The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 24

11,gainst Christ has lasted over 1800 years-for "we see not yet all things put under him "-but what is this compared with eternity, and" He shall 1·eign for ever ant:Z evc1·" (Rey. xi. 15 ; cf. Dan. vi. 26). VI. THE END OF THE CONSPIRATORS FORESHADOWS (1) THE JUDGMENT AND (2) THE DOOM OF THE ENEMIES OF CHRIST. (1) The judgment. No sooner was Solomon anointed king than he sate in judgment upon Adonijah (ver. 52), and no long time afterwards upon J oab and Abiathar. (2) The doom. He condemned Abiathar to banishment (eh. ii. 26), and appointed Adonijah and Joab to be slain. Even so our Lord will presently sit upon the judgment throne and will in like manner banish ('' Depart, ye cursed ") and deliver to death (" These mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither and slay them before me") the opposers of His glorious reign. Ver. 11 sqq.-The Jewish prophet: an example to the Christian pastor, The dealings of Nathan with David may suggest some thoughts as to (1) the office, and (2) the duties of the Christian minister. For observe- THE CHRISTIA'.:\' MINISTER OCCUPIES IN THE NEW DISPENSATION A POSITION SOME· WHAT ANALOGOUS TO THAT OF THE PROPHET IN THE OLD. Prophecy, that is to say, is one of his functions. For prophecy does not, strictly and properly, mean prediction (or foretelling), but preaching (or forthtelliug). The prophetes was the spokesman or interpreter of God. (See Introduction, note.) The" prophesyiugs" of the New Testament (1 Cor. xi. xiv) were preachings or expositions ; and in thi11 sense the word is used by Lord Bacon, and others. So the prophet was, and the preacher is, an ambassador for God, an expounder of hie laws, a herald of his kingdom. The former, therefore, may well serve as a pattern to the latter. Now the dealings of the prophet Nathan with King David were of two kinds: 1. He admonished him in health; 2. He counselled him in sickness. Hence let us learn that we owe doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness ; in other words, " both public and private monitions and exhortations, as well to the sick as to the whole within our cures." (See " The Ordering of Priests,'' Book of Co=on Prayer.) The latter are liable to be overlooked. But the prophet further suggests to us (1) _what are the ministrations or admonitions the pastor owes to his flock, and (2) what is the spirit in which he shoul,d, offer them. He teaches the former by his dealings with David in health, and the latter by his dealings with David in sickness. I. Under the first head, observe that, 1. He boldly denowncet:ZDavid's sin (2 Sam. rii 7) at the risk, perhaps, of his life, and fearlessly threatened him with shame (ver. 11) and sword (ver. 10). 2. Heproclaimedforgivtmesa on David's repentancB (ver. 13). 3. He ministered comfort in Davir£s sorrow (ver. 25). 4. He en- couraged and advised David in his unclertakings (2 Sam. vii. 8-17. Behold here, the principal duties of the pastoral office-to rebuke sin, to pronounce absolution, to comfort the sorrowing, to guide the conscience. And note: in all these functions, Nathan merely echoed the word the Lord had given him. We must take care not to" go beyond the word of the Lord, to do more or less.'' II. Under the second category, we find that, 1. He was faithful to his God. He had been employed by God to declare Solomon the heir to the throne. He would have been unfaithful had he permitted another to usurp the crown. 2. He was faithful and deferential to his king. As keeper of the king's conscience, as tI'tlJ3ted adviser and counsellor, he owed it to the king to apprize him of Adonijah'e plot. It is a sacred duty to speak, and he speaks-speaks with the profound reverence which even the Lord's prophet owes to the Lord's anointed (ver. 23). (A great churchman confessed that he had not served hie God as faithfully as he had served his king. Nathan was true to both.) 3. He was disinterested. He asks no favours for himself. It is for the Hebrew commonwealth, for the Jewish Church, that he acts and speaks. He does not abuse hie position to extort gifts from a dying man. (Compare Sa.vonarola dictating t},le terms of absolution to Lorenzo de' Medici.) 4. He was discreet. "Wise a.e serpent, but harmless as dove." He approaches Bathsheba. (ver. 11), excites her alarm (ver. 12), uses her CH, I, 1-153,] THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 17 --------------------------- ------ (18 the most likely agent to prevail with the king, instructs her (ver. 13), follows her (ver. 22). "The policy of Nathan was of nse as well as his prophecy" (Bp. Hall). ThUB the prophet teaches the pastor to nse all fidelity, to show true loyalty and courtesy, to act purely and unselfishly, to use the means God has put within his reach with consideration and discretion.