The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 212

revelation with which he is favoured. It is well when living conviction as to God le wrought through experience of his kindness rather than his severity. 1. 'l'm: BUBPASSING GREATNESS OF GoD. 1. God is great. (1) In his nature, Infinite in all his perfections. Great, not only in power and knowledge, but in right- eousness and love. "Bis greatness is unsearchable" (Ps. cxlv. 3). (2) In his opera- tions. In these his greatness is exercised and displayed. In his works of creation, preservation, redemption, and government, we see how great he is. David saw it in his dealings towards himself and his posterity. In the nature of his plans and purposes; in his ability to rule a free world through successive ages, so as to effect their accom- plishment; and in the power to predict and promise the result with certainty, God appears unspeakably great. Thus prophecy as well as creative energy manifests the greatness of God, both in the Divine plan itself-a grand scheme of justice and love stretching from the beginning to the end of time, and on throughout eternity--and in the revelation of it to man. 2. God is great beyond all others. "There is none like unto thee, neither is there any God beside thee." He has no equal, none that approaches him in majesty. (1) No creature. All are at an infinite distance beneath him. He has made some creatures to resemble him in a measure in their intelligence, goodness, and position over other creatures ; but their resemblance is like that of the image of the sun in a dewdrop to the sun itself. Whatever his' creatures may be, they and their capacities are derived and dependent; he is underived, and independent (" from everlasting"); their powers are very limited, bis unbounded; ,none of them can create or give life; he is the "Fountain of life" (Ps. xxxvi. 9); they a.re mutable, he i=u- table; they mortal, he "only ha.th immortality" (1 Tim. vi. 16). (2) No god. David would think of the divinities worshipped by the peoples around; we may think of all the objects of worship in idolatrous nations, ancient and modern. Regarding them as they exist in the minds of men, producing certain effects upon them, how utterly unlike our God! We feel it almost profane to compare them with him. But in reality they are nonentities, "vanities," as they are so frequently ea.lied in Holy Scripture. There is no God beside our God. II. BIB IDE~"TITY WITH THE GoD JU.DE KNOWN TO us FBOH FORMER TI:MEB. "Accord- ing to all that we have beard with our ears" (comp. Ps. lxxviii. 3, 4). David recog- nizes that the God who was so wondrously 1md graciously revealing himself to him was the same God whom he had been taught to revere and trust on account of the great things he bad done for Israel in former days. The form of manifestation was different; the things done were different; but there were the same Divine perfections apparent, the ea.me care for the people whom he had chosen. It was a joy to the king to discern that Jehovah, the God of the fathers, was communicating with him; and that what he was doing and promising corresponded with what he had beard of him. The revelation which God has given of himself in Christ differs in many respects from the old revelations; the operations of God under the new covenant differ trom those under the old. But as we come into living communion 'with God in Christ, and become ourselves the subjects of his grace; as also we learn the g-reat things which God bas done and is doing under the gospel, and the promises he makes to those who receif'e it; -we too shall rejoice to discern that our God is the same as was worshipped b1 the faithful of old, and all through the ages--Jehovah, the living God, still righteous and merciful and almighty; still doing wonders of power and grace ; and doing them on a vastly wider sea.le, no longer chiefly in Israel, but amongst all nations. One, God unites all generations, is to unite all peoples. The God of our fathers is our God, and our experience of him corresponds with theirs. 'l'hus the records of his revelations and proceedings in all the past become available for instruction, and the encouragement of faith and hope, in the present and the future. From the whole subject let us learn: 1. To rejoice in and praise God. It is matter for just thankfulness that we have a God so great and glorious to worship and confide in, One who lives and works evermore, and is throughout all ages the same God. 2. To ezp:cl great things from One so great,for owrsdves and the whole Ohwrch. He" is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power which worketh in us n (Epb. iii. 20); and which has ever wrought among and on behalf of bis people "according to all that we have heard with our ears." 3. To realize conscioU6 001Mniumion with the ,a-ints of all <J1lel, And so with all saints in earth and OU, VII, 1-29,] 'l'llE SE:COND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 217