The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 55

V. GRADUALLY 0ONFIRMED in the experience of him who obeys. "And bis men . . . and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron" (ver. 3). God went before them nnd prepared their way, eo the.t they met with e. peacoa.ble reception and found "a city of habitation." 1. '!'he operations of Providence concur with the teachings of the Word and the Spirit. 2. A stronger assurance of the Divine leading is possessed. "If nny man willeth to do his w:ill," etc. (John vii. 17). 3. More light 1s given for further advancement. "Then shall we know, 8hall follow on to know the Lord. His going forth is fixed like the morning dawn" (Hos. vi. 3); and it will brighten 011 our pe.th into the radiance of pl'rfect day. VI. WIDELY BENEFICIAL. More especially it contributes to the good of those who are associated with him, and who, having shared his perplexity and distress, now share his prosperity. Those who are guided by God are thereby enabled and disposed to guide a.nd bless others (Numb. :x. 39). VII. GLORIOUSLY TERMINATING. "They anointed David king" (var. 4). .And all who truly fulfil the Divine plan and purpose as David did (Acts xiii. 22) a.re made •• kings unto God," a.nd receive exalted honour among men, increased power over them, a.nd a.t length a. crown of life, of righteousness, and of glory. But, ale.al how many go stumbling through life without a.n aim, or only with one which is unworthy and contrary to the will of God, and then sink into " the blackness of darkness fo; ever" l " The wise shall inherit glory ; but she.me shall be the promotion of fools " (Prov. iii 35).-D. Ver. 4.--{HEBBON.) David anointed King of Judah. Oourse of events: 1. David's message to the men of Ja.besh (vers. 5-7). 2. Ishbosheth me.de King of Israel by Abner (vers. 8---U). 3. Civil war, and the death of Asa.hel (vers. 12-32). 4. Increasing strength of the house of David (eh. iii 1-5). 5. Dissension between Ish- bosbeth and Abner. 6. Abner's negotiations with David, restoration of Michal, com- munication with the tribes, and formal league (eh. iii. 12-21). 7. Abner slain by Joe.b (eh. iii 22-28). 8. LRmented by David (eh. iii. 31-39). 9. Ishbosheth murdered (eh. iv. 1-8). 10. His assassins executed (eh. iv. 9-12). It was a great day in Hebron. The ancient city among the bills of Judah (where the remains of the patriarchs bad slumbered for centuries) was stirred by the assembling of the elders for the coronation of David. His presence among tbem,a.t the head of bis six hundred heroes, bad been virtually a "public assertion of bis claims to sovereignty" on the ground of bis Divine consecration by Sa.mueL His first anointing was essentially of a private nature. " This second one, performed by the elders of Judah, was bis public solemn installation (based on that anointment) into the royal office." Then followed the acclamation of the people (1 Sam. x. 24; xi. 15). "Now doth David find the comfort that his extremity sought in the Lord bis God ; now are the clouds for a time passed over, and the sun breaks forth; David shall reign after bis sufferings" (Ha.11). It bas been supposed that he wrote a.bout this time Ps. xxvii. (inscription, "Before the anointing," LXX.). "Jehova.h is my Light e.nd my Salvation ; Whom shall I fear? J ehovab is the Strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?" .. It is not likely that David's muse went to sleep when the death of Saul at Gilboa opened his way to the throne, or that it produced nothing but such comparatively secular songs a.s the lament for Saul and Jone.than. It is rather remarkable, however, that there is not a single psalm of which one ca.11 affirm with confidence that it was writter. during the seven years and a. half that David reigned at Hebron over the tribe of Judah" (Binnie). Those who took part in his inauguration acted in fulfilment, not only of the Divine purpose concerning him, but also of the Divine P.redictions concerning themselves; for the pre-eminence of Judah bad been long foretold (Gen. xlix. 8). "In all great questions the men of Judah are the foremost and the strongest. From the timo of David's establishment on the throne, the greatness of tho tribe follows in some measure that of bis family (1 Chron. v. 2; xxxviii. 4)" (Davison). ".And as they had the right to choose their own prince, they might reasonably have expected tht en. n. 1-32,J 'l'llE SECOND BOOK OF SAMURL.