The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 358

Ver. 14.-God fetching home his banished. The "wise woman," having succee,lrd in that which she pretended to be her object in coming to David, skilfully appruache<l the renl purpose of her visit, She insinuates, in general and guarded language, that he was cherishing thoughts which were "against the people of God," and t.hat the decision he had given in favour of her ROD was inconsistent with his not fetching home a~ain his own banished one. Then, in our text, she presents, still in a general and indefinite way, reasons why the king should restore his banished one. 1. The universal mortality of mankind. "We must needs die," etc. This may contain a hint that it was useless longer to be grieved or angry about .Amnon's death-nothing could restore him to life. Or, jnst as likely, it may be mentioned as a reason for doing rightly (in this case, exer- cising mercy) while we may, since we and those we ca.n benefit will soon be alike in the grave; and for doing nothing to embitter this brief life to any while it lasts, or to shorten it needlessly by our conduct. Or it may be intended to soften the king's heart and prepare him to exercise compassion, as God is said to pity us because " ho knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust" (Ps. ciii. 13, 14). 2. The long-suffering of God. "Neither doth God take away life" (Revised Version); i.e. He does not usually strike down the sinner at once in his sins, but bears long with _him, and gives him space for repentance. This may be a skilful allusion to the mercy shown to· David himself ( oh. xii. 13, "Thou shalt not die"). 3. The provision which God makes for the return of sinners to himself, "He deviseth means, that he that is banished be not an outcast from him" (Revised Version). In this also there may be an allusion to God's treatment of David, in sending to him Nathan to rouse his cou- science, bring him to rep.entance, and then assure him of pardon. Or the woman may have in her mind the provisions of the Mosaic Law for restoring to the congregation and the temple services those who had been separated from them through contracting some uncleanness or committing some sin (see Lev. iv., v., vi. 1-7). Or she may, by a flash of inspiration, have had a glimpse of the great principles underlying these legal and ceremonial appointments, and which are more fully made manifest in Christ. We, at least, can hardly err in interpreting her words in the light of the gospel. Thus regarded, they suggest to us- I. THE CONDITION OF SINNERS. That is, of mankind apart from Christ. They are " banished," and in danger of being "expelled," from God, and becoming utterly out- cast. 1. "Banished;" self-banished, like .Absalom. (1) Sin stparates between u1an and God; severs from the Divine friendship and favour; from the b'ather's home, society, and blessing ; from the family of God, its occupations, privileges, and joys. Men may be eitternally associated with the godly in worship and service, yet banished spiritually, cut off from real communion. Two persons may sit side by side in the same church, one holding converse with God and having fellowship with his people in their worship, the other having no real participation in these exercises, far from God even in his house. Of the banished there are two classes-those who have never known God, and those who, havin11: known him, have turned away from him. The case of the latter is the saddest (2 Pet. ii. 20, 21). (2) Sin ever tends to produce increased separation from God. In heart, and also outwardly. When the heart is alienated from God, distasta for the forms of worship, and all th<J.t reminds of him, increases; and often ends in the entire abandonment of them. As the prodigal son went "into a f:;.r country" (Luke xv. 13). "Banished," It is a wretched condition. To depart from God is to commit great sin ; to be destitute of the highest blessings and exposed to the worst miseries. 'l'o be without him is to be without true life, solid happiness, and well-grounded hope. 2. "Banished," but not yet utterly outcast. (1) .Although they have forsaken God, he has not quite forsaken them. He does the ... good continually in his providence; and, by the blessings he bestows upon them, protests against their unnatural conduct, and ur"es them to return to him. (2) They are in constant peril of becoming entirely nn<l hopelessly outcast; for the practice of sin hardens the heart increasingly, and tlircatens to obliterate in tho sinner'd nature whatever might leave a hope of repentanc~ 1u1u rccouciliation. And" the wrath of God" ever "abideth on him" (Johu iii. 3Li), 364 THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [en. XIV. 1-33.