The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 111

pntienoe, cheerfulness, nnd thankfulness displayed, move the hearts of others towards him who is their source, 'fbe habitual sufferer might often adopt St. Paul's words in 2 Cor, iv. 10-12; xii. 9, 10. His weakness may be made the occasion of the more powerful manifestation of the living energy of Christ through him for the spiritual profit of relatives and friends. IV. How THEY SHOULD BE REGARDED AND TREATED BY OTHERS, 1. With pity and sympathy. 2. With practical assistance, The weak and suffering are especially commondod by our Lord to the care and kindness of the strong. His example enforces his words, 'l'o minister consolation, and, where necessary and practicable, material nssistance, blesses him that gives ns well as him that receives. The lifelong affliction of one may thus become a lifelong discipline and blessing to bis benefactors. But to treat the feeble with hardness or contempt, or to take advantage of their weakness for our own selfish purpo~es, is peculiarly base, and will not be forgotten by him who will condemn, in the day of judgmcnt, even the neglect of the poor and suffering (Matt. nv. 41-46). Finally: 1. Jf we enjoy freedom from lifelong aiftictions, or at least serious ones (fur few, perhaps, a.re quite free from them), thankfulness should impel us to care the more for those who are burdened with them; and if we suffer from them, our sympathies sboulcl be the keener with fellow-sufferers, and such help a.a we can render be all the more cheerfully given. 2. Let those who suffer much and long in this life make sure that their life hereafter shall be free from suffering, and that their afflictions shall work out for them an eternal greater glory (2 Cor, iv. 17). These unspeakable blessings are the portion of those who have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, receive his teaching, and follow his directions.-G. W. Ver. 9.-Redemption from all adversity. "As the Lord liveth, who bath redeemed my soul out of all adversity." An expansion of the form of oath common with the Hebrews, "As .the Lord liveth." By adding the words, "who ha.tb. redeemed," etc., David reminded himself of the goodness of God to him, and kept a.live and expresseJ. his gratitude, The same form of oath as used by him occurs in 1 Kings i. 29 (where the words of the original a.re precisely the same). Occurring thus at the beginning and the end of his reign, we may reasonably conclude that it was employed in the inter- vening years, reminding him, in the height of his prosperity and power, of the days of adversity which had preceded them, and of him who had rescued a.ad exalted him. This representation of God would probably be more helpful to the piety of David than grander but more genera.I conceptions of him. So shall we find it well to include in our thought of God what he has been to us and done tor us individually (comp. Gen. xlvili. 16, 16). As to the words: "redeemed" is not to be taken here in the significa- tion suggested by its etymology, "bought pack," "ransomed," but simply "delivered." The use of the words, "my soul," must not lead us to suppose that Da'l"id is thinking of the "redemption of the soul" in the spiritual sense. He refers to his deli~-erance from the perils, hardships, and anxieties of his previous life, through the enmity of Saul and his attempts to destroy him. The phrase is substantially equivalent to "me,"' though it may suggest that the seat of all the "distress" that attends adversity is the soul. The words are suitable to be used- I. JN VIEW OF ACTUAL DELIVERANCE FROM VARIED OR PROLONGED TROUBLES, As David us.ed them. They recognize and call to mind: 1. The extent of tlie deli·uerance. "From all adversity." The reference is to the past. David did not mean that he bad done with adversity. Nor can we in this world use the words in that sense; but as from time to time troubles arise out of which we are delivered, be they adversities in the ordinary sense, or troubles of the soul strictly (temptations, conflicts, falls, pangs of remorse, fears, insensibility, gloom), let us mark and record our deliverance. 2. Tlie Deliverer. "'l'be Lord," Jehovah, the God who "liveth." Not self, not men, but Goel. David had employed his own great powers of thought and action, u.nd had been well served by human helpers, but he does not ascribe his deliverance to the one or the other, but to God. He well knew that all power for self-help, and all human helpers, are the gift of God; that they a.re effectual through his working with them; and that apart from them God operates in ways transcendental and ine.i.:plicable. The great- ness and variety of his troubles, the imminence of his perils, the wondrous special  112 THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [ea. v. 1-25.