The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 291

dare not. 'l'he conYcience knows the awful voice of God, and, when that voice speaks straight to it, all thought of men and opinions vanishes, and the soul in its solemn individuality feels itself in the actual presence of the Eternal. In true conviction the man "comes to himself." The deed of evil is brought home. In a light not of earth, self iH seen to be undone, because the sin, hitherto professedly not a reality, is now forcad on self as its own offspring. II. 'l'um AGGRAVATION OF SIN Is SET FORTH. .As soon as the charge is brought home, and before the paralyzed man can speak, tile prophet, in the name of God, with swift words reminds him of his privileges and the manifold blessings and honours God had showered on him or was ready to grant if needed. He was a. chosen servant of the Eternal, called to perform e. pa.rt in the working out of a great future for the world; he had filled e. position of honour and influence; he had been charged with high and holy dutieB; he had been blessed with plenty, and more than ordinary provision for the necessary cravings of nature (vers. 7, 8). Yet, "Thou art the man I" None can doubt that here was sin of the most aggravated character. No sin is excusable or free from Divine condemnation; otherwise it were not sin, but weakness or fault. But some sins are worthy of being punished with "many stripes" because of beinz committed under special circumstances, e.g. the possession of religious light and feeling; the occu- pation of a position of power, and th11 being recipient of manifold tokens of Divine care and love. But be the privileges many or few, when God brings home the guilt to the conscience, the sin is revealed in the light of past mercies. 'fhe swift review of David's advantages by Nathan finds its analogue in the swift floating before the mind of the circumstances of one's position which render the sin so utterly inexcusable. Men see in a few moments the reasons for their utter shame and self-abasement. This is a feature in all true conviction, and tends to the proper prostration of the soul before God. Saul of Tarsus knew this. It is an unspeakable mercy that God does set our sins in the light of his great goodness; III. THE HEART IS PROBED TO REVEAL THE CAUSE OF SIN. "Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord?" (ver. 9). No sooner did the light flash on the conscience to set forth the aggravated character of the sin, than with unrelenting incisiveness the "wherefore" followed to probe those depths of the heart from whence the evil sprang. 'l'he que!ltion really contains an inquiry and a statement. Why? "Thou didst despise." The eye of the sinner is tuI'!l.ed in upon himself, to search out and behold those vile feelings and false principles out of which issued the preference of self-will over the holy will of God, which had been so clearly expressed in the Law of the Lord and in the special intimations of Providence. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" The time of conviction is a time of probing and searching. It is well for men under conviction to face the real facts, and get at the causes that lie out of sight. There must be some dteadfully subtle evils lurking within to induce a man to " despise" the august majesty of God's will by setting it aside. Was it not in reference to this probing, and probably in reference to this very deed, that the psalmist said, " Search me, 0 God" (Ps. c:x:llix. 23; cf. li. 5, 6, 10) ? IV. 'l'HE PUNISHMENT OF BIN IS BROUGHT TO MIND. The prophet ceases not; without giving the convicted man time to speak, he passes on to tell of the retribution that is sure to come by the will of God. The man of whom Nathan once spoke such good things ( eh. vii. 12-17) is now informed of coming trouble in life; that this trouble will be the same in kind with that of his sin-murder and adultery; that it will not be secret, as was his, in performance, but open, to his disgrace; that it will arise out of his own house, consequent in a measure on the mischief wrought by his own sin on his domestic life. Had David not fallen, he would have been a differellt man, and conse- quently his private influence at home among his children would have been more holy and powerful; his relation to his kin"'dom would have been more satisfactory, and therefore moral and political circumst~nces would probably arise of so important a character as to have prevented the creation of the conditions out of which the troubles now recorded in his later history arose. He was to reap according to his sowing. In the conviction of sin, the recognition of personal guilt is the chief element, as we have seen (division I.); but just as here the messenger revealed the aggravation of the guilt, probed the heart for causes, and referred to coming retribution, so in the simple processes of mind attending true conviction there is an anticipation of punishment-an assurance 1!96 THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. (cu. xn. 1-31,