The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 314

of Rom. ii. 1. Had he been aware that he was passinp; sentence upon himsel( ho would probably have been less severe. Or if he had remembered his own greater ~rimes he would hardly BO hal'1lhly haveoonrlemned a man whose crime was so much Iese hein~us. But it is no uncommon thing for great offenders to be harsh in their judgment of others who are fRr less culpable than themselves. III. NATHAN'S REJOINDER, 1. He applied to David himselj' the Judgment he ha<l pronotmce<l. " Thou art the man!" \Vith wlmt terrific force this must have fallen upon the king's ears! He was self-convicted, self-condemned. To such self-condemna- tion it should be the aim of religious teachers to lead their hearers. It is not per- missible, indeed, unless in very extreme cases, to address individuals in publio in such words as Nathan's to David; but the preacher's work is not effectually done until each hearer whose sin is described is brought to say to himself, "I am the man I" To use the language of a great preacher of a former generation (Robert Hall), " Without descending to such a minute specification of circumstances as shall make our addresses personal, they ought unquestionably to be characteristic, that the conscience of the audience may feel the hand of the preacher searching it, and every individual know where to class himself. The preacher who aims at doing good ,vill endeavour, above all things, to insulate his hearers, to place each of them a.part, and render it impossible for him to escape by losing himself in the crowd. .At the day of judgment, the attention excited by the surrounding scene, the strange aspect of nature, the dissolution of the elements, :i.nd the last trump, will have no other effect thl\Il to cause the reflections of the sinner to return with a more overwhelming tide on his own character, his sentence, bis unch:i.nging destiny; and amid the innumerable millions who surround him, he will mourn. apart. It is thus the Christian minister should endeavour to prepare the tribunal of con.science, and turn the eyes of every one of bis hearers on himself." Hearers should welcome such preaching, and thank God for the convictions it prodnces, as a necessary step in the process of their salvation. 2. He faithfully tUlivered God's message to him. (1) Reminding him of the great kindness of.God to him. (2) Charging him distinctly with his crimes. (3) Pronouncing upon him the Divine sentence. In the whole interview, Nathan acted with singular courage, and fidelity to him who sent him. . • IV. Tm: RESULT. David's frank and penitent confession of his sin; and his pardon. Had he be~ utterly hardened, he might have resented the prophet's faithfulness, dismi1ised him with anger, or even ordered him to prison or death. But the workings of his own conscience had prepared him to recognize the justice of Nathan's words; and these now melted into contrition the long-burdened yet stubborn heart, which at length found relief in the brief but sincere words, "I have sinned against the Lord; " to which the prophet ws.s able to return the consoling reply, "The Lord also bath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die" (comp. Ps. xxxii. 3-5). , . Learn : 1. The d11,ty of reproving sin in oth8'1'1l. (Lev. xix. 17.) 2. The val'US o/ a minister or other friend faithful enough to administ8'1' reproof. 3. The responsibility which attaches to the power to discern and condemn sin in others. (1) It should. induce w; to a.void the sins which we condemn, s.nd others like them. (2) It, increases our guilt if we commit such sins. (3) It ought to induce hearty self-condemnation s.nd penitence when we fs.11 into them. '.rhe indi~nation we feel agaiil)lt the sins of others should be .turned on our own, in dealing with which there is more hope than in endeavouring to convince and reform our neighbours; besides which, when we have forsaken our own sins, we shall be better fitted to reprove and a.mend other offenders (see Matt. vii. 4, 5). 4. The goodnus r:f God in first sending reprovers to warn ancl convert, rather than inflicting swift punisliment.-G. W. Ver. 9.-Despising tl,e commandments of God. David, by his grievous sins, had virtually shown contempt for the well-known commandments of God againat coveting the wife of another, and against adultery and murder. Hence the .force of this remon- Btrance. It may be properly addressed to all who in any way show contempt for any of the Divine commandments; to all mea, therefore, since all are in some respects and in IQllle degree guilty of this sin. . I. Wao )UY BE SAID TO DEBl'ISE TBE COMMANDMENTS OJI' GoD? 1. T!w,e who tal,e 1d, pain, to know and understand them. Who do not tb:nk it worth while to inquire, OD, X1I. 1-31.] THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 3 L!)