The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 128

growing" after the conquest of the stronghold of Zion, etc. (vera. 6-10) which he &chieved 88 captain, "leitder and oommander of the people" (as well AB the~ ehepherd) "WRxed greater and gl'eBter" (eh. vii. 9) in power and tame; "and Jehovah the God of hosm" (1 Sam. l. 3) "wu with him" (ae his Shepherd, Pa. xxiii. 1, and Captain, eh. xxii. 35-----.'37). 1. .Approvi~ of the manner ,n whi,ch he tkvoted himsel,f Co hia calling. Fidelity i11 the neoessary condition of the special favour of God; which ie ever teetified in the h01Lrt and conecience, and often shown by outwa.rd events (Gen. xxxix. 2, 21). 2. Ass,:sting him in the performanoo of the duties of his calling; strenathening, upholding, directing, protecting him. 3. ..A.ooomplishing the aim of liis end~voura in his calling ; for no skill nor effort, without Divine co-operation, can ensure success. " Except the Lord build the house," etc. (Ps. cxxvii. l ). While God was with him (1 Sam. x. 11) Saul prospered; when left to himself he lost his kingdom and hiR life. Ill. 'lllE DIVINE PUBPOSE OF BIB EXALTATION AND ESTABLISHMENT IN HI8 OFFICE. "Alld David perceived," from the friendly aid of Hiram, the erection of his palace (ver. 11), which he appears to have reg1trded as a pledge of the stability of his kingdom (Ps. xxx., inscription), and his continued prosperity, "that Jehovah had established him," in accordance with his former choice, "king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom" (1 Chron . .xiv. 2, 17) "for his people Israel's sake ; " hecRuse he had chosen them to be his people, " the sheep of his pasture" (Pa. c. 3), and sougbt their prosperity and exaltation, according to bis faithful promises (eh. vii. 23) that through them all nations might be blessed, and the whole earth filled with his glory. A faithful servant recognizes in his successes: L An immediate purpose of good toward himself; beholding therein the ha.nd of God and " the kindness and truth " by which it is directed; ascribing his prosperity, not to himself, but to the Lord. 2. .An ulterior and la1'9er purpose of good toward others, for whose benefit rather than his own he is exalted (eh. vii. 8, 16). 3. .A p0toerful, incentive to tliankfulness, hopefulness, and fresh consecration to the service of God and his people. "It was the successiveness, the continuity of the steps, in his history, which assured him that God's hand had been directing the whole of it. Had David, instead of maintaining the crown, which circumsta.nces pointed out to him as his, seized violently that which was not his,.he would not have perceived that the Lord had made him King of JsrRel; he would have folt that he had made himself so, and would have acted upon that persuasion. 'l'he government which a man wins for himself he uses for himself; that which he inwardly and practically acknowledges as conferred upon him by a righteous Being cannot be intended for himself. And thus it is that the early and mysterious teaching of David while he was in the sheepfold bore so mightily upon his life after he became king. The deepest lesson which he had learnt was that he himself was under government ; that his heart and will was the inmost circle of that authority which the winds and the sea, the moon and the st.ars, obeyed" (Maurice). REMARKS. 1. The lowliest occupation is often a. preparation for the highest; and he who shows fidelity in the least is rewarded with opportunity for its exercise in the great.est. 2. The possession of authority and power severely tests men's characters, and sometimes proves their destruction. 8. It is a. good sign when one who is exalted shows more concern a.bout performing the duties than enjoying the honours of his position. 4. God sends good rulen1 out of his regard for the welfare of the people. 5. The best rulers are those who sympathize most with the Divine purposeR, and most humbly and faithfully " serve their generation." 6. Even the best are imperfect, and often fail to attain their loftiest aims or fulfil their early promise. 7. In One a.lone do we behold the perfect Shepherd-King (John L 14; Heb. xiii. 20; 1 Pet. v. 4; Rev; vii. 17).-D. Vers. 6-9 (1 Chron. xi. 4.-9).-Jerwalem. David's first act after his anointing amidst the assembled tribes (1 Chron. xii 38-40) was to place himself at the head of his army, and march against Jebus, the capital of the Jebusites. With this place he was 1amiliar from his boyhood, and often, perhaps, wondered why it was suffered to remain so long unsubdued (Josh. i. 3, 4). He perceived its advantages as e. site for the capito.l of his kingdom, and the necessity of its reduction in order to the establishment nnd e:o.:teD.l!ion thereof. His enterprise, whatever may have been its immediate cause, was completely successful. Henceforth supreme interest centres in Zion, the city of Olf, V, 1-25,] THE SEOOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 131