The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 191

etcrnBI thus eeen to run through nil things, becomeA, therefore, a prirni natural in any predictions concerning him whose throne is from ever!R.Hting to everlasting. That in vors. 12-':"16 we have reference to rt mortal Solomon, w~o should bnild a. perishable temple, sit on rt vislblA throne, and hand down to a. termmable though Ion" succesRion of kings an earthly kingdom, is the interpretation required by subsequent f~tH. Tha.t the "seed" refers also to Christ the "Son of David," the house to a spiritual temple, the" throne" and "kin'l;dom" to the absolutely everlasting dominion of Christ over the redeemed people of God, is the sense pnt OI\_ this and kindred passages by the Ne,v 'l'estament (Ps. lxxil. 17; lxxxix. 35-37; cf. Luke i. 31-33, 68-79; Heb. i. 5-13). Tha.t the two references should be couched in one form of expression is natural when we consider (1) that the temporal and eternal arc blended, a.s just seen, in one form of nature, in one human being, in the ono Christ Jesus, and in the one historic revelation,. (2) that this harmonizes with the twofold sense of the prediction ma.de to Abraham (Gen. x:xi. 12; xxii. 17-19; cf. Rom. ix. 7-9; Acts iii. 25; Ga.I. iii. 26), and with the twofold meaning of our Lord's words in reference to "the end" (Matt. xxiv. 9-14, 29-44). The huma.n relationship, the human throne, the possible huma.n frailty, and the human relative permanence, are the lower earthly vehicle by which the Divine and absolutely enduring are set forth and inaugurated . . GENERAL LESSONS. 1. God secures to a.II ·his truly faithful ones the realization of their highest and holiest ambitions, as surely as he secured to David the realization of his desire for a seed, and the completion of his life's work in the establishment of his throne; for he makes life here to issue in the glory of the kingdom of Christ. 2. It behoves us to ·remember that there Is an eternal element interwoven with common life, and to subordinate everything temporal to its action. 3. The fact that chosen instru- ments a.re used in working out eternal purposes does not exempt them from the frailties of their nature and the corrections necessary to their preservation for the service of God (ver. 14). 4. The chastisement dui:, to the literal son of David for sins of his own fore- shadows dimly the spiritual fact that the great Son of Da.vid took upon himself the iniquities of us all, and experienced the" chastisement of our peace." 5. The strong and repeated assurances of the universality and permanence of Christ's reim should inspire us with ea.Im confidence and untiring zeal. 5. Huma.n fidelity in God's service is a. condition of the progressive bringing into clearer view and nearer realization the glorious end for which a.11 things consist. The educational influence of God's great love. In vers. 18-29 we have described, in broke.n sentences, the effect on the spirit of Da.vid of the marvellous loving-kindness of God in having guaranteed unto him. such a glorions completion of life's work, and the unspeakable honour of being associated in name and work with the Redeemer of the world. The real nature of a man is tested in sea.sons of great prosperity as well as in adversity. David bears the strain. Never in the past history of the world had God spoken so distinctly a.nd emphatically to any of his people of the persona.\ honour he would confer. In the effect of this on David we may see an illustration of the general educational influence of God's love on his people. I. IT INDU0ES INEXPRESSIBLE WONDER. When David had heard the strange words he a.t once went and "sat" before the Lord! The first impulse was to get near to the visible symbol of the Divine presence, and simply sit still in amazement. That silence held bis tongue for a. while seems indicated in the embarrassment (ver. 20). What could a devout ma.n do but muse and wonder at the largeness of the grace? There was a marvel in what God had done in the past (ver. 18), in what was to be in the future, a.nd in the ordination or law, n~\r:,, in respect of the man, or otherwise in the superhuman bearing towards one so unworthy (er. Isa. lv. 8). This is the general effect of a recog- nition of God's love to us, whether seen in the unspeakable gift of Christ, i!l the great- ness of his long-snfiel'ing, in the tenderness of his pity, in the provision for our temporal and eternal good, in the use he makes of us in his service, or in the blessed inheritance promised in the fnture. There is 11, devotion of feeling which consists in a permanent silent wonder that God should ha.ve dealt so with us. 'l'bis tones our spirit into quiet gentleness, and we can in some measure understand why seraphim and cherubim. should be absorbed in wonder nt his witys. II. IT rnouoEs DEEP nuM11,1TY. It W!Ui not becauso or any good in himself that all  196 THE SEOOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [on. vu. 1-20,