The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 24

"There never was a t1pecimen of manhood so rich and ennobled as David, the son ol Jesse, whom other snints haply m&y have equalled in single features of hie character; l1ut 11uch a combin&tion of manly, heroic qt,alitiee, such a flush of generous, godlike 11xcellenoee, h&th never yet been seen embodied in a sinf!;le man" (Edward Irving), "The most thoroughly human figure, as it seems to me, which had appeared upon the earth before the coming of that perfect Son of man, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen" (Charles Kingsley). (1) In relation to God he was emineut in faith, hope, and love; loyal obedience, fervid zoal, holy aspiration, enthllsiastio devotion, lowly submission, a.nd thankfulness (Neh. xii. 36). (2) In relation to men he was tenderly affectionate toward his family; considerate and grateful toward his friends; generous and forgiving toward his enemies; faithful and just, self-denying and self- S&crificing toward his people. (3) Beyond any other monarch of Israel he was a truly theocratic king. His bes.rt was perfect with the Lord his God (1 Kings xi. 4). "David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, a.nd turned not aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite" (1 Kings xv. 5). 3. It was marred by gra11e defects and aggravated trans- gressions. Although these were in great measure due to the spirit of his age, the effect of temptation incident to his position, contrary to the general course of his life, and' deeply repented of, yet they incurred heavy guilt, and were followed by severe chastise- ment.a. 4. It thus affords a warning as well as an e=mple. "In this history we have the pattern of a pious and prudent prince. Its utility and profit for example of life appears in the prudence, piety, zeal, humility, equity, and good government of David, and all other his heroic and godly virtues worthy of imitation. As also are set down David's infirmities and falls, as examples of the weakness of the best when they watch not over themselves, or a.re left to themselves, proponed to be eschewed, ut ma;'oru1m ruina sit minorom cautela, as likewis, his repentance to be imitated, and the sharp corrections notwithstanding, as medicinal corrasives wherewith he was chastised; as we aee in the Lord's dealing with his dearest sons a.nd servants (Heb. xii. 6, 7) " (W. Guild, 'The Throne of David:' 1659). fil THE MAJESTY OF THE DIVTh'E-HUllAN KING MESSIAH FORESHADOWED, David is to be regarded, not &imply as a.n individual, but as a noble, though imperfect, repre- sentation of the 1·dea of a theocratic king, a.nd therefore also aa an adumbration of One in whom that idea would be perfectly realized (Luke i. 32). "His relation to the history of redemption is most peculiar and remarkable. The aim and import of the Old Testament history to prefigure, prophesy, and testify of Christ concentrated in him as in a focus" (Kurtz). "As we have a great increase of the prophetic light breaking forth, a.nd encompassing the family and kingdom of David so subsequent prophecy reverts often to the llllJlle subjects, insomuch that there is no individual, king or other person, one only excepted, of whom more is said by the prophets than of this king and his throne" (Davison, 'On Prophecy'). "It is David who, without intending it, supplies the personal foundation of all the Messianic hopes, which from this time contribute with increasing power to determine Israel's career; and so he stands at the turning-point in ihe history of two thousand years and separates it into two great halves" (Ewald). High· above him, in the dim and distant future, rose the majestic form of" the King of kings, and Lord of lords." "A person, u such, can never be a symbol. It was not David, or Manasseh, or Ahab, that was the type of Christ as King of Zion; it was the royal ;,ffiu with which these were invested, symbolical as that was of the theocracy, which was typical of the kingly dignity of the Redeemer" (W. L. Alexander, •Connection of the Old and New Testaments,' 315, 418). The kingly dignity of the Messiah appears in: 1. His Divine appointment (Ps. ii 6, 7) founded on the Incarnation. "In Jesus the Chrillt, Jehovah a.nd the Son of David become one. Heaven and earth interpene- tra.te, that they may unite in him and be united by him" (Delitzsch). 2. His glorious exaltation after deep humiliation and patient endurance. 3. His righteous administra- tion (Ps. lxxii. 1, 2). 4. His advancing triumph over the enemies of his kingdom and our ae.l vation-" the devil with all hie retinue, the world,: tho flesh, sin, death, Mid hell· whatever doth oppose his glory, his truth, his serviae; whatever consequently by oper{ violence or fraudulent practice doth hinder our salvation" (Barrow). 6. His munificent gifts anci the blessingt1 of hie reign; refuge, refreshment, repose (Isa.. xxxii. l, 2); •• righteO\!BP.(lllS, peace, end joy in the Holy Ghost," As a l{ing he gatl!er1,  'rttE Stco~m BOOK OF SAMUEL.