The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 308

peace, refreshment, and gl&dn881, "sweet AS the living stream to summer thirst." Happy is he who cnn say from the heart, "I believe in the forgiveness of sins 111 • Blessed is hi! whose transgression is taken away, Whose sin is covered ; Bl8811ed is the man to whom Jehovah doth not reckon lniqutty, And in whOBe spirit there is no guile." (Pa. xnii. I, 2; Rom, iv. 7,) D. Ver. 14.-{Tn PALAOE.) Giving~ to buuipheme. "Nevertheless, beoause by this deed thou bast surely co.used [literally,• co.using,' etc.,• he.st caused,' etc.] the enemies of Jehovah to speak evil [' despise,' 'contamn,' 'abhor,' 'provoke,' 'blaspheme']," etc. A scorner, being in company with a devout man, took occasion to speak contemptuously of those whom be co.lied" the Old Testament saints," and especially of David AS "a man after God's own heart," asking, "And what did hs do?" "He wrote the fifty-first psalm and the thirty-second," was the reply ; " and if you cherish such feelings as be there expresses, you will be a man after God's own heart." "But," be persisted, "tell me what he did besides." "He did that which the Prophet Nathan said would' cause the enemies of God to blaspheme.'" The scorner felt the rebuke, and was silent. Even to this day the pernicious influence of his sin appears; but, on the other hand, the fact of its having been recorded is an evidence of, at least, the truthfulness of Scripture ; whilst the invaluable lessons t.aught by it more than compensate for the evil effects it produces. "The sacred writer is perfectly aware of the tendency of this passage of David's history, and yet he is not directed by the Holy Spirit to suppress it. It might have been suppressed. The failings of David are not less useful than his virtues, if we will only faithfully improve the warnings they afford us. It is only to the enemies of the Lord that they afford occasion of blasphemy. They, indeed, will never want occasion; and we are not to be denied the salutary examples which the Scriptures hold forth to us because there are those who wrest them to their own destruction. But it is chiefly in the failings of the good that the enemit,s of the Lord find cause of triumph" (Thompson, • Davidica '). Concerning the sin of David and other godly men, observe that- L 1T l.S ll.E!."DERED ALL THE MOBE CULPABLE A.ND CONSPICUOUS BY THEIR PREVIOUS llA.LTATION. Culpable, inasmuch as their profession of godliness, especi,ally when ...n.ited with eminent position, increases their responsibility, and furnishes special motives to a consistent course of conduct; conspicuous, inasmuch as their apparent wperiority to others: 1. Attracts the attention of men to them more than others, and makes it impossible that their failings should pass unnoticed. 2. Naturally leads men t.o e:r;pect more from them than others. 3. Produces a deeper impression by the contrast exhibited between what is expected from them and what is actually done by them. The transgression of David waa in itself great; but it was all the greater, in the view of men, because committed by one of his acknowledged piety, and "in the fierce light that beats upon the throne, and blackens every blot." IL IT IS CALCULATED TO EXERT A MOST INJURIOUS INFLUENCE ON OTBEB MEN. The sin of every man has a baneful effect on his fellow-men ; but that of a godly man, in an eminent degree, by: 1. Causing them not only to despise him, but also others, who are Clll8QCUl,ted and identified with him in religious faith and service, as (like him) unworthy of respect, insincere, and hypocritical. 2. Inciting them to contemn religion itse_lf; doubt the Word of God, distrust the reality of piety everywhere, and even speak evil of God himself; wherein it is commonly implied that sin is sanctioned by religion, or at least is not prevented by it because of its essential weakness. A false impression of the requirements and character of God is given. 3. Lessening the restraints of holy examrle, hindering the acceptance of the truth, multiplying excuses for neglect, encourag1~g vn,dulgenu in sin. 4. Affordi1w means of opposition to the faith, whereby others still are made to stumble. "This ob~rvation gives us a deep insight into the whole position of David. In him the good principle had attained to supremacy; the godless party had &een this with terror, and now they mocked piety in its representative, who, because he held tlii,; position, ought to have kept watch over his heart the more carefully, and afterwar<W made Wle of tb.e firHt opportunity of thr111wiDg off tb.e burdeDBome yoke" on. xu. 1-31.J THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 813