The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 382

(vcre. 27-29); "Ilehold I return," etc. (LXX.). "The peculiar exorcises of rcli:don ought to precede, but not to exclude, the use of every prudent meanR of securinn- success in lawful undortakin::(B" (Scott). When, in time of adversity, we decline the aid of o•.1r friendR in one form, because it seemR to us injudicious and improper, we should ~1ad1.v avail ourselves of it in another; knowing that by such instrumentality the help f,~ which we look to God is most commonly vouchsafed. "Among the few faithful Rmidst the faithless, the first place belongs to the priests, whom loyalty and interest alike bound to the throne. So they were ready if they had been permitter:1 to have carried even the ark to share the exile of the king, They will have their loyalty crowned by seeing the ark, the tent of a. once nomad worship, signifying by its flame a. spiritual life, set up in Jerusalem; the younger amongst them may see a temple rise, the scene of as noble a worship as the world has yet known" (R. Williams).-D. Ver. 30.-David's tears on Olivet. 1. What a. scene of fallen greatness and bitter grief is here depicted! He who yesterday reigned in Jerusalem, as the anointed (Messiah) of Jehovah, is to-day a homeless fugitive (ver. 20), toiling up the a.scent of Olivet, in deep humiliation and undisguised sorrow, with head covered (eh. iii. 31, 32; xix. 4) and feet bare; accompanied by stem warriors and tender women and children, a.II, like himself, with covered heads "going and weeping." It is "as one Jong funeral procession of men wailing over the fall of all their hopes" (Plumptre). 2. What an instance of moral excellence and overcoming faith is here afforded! " The greatness of David did not depend on his royal state; it was within his lofty soul and insepar- able from his commanding character" (Milman), He is considerate, generons (ver. 19), submissive (ver. 26), prayerful (ver. 31), grateful (eh. xvi. 4), forbearing (eh. xvi. 10), and hopeful (eh. xvi. 12). His suffering manifests his sincerity, his outward shame his inward worth; and "out of the depths" of his trouble he rises to the loftiest elevation (Ps. cxxx. 1; lxxxiv. 6 ; eh. xxiii. 13, 14; Hos. ii. 15). 3. What an out- line is here furnished of the ideal representation, given by psalmist and prophet, of the suffering Servant of.Jehovah (Ps. xxii.; Isa. liii.), and fully realized in him who, on the same spot, a thonsand years afterwards, wept over the sinning and perishing city! "And when he was come near," etc. (Luke xi.x. 41-44; xxiii. 27-31). Consider- I. THE SORROWS OF DAVID. Why did he weep? Not so much on account of his exile, privation, etc., as on account of: 1. The grievous transgressions which he had formerly committed (Ps. xxxix. 12 ; vi. 6), and which were now brought afresh to remembrance. "My sin is ever before me." 2. The ungrateful treatment which he received, from his son whom he tenderly loved (eh. xvi. 11), from his subjects whom he faithfully served, from his adversaries who hated him "wrongfully " and "without a cause" (Ps. btix. 3-5). Neither his former transgressions nor his recent defects justified rebellion against his authority as king. Indeed, his personal piety and theo- cratic policy made him to many an object of hatred and reproach; and in him the Divine King of Israel himself was despised (Ps. v. 10; xxii. 8; xlii. 3; lxix. 7, 9, 20). " Though David suffered for his many sins, he had yet through penitence already obtained forgiveness of sins. Thus he was the righteous sufferer, who could appeal to God for the purity of his heart and the holiness of his cause" (Erdmann). .:S. The national calamity which he beheld-the distress of" all the people that was with him" (ver. 23), the distracted condition of the country, the ruin which thousands would bring upon themselves; filling him with commiseration (1 Sam. xv. 35; Ps. cxix. 136). 4. The Divine displeasure which he experienced against his sin and the sins of the people; regardi"ag this calamity as a sign thereof, enduring it in common with them, and bearing it, as far as possible, in his own person (eh. xxiv. 17). "Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow," etc. (Lam. i. 12; Jer. ix. 1). "When I fall I shall arise,'' etc. (Micah vii. 8, 9; Ps. xxxi. 5). II. THE SORROWS OF CHRIST; arising from : 1. His relation to a sinful race, whose nature he assumed and amoncr whom he dwelt, "yet without sin;" the suffering " which a pure and holy natur~ must feel from the mere contiguity of evil ; and the reflected and borrowed shame and pa.in which noble natures feel for the sins of those with whom they are closely connected" (Caird). 2. His rejecti<m by the world. which ho came to save; bein~ reproached, persecuted, betrayed, deserted, condemned, and crucified; :ind thus made the victim of human wickedness. His righteousness and  388 THE SEOOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [011. xv. 1-37.