The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 304

nnd sow wickedness, reap the sBme" (Job iv. 8; Ge.I. vi. 7). 2. Sin serves to account for sull'ering; explains o.nd justifies its existence under the righteous and beneficent government of God. The subsequent sufferings of David would have been inexplicable if hie great tre.nsgre~sion had not been recorded. "The remainder of David's life was e.e disastrous ns the beginning had been prosperous" (Hale). Personal suffering, how- ever, ofLen e.ppeo.ra clfaproportionate to personal transgression (1 Sam. iv. 3) ; and its reason in such co.sea must be sought in hereditary or other relationships, and in the purposes to which it is subservient. The penalties of sin (such as David suffered) take place- ,!. BY DIVINE mFLICTION. "Behold, I will raise up evil a~ainst thee," etc. (ver. 11; eh. ix. 27). They are : 1. Necessitated by the ;'ustice of God. "Justice is that causality in God which connects suffering with actual sin" (Schleiermacher). He who ude~pises the commandment of the Lord" ought to be punished. 2. Declared by the Word of God, both in the Law and the prophets. The word of Nathan was a sentence, as well as a prediction of judgment. 3. Effectuated by the power of God, which operates, not only by extraordinary agencies, but also, and most commonly, in the ordinary course of things, and by way of natural consequence; directs and controls the actions of men to the accomplishment of special results; and often makes use of the sins of one man to punish those of another. Natural law is the regular method of Divine activity. In accordance therewith tbe violation. of moral law is followed by internal misery a.nd external calamity, which are closely associated (Isa. xlv. 7; Amos iii. 4). "Vengeance is mine," etc. II. WITH SIGNIFICANT. SEVERITY; which appears in: 1. The peculiarity of their form. Not only do they follow sin by way of natural consequence, but a.lso the ID.llD.Der of their inflictioJ:!. corresponds with that of its' commission; as that which is reaped resembles that which is sown (1 Sam. iv. 1-11). "The seeds of our own punish- meµt ,a.re sown e.t the sa.me time we commit sin" (Hesiod). Having sinned with the sword, his house would be ravaged with the sword; and having sinned by the indul- gence of impure passion, be would be troubled in like manner. "Am.non, Absalom, Adonije.h I Amnon thought, 'Has my father indulged in it ?-Absalom relied on the resentment of the people on account of the double crime. Adonijah fell because be wished to make the best of the precedence of his birth in opposition to him who ba.d been begotten with Bathsheba." (Thenius). "The gods a.re just, a.nd of our pleasant vices Make instruments to plague us." There is a. tendency in the sin of one to perpetuate itself in others over whom his influence extends, and so to recoil upon himself. 2. The publicity of their ex hi bit.ion. "For thou didst it secretly," etc. (ver. 12). Falsehood and injustice seek darkness; truth and justice seek light. The evil, which is concealed for the sake of public honour, is followed by public she.me. 3. The e:i;tent an<l perpetuity of their in.filction. " The sword sha.11 never depart from thine house. n " The fortunes of David turned upon this one sin, which, according to Scripture, itself eclipsed every other" (Blunt). "One sin led to another.; the bitter spring of sin grew in time to a river of destruction that flowed over the whole land, e.nd even endangered his throne and life" (Baumgarten). Who can tell the far-reaching effects of one transgression (Eccles. ix. 18) ? III. Fon MANIFOLD PURPOSES, 1. To manifest the justice of God and uphold the authority of his Law. 2. To exhibit the evil of sin, a.nd deter the sinner himself and others from its commission. 3. To bumble, prove, chastise, instruct, purify, and con- firm the sufferer. "If be commit iniquity, I will chasten him," etc. (eh. vii. 14; Deut. viii. 3, 5; Job v. 17; Ps. xciv. 12; Heb. xii. 6). This last effect is wrought only on those who turn to God in penitence and trust. The forgiveness of sin and restoration .to righteousness do not counteract, except in a limited degree, the natural consequences of past transgression; but they transform punishment into chastisement, e.nd e.llevinte the pressure of suffering e.nd sorrow by Divine fellowship, and the inward peace, strength, e.nd hope which it imparts. "In general the forgiveness of sin has only this result-punishment is cbanoed into fatherly chastisement, the rod into the correotion of love. Outwardly the con:equences of ~in remain the same; their internal character is changed. If it were otherwise, the forgiveness of sins might too rendily be 308 THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [on. xn. 1-31.