The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 311

Yer. 23.-(TIIE PALACE.) The death of a chi1d. "I shall go to him." David had at least a glimpse of the future life. 'l'he expectation of going to his child in the grave would have afforded him little comfort. But whatever meaning may he attached to the words as uttered by him, they may be profitably considered by us in the light of the gospel, Reason sheds only starlight on the future; the revelations of the Old Testament only twilight; but Jesus Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, illumines it with dayliglit. The Christian parent, bereaved of his little child, has- I. Tmi: PERBO'ASI0N OF THE 00NTINlJED EXISTENCE OF THE DEPARTED, in the unseen, spiritual, eternal world, "the Father's house;" where he: 1. Retains his conscious personality (neither ceasinJ!: to be, nor "swallowed up in the p:eneral sea of being"). 2. Attains the highest perfecti()'TI, of which his nature is capable (his capacitiea of know- ledge, holiness, and happiness being gradually developed). 3. Remains in permanent security (for ever freed from the temptations and sorrows of this life). On what grounds does such a persuasion rest? (1) The nature of a child-spiritual, immortal, blameless, "having no knowledge between good and evil" (Dent. L 39). (2) The character of God; his justice .and benevolence, and his fatherly relationship (Jer. xix. 4; Ezek:xvi. 21; Joel ii. 16; Jonah iv. 11), which, though consistent with the suffering of the innocent in this world (because of the beneficent purposes to which it is sub- servient), is not so wi'th their final condemnation. (3) The teachings and actions of Christ, and his redemptive work (Matt. xviii. 1-14; xix. 13-15; xxi 16; 1 Cor. xv. 22), "They belong to the kingdom of heaven." Whatever disadvantages they suffer from their relation to Adam are more than surpassed by the abounding grace of God in Christ. "He shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom" (Isa. xl.11); • • • . II..THE ANTIOIPATI0N OF FUTURE REUNION WITH THE DEPARTED; implying: 1. Hope of personal salvation on the part of him who cherishes it. 2. Belief in the individual recognition of those who are known on earth. "I have heard you say That we shall see and know our friends in heaven: If that be true, I shall see my boy again." (' King John,' net iii. sc. 4:.) 3. Expectnncy of common participation in the heavenly fellowship, service, and joy of the Lord. • "Ah! thy merciless stem meroy hath chostised us, Goading us along the narrow road; Thy bird, who warmed and dazzled us a moment Huth returned to thine abode. Lord, wheu we 11re purged within the furnace, l\foy we h11ve our little ohihl again? .All thine anguish by the olives in the garden. A11 thy life 11nd death ore vain, If thou vield us not our own again I " • (Roden Noel, • A Little Child's Monument.') Ill. CoNB0LATl0N 1N 'rllE l'AINFVL LOSS OF TUE DEl'ARTED; derived from what haa 816 THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL, [ou. xn. 1-31.