The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 218

himself. The words, "Thou a.rt God," give the reason of bis confidence in the Divine words. "Because thou art God, we know that • thy words a.re truth,' and only truth." I. THE GROUNDS OF OUR ASSURANCE OF THE TRUTH OF Goo's WoRne. "'l'hou art God." 1. Bui nature and character. (1) His universe.I knowledge, He Cl\nnot, like men, be mistaken, and honestly e.ssert the.t for tn1tb which is untrue. (2) His essential truthfulness. Beca.use he is God we a.re intuitively sure of this. As he cannot be mis- taken, so he "cannot lie." (3) His goodness. Which of itself would prevent bltn from misleading e.nd deceiving his dependent creatures. (4) His unbounded power. Men who are not untrue to their promises may be unable to fulfil them, Not so God. (5) His unche.ngeableness. As well in faithfulness as in goodness and power. He can never become either unable or unwilling to fulfil his Word. 2, His doings. The e.ctue.l fulfilment of his words. (1) In the history of the world; especi:i.lly the promises respecting the Christ, the blessings he would bestow, and the changes he would effect. The faithfulness of God to his Word, as shown in the previous history of Israel, would e.ssure David of the fulfilment of the promises to himself. (2) Within the range of our own observation and experience. The words of God as to the results of faith and unbe- lief, of holiness and sin, of prayerfulness and prayerlessness, are continually being accomplished. Our personal experience testifies to their truth, and we can witness their fulfilment in others. IL THE WORDS RESPECTING WHICH WE HA VE THIS ASSURANCR, All declarations that can be traced to God, whether ascertained by unaided reason (e.s we say, though tho lh·ing God through the eternal Word is ever working in the human reason) or by the inspired Book. God speaks in nature e.s well as in the Bible. Scientific truth, and moral truth known by the conscience, are from him a.q well as religious, But as Christians we have to do with the words of God in Holy Scripture, and especially with the "truth which is in Jesus." As he declared in hnguage almost identical with David's, '"l'hy Word is truth " (John xvii. 17), so he said of himself, " I am the Truth" (John xiv. 6). .And it is of unspeakable importance to be assured that be is and gives the revelation of God ; that all that he is and says is the truth. And as he declares of the Old 'l'esta- ment that" the Scripture cannot be broken" (John L 35), we have his warrant for full confideuce also in the more ancient revelation. God's words as thus ascertained relate to : 1. Eriitenas. God himself, his So.:i, his Spirit. Inhabitants of the invisible world- angels, Satan, demons. Mankind-the nature of man, purposes of his creation, the rela~ tions he sustains, his fallen condition, etc. For our knowledge of the invisible beings and things we depend on the Word of God, mainly the Scriptures; and the knowledge thus acquired is, we may be sure, truth. 2. Moral laws. Known partly by reason, partly by Scripture. However ascertained, we know them to be truth. 3. Spiritual truths and laws. The redeem.in~ love and works of God and our Saviour; the way in which they become effectual for ourselves ; the duties thence arising. 4. The results of our conduct in respect to these truths and laws. The.t is, the promises and the threatening~ of God, as to both the present life and the eternal future. Observe, that it is the worda of God about these things which are the truth; not necessarily the assertions of men-individuals or Churches-respecting them. It i.e for human teachers, not to require of their brethren unquestioning faith in their statements, but to lead them up to where they may hear the utterances of God himself. And "this is to be done, not merely by proving their assertious by the letter of Scripture, but by cherishing themselves, and fostering in others, the spirit which enables commllnion with " the Father of spirits" (Heb. xii. 9). If God's words be truth: 1. We should scelc full knowledge of them. 2. We shoul,d exercise undoubting faith in them. (1) 'l'he faith which realizes the invisible and eternal; apprehends and feels them to be as God says, (2) The faith which is full confidence in the Divine promises and threatenings, e.ssur~ an.ce that our own future and that of others will be according to th,em. We have such a faith only when our belief sways aud rules our hearts and lives, 3. We should, imitate God as to our trutlifulness and the actual truth of our words. Being true and sincere in our character and utterances, and taking care that what we tq1ly say shall be truth.-G. W. Ver. 29.-A good man'• prayor for hia/amily. David'a prayer has es:._'JCcial reference to the promise giveu hilJI that bis family should coi:itiuu,. for ever to rqle Israel. We  err. vm. 1-18.] THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL.