The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 169

11 most hardening vice; its impiety in the sight of God surpasses all description; it is contngious and injurious vice" (J. A. James). 11, III. ANBWEilED 0ON0LUBIVELY. By: 1. A sufficient explanation and defence. "It wo.s before Jebovnh" that ho had "played;" conscious of his presence and desirous of giving him honour. He was not insensible to his own royal dignity; but recognized tho surpassing greatness and goodness of Jehovah, from whom it was derived, a.nd acted only in accordance therewith by giving free expression to his humble gratitude and abounding joy. His language was restrained (Ps. xxxix. 1; cxli. 3); though not with- out rebuke of the proud daughter of the king in preference to whom, and all his house, himself had been chosen. 2. An expression of his resolve to proceed still further in his course of self-humiliation (Ps. cxxxi. 1). 3. And of his expectation of findinz honour instead of reproach among others. In the affectionate regard of those who sympathize with fervent piety, there is abundant compensation for the contempt of those who despise it. "In this incident we have the clue to that spiritual conception of his duties and position which distinguished David from Saul. It was, in fact, his spiritual conception of the true Israel, of the high privileges and duties of worshippers in the holy place, and above all of the privileges and duties of a king, as one who should carry out Jehovah's counsels upon earth, which distinguished David's reign, not only from that of Saul, but from that of any subsequent Jewish monarch" (' The Psalms chronologically arranged,' by Four Friends). IV. PUNISHED DESERVEDLY. "Michal's childlessness is specially mentioned as a punishment of her pride. This was the deepest humiliation for an Oriental woman" (Erdmann). 'l'he scorner: 1. Inflicts a self-infwry, by hardening the heart and rendering it less capable of faith, love, hope, sympathy, and joy; more solitary, discontented, useless, and unhappy. 2. Becomes unamiable and odious in the sight of others. 3. Incurs the displeasure of God; for "surely he scorneth the scorners" (Prov. iii. 34). "Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong" (Isa.. :xxviil. 22). EXHORTATION. 1. Expect to meet with opposition and contempt in your zeal for God. Even Christ himself was despised and mocked. 2. Count it no strange thing, if in your household, which you desire to bless, there should be those who deprive themselves of the blessing and dislike your devotion. 3. Suffer not their scorn to quench your zeal for God and your love for their souls. 4. Seek in Divine fellowship consolation amidst human reproach.-D. Vers. 6, 1.-The death of Uzzah. A startling event. Startling to us to read of. How much more to witness, in the midst of all the pomp and joy with which David was bringing the ark to consecrate his newly founded capital, to inau_,,"1lrate a revival of religion amongst the people, a.nd thus make some fitting return to God for all his goodness to monarch and subjects, aijd promote in the best and surest way the welfare of all I It is by sudden, startling, and terrible events that God very commonly calls attention to his laws, and avenges the breach of them. By such means the laws of nature come to be known, reverenced, and obeyed; and are thus brought into subjection to man, and made to promote his well-being. And by similar means men are made to reflect upon the laws of God with respect to religion and morals, and so the spiritual good of men is promoted. With reference to the sudden death of Uzzah, we rema.rk- I. IT WAS THE PUNISHMENT OF ms srn. "The anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah." Every sudden death is not a judgment, even when the result of disobedience of some law. Instances: a child killed while playing with fire or deadly weapons; a man struck dead by the electric fluid while experimenting with it. But the phrase we bave quoted compels us to ,regard Uzza.h's death as a punishment of sin. At first it seems difl;icult to discover in what the sin consisted. His conduct, in reaching out his hand to the ark and laying hold of it, seems to have been at least well-meaning: he desired to preserve it from falling to the ground. But well-meaning acts may be wrong and severely punished. In this case there were : 1. Disobedience to a plain law, with the penalty of death attached. (See Numb. iv. 15.) ludeed, the method of bearing tho ark on this occasion was altogether contrary to the Law (Exod. xxv. 14; Numb. vii. 9), as David learned by this event (see 1 Chron. xv. 13-15). 'l'here appears to have been at this period a general neglect of the La.w of Moses, and ignorance of its l'cquirements, How, otherwi~e, can we account for the ark. itself  174 THE SEOOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [ CII, VI, 1-28,