, while the chaff +should be burnt with unquenchable fire." In His own +words, "the Son of man shall gather out of His kingdom +all things that offend, and them that do iniquity, +and cast them into a furnace of fire; there shall be +weeping and gnashing of teeth." And in the Apocalypse, +when the King of kings and the Lord of lords +is to be married to His bride, He appears "clothed +with a garment dipped in blood, and out of His mouth +goeth a sharp sword, that He should smite the nations, +and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and +wrath of Almighty God."</p> + +<p>Nor could it be otherwise. The union of mercy +and judgment is the inevitable result of the righteousness +which is the foundation of His government. Sin +is the abominable thing which He hates. To separate +men from sin is the grand purpose of His government. +For this end, He draws His people into union with +Himself, thereby for ever removing their guilt, and +providing for the ultimate removal of all sin from their +hearts and the complete assimilation of their natures +to His holy nature. Blessed are they who enter into +this relation; but alas for those who, for all that He +has done, prefer their sins to Him! "The ungodly +shall be all of them as thorns to be thrust away."</p> + +<p>Oh, let us not be satisfied with admiring beautiful +images of Christ! Let us not deem it enough to think +with pleasure of Him as the light of the morning, a +morning without clouds, brightening the earth, and +making it sparkle with the lustre of the sunshine on +the grass after rain! Let us not satisfy ourselves +with knowing that Jesus Christ came to earth on a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375">[Pg 375]</a></span> +beneficent mission, and with thinking that surely we +shall one day share in the blessed effects of His work! +Nothing of that kind can avail us if we are not personally +united to Christ. We must come as sinners individually +to Him, cast ourselves on His free, unmerited +grace, and deliberately accept His righteousness as +our clothing. Then, but only then, shall we be able +to sing: "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul +shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me +with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me +with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh +himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself +with her jewels."</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376">[Pg 376]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXII" id="CHAPTER_XXXII">CHAPTER XXXII.</a></h2> + +<h3><i>THE NUMBERING OF ISRAEL.</i></h3> + +<h5>2 <span class="smcap">Samuel</span> xxiv.</h5> + + +<p>Though David's life was now drawing to its close, +neither his sins nor his chastisements were yet +exhausted. One of his chief offences was committed +when he was old and grey-headed. There can be little +doubt that what is recorded in this chapter took place +toward the close of his life; the word "again" at the +beginning indicates that it was later in time than the +event which gave rise to the last expression of God's +displeasure to the nation. Surely there can be little +ground for the doctrine of perfectionism, otherwise +David, whose religion was so earnest and so deep, +would have been nearer it now than this chapter +shows that he was.</p> + +<p>The offence consisted in taking a census of the people. +At first it is difficult to see what there was in this that +was so sinful; yet highly sinful it was in the judgment +of God, in the judgment of Joab, and at last in the judgment +of David too; it will be necessary, therefore, to +examine the subject very carefully if we would understand +clearly what constituted the great sin of David.</p> + +<p>The origin of the proceeding was remarkable. It +may be said to have had a double, or rather a triple, +origin: God, David, and Satan, or, as some propose to +render in place of Satan, "<i>an</i> enemy."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377">[Pg 377]</a></span></p> + +<p>In Samuel we read that "the Lord's anger was again +kindled against Israel." The nation required a chastisement. +It needed a smart stroke of the rod to make it +pause and think how it was offending God. We do not +require to know very specially what it was that displeased +God in a nation that had been so ready to side +with Absalom and drive God's anointed from the throne. +They were far from steadfast in their allegiance to God, +easily drawn from the path of duty; and all that it is +important for us to know is simply that at this particular +time they were farther astray than usual, and +more in need of chastisement. The cup of sin had +filled up so far that God behoved to interpose.</p> + +<p>For this end "the Lord moved David against them +to say, Go, number Israel and Judah." The action of +God in the matter, like His action in sinful matters +generally, was, that He permitted it to take place. He +allowed David's sinful feeling to come as a factor into +His scheme with a view to the chastising of the people. +We have seen many times in this history how God is +represented as doing things and saying things which +He does not do nor say directly, but which He takes up +into His plan, with a view to the working out of some +great end in the future. But in Chronicles it is said +that Satan stood up against Israel and provoked David +to number Israel. According to some commentators, the +Hebrew word is not to be translated "Satan," because +it has no article, but "an adversary," as in parallel +passages: "The Lord stirred up an adversary unto +Solomon, Hadad the Edomite" (1 Kings xi. 14); "God +stirred up another adversary to Israel, Razon, the son +of Eliadib" (1 Kings xi. 23). Perhaps it was some one +in the garb of a friend, but with the spirit of an enemy, +that moved David in this matter. If we suppose Satan<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_378" id="Page_378">[Pg 378]</a></span> +to have been the active mover, then Bishop Hall's +words will indicate the relation between the three +parties: "Both God and Satan had then a hand in the +work—God by permission, Satan by suggestion; God +as a Judge, Satan as an enemy; God as in a just +punishment for sin, Satan as in an act of sin; God in +a wise ordination of it for good, Satan in a malicious +intent of confusion. Thus at once God moved and +Satan moved, neither is it any excuse to Satan or to +David that God moved, neither is it any blemish to +God that Satan moved. The ruler's sin is a punishment +to a wicked people; if God were not angry with +a people, He would not give up their governors to evils +that provoke His vengeance; justly are we charged to +make prayers and supplications as for all men, so +especially for rulers."</p> + +<p>But what constituted David's great offence in numbering +the people? Every civilised State is now accustomed +to number its people periodically, and for many +good purposes it is a most useful step. Josephus +represents that David omitted to levy the atonement +money which was to be raised, according to Exod. +xxx. 12, etc., from all who were numbered, but surely, +if this had been his offence, it would have been easy +for Joab, when he remonstrated, to remind him of it, +instead of trying to dissuade him from the scheme +altogether. The more common view of the transaction +has been that it was objectionable, not in itself, but in +the spirit by which it was dictated. That spirit seems +to have been a self-glorifying spirit. It seems to have +been like the spirit which led Hezekiah to show his +treasures to the ambassadors of the king of Babylon. +Perhaps it was designed to show, that in the number +of his forces David was quite a match for the great<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_379" id="Page_379">[Pg 379]</a></span> +empires on the banks of the Nile and the Euphrates. +If their fighting men could be counted by the hundred +thousand or the thousand thousand, so could his. In +the fighting resources of his kingdom, he was able to +hold his head as high as any of them. Surely such +a spirit was the very opposite of what was becoming +in such a king as David. Was this not measuring the +strength of a spiritual power with the measure of a +carnal? Did it not leave God most sinfully out of +reckoning? Nay, did it not substitute a carnal for +a spiritual defence? Was it not in the very teeth of +the Psalm, "There is no king saved by the multitude +of an host; a mighty man is not delivered by much +strength. An horse is a vain thing for safety; neither +shall he deliver any by his great strength. Behold, the +eye of the Lord is upon them that ear Him, upon them +that hope in His mercy, to deliver their soul from +death, and to keep them alive in famine"?</p> + +<p>That David's project was very deeply seated in his +heart is evident from the fact that he was unmoved by +the remonstrance of Joab. In ordinary circumstances +it must have startled him to find that even he was +strongly opposed to his project. It is indeed strange +that Joab should have had scruples where David had +none. We have been accustomed to find Joab so +seldom in the right that it is hard to believe that he +was in the right now. But perhaps we do Joab +injustice. He was a man that could be profoundly +stirred when his own interests were at stake, or his +passions roused, and that seemed equally regardless +of God and man in what he did on such occasions. +But otherwise Joab commonly acted with prudence +and moderation. He consulted for the good of the +nation. He was not habitually reckless or habitually<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_380" id="Page_380">[Pg 380]</a></span> +cruel, and he seems to have had a certain amount of +regard to the will of God and the theocratic constitution +of the kingdom, for he was loyal to David from the +very beginning, up to the contest between Solomon and +Adonijah. It is evident that Joab felt strongly that +in the step which he proposed to take David would be +acting a part unworthy of himself and of the constitution +of the kingdom, and by displeasing God would expose +himself to evils far beyond any advantage he might +hope to gain by ascertaining the number of the people.</p> + +<p>For once—and this time, unhappily—David was too +strong for the son of Zeruiah. The enumerators of the +people were despatched, no doubt with great regularity, +to take the census. The boundaries named were not +beyond the territory as divided by Joshua among the +Israelites, save that Tyre and Zidon were included; not +that they had been annexed by David, but probably +because there was an understanding that in all his +military arrangements they were to be associated with +him. Nine months and twenty days were occupied in +the business. At the end of it, it was ascertained +that the fighting men of Israel were eight hundred +thousand, and those of Judah five hundred thousand; +or, if we take the figures in Chronicles, eleven hundred +thousand of Israel and four hundred and seventy +thousand of Judah. The discrepancy is not easily +accounted for; but probably in Chronicles in the +number for Israel certain bodies of troops were included +which were not included in Samuel, and <i>vice +versâ</i> in the case of Judah.</p> + +<p>Just as in the case of his sin in the matter of Uriah, +David was long of coming to a sense of it. How his +view came to change we are not told, but when the +change did occur, it seems, as in the other case, to have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_381" id="Page_381">[Pg 381]</a></span> +come with extraordinary force. "David's heart smote +him after that he had numbered the people. And +David said unto the Lord, I have sinned greatly in that +which I have done; and now, I beseech Thee, O Lord, +take away the iniquity of Thy servant, for I have done +very foolishly." Once alive to his sin, his humiliation +is very profound. His confession is frank, hearty, +complete. He shows no proud desire to remain on +good terms with himself, seeks nothing to break his +fall or to make his humiliation less before Joab and +before the people. He says, "I will confess my transgression +to the Lord;" and his plea is one with which +he is familiar from of old—"For Thy name's sake, +O Lord, pardon mine iniquity, for it is great." He is +never greater than when acknowledging his sin.</p> + +<p>Next comes the chastisement. The moment for +sending it is very seasonable. It did not come while +his conscience was yet slumbering, but after he had +come to feel his sin. His confessions and relentings +were proofs that he was now fit for chastisement; the +chastisement, as in the other case, was solemnly +announced by a prophet; and, as in the other case too, +it fell on one of the tenderest spots of his heart. Then +the first blow fell on his infant child; now it falls upon +his sheep. His affections were divided between his +children and his people, and in both cases the blow +must have been very severe. It was, as far as we can +judge, after a night of very profound humiliation that +the prophet Gad was sent to him. Gad had first +come to him when he was hiding from Saul, and had +therefore been his friend all his kingly life. Sad that +so old and so good a friend should be the bearer to +the aged king of a bitter message! Seven years of +famine (in 1 Chron. xxi. 12, three years), three months<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_382" id="Page_382">[Pg 382]</a></span> +of unsuccessful war, or three days of pestilence,—the +choice lies between these three. All of them were +well fitted to rebuke that pride in human resources +which had been the occasion of his sin. Well might +he say, "I am in a great strait." Oh the bitterness +of the harvest when you sow to the flesh! Between +these three horrors even God's anointed king has to +choose. What a delusion it is that God will not be +very careful in the case of the wicked to inflict the due +retribution of sin! "If these things were done in the +green tree, what shall be done in the dry?"</p> + +<p>David chose the three days of pestilence. It was +the shortest, no doubt, but what recommended it, +especially above the three months of unsuccessful war, +was that it would come more directly from the hand +of God. "Let me fall now into the hand of the Lord, +for His mercies are great, and let me not fall into the +hand of man." What a frightful time it must have +been! Seventy thousand died of the plague. From +Dan to Beersheba nothing would be heard but a bitter +cry, like that of the Egyptians when the angel slew the +first-born. What days and nights of agony these must +have been to David! How slowly would they drag +on! What cries in the morning, "Would God it were +evening!" and in the evening, "Would God it were +morning!"</p> + +<p>The pestilence, wherever it originated, seems to have +advanced from every side like a besieging army, till it +was ready to close upon Jerusalem. The destroying +angel hovered over Mount Moriah, and, like Abraham +on the same spot a thousand years before, was brandishing +his sword for the work of destruction. It was +a spot that had already been memorable for one display +of Divine forbearance, and now it became the scene<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_383" id="Page_383">[Pg 383]</a></span> +of another. Like the hand of Abraham when ready +to plunge the knife into the bosom of his son, the +hand of the angel was stayed when about to fall on +Jerusalem. For Abraham a ram had been provided +to offer in the room of Isaac; and now David is commanded +to offer a burnt-offering in acknowledgment +of his guilt and of his need of expiation. Thus the +Lord stayed His rough wind in the day of His east +wind. In sparing Jerusalem, on the very eve of +destruction, He caused His mercy to rejoice over +judgment.</p> + +<p>No one but must admire the spirit of David when +the angel appeared on Mount Moriah. Owning frankly +his own great sin, and especially his sin as a shepherd, +he bared his own bosom to the sword, and entreated +God to let the punishment fall on him and on his +father's house. Why should the sheep suffer for the +sin of the shepherd? The plea was more beautiful +than correct. The sheep had been certainly not less +guilty than the shepherd, though in a different way. +We have seen how the anger of the Lord had been +kindled against Israel when David was induced to go +and number the people. And as both had been guilty, +so both had been punished. The sheep had been +punished in their own bodies, the shepherd in the +tenderest feelings of his heart. It is a rare sight to +find a man prepared to take on himself more than his +own share of the blame. It was not so in paradise, +when the man threw the blame on the woman and the +woman on the serpent. We see that, with all his +faults, David had another spirit from that of the vulgar +world. After all, there is much of the Divine nature +in this poor, blundering, sinning child of clay.</p> + +<p>On the day when the angel appeared over Jerusalem,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_384" id="Page_384">[Pg 384]</a></span> +Gad was sent back to David with a more auspicious +message. He is required to build an altar to the Lord +on the spot where the angel stood. This was the +fitting counterpart to Abraham's act when, in place +of Isaac, he offered the ram which Jehovah-jireh had +provided for the sacrifice. The circumstances connected +with the rearing of the altar and the offering +of the burnt-offering were very peculiar, and seem to +have borne a deep typical meaning. The place where +the angel's arm was arrested was by the threshing-floor +of Araunah the Jebusite. It was there that David was +commanded to rear his altar and offer his burnt-offering. +When Araunah saw the king approaching, he bowed +before him and respectfully asked the purpose of his +visit. It was to buy the threshing-floor and build an +altar, that the plague might be stayed. But if the +threshing-floor was needed for that purpose, Araunah +would give it freely; and offer it as a free gift he did, +with royal munificence, along with the oxen for a burnt-offering +and their implements also as wood for the +sacrifice. David, acknowledging his goodness, would +not be outdone in generosity, and insisted on making +payment. The floor was bought, the altar was built, +the sacrifice was offered, and the plague was stayed. +As we read in Chronicles, fire from heaven attested +God's acceptance of the offering. "And David said, +This is the house of the Lord God, and this is the altar +of the burnt-offering for Israel." That is to say, the +threshing-floor was appointed to be the site of the temple +which Solomon was to build; and the spot where David +had hastily reared his altar was to be the place where, +for hundreds of years, day after day, morning and +evening, the blood of the burnt-offering was to flow, +and the fumes of incense to ascend before God.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_385" id="Page_385">[Pg 385]</a></span></p> + +<p>No doubt it was to save time in so pressing an +emergency that Araunah gave for sacrifice the oxen +with which he was working, and the implements +connected with his labour. But in the purpose of God, +a great truth lay under these symbolical arrangements. +The oxen that had been labouring for man were +sacrificed for man; both their life and their death +were given for man, just as afterwards the Lord Jesus +Christ, after living and labouring for the good of many, +at last gave His life a ransom. The wood of the altar +on which they suffered was, part of it at all events, +borne on their own necks, "the threshing instruments +and other instruments of the oxen," just as Isaac had +borne the wood and as Jesus was to bear the cross on +which, respectively, they were stretched. The sacrifice +was a sacrifice of blood, for only blood could remove +the guilt that had to be pardoned. The analogy is +clear enough. Isaac had escaped; the ram suffered +in his room. Jerusalem escaped now; the oxen were +sacrificed in its room. Sinners of mankind were to +escape; the Lamb of God was to die, the just for the +unjust, to bring them to God.</p> + +<p>There were other circumstances, however, not without +significance, connected with the purchase of the +temple site. The man to whom the ground had +belonged, and whose oxen had been slain as the burnt-offering, +was a Jebusite; and from the way in which +he designated David's Lord, "the Lord <i>thy</i> God," it +is not certain whether he was even a proselyte. Some +think that he had formerly been king of Jerusalem, or +rather of the stronghold of Zion, but that when Zion +was taken he had been permitted to retire to Mount +Moriah, which was separated from Zion only by a deep +ravine. Josephus calls him a great friend of David's.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_386" id="Page_386">[Pg 386]</a></span> +He could not have shown a more friendly spirit of +a more princely liberality. The striking way in +which the heart of this Jebusite was moved to co-operate +with King David in preparing for the temple +was fitted to remind David of the missionary character +which the temple was to sustain. "My house shall +be called an house of prayer for all nations." In the +words of the sixty-eighth Psalm, "Because of thy +temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto +thee." As Araunah's oxen had been accepted, so +the time would come when "the sons of the stranger +that join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him and to +love the name of the Lord, even them will I bring to +My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house +of prayer; their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices +shall be accepted upon Mine altar." What a wonderful +thing is sanctified affliction! While its root lies in the +very corruption of our nature, its fruit consists of the +best blessings of Heaven. The root of David's affliction +was carnal pride; but under God's sanctifying grace, +it was followed by the erection of a temple associated +with heavenly blessing, not to one nation only, but to +all. When affliction, duly sanctified, is thus capable +of bringing such blessings, it makes the fact all the +more lamentable that affliction is so often unsanctified. +It is vain to imagine that everything of the nature of +affliction is sure to turn to good. It can turn to good +on one condition only—when your heart is humbled +under the rod, and in the same humble, chastened +spirit as David you say, and feel as well as say, "I +have sinned."</p> + +<p>One other lesson we gather from this chapter of +David's history. When he declined to accept the +generous offer of Araunah, it was on the ground that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_387" id="Page_387">[Pg 387]</a></span> +he would not serve the Lord with that which cost him +nothing. The thought needs only to be put in words +to commend itself to every conscience. God's service +is neither a form nor a sham; it is a great reality. If +we desire to show our honour for Him, it must be in a +way suited to the occasion. The poorest mechanic +that would offer a gift to his sovereign tries to make +it the product of his best labour, the fruit of his highest +skill. To pluck a weed from the roadside and present +it to one's sovereign would be no better than an insult. +Yet how often is God served with that which costs +men nothing! Men that will lavish hundreds and +thousands to gratify their own fancy,—what miserable +driblets they often give to the cause of God! The +smallest of coins is good enough for His treasury. +And as for other forms of serving God, what a tendency +there is in our time to make everything easy and +pleasant,—to forget the very meaning of self-denial! +It is high time that that word of David were brought +forth and put before every conscience, and made to +rebuke ever so many professed worshippers of God, +whose rule of worship is to serve God with what does +cost them nothing. The very heathen reprove you. +Little though there has been to stimulate their love, +their sacrifices are often most costly—far from sacrifices +that have cost them nothing. Oh, let us who call ourselves +Christians beware lest we be found the meanest, +paltriest, shabbiest of worshippers! Let souls that +have been blessed as Christians have devise liberal +things. Let your question and the answer be: "What +shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward +me? I will take the cup of salvation and call on the +name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord, +now in the presence of His people."</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_388" id="Page_388">[Pg 388]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXIII">CHAPTER XXXIII.</a></h2> + +<h3><i>THE TWO BOOKS OF SAMUEL.</i></h3> + + +<p>Having now surveyed the events of the history +of Israel, one by one, during the whole of that +memorable period which is embraced in the books of +Samuel, it will be profitable, before we close, to cast a +glance over the way by which we have traveled, and +endeavour to gather up the leading lessons and impressions +of the whole.</p> + +<p>Let us bear in mind all along that the great object +of these books, as of the other historical books of +Scripture, is peculiar: it is not to trace the history of a +nation, in the ordinary sense, but to trace the course of +Divine revelation, to illustrate God's manner of dealing +with the nation whom He chose that He might instruct +and train them in His ways, that He might train them +to that righteousness which alone exalteth a people, +and that He might lay a foundation for the work of +Christ in future times, in whom all the families of the +earth were to be blessed. The history delineated is +not that of the kingdom of Israel, but that of the +kingdom of God.</p> + +<p>The history falls into four divisions, like the acts of +a drama. I. It opens with Eli as high-priest, when the +state of the nation is far from satisfactory, and God's +holy purpose regarding it appears a failure. II. With +Samuel as the Lord's prophet, we see a remarkable<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_389" id="Page_389">[Pg 389]</a></span> +revival of the spirit of God's nation. III. With Saul a +king, the fair promise under Samuel is darkened, and an +evil spirit is again ascendant. IV. But with David, the +conditions are again reversed; God's purpose regarding +the people is greatly advanced, but in the later part of +his reign the sky again becomes overcast, through his +infirmities and the people's perversity, and the great +forces of good and evil are left still contending, though +not in the same proportion as before.</p> + +<p>I. The opening scene, under the high-priesthood of +Eli, is sad and painful. It is the sanctuary itself, the +priestly establishment at Shiloh, that which ought to be +the very centre and heart of the spiritual life of the +nation, that is photographed for us; and it is a deplorable +picture. The soul of religion has died out; little +but the carcase is left. Formality and superstition are +the chief forces at work, and a wretched business they +make of it. Men still attend to religious service, for +conscience and the force of habit have a wonderful +tenacity; but what is the use? Religion does not +even help morality. The acting priests are unblushing +profligates, defiling the very precincts of God's house +with abominable wickedness. And what better could +you expect of the people when their very spiritual +guides set them such an example? "Men abhor the +offering of the Lord." No wonder! It irritates them +in the last degree to have to give their wealth ostensibly +for religion, but really to feed the lusts of scoundrels. +People feel that instead of getting help from religious +services for anything good, it strains all that is best in +them to endure contact with such things. How can +belief in a living God prevail when the very priests +show themselves practical atheists? The very idea +of a personal God is blotted out of the people's mind,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_390" id="Page_390">[Pg 390]</a></span> +and superstition takes its place. Men come to think +that certain words, or things, or places have in some +way a power to do them good. The object of religion +is not to please God, but to get the mysterious good +out of the words, or things, or places that have it +in them. When they are going to war, they do not +think how they may get the living God to be on their +side, but they take hold of the dead ark, believing that +there is some spell in it to frighten their enemies. +Israelites who believe such things are no better than +their pagan neighbours. The whole purpose of God to +make them an enlightened, orderly, sanctified people +seems grievously frustrated.</p> + +<p>Even good men become comparatively useless under +such a system. The very high-priest is a kind of +nonentity. If Eli had asserted God's claims with any +vigour, Hophni and Phinehas would not have dared to +live as they did. It is a mournful state of things when +good men get reconciled to the evil that prevails, or +content themselves with very feebly protesting against +it. No doubt Eli most sincerely bewailed it. But the +very atmosphere was drowsy, inviting to rest and quiet. +There was no stir, no movement anywhere. Where all +death lived, life died.</p> + +<p>And yet, as in the days of Elijah, God had His faithful +ones in the land. There were still men and women +that believed in a living God, and in their closets +prayed to their Father that seeth in secret. And God +has wonderful ways of reviving His cause when it +seems extinct. When all flesh had corrupted their +way, there was yet one man left who was righteous and +godly; and through Noah God peopled the world. +When the new generation had become idolatrous, He +chose one man, Abraham, and by him alone He built<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_391" id="Page_391">[Pg 391]</a></span> +up a holy Church, and a consecrated nation. And now, +when all Israel seems to be hopelessly corrupt, God +finds in an obscure cottage a humble woman, through +whose seed it is His purpose that His Church be +revived, and the nation saved. Take heed that ye +despise not one of these little ones. Be thankful for +every man and woman, however insignificant, in whose +heart there is a living faith in a living God. No one +can tell what use God may not make of the poorest +saint. For God's power is unlimited. One man, one +woman, one child, may be His instrument for arresting +the decline of ages, and introducing a new era of +spiritual revival and holy triumph.</p> + +<p>II. For it was no less a change than this that was +effected through Samuel, Hannah's child. From his +infancy Samuel was a consecrated person. Brought up +as a child to reverence the sanctuary and all its worship, +he learned betimes the true meaning of it all; and the +reverence that he had been taught to give to His outward +service, he learned to associate with the person of +the living God. And Samuel had the courage of his +convictions, and told the people of their sins, and of +God's claims. It was his function to revive belief in +the spiritual God, and in His relation to the people of +Israel; and to summon the nation to honour and serve +Him. What Samuel did in this way, he did mainly +through his high personal character and intense convictions. +In office he was neither priest nor king, +though he had much of the influence of both. No +doubt he judged Israel; but that function came to him +not by formal appointment, but rather as the fruit of +his high character and commanding influence. The +whole position of Samuel and the influence which he +wielded were due not to temporal but spiritual considerations.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_392" id="Page_392">[Pg 392]</a></span> +He manifestly walked with God; he was +conspicuous for his fellowship with Jehovah, Israel's +Lord; and his life, and his character, and his words, +all combined to exalt Him whose servant he evidently +was.</p> + +<p>And that was the work to which Samuel was appointed. +It was to revive the faith of an unbelieving +people in the reality of God's existence in the first +place, and in the second in the reality of His covenant +relation to Israel. It was to rivet on their minds the +truth that the supreme and only God was the God of +their nation, and to get them to have regard to Him +and to honour Him as such. He was to impress on +them the great principle of national prosperity, to teach +them that the one unfailing source of blessing was the +active favour of God. It was their sin and their misery +alike that they not only did not take the right means +to secure God's favour, but, on the contrary, provoked +Him to anger by their sins.</p> + +<p>Now there were two things about God that Samuel +was most earnest in pressing. The one was His holiness, +the other His spirituality. The righteous Lord +loved righteousness. No amount of ritual service could +compensate the want of moral obedience. "Behold, to +obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the +fat of rams." If they would enjoy His favour, they +must search out their sins, and humble themselves for +them before this holy God. The other earnest lesson +was God's spirituality. Not only was all idolatry and +image-worship most obnoxious to Him, but no service +was acceptable which did not come from the heart. +Hence the great value of prayer. It was Samuel's +privilege to show the people what prayer could do. He +showed them prayer, when it arose from a humble,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_393" id="Page_393">[Pg 393]</a></span> +penitent spirit, moving the Hand that moved the universe. +He endeavoured to inspire them with heartfelt +regard to God as their King, and with supreme honour +for Him in all the transactions both of public and +private life. That was the groove in which he tried to +move the nation, for in that course alone he was persuaded +that their true interest lay. To a large extent, +Samuel was successful in this endeavour. His spirit +was very different from the languid timidity of Eli. He +spoke with a voice that evoked an echo. He raised the +nation to a higher moral and spiritual platform, and +brought them nearer to their heavenly King. Seldom +has such proof been given of the almost unbounded +moral power attainable by one man, if he but be of +single eye and immovable will.</p> + +<p>But, as we have said, Samuel was neither priest nor +king; his conquests were the conquests of character +alone. The people clamoured for a king, certainly +from inferior motives, and Samuel yielded to their +clamour. It would have been a splendid thing for the +nation to have got an ideal king, a king adapted for +such a kingdom, as deeply impressed as Samuel was +with his obligation to honour God, and ruling over +them with the same regard for the law and covenant of +Israel. But such was not to be their first king. Some +correction was due to them for having been impatient +of God's arrangements, and so eager to have their own +wishes complied with. Saul was to be as much an +instrument of humiliation as a source of blessing.</p> + +<p>III. And this brings us to the third act of the drama. +Saul the son of Kish begins well, but he turns aside +soon. He has ability, he has activity, he has abundant +opportunity to make the necessary external arrangements +for the welfare of the nation; but he has no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_394" id="Page_394">[Pg 394]</a></span> +heart for the primary condition of blessing. At first +he feels constrained to honour God; he accepts from +Samuel the law of the kingdom and tries to govern +accordingly. He could not well have done otherwise. +He could not decently have accepted the office of king +at the hands of Samuel without promising and without +trying to have regard to the mode of ruling which the +king-maker so earnestly pressed on him. But Saul's +efforts to honour God shared the fate of all similar +efforts when the force that impels to them is pressure +from without, not heartiness within. Like a rower +pulling against wind and tide, he soon tired. And +when he tired of trying to rule as God would have him, +and fell back on his own way of it, he seemed all the +more wilful for the very fact that he had tried at first +to repress his own will. Externally he was active and +for a time successful, but internally he went from bad +to worse. Under Saul, the process of training Israel +to fear and honour God made no progress whatever. +The whole force of the governing power was in the +opposite direction. One thing is to be said in favour +of Saul—he was no idolater. He did not encourage +any outward departure from the worship of God. +Neither Baal nor Ashtaroth, Moloch nor Chemosh, +received any countenance at his hands. The Second +Commandment was at least outwardly observed.</p> + +<p>But for all that, Saul was the active, inveterate, and +bitter persecutor of what we may call God's interest +in the kingdom. There was no real sympathy between +him and Samuel; but as Samuel did not cross his path, +he left him comparatively alone. It was very different +in the case of David. In Saul's relation to David we +see the old antagonism—the antagonism of nature and +grace, of the seed of the serpent and the seed of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_395" id="Page_395">[Pg 395]</a></span> +woman, of those born after the flesh and those born +after the Spirit. Here is the most painful feature of +Saul's administration. Knowing, as he did, that David +enjoyed God's favour in a very special degree, he +ought to have respected him the more. In reality he +hated him the more. Jealousy is a blind and stupid +passion. It mattered nothing to Saul that David was +a man after God's own heart, except that it made him +more fierce against him. How could a theocratic kingdom +prosper when the head of it raged against God's +anointed one, and strained every nerve to destroy +him? The whole policy of Saul was a fatal blunder. +Under him, the nation, instead of being trained to +serve God better, and realise the end of their selection +more faithfully, were carried in the opposite direction. +And Saul lived to see into what confusion and misery +he had dragged them by his wilful and godless rule. +No man ever led himself into a more humiliating +maze, and no man ever died in circumstances that +proclaimed more clearly that his life had been both a +failure and a crime.</p> + +<p>IV. The fourth act of the drama is a great contrast +to the third. It opens at Hebron, that place of +venerable memories, where a young king, inheriting +Abraham's faith, sets himself, heart and soul, to make +the nation of Israel what God would have it to be. +Trained in the school of adversity, his feet had sometimes +slipped; but on the whole he had profited by +his teacher; he had learned a great lesson of trust, +and knowing something of the treachery of his own +heart, he had committed himself to God, and his +whole desire and ambition was to be God's servant. +For a long time he is occupied in getting rid of enemies, +and securing the tranquillity of the kingdom. When<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_396" id="Page_396">[Pg 396]</a></span> +that object is gained, he sets himself to the great +business of his life. He places the symbol of God's +presence and covenant in the securest spot in the +kingdom, and where it is at once most central and +most conspicuous. He proposes, after his wars are +over, and when he has not only become a great king, +but amassed great treasure, to employ this treasure in +building a stately temple for God's worship, although +he is not allowed to carry out that purpose. He remodels +the economy of priests and Levites, making +arrangements for the more orderly and effective celebration +of all the service in the capital and throughout +the kingdom for which they were designed. He places +the whole administration of the kingdom under distinct +departments, putting at the head of each the officer +that is best fitted for the effective discharge of +its duties. In all these arrangements, and in other +arrangements more directly adapted to the end, he +sought to promote throughout his kingdom the spirit +that fears and honours God. And more especially +did he labour for this in that most interesting field +for which he was so well adapted—the writing of +songs fitted for God's public service, and accompanied +by the instruments of music in which he so +greatly delighted. Need we say how his whole soul +was thrown into this service? Need we say how +wonderfully he succeeded in it, not only in the songs +which he wrote personally, but in the school of like-minded +men which he originated, whose songs were +worthy to rank with his own? The whole collection, +for well-nigh three thousand years, has been +by far the best aid to devotion the Church of God has +ever known, and the best means of promoting that +fellowship with God of which his own life and experience<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_397" id="Page_397">[Pg 397]</a></span> +furnished the finest sample. No words can +tell the effect of this step in guiding the nation to a +due reverence for God, and stimulating them to the +faithful discharge of the high ends for which they had +been chosen.</p> + +<p>Beautiful and most promising was the state of the +nation at one period of his life. Unbounded prosperity +had flowed into the country. Every enemy had been +subdued. There was no division in the kingdom, and +no one likely to cause any. The king was greatly +honoured by his people, and highly popular. The +arrangements which he had made, both for the civil and +spiritual administration of the kingdom, were working +beautifully, and producing their natural fruits. All +things seemed to be advancing the great purpose of +God in connection with Israel. Let this state of things +but last, and surely the consummation will be reached. +The promise to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob will be +fulfilled, and the promised Seed will come very speedily +to diffuse His blessing over all the families of the earth.</p> + +<p>But into this fair paradise the serpent contrived to +creep, and the consequence was another fall. Never +did the cause of God seem so strong as it was in +Israel under David, and never did it seem more secure +from harm. David was an absolute king, without an +opponent, without a rival; his whole soul was on the +side of the good cause; his influence was paramount; +whence could danger come? Alas, it could come and +it did come from David himself. His sin in the matter +of Uriah was fraught with the most fatal consequences. +It brought down the displeasure of God; it lowered the +king in the eyes of his subjects; it caused the enemy +to blaspheme; it made rebellion less difficult; it made +the success of rebellion possible. It threw back the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_398" id="Page_398">[Pg 398]</a></span> +cause of God, we cannot tell for how long. Disaster +followed disaster in the latter part of David's reign; +and though he bequeathed to his son a splendid and a +peaceful empire, the seeds of division had been sown in +it; the germ of disruption was at work; and when the +disruption came, in the days of David's grandson, no +fewer than ten tribes broke away from their allegiance, +and of the new kingdom which they founded idolatry +was the established religion, and the worship of calves +was set up by royal warrant from Bethel even to Dan.</p> + +<p>It is sad indeed to dwell on the reverse which befel +the cause of God in the latter part of the reign of +David. But this event has been matched, over and +over again, in the chequered history of religious +movements. The story of Sisyphus has often been +realized, rolling his stone up the hill, but finding it, +near the top, slip from his hands and go thundering +to the bottom. Or rather, to take a more Biblical +similitude, the burden of the watchman of Dumah has +time after time come true: "The morning cometh, and +also the night." Strange and trying is often the order +of Providence. The conflict between good and evil +seems to go on for ever, and just when the good +appears to be on the eve of triumph something occurs +to throw it back, and restore the balance. Was it not +so after the Reformation? Did not the Catholic cause, +by diplomacy and cruelty in too many cases, regain +much of what Luther had taken from it? And have +we not from time to time had revivals of the Church +at home that have speedily been followed by counteracting +forces that have thrown us back to where +we were? What encouragement is there to labour +for truth and righteousness when, even if we are +apparently successful, we are sure to be overtaken by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_399" id="Page_399">[Pg 399]</a></span> +some counter-current that will sweep us back to our +former position?</p> + +<p>But let us not be too hasty or too summary in our +inferences. When we examine carefully the history +of David, we find that the evil that came in the end +of his reign did not counteract all the good at the +beginning. Who does not see that, after all, there +was a clear balance of gain? The cause of God was +stronger in Israel, its foundation firmer, its defences +surer, than it had ever been before. Why, even if +nothing had remained but those immortal psalms that +ever led the struggling Church to her refuge and +her strength, the gain would have been remarkable. +And so it will be found that the Romish reaction did +not swallow up all the good of the Reformation, and +that the free-thinking reaction of our day has not +neutralized the evangelical revival of the nineteenth +century. A decided gain remains, and for that gain let +us ever be thankful.</p> + +<p>And if the gain be less decided and less full than +once it promised, and if Amalek gains upon Israel, and +recovers part of the ground he had lost, let us mark +well the lesson which God designs to teach us. In the +first place, let us learn the lesson of vigilance. Let us +watch against the decline of spiritual strength, and +against the decline of that fellowship with God from +which all spiritual strength is derived. Let those who +are prominent in the Church watch their personal conduct +let them be intensely careful against those inconsistencies +and indulgences by which, when they +take place, such irreparable injury is done to the cause. +And in the second place, let us learn the lesson of +patient waiting and patient working. As the early +Church had to wait for the promise of the Father, so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_400" id="Page_400">[Pg 400]</a></span> +let the Church wait in every age. As the early Church +continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, +so let each successive age ply with renewed earnestness +its applications to the throne of grace. And let +us be encouraged by the assurance that long though +the tide has ebbed and flowed, and flowed and ebbed, it +will not be so for ever. To them that look for Him, the +great Captain shall appear the second time without sin +unto salvation. "The Redeemer shall come to Zion, +and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, +saith the Lord. As for Me, this is My covenant with +them, saith the Lord; My spirit that is upon thee, and +My words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not +depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy +seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the +Lord, from henceforth and for ever" (Isa. lix. 20, 21).</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<div class="fn"> + +<h2><a name="FOOTNOTES" id="FOOTNOTES">FOOTNOTES:</a></h2> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> From the use of the expression "city of the Lord," it has been +inferred by some critics that this Psalm must have been written after +the capture and consecration of Jerusalem. But there is no reason why +Hebron might not have been called at that time "the city of the Lord." +The Lord had specially designated it as the abode of David; and that +alone entitled it to be so called. Those who have regarded this Psalm +as a picture of a model household or family have never weighed the +force of the last line, which marks the position of a king, not a father. +The Psalm is a true statement of the principles usually followed by +David in public rule, but not in domestic administration.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> There is difficulty in adjusting all the dates. In chap. ii. 10, it is said +that Ishbosheth reigned two years. The usual explanation is that he +reigned two years before war broke out between him and David. +Another supposition is that there was an interregnum in Israel of five +and a half years, and that Ishbosheth reigned the last two years of +David's seven and a half. The accuracy of the text has been questioned, +and it has been proposed (on very slender MS. authority) to read that +Ishbosheth reigned <i>six</i> years in place of two.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> The expression is very obscure, whether we take the affirmative +form of the Revised Version or the interrogative form of the Authorised +Version. "And this, too, after the manner of men, O Lord God!" +(R.V.) We must choose between these opposite meanings. We prefer +the interrogative form of the A.V. David's wonder being the more +excited that God's ways were here so much above man's.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> Lectures on the Old Testament. Lecture V.: "Visitation of Sins +of Fathers on Children."</p></div> + +</div> + +<div class="tn"> +<h2><a name="Transcribers_Notes" id="Transcribers_Notes">Transcriber's Notes</a></h2> + + +<ul class="corrections"><li>Obvious punctuation and spelling errors fixed throughout.</li> + +<li>Inconsistent hyphenation left as in the original text.</li> +</ul></div> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44619 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/44619-h/images/titlepage.jpg b/44619-h/images/titlepage.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..42ea37c --- /dev/null +++ b/44619-h/images/titlepage.jpg |
