The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 251

more rndical thnn even the bonds which helcl him to his own nation. It is in these J!Oings out of the best heo.rts of ancient times in ki_ndliness ~owards the politic,illy alien that we see B profigurcment of the broad evangelical charity which would embrace in its consideration every child of Adam. It is the delight of the good to reco[mize good in all mon, 'l'ho restrictive influences of sect and party, of nationality and race ara to ho gunrclccl against. 'l'he conventional is transitory; natllre is permanent. 'The sentiments proper to nature must, if possible, rise above the accidental sentiments springing from the casual and fleeting forms of life. Ilf. I•r IS SOMETIMES TlIE :MISFOIITUNE OF THE BEST CONDUCT TO BP: MISJUDGED. David's con<lnct was pure in m?tive, co:1"~ct in form, a~cl beneficial in ten,\ency; yet it was regarclecl by astute men with susp1c10n, and repaid by the most malicious insult. 'l'his was no new thing in his experience. We have seen how a.i:;a.in and again durincr hit1 early trials, he was misunderstood by Sa.al, and his very deeds of kindness ;eturnerl by more bitter persecution. This is the portion of not a few in all ages. The ,vorld is dri.rk, and men cannot or will not see the colours of ii:ood. It is one of the sarr forms of confusion brought about by sin. The merciful Redeemer blessed men, but he was despised and rejected of them. 'l'he most lovely character that ever adorned the earth wa8 cloLhed by the foul imagination of men with the horrible attributes of Satan (Luke xi. 15-18). 'l'he same treatment in a milder form was to be expected by his disciples (Matt. v. 11; x. 17, 18). We may be comforted, when the like experience happens to us, that itjs a.II foreseen and provided for. The clouds that pass over the sky arc not endued with permanence. 'l'hey are incident to a cha.ogeful atmosphere. IV. 'l'HE SOURCE OF THE MISJUDG:MENT IS mTELLECTUAL AND MORAL. The men who persria.ded Hanun to scorn David's friendliness did not know David. It was ignorance of the actual intentions and the inner character of the king that gave scope for the base moral element.to co.me in and impute to him vile motives (ver. 3). They really 11upposed him to be. a man like unto themselves, and, cherishing ill will, they found no difficulty in tracing his conduct to such considerations as would have influenced themselves had they been in his position. There is in all men affected by what is i;alled the spirit of the world, a primary suspicion and distrust of others. It is a sort of first principle in business, in diplomacy, in casual intercourse. In the absence of perfect knowledge of the heart, the imagination is set to work to find out the possible motives at work. The existence of the slightest dislike will assuredly cause the imagination to see something evil, and hence the deeds most worthy in origin and design may be treated as base and deceitful. Ignorance and dislike combined to slay the Lord of glory (John viii. 37-45; 1 Cor. ii. 8). If such things happened to the Master, the servants may be patient a,nd trustful should they also happen to them. V. WICKEDNESS AND FOLLY, BY THEIR :MISJUDGMENT, TURN AN ACT OF FBIE..'IDLI- NESB INTO AN OCCASION OF DESTRUCTION. The conceit and ill will of these A=onites, acting on Ha.nun, first misjudged David's conduct, and then, by a natural process of evil, gave rise to a deed which proved the occasion of turning the friendliness of David into retributive anger which issued in their ruin. The men capable of reasoning and feeling as these did were certainly capable of the deed of shameful insult to David in the persons of his ambassadors (ver. 4). When men allow an ill-informed mind to be swayed by B malicious spirit, there is no telling to what lengths they may go in sin. Evil deeds a.re blind deeds. Their folly is pa.ra!Iel with their depravity. The 111ost conspicuous instance of this is jn the case of the people who misjudged Christ and rejected his friendliness. That which was to have been a rock on which they could build a. great and blessed future became a, stone to grind them to powder (Matt. xxi. 40---44; xxiii. 37; 1 Pet. ii. 7, 8). It is also the wanton rejection of Christ's kindness which will prove the occasion of the bitterest woe to individuals (Matt. x. 14, 15 ; xi. 20-24; cf. Prov. i. 24-27), All rejections of friendliness involve ultimate loss; rejection of Christ's friendliness involves loss proportionate to his greatness and glory. Vere. 6-19.-International quarrels. The facts a.re: 1. The Ammonites, discovering the displeasure of David, hire mercenaries of the neighbouring peoples. 2. A13 a counter- movement, David sends out a strona force under Joa.b. 3. The opposing forces coming into contact, Joab arranges that h; should confront the Syrians, while Abishai deals with the Ammollites, 4. Joab, exhorting Abishai to courage, in dependence on God, 256 THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [cm, x. 1-19.