The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 26

appa.rent that its resnlt may be easily anticipated by all but the most obtnee. 2. A stnmger or an enemy frequently perceives the destination of a man or ability more clearly than those who are intimately connected with him, 3. One who ie supremely concerned about his otm interest is quick to &ee anything that may be made conducive to it, however blind and unfeeling he may be in other respects. 4. Hl11 attempt to t.urn it t.o his own advante.ge sometimes turns only to the advantage of another and to bis own disappointment and ruin. " David had been long waiting for the c~wn, and now it is brought to him by an Ama.lekite. See how God can servo 'his own purpose of kindn866 t.o his people, even by designing men who aim at nothing but ·to set up themselves" (Matthew Henry). IV. EFFECTED BY THE OPERATION OF Drvnra PRoVIDEN'CE, "The Lord. slew him and turned the kingdom unt.o David the son of Jesse" (1 Chron, x, 14). "God Is th~ Judge; he putt.eth down one and sett.eth up another" (Ps. lxxv. 7; 1 Sam. ii. 1-10), By his providential working : 1. His purposes are fulfilled and the truth of his Word is confi1med. "By a series of events following in the ordinary course· of Providence, without any miracle interposed, this prediction (given by Samuel and exhibited in the act of anointing) was brought to pRss. David was raised to his divinely appointed station, when his shepherd's staff became a sceptre, and his flock a great people; none contributing more to the preparation of this event than Saul himself.... The compli- cated narrative is the exposition of the prophetic prescience" (Davison). 2. Those who oppose his purposes are overthrown. 3. He who humbly waits their fulfilment in the way of obedience is promoted. 4. Individuals and nations are constrained to turn froni their own way, and submit to his plans as the wisest and best (eh. ii. 4; iii. 9; v. 2). "The secret springs of revolutions are unaccountable, and must be resolved into that Providence which turns all hearts as the rivers of water" (Matthew Henry). "Notwith• standing those appearances which obscure the providence of God, it'often makes itself conspicuous in the midst of them all. When we have allowed to hU.Dian a~ency, to human wisdom and human power, a large circle of events imputed to nothing else, 'we see the Divine wisdom frequently disencumber itself from all communication with segond calllles, and stretch itself out in the face of all men, in defeating and confounding the pl:i.ns of human wisdom, in the failure of the deepest schemes" (R. Hall),:--D, Vers. 2-10.--{ZIKLAG.) Sdfish craft. Beyond the ass_ertion of the Amalekite that Israel was defeated and Saul and Jonathan were dead, of which the diadem and bracelet afforded proof, it is uncertain bow far his story was true. His statement concerning' his own conduct cannot be satisfactorily reconciled with that of 1 Sam. xxxi. ; and; although credited by David, it was probably a fabrication, his motive therein being the' desire of reward, as David himself clearly perceived (eh. iv. 16). In him we have l.' ]Jicture of what sometimes appears in others under higher moral influences, viz.::· 1. D=inant sdfishness. He is supremely concerned a.bout his own interest. Self-lov1;i' is an original principle of our nature, and, when properly regulated, points in the direc- tion of virtue and happiness. But it easily degenerates into selfishness, "the source of all the sins of omission and commission which are found in the world." And when a man comes under the dominion of the latter, he may sink into any depth of meanness. 2. Subtle BC!,eming. Amidst the dying and the dead. after the battle, his only thought is of gain; and, having plundered the fallen king of the regalia, he coolly calculates, how he may dispose thereof to the greatest advantage; and then hastens a long distance across the country to one whom he expects to find ready to welcome the prospect of his own elevation by an enemy's death, and to pay him "the wages of, unrighteousness." 3. Feigned sympathy. He comes into the presence of David "with the marks of distress and dismay-dust and clay smeared over his face, and hi!f clothes torn "--on account of the disaster which has befallen Israel (1 Sam. iv. 12). But how little does hfo appearance correspond with the feelings of his heart I " Self• love sometimes borrows the face of honest zeal" (Hall). 4. Obsequious hom,a,ge. " He fell to the earth, and did obeisance; " prostrating himself before the rising sun of the Dew era with abject, insincere, and wicked mind. "To those who are distinguished in the kingdom of God ae specially called and favoured instruments of grace, falsehood and hypocruy draw near most pressingly and corruptingly in the guise of humility and 11elf-aba.sement" (ErdmaDD). 6. Plausible lyi'Tl,fl. (Vers. 6-9.) He artfullf mingle, CR, I, 1-27.] THE 8,ECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL.