The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 103

not know exactly what will occur, we ought to know th&\ all thinge are in the wisest a.nd kindest of h&nds. In human relationships men make troubles by supposing their fellow-men, oft.en, to be otherwise affected than they actually are. Even the disciples were troubled in consequence of their b!R.meworthy ignorance of the wisdom and power of their _Mas~r, ~nd they were challenged to get_ rid of the sorrows bred of ignorance by reposing tn him a trust as absolute as they, pious Hebrews, were wont to repose in the Eternal (John xiv. 1, 2). IJ. THE ATrACHlllENT OF MEN NOT SPffiITUALLY E~"LIGHTENED IS OF DOUBTFUL PERMANENCE. The attachment of the sons of Rimmon and others to the cause of Ishbosheth WM based on anything but enlightened views of the theocracy, or a clear interpretation of the events of the life of Saul and David, which must have been well known. Indeed, as in the days of "David's greater Son" the mark of distinction among men lay in the spiritual recognition of him as Divine amidst bis sorrows and trials, so in David's time only true unworldly men, whose eyes were open to see the spiritual element in his life, formed political attachments on superior knowledge. That which is earthly partakes of the instability of earth, and, however outwardly zealous the supporters of Ishboshcth may have been and even sincere according to their light, they were open to the influences to change which are sure to arise in times of trouble, but which could never move a mind that saw the higher principles involved in Dn.vid's claim. The historian seems to imply this in his reference to the aae and infirmity of :Mephibosheth, as much as to say there wa.~ no one else of the ho;se of Saul around whom men might rally in case lshbosheth's cause should fail. No resort was left but to abandon the young king in his troubles, and form new and more promising attach- ments. 1Imagine a Jonathan slackening his attachment to David in his time of stress I or a Paul losing interest in Christ when persecutions arose! On the other hand, there are many instances in which the weakened attachment of the sons of Ri=on, pro- ceeding as that attachment did from low and mere conventional views, finds a ·counters part in human life. Companionships based on community of sensual enjoyments are held by bonds which peri8h in adversity. Friendships are perishable in so far as they are pervaded by a worldly element. Whatever ties are formed on any feelings, interests, or considerations than those which make us all one in Christ, cannot but vanish as we pass from the earthly scene into the world where alone the spiritual bond endures. And in the Church militant the adherence of numbers lacks a permanence to be counted on in proportion M it is based on custom, convenienee, fashion, superstition, defective knowledge of Scripture, and dimness of spiritual apprehension. Plato was not far from the truth in saying that knowledge and reality were one. Scripture everywhere gives prominence to the unifying, ennobling power of spiritual perception. The distinc- tion of children of light e.nd of darkness proceeds thereon. The" spiritual man judgeth all things." The rejection of Christ was connected with blindness to the higher and more spiritual qualities of his life (1 Cor. ii 8-16). Ill. MEN OF UNSPIRITUAL VIEWS ABE, I!Y BEASON OF TREIB BLINDNESS, OPEN TO TERRIBLE TEMPI'ATIONB, Al:."D JllAY I!E C.ABBIED AWAY TO EVIL BY THE LOWER PABBIONB oF TREIB :NATURE. TheBC sons of Rimmon, like others, began to consider what course would be most advantageous to themselves, now that the cause of Ishbosheth seemed to be on the wane. Looking on the position of the two kings as simply the consequence of purely worldly forces coming into competition, and caring most of all to be on the winning side, they asked themselves what conduct on their part would be sure to win the fa.voor of David, the stronger of the two. Had they at that juncture in the process of thought conceived of David as a man of God, of high spiritual aims, destined to work out a Divine purpose on principles of righteousness, and ambitious to translate the purest principles of private life into the affairs of his kingdom, they would only have thought of doing some deed of justice and mercy, such as a man of that character would delight in. But being destitute of these spiritual perceptions, regarding all things on the low base level of a worldly expediency, and judging David to be much 1mch a man as themselves, there arose in their process of thought fair opportunity for the cruellest and basest propensities of their nature, to put forth their strength and suggest the murder of the unfortunate king as an act of present wisdom. It ta.kes many impulses and thoughts of advantage and disadvantage to bring about a great crime, anti. it is difficult, in analyzing the mental antecedents of the crime, to r,1,sign to on. 1v. 1-12.J THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 103