[This was well contrived in the parable that Nathan spake. David did not see the drift of the parable as relating to himself, and therefore felt no personal interest in his decision. Hence his judgment was free, and his determination of the cause un- biassed. Had he been aware that he was about to condemn himself, he would have been far more indulgent towards the offending person.
Now this mode of convicting persons, who would have revolted at any plainer dealing, has been frequently practised wdth good effect. It was to such an expedient that Joab resorted, in order to prevail on David to recall his son Absalom from banish- ment^ and by a similar device a prophet constrained
Ahab to condemn himself for sparing Benhadad, whom God
had delivered into his hands to be destroyed*^ Our
Lord himself also frequently adopted the same method of coun- teracting the prejudices of the Scribes and Pharisees'^
^ 2 Sara. xiv. 5—11, 20. <= 1 Kings xx. 35—42.
d Matt. xxi. 40 — 45.
By such means a person is silenced at once, and is " condemned out of his own mouth." True indeed, in cases where the mind is open to conviction, these precautions are less necessary; but the sentence that is founded on such grounds is always less offensive, because the criminal passes it upon himself.]
2. We should however combine fidelity with address —
[Sooner or later we must come to the point, " Thou art the man." We are to consider ourselves as messengers of the Most High God, who has said, " He that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat^?" We must not fear the face of man : our concern for his welfare must swallow up all dread of his displeasure ; and the con- sideration of the account which we must one day give to God, must impel us, even at the peril of our lives, to bear a faithful testimony in his service. Behold the boldness of Elijah in reproving Ahab*^; and of John in condemning the incestuous commerce of Herod ^: these are the examples which we must follow, when milder methods have proved ineffectual: but our object must always be, not merely to acquit ourselves to God as faithful monitors, but to win the souls of those whom we admonish. The recollection of our own weakness, and prone- ness to fall, must ever render us as tender as possible towards our fallen brother : " we must restore him in the spirit of meek- ness; considering ourselves, lest we also be tempted''."]
Let US then, in the view of this history, learn,
1. To tremble for ourselves —
[Did David fall? Who then is safe? Did David sink into such an obdurate state ? Who has not reason to dread lest he be given over to a reprobate mind ? Clear enough it is from whence repentance must proceed, whether in its first com- mencement, or in its further progress : if God work it not in us by his Holy Spirit, we shall be altogether as insensible as a rock of adamant. Let none of us then indulge a proud secu- rity, or imagine ourselves out of the reach of temptation ; " Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" ]
2. To rejoice in God —
[O what mercy did God display on this occasion ; that in- stead of cutting off the royal miscreant by some signal judgment, he sent a prophet to awaken his drowsy conscience, and bring him to repentance ! We lament indeed, that many have taken occasion from David's fall to make light of sin ; and from his
e Jer. xxiii. 28. ^ 1 Kings xviii. 17, 18. and xxi. 19 — 21.
g Matt. xiv. 4. 1' Gal. ^i. 1.
317.] David's humiliation and acceptance. 269
recovery, to imagine, that God will never execute his threat- ened judgments : but we have reason to bless our God that such a monument of mercy has been exhibited in the Scriptures. How many thousands of backsliding Christians have been re- stored by means of this one example ! We are now encouraged to say to all, however heinous their iniquities have been, " Return, ye backsliding children ; and God will heal your backslidings, and love you freely." " Only acknowledge your iniquity," and then " it shall not be your ruin." Is there any one amongst us who has become hardened in his sins ? O, hear what God says to his people of old'; and seek " repent- ance unto life," even that " repentance which is not to be repented of."]