thit!. Bis sympathy produoed food for five thousand. The whole of his life nnd sufferings were the cost by whlch he procured for us the blessings of salvation, In this he is infinitely removed from poets who feel and think, and philosophers who discuss the causes and relations of things, 3. It is timely. The gifts of these men came just in the hour of extreme need. 'l'here is a sympathy which is always too late. Riaht feeling is not always attended by prompt action. A ready will and quick lntellige~ce are the proper attendants on genuine sympathy. The good Samaritan passed by the scene of sorrow just at the right time, and he acted at once. Bis dat qui cito dat. Christian people should cultivate promptitude. It may save many a poor soul from crushing sorrows. 4. It is discriminating. These generous men evidently studied the case of David's need, and brought just the things in variety that were most serviceable to a large company of hungry and weary travellers. David's heart must have been deeply affected by observing the care with which their sympathy had expressed itself. Much of the value of acts of kindness lies in this. A blind, blundering sympathy is valuable because it reveals a co=union of spirit when the heart is sad; but its value is in the lowest scale. Judgment should guide the expression of feeling if we would make the most of it and secure the highest good of those for whom it is cherished. 5. It is courageous. Considering that David was a fugitive, and that to all appearances his friends would be regarded as the foes of the new power rising in Israel, it required some courage in these men to identify themselves in this practical way with the unfortunate king. Herein lies much of the virtue of their conduct. It does require considerable courage to manifest sympathy with the fallen, the shunned, the outcast. Our Saviour's sympathy was of this kind, and it was one of the things that led to his own rejection of men and his cruel death (Matt. ix. 10, 11; xi. 19; Luke xv. 1, 2). There is abundant scope for this virtue. II. ITS PLACE IN THE WORKING OUT OF Gon's PURPOSES. The sorrows of David were for purposes of discipline-to chastise aud train his spirit so that it m;ght be more fully purged from the evil taint of his terrible sin (eh. xii. 7-12), and be more fitted to perform his part as a servant of God in raising the religious tone of the nation, !Lnd, indeed, of the whole world. But God is very pitiful even in his anger. "He knoweth our frame." He will not" always chide." The rough wind is" stayed in the day of his CaBt wind." With the wound he sends the balm. He raises up instrumentalities to cause his people to feel that there is a hand to heal as well as to smite. And the appearance of these men, with their considerate provision for his wants, was a means of revealing the goodneSB of God, and of assuring David that his compassion was not clean gone for ever. All true sympathy in our adversity is a revelation. It brings hope and courage to the crushed spirit, and strengthens faith in the love which never fails, even in the darkest hour. The storm and sunshine are alike God's servants : they " work together" under his direction to sweeten life and endow it with freshness and beauty of eternal spring. ill. ITS RECOGNITION BY Gon. The sacred historian was doubtless guided by a principle of selection when he inserted the names of these three men in a book that is to abide through all time. It was the will of God that reference should be made to their conduct. Thus has God expressed approval of their regard for his anointed. In the same way our Saviour gave honour to the sympathy of the woman who poured on him the box of ointment, by declaring that what she had done should be told in all the world for a memorial of her (Matt. xxvi 13). The sympathy of David for the poor is in like manner divinely recognized. The Bible is a book of instances for mankind. Ot-her deeds of sympathy were performed which have left only the trace which belongs to all good deeds, namely, in the higher and gentler tone given to the world's general life : these are referred to in order to encourage all in the same cause of comforting and helping the needy in their season of sorrow. GENERAL LESSONS. 1. In the friendships and kindnesses of one part of our life we are sowing the seeds which may retum to us in their own kind when later on we may experience trouble ( cf. eh. L 1 ; xii. 27), and hence we should be encouraged to do good to all men, "especially to the household of faith." 2. In our acts of sympathy we are to remember that they reach beyond the individua~-they arc helpful in marking out God's gracious purposes toward mankind. 3. Christ has given encouragement to acts of kindness done to the poor and needy, and conferred great honour upon them in that OH, XVII, 1-29.] THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 427
he regards them as done to himself (Matt. xxv. 34-40). 4. While we should not cramp and weaken our generous impulses by over-much introspection anrl supervision, yet we ought to be careful that the forms they e.ssume are such as will most surely benefit those concerned In them.