The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 252

arrange11 also for mutual support., in ce..qe of need, in their respective attacks. 6. On the Syrians yielding to the assault of Joab, the Ammonites also tleo from before Ahishai whereupon Joab returns to Jerusalem. 6. Another effort of the Svrians under Hada~ rezer, aided by others from beyond the Euphrates, draws out David at the bead ot e. large army to the eastern side of Jordan. 7. A great battle, issuing in the complete defeat of the Syrians; the tributary kings under Hadarczer make peace with Israel and serve them. We have here a record of quarrels and entanglements, which to the eye of a sacred historian have a bearing on the development of the kingdom of Israel, and consequently on the ult.irnate advent of the" Prince of the kings of the earth." In that respect the events form a section of the intricate movements of Providence for the furtherance of spiritual interests, e.nd they ha,•e their natural place in the Divine moral order, allowing for human freedom, as truly as the formation of the igneous and sedi- mentary rocks have in the physical order. The narrative may thus be to.ken as typical of a class. But we may regard the record e.s suggesting, or illustrating, truths which, while prominent in international quarrels, have also a wider application to human lil'e in general. These chiefly are as follows. I. THE lUTh'TENANCE OF HONOUR IS A DUTY, It was right for David to resent the indigniLy and insult. :Meekness and gentleness are qualities consistent with assertion of what is due to self as a man, as a ruler, as a representative of a people and of a Divine institution. A king's honour is his strength, because of the trust of his people, the sentiment of loyalty, the force of his decrees, his silent restraint of the turbulent, and, in David's case, also because of the Divine institution of his government. How kingR and individuals may best maintain their honour is a question to be decided by the circumstances of the case; in some way the holiest and kindest may do it and ought to doit. !I. THE BEI'ROACH A'.KD DISPLEASURE OF THE JUST IS ITSELF THE BEGINNING 01!' PU~"ISHllENT. That the Ammonites "stank before David "-a. monarch so wise, just, and gene:-ous-was a brand on them of demerit, and the natural forerunner of chastise- ment to come. Whoever by his deeds falls righteously under the displeasure of ajust mnn, is ipso facto branded as base, is classed by his own conscience and all honourable observers as a criminal. This changing of the face of the just towards the wicked is the primary social punishment of sin ordained by God, and, as the gathering clouds precede the storm, it is the token of further providential chastisements. The course of nature in the long run follows in the course of moral right. IIL STh"'FUL FOLLY IS BURE TO BRING ON PERPLEXITIES AND PERILS, No doubt there was greet mirth in the court of Hanun when the Hebrew ambassadors were half shorn of their beards and apparel. But the mirth was as "the crackling of thorns unde:- a pot" (Eccles. vii. 6). It was soon found that this cheap mirth was, in fa.et, dearly bought; for the di~pleasure of so mighty e. king as David was soon discovered to mean for them great perplexity and peril So is it with all sin, which is a sort of moral madness. It me.y give passin~ gratitication, and all may seem secure, but it leads to perplexities and perils from which there is no escape as long as a Righteous One sits on his thJ'One. The irony of the preacher is painfully true (Eccles. xi. 9). IV. ONE EVIL DEED REQUIRES OTHER DEVICES TO SUSTAIN IT. The sinful folly of the Ammonites necessitated the device of hiring mercenary troops to ward off the blow that was impending as a consequence of their sin. It is quite true that in any progres- sive life action must be sll.6tained by action, but in the case of evil-doing the device is to stave off something whi..,,1 ought not to come, and which would not be feared but for the p:-evious wrong. Sin cannot remain sole. If there is not immediate repentance there will be e.n effort to get out of t.be self-caused difficulties by other questionable means. The liar has to take ceaseless precautions because of his lie. The man who rejects Christ is conscious of much uneasiness, anti has to exercise ingenuity to escape this consequence. Troops of mercenaries are hired. V. WELL-STORED RESOURCES ADMIT OF PROMPT ACTION IN EMEllGEN!)IEB. David had during the five years of his reign paid great attention to the administre.ti_on ?f the affairs of his kingdom, and, ns a consequence, he was now able at once to avail himself of the resources that had been treasured up. He sent "Joab, and e.11 the host of mighty men" (ver. 7). The fruits of prescience and co.re were now available without confus!op or delay. In kingdoms, as ill hoII!,es and in business, provtdeoce and ordrrly OH. X, 1-19.] THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 257