promoting i?cest, and then, on his own showing, knew that i~ was a settled thing to murder the 10cestuoua man (vers. 3-5; of. vers. 32, 33). This cunning man who had not the courage or honesty to tell David of the design of Absalom, was a mo:al plague in David's f&mily connection. It is an instance of how much evil may come to a home by cultivating the friendship and intimacy of unprincipled or cowardly relative&, Alas I for the home (and there are such in our country) ttat is invaded by the pestilential influence of men who trample under their feet cha.stity, love, and, if need be, life itself! There are vipers and dragons in the world still (Matt. iii. 7; of. Ps. xci. 13). GENERAL LESSONS. 1. We see the wonderful contrast in domestic life where piety is maintained in unfading beauty. Instead of jealousies and hatreds, parents blamed by sons and full of fear, evil feelings maturing into developed deeds of violence ond cruelty, justified by reference to parental conduct, and stimulated or connived at by ba.se friends, we shall see love and consideration, reverence for parents, confidence in children, generous sentiments ripening into holy deeds, encouragement for kind actions found in parental example, and friendships formed conducive to peace and harmony. 2. We learn the danger of deliberately nourishing feelings of revenge even when wrong has been done. It is for God to vindicate his own justice (Rom. xii. 9). Just senti- ments of anger may, unless guard be kept over them, burn into more questionable forms. 3. The festive scenes of wicked men should be avoided, because of the evil communications which corrupt good manners, and the possible incidental evils arising therefrom. 4. When men are known to be proud and imperious and revengeful, they are likely to be credited with more evil than they have really done (ver. 30); hence avoid such a spirit. 5. It is a shame to a man to be in the secrets of those intent on evil (vers. 3-5; cf. ver. 32); and, though such may escape punishment in human society, God will visit their sins on their own head. 6. Rulers and parents who show an unwise partiality (vers. 21, 22) in not adequately chastising evil-doers, only defer the day of trouble and increase its sorrows (ver. 36),
Lost and ezi7ed. The closing verses of this chapter are very obscure in their con- struction and meaning. The sense most probable, and which we here proceed upon, is that Ahsalom's asylum with the King of Geshur was a reason why David did not follow after him with a view to his apprehension and chastisement, and that while at first he mourned for A.mnon every day, he was in process of time able to bear up under his loss. The calamity brought on by his own sins (eh. xii. 9-12) had now culminated in one son lost and another in exile. L THERE IS A NATURAL PROGRESSION IN THE TROUl3LES CONSEQUENT ON BIN, The first temporal human trouble attendant on David's sin was dislike and aversion of his other wives, and this small beginning was followed by his being put under the power of Joab (eh. xL 6, lS-21), his exposure to others, the incest or his children, the loss of influence by refraining from dut_y (vers. 21, 22), and now it came to a climax in the firstbom being in his grave, and the second son being banished as an exile. It is an evil and a bitter thing to sin against God, the more so according to the station and privileges of the sinner. A firstbom lost! A young man cut down with, so far a.s we can see, the vilest sins unforgiven on his head! The flower of the family, the man of spirit, and avenger in daring way of a sii;ter's wrong, in a foreign land, finding refuge from a father's wrath with the heathen ! Fathers and mothers, read the lesson well, and seek for grace to be in the home pure and wise and loving, like unto the holy Saviour. Jf. THERE IS SHEER BELPLESS1''ESS IN FAOE OF THE ACCUMULATED OALAMI1'IE8 CONSEQUENT ON SIN. David could only mourn over the lost one. .And what bitterness in the mourning! The dire chain of moral causes ending in that wretched death could uot be broken; for an inscrutable and just Providence had welded them to the first adulterous link of his own manufacture. Whatever anj?er was cherished against the brother-assassin, and whatever desire to vindicate the law against him, policy and other considerations prevented his going out after him to drag him froni the asylum afforded by another king. It was a time of correction in righteousness when the bitter but wholesome lessoils of bis life were to be taken to heart. It is fortunat.e if men, having by a succession of faults and sins brought themselves face to face with hard unalterable facts, apply their heart& with all earnestnesa to God for his sanctifying grace, 011, xm. 1-39.] THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 333
III. 1',m DIBOUARGE OF THE DUTIES OF LIFE B"ECOMES mOREASINGLY DIFFICULT WHEN TIIE JOYS OF HOME LIFE ARE DESTROYED. Though dwelling in distinct abode~ in J erusalcm, the royal family had n common home life, and, under hallowed influences, this might have been to David a source of strength in the administration of affairs. Now, however, the joy of his heart was gone. Energy was spent in sorrowful memories and thoughts concerning the possible future efforts of the ambitious and now reckless exile, which olherwise would have gone in the direction of cheerful daily work for the nation. Fears of yet further troubles, and passionate desire to remove the public reproach of letting crime in his house go by default, were not helpful to ea.Im effort for public good. Many a man loses energy for business consequent on the loss of domestic joys. Home is the proper place for weary men to find refreshment after toil, and cheer for new endeavours. We may truly pity the man whose domestic troubles come in such form as to impair his strength for the battle of life. If he has not the grace of God in his heart, it is not surprising if he yields to temptation and seeks relief in sinful pleo.sures.