It is highly necessary also that those whose distresses are of a private and personal nature, should take occasion from them to inquire of God, as Job did, " Shew me, O Lord, wherefore thou contendest with me*^" ]
2. We should put away whatever is displeasing
to God —
[The injuries which had been done to the Gibeonites coiild not be repaired; nor could Saul who had committed them be punished, because he was now dead. David therefore asked the Gibeonites what redress they requii-ed ? They sought not any thing for themselves, either in a way of pecu- niary compensation, or of freedom from the yoke which they had so long borne : but they required that seven of Saul's sons should be delivered into their hands, to be put to death. This was not a vindictive act, but an act of retributive justice: and it was approved by God, who after the execution of these persons was pacified towards the land^. Such a kind of retri- bution would not be justifiable amongst as; because the chil- dren are not to suffer for the parents' crimes : but, as ordered of God, it was right : and, if the whole truth were known, we should probably find that the sons of Saul had aided and abetted the wicked devices of their father; and that they therefore justly suffered as partners in his crime.
But though we cannot act precisely as David or the Gi- beonites did, we may, both nationally and individually, put away the e\'ils which have displeased our God; and indeed we all without exception are bound to " crucify our flesh with its affections and lusts." It is in this way only that we can hope to avert the di\dne judgments fi-om us; for, though notliing but the blood of Christ can wash away sin, it never will or can avail for the pardon of any, who do not turn unto God m newness of life.]
From hence then we may learn,
1. The danger of sin —
[Sin, however forgotten by us, is remembered by God ; yea, the whole of our sins, even from the earliest period of our existence, are as much in the immediate sight of God, as if they had been committed this very day : and there is a time when we must answer for them all. Let sin then be repented of, and put away ; for it will surely bring the wrath of God on all who retain it unlamented, and unsubdued.]
2. The benefit of Christ's atonement —
[The blood of Saul's sons was poured forth as a sacrifice
d Job X. 2. e ver. 14.
325.1 THE EQUITY OF CHRISt's GOVERNMENT. 305
to national justice, and as a means of averting the divine dis- pleasure ; and it was considered by God as an atonement for the sin which Saul had committed. How much more then wall God accept in our behalf the blood of his oivn Son, who was sent into the world for the express purpose that he might expiate our guilt, and procure for us reconciliation with our offended God ! Think of this, all ye who are accused by Satan and your own consciences, and who are trembling for fear of the divine judgments ; and know that his blood once shed on Calvary is now available for you, as much as it was the very instant it was shed : it is a fountain, which, if you bathe in it, will effectually cleanse you from all sin ]
3. The importance of searching our own hearts — [The crime of Saul was probably thought a meritorious act both by himself and those whom he employed as his agents in the persecution ; for we are told, he sought to extirpate the Gibeonites " from a zeal for the children of Israel and Judah." But God did not judge as he judged; nor will he form his estimate of our conduct from our opinion of it : self- love is apt to blind us, and to make us think well of many things which God abhors. But he will judge our actions according to their quality in his sight. Let us then " search and try our ways, and turn unto the Lord :" and, forasmuch as we are blinded thi'ough the influence of our own corrup- tions, let us beg of him to " search and try our hearts, and to lead us in the way everlasting."]