The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 378

speaks as one not worthy of such honour; and yet, with all this reverence and awe -of the ~ominp; majesty and power, t_here was the tender love "passing that of ":omen. ~a1tl: sa,: through ~he lonelmess and oppressed state of David, and recog- nised the l~mg m Z101:· ,Tliis ~C!-8 _the real feeling of the apostles, in their better moods, dunng the Sllnour s hunuhation. They knew that, though men were divided in judgn1C'nt, he was "the Christ,_ t)ie Son ~f the living God" (Matt. xvi. 13-16). The deC'p love of John when rechnmg on Ins bosom, and the sense of unworthiness -0f Peter "·hen l,~ cried, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, 0 Lord" (Luke ,-. 8), "·ere only instances of the feeling which usually pervaded their minds. And it is this recognition and thefeding accompanying it which enters into every believer's ./i/e. He is the King, the liope of the afflicted nations, the "Restorer of paths to dwell in" (Isa. !viii: 12). As Jonathan with passionate love and strong confidence gazed on the beautiful face of David, so do we look with intense interest on Christ and feel sure, in spite of the slow ages and the present antagonisms, that he "must reign," that on his own head an imperishable crown shall flourish (Ps. lxxii.). And while admiration, joy, and satisfaction attend this prevision of the coming glory, the heart is filled with wonder and gratitude in being permitted to call that Chosen One -a Friend. III. There IS A FREE SURRENDER OF' ALL THAT IS DEAREST TO THE REALISATION OF HIS SUPREMACY. Nothing, humanly speaking, was more precious to Jonathan than his right to the succession, and the prospects of power and distinction involved therein. Nothing in history is more beautiful than the spontaneity and heartiness with which he laid aside all this, and found joy and satisfaction in the coming supremacy of David (vers. 14--17). What noble self-sacrifice for high spiritu.al purposes I This was more than" houses and lands," more than II father and mother" (Matt. :rix. 29). Only the true spiritual vision of the kingdom of God will account for such deviation from the selfish ways of the world. "The Lord'' was in the mind of Jonathan, and "the Name" (eh. xvii. 45) which David had exalted was the "Name" to be still more honoured in his corning reign. And in this is the essence of our Christian life. Surrender of all for Christ: sacrifice of every power, prospect, hope, and wish to the holy purposes for which the "Anointed One" lives. In this there is no exaction arid no constraint. Christ does not demand something for his mere personal gratification, and we do not yield to a loss because a more powerful One claims what we have. Jonathan and David were as one (ver. 17). They had but one interest, and lived for one object. Loss and gain were inadequate terms. The surrender to one was as a surrender to self. Loss was gain, and gain was loss. So is it in the mystical union of our liyes with Christ. Though we give up all, and perform what men call self-sacrifice, we yet give up nothing. For us "to live is Christ." Blessed oneness I Always giving, always receiving; ever denying self, ever enriching self I The glory of the King is our glory ; the sorrows of our heart are his sorrows; deeds to his are deeds to him (Matt. xxv. 34-40; John xvii. 24; Heh. iv. 15). IV. LOVE, CONSTANT A.ND MASTERFUL, IS THE SPRING 011' ALL THIS SELF-SACRIFICE. Jonathan's love was the master passion-" passing that of women "-pure, steady, unaffected by public opinion and private influence (vers. 30, 31), illumined and regu- lated by spiritual insight, prompt in expression, giving joy and satisfaction to every deed and word that might bring future honour to David or present comfort in trouble. This uDdying love, this regnant force, so pure, so sweet, so strong, so gentle, ennob~ed its possessor, and was regarded by its object as the most beautiful and precious thmg on earth. Events show that it was reciprocal (ver. 41; 2 Sam. i. 25, 26). It is this ~trong master passion that lies at the spring of all our true Christian service. "We love him because he first loved us.'' "The love of Christ constraineth us." We do bis will, lay our talents, possessions, prospects, all we inherit or can acquire, at his feet because we love to do so, and would not do otherwise if we could. No box of rJintrnent is too costly for those dear feet that have trodden the sorrowful patli_s of life for us I No crown too glorious for that brow that once was pierced and pamed for us I No joy too excessive in final enthronement over all principality and power of him who once did battle for us, and destroyed the gigantic foe of God's p~ople I To measure out our service, to reckon how little we can spare or do, to shut hun out <JB. XX. 1-21.l.) TIIE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL.