The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 289

Yet God is not indifferent. He slnmbereth not. Government does not relax its hold on each man. 'l'he explanation is that God is in no haste in what he does ; be reserves hle action for a while for reasons more complicate and far-reaching than we can trace. The very reserve only renders the judgment, when it comes, more impressive. Human nature is evidently favoured as a free power, which must have certain scope both for origination of evil, maturing of evil, and filling up its own meaeure of chastisement. There is a patience, a goodness, in the reserve which need to be studied (Rom. ii. 4-9 ; 1 Pet. iii. 20; 2 Pet. iii. 9. 15). This reserve attends many a modern sinner's cause. V. 'l'nE DIVJNE BEGINNING OIi' SALVATION. Had David been left to himself the probability is that the coils of iniquity would have been formed a.round him more and more as time advanced; for the law of habit here holds good. It is inRtructive to observe that the first step towards a change in his condition was on the Dioine side. God sent his prophet Nathan, charged with a. merciful purpose, though, mercy wa.s to be tempered with judgment. Certainly David might well say in days subsequent, "My salvation cometh from him" (Ps. !xii. 1, 7). Here we have an illustration of the great truth that God is the Author of our salvation. He seeks us. He comes to us in our low estate. This is true of mankind as a whole (John iii. 16, 17; 1 John iv. 9, 10), of each one brought from the ways of sin (1 John iv. 19), and of the backslider (Ps. xxiii. 3). It is all of grace. Our Saviour's earthly life of pleading and seeking was a. visible and audible illustration of the outgoing o! the heart of the Father towards the fallen. VI. THE DEFENSIVE ATTITUDE 011' IlllPENITENCE. The elaborate simplicity of Nathan's parable, in order to reach the conscience and heart of David, suggest to us the fact of a certain defensive attitude of David's mind, which had to be broken down. It is a special weapon in a " holy war," designed to attack a peculiar line of defence. It is well known how men, when they have done a wrong, are on the qui vive lest the wrong should be detected and brought home to them; and the resources of reason, ingenuity, and cunning are employed to ward off any approach to the inner life. Any attempt to touch the springs of penitence or remorse, or to arom,e the fears which attend conviction, is neutralized by some counter-move of thought.or resolve. Hearers of the gospel know, if they would only testify honestly, how they too often fortify themselves against state- ments, arguments, and appeals. The failure of some ministers and teachers lies in their not knowing enough of human nature to direct their statements so as to meet the actual mental attitude of those who live in sin. A study of this subject is of extreme importance to all who seek to convince and to save men. 'l'here are various avenues to the conscience and h~art. Some are so utterly closed and guarded that it is a waste of power to seek to penetrate through them. A fortress sh~uld be attacked in its weakest point, and only a very special survey can find out where it is. Nathan had recon- noitred the position, and assailed David along the best line. VII. THE UBE OF THE GOOD ELEMENT IN MAN. Nathan approacbe,l David in friendliness, recognizing him as a man generally mindful of his people, pitiful towards the poor and weak, and a lover of justice. He knew that there were still ele;:nents of good in the fallen saint. The great transgression had not obliterated all trace of the noble qualities of former days. Where these did not come in the way of the one selfish lust which had for the time gained dominion, they were not only cherished, but were at hand for expression when occasion required. In proportion as these could be strengthened and utilized, there would be hope of bringing them to bear, by a reflected light, on the one deed in which they had been suppressed. By a flank movement, aod using a piece of history as the instrument, he hoped to turn the whole force of David's better qualities on the cherished secret sin. It was an instance of a. wise setting of one part of a man's nature against another part, so that, by a sort of 1:11oral dynami_c, t~e worse should be forced out. In dealin<> with men we ought to avail ourselves ot thet.r ggod qualities and bring them to bear ~n the removal of the bad. When Christ dealt with publicans and sinners he did not make a direct attack on their sins. There was a. something in them which he made the ground of appeal. In the vilest sinner there is some human love, or kindliness, or sense of right. Who is wise to win souls? What are the methods, according to varyin<> temperaments, education, habits, and indulgences? VIII. Gon's JUDGMEN'l' FOREBTA;LED BY CONSCIENCE. History is a mental reflector. In Nathan's story, which was not a parable to David when he heard it, David saw a sin 29' THE SEOOND BOOK OF SA'MUEL. [mr. xn. 1-81.