The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 23

kingdom or the Mes~iah, but also a type or divinely ordP.ined forcsh11.dowh\g of it. 1, H rendered the oonception thereof mo,·e definite and vivid, "With the establlshment of th<.' ki~ly power, a new clMs of ide11.s WRS brought into view. ind developed, which for want of the requisite mat~rial groundwork con Id not be previously illustrated• nnd ~t no~ _became possible to ~escr,: from a dist11.nce an~ to announce in approptiat~ 1md 10tellig1ble terms the commg kmgdom of the Messiah." 2. It was associated with expre& prom,:Se.~ and predictions (eh. vii. 12-16; xxiii. 3-!i). "When mankind was limi_ted to a single family, the Hope of the future had lain in the seed or the woman; the patriarchal age had looked forward to a descendant of Abraham; the Mosaic to 11 Prophet and a Legislator. In like. manner the age of the Jewish monarchy in its bloom of youth and prowess was biddC1n to fix its eye upon an ideal Dnvid, who was to be t.he King of the future of the world" (Liddon, 'Dampton Lectures,' p. 79). "Tho establishment of the kingdom wRs in the truest sense a defection from God, and yet, humanly speakinc:, it was a necessary defection. An earthly king fell infinitely short of the typo of Divine government represented by Moses, or Joshua, or Samuel; but he we.s at once a definite centre, and a clear sign of something greater than himself. If he presented the spiritual idea in a fixed and limited form, he also gave distinctness to the couceptiou of the present moral sovereignty of God, and furnished imn.gerv under which the prophets could construct a ruorc glorious picture of the future 11 (Westcott, ' The Gospel of the Resurrection,' p. GS). 3. Even it.s defects and failure intensified mid e,xalted the expectation. With every disappointment hope 1:1prang up afresh, and found its pureRt expression in the utterances of the prophets (Isa. ix. 6, 7; !iii,; Micah v. !?). "What was earthly and carnal in the theocracy was made to foll into com- Jiarative abeyance, that the glory of its spiritual excellence might be brought more 1-1rollliuently into ,iew" (Fairbairn). Whilst the general expectation immediately before the advent of Christ was of a temporal kingdom, many" waited," with lofty, spiritual hope "for the Consolation of Israel." 4. It was (as a. type) .fulji),led in a higher and more spiritual numner in the kingdom of Christ. In this kingdom the principles of the theocracy are preserved and exhibited in perfection. It is the real theocracy. Its supreme Head (Eph. i. 22) is at once Divine and human .. ~ts su~jects consist of those who arc inwardly renewed, and serve him from the h~rt, ' It i~ spiritual, righteous, peaceful, and blessed. Although in the world, it is not of the world. It can coexist in time and place (as the ancient theocracy could riot) with every form of ciYil government; and, without any formal connection or concordat therewith. it can exert a sovereign influence over it. It claims the submission of ,•vp1T individual. and every nation, and it is destined to fill the earth and endure for ever. • l~EMARKS. 1. The purpose of God to set up on earth a kingdom of he11.ven is the key of history. "The grand idea of a kingdom of God is the connecting thread that runs through the entire course of Divine revel11.tion." 2. The methods which God adopts in his dealing6 with men are adapted to their actual condition, and'the accom- pli.shwcnt of immediate and beneficent ends; his revelations of himself are accom- modated to their cap•city for apprehending and profiting by them. 3. He allows men 11 large liberty of choice; and, ,vhen they use it wrongly, patiently bears with their imperfections and sins, and overrules them for their correction and improvement. 4, His procedure is ma.rlted by a progressive development; and the facts and truths involved therein contain the promise and prefigurement of later and greater realities; "The Old Testament, when rightly understood, is one great prophecy of the New" (Augustine). "Christianity lay in Judaism, as leaves and fruit do in tho. seed; although it certainly required the Divine sun to bring them forth 11 (De Wette), 5. What is expedi,-nt in one age may .not be so in another, which has received o. higher revelation of the Divine will The relative worth of institutio.ns and men must _1;>6 judged of according to their circumstances and t!ie measure of ligh~ possesse~1 tlielr absolute worth according l.o the highest concept10ns of truth and r1ghteou~J1~se; 6. God selects and exalts one nation, not for its own good merely, but for t~·e goqd of others and tbe fulfilment of his benevolent purposes toward mankind; 7: As the people of God in ancient time were taught to look forward to the coming of the Messiah, so we are now taught to look forward to his coming ago.in, and the complelA estaLlisbment of his kingdom.-D. tm. r. 1-27,J THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUET,. rn David's reign: n.o. 1061-1011. (References: 1 Chron. x.-xxix.; 1 KingR i., ii.; Psnlms. For hie enrlior life, as shepherd at Bethlehem, servant of ;Saul at Gibeah, outlo.w in the wilc1erness of Judah and elsewhere, see 1 Sa.m. xvi.-xxxiv.) When 81ml fell on Gilbo11, Dnvid was nbout thirty years old; the age a.t which Joseph stood before Pharaoh, the Levites entered on their official duties, and Jesus began bis public ministry, 'fhe Second Book of Samuel describes the steps by which he became king ovor J ud11h, and (nfler seven yeo.rs and II half) king over all Israel, the consolidation nnd victorious expnneion of his kingdom (eh. i.-x.); his deplorable fall (when about fifty yrars of age), his repentance, the consequences of his transgression, and the restoration of his impnired authority (eh. xi.-xx.); and (in an a.ppendix, eh. xxi.-xxiv.) amonrr other things some events nnd utterances of his IBBt days (his life ending at three scor; yenrs and ten). "He most happily combined all the qualifications for becoming the true support of the extraordinary efforts of this period; and he thus succeeded in winning, not only a name unequalled in glory by any other king of Israel, but also a he.Jo of kingly fame as ruler of the community of the true God, unattainable by a. king of any other nation of antiquity" ~Ewald). "The reign of David is the great m critical era the history of the Hebrews.' In it we see- I. THE PURPOSE OF THE DIVINE KING OF !SBA.EL FULFILLED. That purpose (suh- ordinate to· the lBl'ger purpose mentioned in the preceding homily), to make Da.vid ruler instead of Saul, was: 1. Previously indicated. It was first announced by Samuel, in indefinite terms (1 S:i.m. xiii. 14; X\'. 28), symbolized in the anointing of David (when about 1>ixteen years old), afterwords doubtless plainly declared to him by the prophet, and clearly manifested by the course of events. It was also more and more generally recognized (1 Sam. xxiv. 20; xxv. 30; cl).. iii. 17, 18). 2. Vainly opposed, at first by Saul, and, after he had been made King of Juda.h, by Abner and "the house of Saul." It was impossible for them to succeed. "There is no wisdom nor under- st,incling nor counsel against the Lord" (Prov. xxi. 30). 3. Gradually, surely, a.nd fully wrought out. There were times in which it seemed to fail, but only to become more apparent and effectual; like a. stream disappearing benefl.th the surface of the earth, and after a short. distance bursting forth with renewed strength. 4. Its fulfilment s_hows the power and faithfulness of God, and should confirm our faith in the fulfilment of all his promises. "Wait on the Lord." "There hath not failed one word of all his gpod .promise," etc. (1 Kings viii .. 66). "The Davidic age, with those that lie i=e- qiately around it, towers by its special glory like a giant mountain a.hove a wide tract of more level periods. It was, moreover, soon afterwBl'ds recognized by the nation itself as a. period of unique glory in the fortunes of the monarchy; and its memory has therefore been preserved in the historical mmative with the most exuberant fulness of detail" (Ewald) . • .II. THE CHARACTER OF THE HUMAN KmG OF HIS CHOICE PORTRAYED. The interest of David's reign. centres in Da_vid himself; his activities, achievements, experiences, ut~ere.nces, so fully recorded, not only in the history, but also in his psalms. His ch!'racter (more completely revealed than that of any other man) wss the growth of a noble and gifted nature under the influence of Diyine grace. 1. It wss matured by long and varied discipline. While keeping his father's flock, in the court and ca.mp o,f Saul, as an exile at the head of his heroic band, by persecution, cnlumny, hardship, meditation, t~mptation, prayer, and during his "apprenticeship to monarchy " in Hebron, his natural endowments and moral qualities were strengthened, developed, and perf«ioted, 2. It was mBl'ked by n many-sided e:r:cellenoe. His insight, skill, prescient sage.city, tender sensibility, sympathy, imaginntion, fervour, versatility, courage, mag- nnuiroity, power of leadership, and ol' winning the passionate attachment of others, were never surpaesed. He was "one of the greatest men in the world" (Bayle). "Tho tljost daring coµrago was combined in him with tender susceptibility; even after he had. ascended the throne he continued to retain the charm of a pre-eminent aud at the same time childlike persona.lity" (W ellhnusen). " Great, vnliant, pious, good, and olean, Sublime, contemplative, s11rene, Strong, oonste.nt, pleas.. Ji, wise! Bright effluence of oxceedi.ng gro.oe: Best man I the swiftness and the rooe, The peril u.nd the prize I " (ChristophE'r Smo.rt.)  20 THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL, [en. 1. 1-27,