The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 301

III. Hn; CONDUOT. "And he spared to take of his own flock," etc. It wn,.q: 1, Unjust. 2. Tyrannioal. 3. Cruel; "a wanton aggravation of the evils of poverty, humbling t.he poor man with a sense of injustice and inability to protect himself, deriving a momentary gratilie&Uon from seeing his neighbour laid low at hle feet BB If no lAmb WM so savoury as that which had been torn from the poor man's bo;om amidst the tears of his children." 4. Lawless add reckless; "a despising of the commandment of the Lord" (ver 9). The poor man's complaint is unhearu. But is there not in Israel a just God, who notices and punishes such acts as these? "It was a cruel and wicked deed. It was! Who says eo ~ Speak not hastily, lest in so speaking you <'.ondemn yourself. This is a parable; and I would have you consider whether under another mime it is not spoken concerning you. Reserve your rebuke, lest it come back upon yourself" (R. Halley).-D. Vers. 5, 6.-{JERUSALEM.) The blinding influence of sin. "David's anger was greatly kindled against the man;" he declared with a solemn oath (eh. iv. 9-11) that he deserved to die (literally, "was a son of death," 1 Sam. xxvi. 16; 1 Kings ii. 26), and ordered restitution according t-0 the Law (Exod. nii. 1). His severity displayed the fiery temper of the man, and the arbitrary power of the monarch, rather than the calm deliberation of the judge; and (like the treatment of the Ammonites, ver. 31) indicated a mind ill at ease (eh. xi. 22-2i; Ps. xx:r.ii. 3, 4); for he was not totally blind to his sin, nor "past feeling" (Eph. iv. 19); though he had no thought of the application of the case to himself. We have here an illustration of- L AN .ASTONISHING FACT; viz. the self-ignorance, self-deception, internal hypocrisy, of men. Nothing is more important than self-knowledge, It is often enjoined. "From heaven came the precept, 'Know thyself.'" .And it might naturally appear to be easily attained, seeing that it lies so near home. Yet how certain, how common, and ·how surprising its 11.bsence ! " There is not anything relating to men's characters more surprising and unaccountable than this partiality to themselves which is observable in many ; as there is nothing of more melancholy reflection respecting morality and religion" (Butler, • Upon Self-Deceit'). They are blind (at least partially) and deceived as to their sin ; notwithstanding: 1. Their perception of the .evil of sin in general or in the abstract. Ingratitude, selfishness, oppression, pitilessness; who is not ready to denounce these vices? 2. Their sinfulness in the sight of other people. .Although David had sought to conceal his sin from others, perhaps still flattered him- self that it was known only to a few, and justified or palliated its guilt to himself, many others besides Nathan saw and abhorred it (Ps. xx.xvi. 2). " 0 wad some power the gifiie gie us To see oursels as others see us I It wad frae mouie a blunder free us, And foolish notion." a. Their condemnation or sin in others, of the very same kind as that which they tolerate in themselves. The resemblance between the rich oppressor and David was so close that it is astonishing it w&B not detected. 4. Their abhorrence at another time and under other circumstances of its guilt when thought of in relation to themselves (1 Sam. xxiv. 5). "What! is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing?'.' (2 Kings viii. 13). " Yet the dog did it" (Matthew Henry). "Next. to these instances of self-deceit of our true disposition and character, which appear in not seeing that in ourselves which shocks us in another man, there is another species still more dangerous and delusive, and which the more guarded perpetually fall into, from the judgments they make of different vices according to their age and complexion, and the various ebbs and flowR of their passions and desires" (L. Sterne, 'Self-Knowledge'). 6. Their culpability beyond that of those whom they condemn. It was not a little lamb of. which he had robbed the poor man, but his dearly loved wife, his one earthly treasure. It was not a lamb that he had killed, but a man, hie neighbour and faithful defender. His superior position and possessions aggravated hie guilt. Was he not himself "a son of death" ? " What a sad proof of the blinding influence of self-love, that men are ready to form so different an estimate of their conduct when it is not seen to be their own I How iguorant are we of our11elvee, and how true it is that eve~ wh~~ o~r own hcartf, cn, xn. 1-31,] THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 305