II. AN INBTRU0TIVE ADMONITION FOR LIFE. Is it so? Then: 1. Restrain immo- derate indulp:ence in sorrow, "the grief that saps the mind, for those on earth we see no more." No weeping, anger, nor endeavour can bring back Amnon (eh. xii. 23). Accept calmly what cannot be altered. 2. Repress improper feelin"s of resentment towurd others. Even though it be just, it should not be perpetual (Eph. iv. 26). They nnd you alike must <lie and pass away. "Be reconciled." 3. Regard all around you with sympathy and kindly affection. Before to-morrow they may be gone. 4. Redeem tho rest of your time "in the flesh," by prompt, diligent, zealous use of every oppor- tunity of serving God and doing good, according to the pattern of long-sufferin"' and benevolence which he has set before you, in "not taking away a soul," etc. (latte~ part of the verse), Consider: 1. The death of the body is not the end of the man. He disappears here only to appear elsewhere as water in the cloud; gathered "with sinners" (Ps. xxvi. 9 • Matt. xiii. 30) or with saints (Gen. xxv. 8; 2 Kings xxii. 20; 2 Thess. ii. 1). 2. Th; life which a man leads "in the body " determines his condition in the unseen and eternal world. 3. The conviction of these things makes the view of death more impressive, and should make the course of life more just, merciful, and devout.-D. Ver. 14.-God's restoration of his banished. It is hardly possible for a father to be so completely estranged from his child as to lose all affection for him. He may have just cause to feel angry with him; but, with absence and the lapse of time, his anger dies a.way, e.nd his natural affection springs up afresh. It was thus with David in relation to his son Absalom. Yet he hesitated to give way to bis parental feelings, to set a.side the claims!of public justice, and exercise his royal prerogative of showing mercy toward the guilty. And to induce him to do this it was urged (among the means devised for the purpose) that God, who bas ordained that men should die, permits them to live, and even devises means for their restoration. Was not this an indication that Absalom should be spared? Was not this an example which the king should imitate? It bas been supposed that there is allusion to the cities of refuge (Numb. xxxv. 9-34; Deut. xix. 6; Josh. xx.), where the manslayer, "though banished from his habitation for a time, was not quite expelled, but might return again after the death of the bighlpriest" (Patrick). The argument used was not properly applicable to the particular instance, but the truth expressed is profound and striking. Notice- 1. THE ALIENATED CONDITION OF MAN. "Banished;" estranged, separated, "cast out of God's presence," away from his sanctuary, fellowship, a.nd inheritance (ver. 16), in " a far country" (Luke xv. 13). That this is the moral a.nd spiritual state ot' man (naturally e.nd generally) is not only testified by the Scriptures, but also by his own heart and conscience; bis aversion and dread with respect to God. It is: 1. Voluntary. By his own free e.ct Absalom broke the Law, incurred the displeasure, fled from the face of bis father, and continued in exile. So bas it been with man from the first. "The nature with its Maker thus conjoin'd, Created first was blameless, pure, and good; But, through itself alone, was driven forth From Paradise, because it had eschew'd The way of truth and life, to evil turn'd." (Dante, ' Paradise,' vii.) Of his own accord he departs from God and seeks to bide himself from him. 2. Unhappy. Absalom found friendly associates and material comforts in Geshur, but be could not have been at home there, and must have carried iu bis breast a. restless and troubled heart. And it is impossible for him who departs from God, and tries to Jive without him, to possess inward rest and peace. The soul is made for God: how cau it be sa.tisfied with anything short. of him? Oh the misery that multitudes at this moment endure because thoy be.ve forsaken the "Fountain of living waters," and seek. their happiness where it can never be found! 3.. Perilous. '.1'he_ sinner _is under condemnation. The ·• avengers of hlood" are on his track. Life 1s precarious anu must soon terminate, with all its all~viations, privileges, and possibilities; "and a.Iler that the judgment," when voluntary exile becomes involuntary, partial unh3ppiuess 358 'l'HE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [on. xrv. 1-33.
complete wrt>tcbednese, temporary -estrangement " everlastini;t destl'uction from the presence of the Lord" (2 These. i. 9). 4. Not liopekss. .A.bse.lom was still a son, though a disobedient one; still "in the land of the living;" and might entertain the h(lpe that, through his father's affection, his banishment would not be perpetual. However far man may have wandered from the Father's house, he is still an object of the Father's love. "Debold, all souls are mine," eto.; "I have no plea.suro in the ,kath of him that dieth," etc. (Ezek. xviii. 4, 32; :r.xiii. 11); "Turn you to the strong bold, ye prisoners of hope" (Zeeb. ix. 12). 11. 'l'HE MERCIFUL llm.u,s DEVISED FOR :e:rs RESTORATION. Man's misery is from himself, but "salvation is of the Lord" (Ps. iii. 8; Jonah ii. 9). It ie effected by and through: 1. The wng patience and forbearance which he shows toward the transgressor; restraining the outgoings of wrath (Luke xiii. 7), sparing forfeited life, affording space for repentance, "making his sun to rise," etc. (Matt. v. 45). "The long-suffering of our Lord is sah•ation" (2 Pt:t. iii. 15; Rom. ii. 4). 2. .An extraordinary provision, where- by the way of his return is opened, consistently with the requirements of eternal righteousness, and his fatherly love is revealed in the highest degree. By restoring Absalom without due regard to the demands of justice, and even without repentance, David weakened his own authority as king, contributed to a popular rebellion, and well-nigh lost his throne and life. But in the method which God in infinite wisdom has " devised " for the restoration of man, jWltice and mercy are alike manifested, an adequate ground or reason for forgiveness is furnished, sinners are "put in the capacity of salvation" (Butler), and the Law is magnified and" established" (Rom. iii. 19-31). "God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. v. 8); "redeemed ue from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us" (Gal. iii. 13); "suffered for sins once, the Just for the unjust, that hen1,:;ht . bring us to God" (1 Pet. iii. 18).