I. Tm; 'ITTCJKEDKE88 WHTOH DISPLEASED Goo. Many things done by good men of old times which appear t-0 ue very culpRble, were in them Innocent or excu 811 bJc on account of the different l!tandard by which their conduct WM regulated and 'tho differl'nt. public opinion of their days. But the sins of Davi<! recorded in this chapter were not of such a description. 'l'he Jaw of nature everywhere and in all times, as well M the laws of the revPlation known to David, are clear and emphatic in condemning them. 1. The sins th.e,mselves. (1) .Adultery; and, growing out of this, (2) deceit. Pr<>tences to Uriah of concern about the war, and about Uriah's comfort while in Jerusalem (,•ors. 7-10); and to Joab's messenger, of regarding the deaths of Uriah and ot.ber brave soldiers whose lives bad been sacrificed through his directions as being ordinary casualties of war (ver. 25). (3) Murder of UriRh and the soldiers ~ho fell with him. (4) Leading others into crime: Uriah into drunkenness, Joab into mnrder. 2. Their aggravati.ons. (1) His age, position, knowledge, experiences, and reputation. He was between fifty and sixty years old. As king, he was the highest guardian of justice and protector of innocence. He knew well tbe wickedness of hia conduct. He had been marvellously guided, advanced,and blessed by God, with whom he had been accustomed to maintain the closest converse. He wo.s well known as a devout man, professing himself a devoted servant of God. He had thus a reputation to sustain. (2) The difficulties in his way. The necessity of sending messengers (ver. 4) to Batbsheba.. Think of his stooping to that I Difficulties, necessitating some consideration and calling for determined resolution to conquer them, increase the guilt of sin. (3) His abundant harem, as contrasted with Uriah's one wife; hinted at in eh. xii. 2, 8. (4) Uriah's position and conduct. His relation to David, as one of his chief military officers, and distinguished for his valour (eh. xxiii. 39; 1 Cbron. xi. 41). He was at the time with the army in the field, and might justly look to the king to be the protector (if necessary) of his wife from evil. l;le cherished noble sentiments (ver. 11) of duty and honour as a soldier. (Did he, however, know or suspect bow matters stood ; and frame his language to the king as a subterfoge ?) (5) The deliberateness of the later crimes. (6) The time consumed, giving ample opportunity for reflection. When these things are considered, the wickedness of David assume~ proportions which are appalling. 3. How they were possible. • (1) There must have been secret and very serious declension in piety, Had be been in the state of mind and heart which is revealed in eh. vii., it is impossible that he could have so sinned. The height of prosperity and power which he had reached had corrupted him. (2) There is much in what Dean Stanley says of "that abyss which yawns by the side of lofty genius and strong passions," which "opened and closed over him." (3) His position as an Eastern monarch, accustomed to polygamy, accustomed also to. ~et in many things according to his own will, (4) Some think. th1J.t his being in the way, of tempta.tion arose from a self-indulgent neglect o( duty in remaini;ng at Jerusaliim instead of leading his army in the field. (5) He found in Bathsheba a r~dy consent to his will. (6) The later sins and crimes seemed necess~ry, after the first step,to save himself and his companion in guilt from utter disgrace and ruin. Such considera- tions may help to explain, but cannot be accepted as excusing, his wickedness. IL How TBE DISPLEASURE Ol' Goo wAB MANIFESTED. 1. The message by Nat'/i,an (-eh. xii. 1-12); who boldly reproved David in the name of the Lord, and announced the punishments which would fall upon him, 2. Tli,e death of child, . 3, Family tlie
scandals, sins, and sorrows, 4 . .ilbsalom's rebclli011, and all · the. humildations ancl troobles it involved. 5. Joah's increasecl ascendency. "There was a .guilty eecreb between the two" (Trench). 'l'he worst part of his punishment sprang from sins like his own, and was probably occasioned by them, at least in part. LESSONS. 1. IJo nothing, however pleasant, <»- gainful, or common among men, or
se.emin9ly safe, to the acoountof which may be appended tlieterrible words, "Tho thing . . . displeased the Lord." 2. Let non.6 yre,u,me on theirsecurity against even diByracefu.l sin. "Let him that tbinketh he standeth take heed Jest he fall" (1 Cor. x. 12); "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation" (Matt. xxvi. 41); 3. Guard aga,i,n,Jt tli,e begi1J/IWflgB evi"l. '' Keep thy heart wlth ·all diligence; for out of
of it are the illllu.ee of life" (Prov. iv. 23). David had already committed. adultery when he ga.r.ed l111tfully on Bathsheba (comp. Matt. v, 28), Pray, as David did aftflr- wo.rds, " Create in me a clean heart" (Ps. Ii. 10). 'l'he beginning of sin is, like that en. XII. 1-31.J THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 287
of Rtrifo, "ne when one leUetb out water" (Plov. xvii. 14). The trickling of water through R email crevice in Rn embankment may Reem inconsiderable; bat, unles11 stopped, it may issue in widespread devRstation and misery. One Bin lends to another am\ nnotber, nnd nil to pain and eorrow. Gehazi's covetousness led him to falsehood nnd robbery, and then to lifelong leprosy, transmitted to bis children's children (2 Kings v. 20-27). Pater's self-confidence fnrepared the way for cowardice, falsehood, and profanity, followed by bitter anguish. The pilferings of Judas from "the bacr" issued in the betrayal of hie Lord ; and then remorse and suicide. 4. How vain ~re all attempts eo conceal sin and pevent pUITl,iahment l God is looking on all the time the sinner is cunningly endeavouring to bide hie sin (see Job :uxiv. 21, 22), "Be sure your sin will find you outn (Numb. :u:xii. 23).-G. W.