The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 316

with contempt. And in more active life, to be slovenly, slothful, indifferent•1 to offer him " half-hMrted eenioe; to present him with niggard offerings; is to show crrievous disrespect to him (see Mal. i. 6--8). (5) Contempt for his people, or any ;f them. As if the godly were necessarily fanatical. Or because they may be feeble or inexperienced (Matt. xviii. 10), or poor (Jas. ii. 6). Or because they differ from u; in judgment or observances (Rom. xiv. 3, 10). "He that despiseth you, despiseth me" (Luke x. 16). II. THEIR FOLLY AND WICKEDNESS, Considering: 1. Who i.s despised. "Me." The infinite Majesty, the Source and Sustainer of all beings, the Giver of all good the Creator, Preser~er, and Benefactor of those who despise him, without whom they have nothing and can do nothing; perfect in all that is good, and worthy of all esteem and love; who is reverenced, adored, loved, and served by the loftiest intelligences, by all the wise and good in all worlds; the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom all that is glorious in holiness and love appears, revealing the glorious excellences of God. 2. Who i.s th£ d,espi,ser. " Th()'II,." So ignorant, so needy, so dependent, so greatly blessed, so sinful, so perverted in mind and heart, and incapable, while untaught of God, of judging aright &1 to the best things. It is the creature despising his Creator folly despising wisdom, weakness despising Omnipotence, the lost despising hU: Deliverer, the destitute despising him who would enrich him with everlasting riches. 3. The contrast between him who is despised and th£ things which are valued. God is rejected and treated as of little or no account; while things which are worthless. er injurious, or which if valuable have only a limited e.nd transient worth, are highly prized and pnrsued as if of supreme worth and importance. 4. What is involved in d,espi,sing God. It is to despise ourselves, our own souls and their salvation, the true riches and honour, our true and everlasting happiness, eternal life, all that most de.serves to be valued. IIL TBEm DOOM. 1. To be themsel,ves despised. "They that despise me shall be lightly esteemed" (1 Sam. ii. 30). They shall rise "to shame and everlasting contempt" (Da.n. xii. 2), exposed and regarded as fools, and treated as worthless. "Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the Lord hath rejected them" (Jer. vL 30). 2. To find by 'IJJf'etched experience lww real and how essential to their hap- piness is he whom they have slighted. To learn the value of his favour by the irreparable loss of it. The sin of despising him they will no longer be able to commit. But the doom may be averted by repentance, as David's case teaches (ver. 13).-G. W. Ver. 13.-0onfession and pardon. Two things are very surprising in this narrative -the awful wickedness of David, and the abounding mercy of God. I. DAvm's CONl"EBSI0N. It was: 1. Very prompt. The prophet's address awakened no resentment. There wa.s no attempt at evasion, palliation, or self-justification. How could there be? He at once acknowledged his sin. This was the result, not only of Nathan's faithful reproof, but of the king's own previous mental exercises. The time which had elapsed since the commission of his sins, or some part of it, had been a sorrowful time for him. Burdened with conscious guilt, but not subdued to contrition, he had been wretched (see Ps. :u.xii. 3, 4). Nathan's admonitions completed the work; the king's heart was melted to penitence, and he unburdened his soul by a frank confession. 2. Very bruif. Like the prayer of the publican (Luke xviii. 13), When the heart is fullest, the words are fewest. Not the length_ of a confession, but its meaning and sincerity, are the important thing. It is so with confessions of men to each other: a word, a look, or an action without a word, is often sufficient, always better than a long speech. 8. Very appropriate. Acknowledged sin-sin "against the Lord." Nathan had laid stress on this point, and David responds 11CCordingly. He had ,uievou.sly wronged Uriah, Bathsheba too, and had sinned against the peoph, under hia rule ; but most had he sinned against God. Hence his language in Ps. li. 4. Only as sin is thus viewed is "godly sorrow" possible. II. llIB FOBGIVENEBB. Which was : 1. Immediate. It startles us that 110 great a sinner should have been so speedily pardoned, so soon assured of pardon. We might have deemed some delay more suitable. But God is ever ready to forgive; he waits only for the sinner's penitent confession. '!'here is no reason for delay of forgiveness except the sinner'11 impenitence and unbelier, The IIl0!llent these are subdqed, parcloti OH, XII, 1-31.] THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL.