The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 241

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS, Ver. 1.--{JuusALEM,) For Jooatltan', eake. David had sworn to his friend Jonathan that he would "not cut off his kindneS8 from his house for ever" (1 Sam. xx. 15). He had been probably unaware of his leaving 11, son behind him (for Mephibosheth wes born while he was in exile, five years before the battle of Gilboa) , or, if acquainted with the fact, BUpposed that he perished in the destruction of the hous~ of Saul. But surmising, perhaps, from something he heard, that a son of his friend survived, he made the inquiry," Is there yet any that is left," etc. P It was a practice only too common in the East, on a change of dynasty, for the reigning monarch to put to death the surviving members of the family of his predecessor, in order to make his own position more secure. And the conduct of David, in contrast therewith, evinced his gratitude, fidelity, piety, and noble generosity. "Neither the splendour of victories, uor the pleasures of prosperity, nor the lustre of his crown, could make him unmindful of his covenant and oath to his former friend. A suspicious, faithless tyrant would at least have kept the family that imagined they had a right to his kingdom low enough to have prevented the possibility of their ever disputing it with him; or at least have shut np the heir of it in close imprisonment, or got rid of his fears upon his account by totally destroying him; thinking he might reasonably dispense with his oath tb his deceased friend through the necessity of self-preservation, and securing to his own family the peaceable succession to his crown" (Chandler). 'l'he words" for Jonathan's sake"- !. EXPRESS A PRINCIPLE OF Hm.U..N CONDUCT. It is not unusual for one person to Rhow kindness to another for the sake of some one else, for whom, whether living or dead, he entertains a high regard, on account of his excellent character or eminent services; with whom the object of hie kindness is closely connected, and without whom he would not have shown it. How often has a king exercised his prerogative of mercy toward an offender, or bestowed riches and honour on a subject, for the sake of the faithful service of hie father I "The fruit of well-doing lives longer than him- self who is the doer, and thereby he leaves a blessing and good treasure behind him to his posterity" (Guild). "There are thousands of young men and women who are daily receiving kindness for their fathers' and mothers' sakes. And this is, in fact, one of the incidental blessings connected with having parents whb, though now dead, were, when living, persons of worthy and estimable life. Their children inherit the ndvan- tages which the love of others for their memory can bestow, and many an applicant for some office of trust and emolument would be turned away from the door were it not that his face bears the lineaments of a departed and cherished friend, or his tones call back to memory the voice which will speak no more" (E. Mellor). IL lLLUSTBATE A METHOD OF DIVINE DEALINGS, God deals with men, not merely in their separate individuality, but also in their relationship to one another; spares and blesses them, not only directly and immediately, but also indirectly and mediately, through and on account of each other; and shows kindness to many for the sake of one. This: 1. OCC'UA'B in vario'ILB ways. By means of the hereditary influence of a good man on hia descendants, and the moral influence on others of his example, utterances, -la.boure, and BUfferings; and (with more special reference to the case under considera- tion) by granting his intercessory requests, ful1illing the promises made to him on their behalf, and doing them good out of regard to him, or because of something he has done which was necessary to that end. 2. Appear, in numerou, instances. With respect to individuals, "'l'he Lord bath blessed me for thy sake" (Gen. xxx. 27 ; xix. 29 ; 1 Kings xi 12) ; families (Gen. xu.ix. 5 ; Ps. lxix. 26; Prov. xiii. 22); Churches, cities, and nations (Gen. xviii. 26; Exod. xxxii. 14; 1 Kings viii. 19) ; " beloved for the fathers' sakes " (Rom. xi. 28); " As the new wine is found in the cluster," etc. (Isa. !xv. 8 ; i. 9). So God testifies his love of righteousness, teaches the worth of a good man in relation to the unworthy, and causes his sovereign mercy to abound toward them, 3. Bas it, M,ghut appUcation in Clvrist, "the one Mediator between God and man," (1) who is very dear to God (Matt. iii. 17; Eph. i. 6); (2) who is closely allied to men (Heb. ii. 16); (3) who has laboured, interceded, and suffered for us (1 Pet. iii. 18); 1U1d (4) to whom many promiaes have been made on behalf of those who are in him Ott. tx, 1-ia.j THE S:IWON:b BOOK or SAMtJEL. 247