It is now necessary to turn to the other side of the picture, remembering that we must not expect
to find a saint, but a king, a hero, and a man. No testimony tti D. could be more eloquent than that of the charm he exerted on all who had to do with him. Everywhere he inspires love and devotion. Jonathan is his closest friend ; Saul, Michal, all Israel love him. It is the same in later years. Achish pronounces him blameless (IS 29''- '■') ; what- ever D. does pleases the people (2 S 3**) ; the three mighty men risk their life to bring him a draught of water ; his soldiers call him the ' lamp of Israel,' and will not let him endanger himself in battle (2 S 21'" 183) ; Ittai of Gath will follow him in life or death (i7*. 15-'). Nor was this devotion and admiration undeserved. A brave and successful warrior, who had fought many a campaign against his country's foes, he safely led and ruled the rough men who gathered round him as an outlaw. His justice was experienced alike by Nabal's shep- herds and his own followers (IS 25'- '"f- 30-^^) ; his concern for his followers' lives is seen when he cannot drink the water from the well of Bethlehem. Hasty and passionate he could be, even in his zeal for justice (2 S 4^'- 12'''') ; but far more marked is his signal generosity. He spares Saul's life when he is in his power (1 S 24. 26), and laments for his death in a noble song (2 S 1 ) ; the messenger fnmi Mt. (Jilboa and the murderers of Eshbaal are put to death, when they think that they are bringing D. good tidings. He can bear with Shimei's curses during his flight, and forgive him freely on his return. For the sake of Jonathan he spares and shows favour to his son, and in the person of (^himham he repays the kindness of Barzillai. The warmth and tenderness of D.'s affection is revealed in his lamentation for his ' brother ' Jonathan ; and still more in his own family, as in his distress at the illness of Batbsheba's child, or at the death of Amnon and Ab.^aloni. Nor are higher elements wanting in D.'s religion ; as may be seen from his simple but pious faith, when he dances before the ark, and is ready to abase himself before J" who has exalted him (2 S 6^1) ; or still more when he prepares to leave Jerus. without the protection of the ark. He accepts his misfortunes with resignation, and acknowledges them as the consequence of his sins ; while he retains his trust in God's goodness (2 S 12'--'- lo-^'- 16''-'- 24'-'- '■). And even in the record of his sin his better qualities come out ; for not many rulers would have accepted such a plain rebuke, or mani- fested such sincere repentance. When compared with a Joab or a Gideon, we recognize the great- ness of David's character.
But it is especially as a niler that D. left his mark on his own generation and on posterity. He set himself to free his country from its enemies, to secure it against invasion, and to make the people one. Jerus. was virtually his creati<m ; he strove to make it the religious and political centre of his kingdom ; and the discontent of Judah bears witness to the zeal with which he laboured for the whole nation, and not only for his own tribe. His efforts were the more successful, because with re- markable penetration (cf. 2 S 14''') he always knew the right measures to adopt. He wins the Judican elders by judicious presents, but can wait at Hebron for Eshbaal's fall ; he thanks the men of Jabesh- gilead, disavows all part in Abner's nmrder, retires from the first attack of Absalom, but keeps uj) communication with the capital. In all the varied difficulties of his eventful life he is never without resource. Nor was he negligent of the administra- tion of his kingdom. It is said that he 'executed judgment and justice to all his people ' (2 S 8'^) ; and this statement is borne out by the readiness with which he listened to Nathan or the woman of Tekoa. Doubtless he once forced a census on an unwilling people, but except in one instance
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we never Lear of him using his power for selfish emis.
In two respects the reign of D. became an ideal {•>r hiter times. lie was remembered as a just and patriotic ruler ; and when oppression and injustice became only too common iu Israel, the great prophets looked forward to a time when again a righteous king should sit on his throne (Jer 23^, cf. Is 10') ; and the name of D. became the symbol of the ideal ruler of his line, who they believed must come (Jer 30", Ezk 34'-'3''- HI-"-), and who was afterwards termed the Messiah. Again, it was throuuli D. that the group of Isr. tribes became a powerful nation, and e.ttendeci its sway over the neighbouring peoples. Thus Israel began to feel that it had a mission in the world ; and though D.'s empire began to melt away even before his suc- cessor's death, this conviction never died, even in the darkest hour. Still the people believed that in God's own time they would be called upon once more to subdue the surrounding nations (cf. Am 9'-), or like a second 1). to proclaim to heathen races J"'s great and holy name (cf. Is 55*-').