The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 62

S. Rogers): The rejoicing by which it is attended is usually mingled with weeping nnd sometime~ swallowed up of grief. Various persons are thus affected for various reasons. 'l'hink of the ~orrows endured : 1. .At the fall of fellow-soldiers, "Nineteen men and Asabel " (vers. 23, 30) who come not to the muster after sunset (vere. 24, 30) nor answer to the roll-call, but lie in the chill embrace of death. "Alas I fallen are th~ heroes." 2. In the burial of the dead. (Ver. 32.) No opportunity is 111forded for seeking out and burying all the slain; but the remains of Asabel are carried across the hills by night (ver. 29) and laid in the tomb of his father in Bethlehem, where the sorrow of the preceding day is renewed. It reminds us of a pathetic scene of recent times dE11Cribed in the familiar lines- " We buried him darkly at dead of night, The sod with our bayonets turning; By the struggling moonbeam's misty light, And our lanterns dimly burning." (Wolfe.) 8. W7um the news is conveyed to their homes. "They ea.me to Hebron at break ol day;" e. day of bitter grief to many bereaved hearts. "By the slaughter of a war there are thousands who weep in unpitied and unnoticed secrecy whom the world does not see; and thousands who retire in silence to hopeless poverty for whom the world d006 not ea.re" (Dymond). 4. For the miseries of /ellow-sujfere:rs; the enemy- defee.ted, bereaved, and mourning-for they too are "brethren," e.nd cannot but be remembered with sympathy and pity. 5. Concerning the state of the departed. A soldier's life is not favourable to piety and preparation for heaven, and the passions by which he is commonly swayed when his earthly probation is suddenly terminated are such that we can seldom contemplate his entrance into the eternal world with feelings of cheerfulness and hope. "After death the judgment." 6. On account of the ani- mosities of the living, which are increased by conflict and victory, and are certain to be a source of future trouble (eh. iii. 1, 30, 33). 7. Because of the dishonour done to the cause of the Lord's .Anointed. Religion suffers, the 1>rogress of the kingdom is hindered, and the King himself is '' grieved for the misery of Israel." "'l'he victory that day was turned into mourning" (eh. xix. 2). So is every victory gained by "the devouring sword." But there are victories which are bloodless and tearless, sources of unmingled joy; spiritual victories over ignorance and sin won by and through the might of him at whose birth the angels sang upon those hills of Bethlehem, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth pea~ good will toward men."-D. Ver. l.-Inquiri11g of God. David had now arrived a.t a. very important point in hie career. Saul being dead, his way to the throne was cleared; but the next step to take was doubtful Under these circumstances be adopted the course usual to him when in difficulty. He "inquired of the Lord," sought directions from him a.s to what he should do. The high priest, Abiathar, was with him with the ephod (1 Sam. xxx. 7), and by means of the Urim and Thummim could ascertain for him the Divine will. By this method, doubtless, he received directions to go into Judah and settle at Hebron; "'and the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah." We cannot ask direction from God in the same manner as David, but, uaing the means available for us, we should imite.te him in this respect. L UllDEB WHAT CIBCUMSTAJ!l'CEB WE SHOULD INQUIRE OF Gon. 1. It should be a constant practice. Part of our devotions every day should consist of endeavours to ascertain more fully and accurately the will of God concerning us, seeking of him guidance in all our ways, that we may know what the general commands of God mean for us in our position, in the practical details of our individual life. 2. Tlie practice alwuld be made special under spuwl, doubts and difficulties. (1) When like David we have to make a choice on which much depends, a.nd there is difficulty in choosing. When proposing to enter on a new enterprise, to form new c?nnectione (especially a lifelong alliance), to change our place of abode, etc. There will be reasons for a.nd against, promises of good, possibilities of evil, in each direction. What shall be done? Inquire of the Lord. . (2) When we meet ".l'i_th perplexities in the inq1;1iry after truth. It is not by mere logical processes that spintual truth can be ascertamed; from first to laat we need guidance from above, and 11hould earnestly seek it. Oil, II, 1-32.] THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 61