xiii. 21, 30), none were more unexpected or 1110.rming. He must determine at oneo whether to fn.ce tho gathering storm or flee before it. With something of his former decision he chose tho latter course; his servants (state officers, attendant~, soldiers) declared themselves re11dy to do his bidding ; rmd "he went forth and all his house- hold" (wive~, sons, daughters), "all the people"(" servants," LXX.) "after him," etc. At first, no doubt, struck with consternation, he yet speedily regained his composure (Pa. cxii. 12); nncl came to bis decision not from abject fear, or persoMl cowardice (eh. xviii. l::), but (as others should dt> in similar critical and periloUJI positions) from motives of- I. PIETY; or humble submission to the chastisement of God. Lest he "bring evil upon us;" or "drive over us tho evil" or calamity which now threatens, and in which David sees the fulfilment of predicted judgment (eh. xii. 10, 11). 1. He discerns therein the operation of Divine justice on account of his sin (:::h. xvi. 11). Trouble n.nd danger bring ain to remembrance; and those who remember their sin are quick to perceive the chastening band of God where others see only the wrathful hand of man. fo the view of faith, wicked men are instruments employed by the supreme and righteous Judge. Resentment toward them is thereby moderated, the sense of sin deepened, and suffering borne in a different manner. "Wherefore doth a living man complain?" etc. (Lam. iii. 39 ; Micah vii. 9). 2. He is persuaded of the folly of resist- ance to the Divine power. Such resistance can be of no avail against the Almighty; it ought not to be attempted; and it can only result in defeat and ruin (as in the case of Saul). If he should remain and defend the city, David had no inward assurance, as in former conflicts, that God would be with him. He rather felt that in resistin"' Absalom at this moment he would be resisting God. He did not even deem it needlul to consult the oracle (ver. 24). 3. ile acquiesces without murmuring in t!ie D~vine will (ver. 26), "accepts the punishment of his iniquity" (Lev. xxvi. 41), and patiently endures the wrath of man, knowing that it is subject to Divine control. When :i hurricane sweeps over the land, the things that cannot bend are broken; but those that bow beneath it are preserved, and rise up again when it has passed by. "Humble yourselves," etc. (Jas. iv. 10). 4. He hopes for deliverance in the Dlv:ne mercy (var. 25; eh. xvi. 12). "But as for me, I trust in thee" (Ps. lv. 23). Herein lay the secret of David's passivity, tranquillity, and forbearance during his flight. II. POLICY; or prudent counsel against the assaults of the wicked. Piety without policy is too simple to be safe. 1. He does not presume upon the protection of God, without, on his part, exercising proper caution and energy. A good man's submissiou to Divine chastisement does not require that he should always remain in the way of o.anger or voluntarily invite human hostility and cruelty. " When they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another" (Matt. x. ~3). 2. He does not undertake :m enterprise rashly, or without adequate means of success. David probably deemed ihe number of his "servants." present with him in Jerusalem insufficient for the defence of the city. If, indeed, h.e had the assure.nee of Divine help, he might have thought otherwise (eh. v. 19). "His departure was n.n admirable means cf testing the reid strength of both parties" (Ewald). 3. He does not place an undue confidence in man. "David was perhaps afraid that Jerusalem might fall into Absalom's power through treachery" (Keil). "Beware of men" (Matt. x. 17; John ii. 24; Ps. cxviii. 8, 9). 4. He makes use of the means which are most likely to ensure safety and success. "A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself" (Prov. xxii. 3). If there must be conflict, delay appeared to hiru desirable; it woul.i afford time for bis faithful adhereuts to assemble; and, in the open field, the tried valour and discipline of bis veterallil would give them an advantage. Pious men are not unfrequently deficient in prudence (Luke xvi. 8); since, however, they nro sometimes beset by ravening wolves, it is necessary that they should be " wise as serpents " (Matt. x. 16), ta.king care neverthe- less to avoid guile, and to be " ha.rmless as doves." " When he was reviled," etc. ( 1 Pet. ii. 23), III. PITY; or generous concern for the preservation of the imperilled. Foreseeiug the misery and bloodshed likely to ensue from awaiting the attack of Absalom, he souaht by flight not merely to save his own life, but chiefly: 1. To secure the safety of ~is helpl11ss household, and aid the escape of his faithful follo:wers (vers. 19, 20). 2. To spnro tho city the horrors of a siege. "He preferred the salety of the people t,) 384 THE SECJND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [oH. XV, 1-3i.
liis own; and was th11s nlsn a figure of him who said, in the garden of Getbsem,mc, 'If ye seek me, let these go theil' way'" (Wordsworth). 3. 'l'o save the life of bis rebellions Fon (eh. xviii. 12); for which he would have given his own (eh. xviii. 33). 4. To prevent the mi~eries of civil war (eh. ii. 26; iii. 1), and promote the welfare of the divided and misguided people. If collision could be no\'V avoided, it might perchance be altogether averted (ver. 25), or at least occur with less injurious consequences. He was willing to sacrifice himself for the good of the" sheep" (eh. v. 2; xxiv. 17). " Let thy blessing be upon thy people" (Ps. iii. 8). His piety was honoured, his polic: justified, his pity succeeded by renewed attachment (eh. xix. 14), and, in all, the overruling providence of God was displayed. He left Jerusalem in humiliation and grief; he returned (three months afterwards) in triumph (eh. xi.x. 39, 40). Havin" practically resigned his sceptre to God, from whom ho received it, God gave it back into his hands. "As David falls away from Jehovah to be more firmly bound to him, FO Israel turns away from David to be (as the close of the history shows) more devoutly attached to him. The prelude to this first clearing-up of the relations between !<in~ and people is given in the conduct of the faithful band who stand firmly by David in the general defection" (Baumgarten).-D. •