The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 192

tbe!!e things were done to David, but because God was pleased out of hie own heart eo to deal with him (ver. 21), Nothing tends more to develop humility than a survey of the wonderful love of Go<!.. The contrast of our deserts with hie grace bows the spirit ,:iown, not to abjectness and loss of heart, but to the tender feeling of self-depreciation Rnd self-abnegation which ever becomes a sinful creature in the presence of the Eternal. Great j!l'Bce bestowed is an educator in what most befits one who was lost but is now found (Ps. cxv. 1; Rom. iii. 27; l Cor. xv. 10; 1 John iii. 1). III. lT FEEDS THE SPIRIT OF ADORATION. The word "wherefore" (ver. 22) seems to complete the silent reasoning which must have gone on in the mind of David for many a year, The general care of man (Ps. viii.), the heavens (Ps. xix,), and the terrible works of God among the nations (Ps. xlviii. 4-7, 10, 11), had ever fur- nished occasion for adoration; but all this is surpas~ed by the great love wherewith he has now loved his servant, and in this lies the moral greatness which most of all wins the adoring love of the soul. It is a well-known psychologioal truth that the feelings are not under the direct control of the will, and especially not obedient to a bare comma.nd. Nor are they developed in noblest form by mere externals. It is when the actual love of God, es seen in deeds done for us and blessings freely showered on us, is mauifest to the eye of the soul, that true worship arises. The greatness of love draws forth t-be homage of the redeemed (Rev. i. Ii, 6; v. 9, 10). IV. IT STRENGTHENS INTEREST IN OTHERS. Some who do not know what personal piety is imagine that it consists in selfish delight in one's own favoured condition- a continuous self-congratulation that we a.re snatched as brands from the burning, David's deep interest in others, as seen in vers. 23, 24, establishes the reverse. The love we share in is a love embracing others, and it a.wakens and nourishes a joy in them and their happy lot. It is an unspeakable delight to a true Christian that a. multitude that no man can number are the people of God, "redeemed" by the wondrous grace which amazes while it blesses himself. V. lT LEADS TO EVER-INCREASING CONSECRATION. Such is the meaning of David in vers. 24-27. Be surrenders his heart and life afresh to the one great purpose which has been graciously revealed. It is not mere acquiescence that so it should be, but. intense desire, self-identification afresh with the work and ways of God. He wants to be used in the accomplishment of the great design. This was the secret of the Apostle Paul's ever-deepening conRecration. The love of God to him and others was a constant subject of thou~ht, and hence he was daily "constrained" to live for him who had died to make him what he was (2 Cor. v. 14-16). The love of God contemplated and felt renders every yoke welcome and easy. VI. IT DB.A WS OUT A SP!Il.IT OF TRUSTFUL DEPENDENOE. To be the instrument of this working in the line of the great purpose required distinguished qualities, and a revelation of it (,·er. 27) very naturally ma.de David sensible of the insufficiency of himself and successors, and called forth the prayer for a blessing on bis house (vers. 28, 29). The blessing of God is necessary to man's successful working-out of the Divine will ; and the heart that appreciates the honour of being so employed will earnestly plead the promises in seeking the grace required. ADDITIONAL NOTES .AND OBSERVATIONS. 1. It is one of the sweetest joys of life granted by God when, in bis providence, be gives intimation to parents that their immediate posterity a.re likely to take up the religious work they Jove, and carry it on towards the completion of God's will on earth (ver. 12). 2. What parents need is that God would "set up," in positions of righteousness and true honour, their offspring, and "establish " whatever work or interest they may have in hand (ver. 12). 3. To "build a house" for God is an unspeakable privilege ( ver. 13). It may be done variously: (1) by rearing up a personal character of our own on the One Foundation (1 Pet. ii. 6), so that it may be a fit habitation of God through the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. iii. 16; vi, 19) ; (2) by teaching the cardinal truths of the gospel among men, so that on the One Foundation (1 Cur. iii. 9-11) there may be reared a Christian Church, as is still often done by missionari~s in heathen lands; (3) by devoting money to the erection of a sanctuary where needed (Luke vii. 5). A more noble use of wealth can scarcely be conceived. 4. God's purposes are ucfoldcd and wrought out in human history with full prevision of the imperfections and sins of his people, and with providential provision for their correction (ver. 14). Not one of the distinguished men who prepared tJtt. vu. 1-20.] 'l'RE slcoNb Mok OF SAMUEL.