The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 426

dr,';pCmte plunge in.to toor11e miRlfries thatt can be ezperienced in this life. The solf- murder<>r rushes red-handed into the pro!ence of the awful Judge, depriving himself of all possibility of repentance. III. PRESERVATIVES AGAINST THIS DREADFUL BIN. In this case emphatically "prevention is better than cure "-preservation, that is, from that condition of miud from which suicide ~prings. And this is to be found in vita.I godliness in o.\l its branches. In particular: 1. Constant faith in God. Confidence that he is, and tho.t he is the Rewe.rder of those who seek him, however he may tl'y them. Unbounded 1rust in his goodness and wisdom, as exorcised in respect to ourselves. Earnest and cheerful service of him under whatever conditions he may place us. Profound sub- mi!:l!ion to his will. Dread of his displeasure. 2. Moderation in 1·espect to worldly things. In our estimates of their worth, and of the evil of being deprived of them; in the pursuit of them; in their enjoyment; in .sorrow at their depnrture. Habitual solf- control. Intemperance partakes of the guilt of suicide. 3. Prayer. Habitual. Specii1.l when cares and temptations press with special weight. "_Casting all your cure upon him; for ho careth for you" (1 Pet. v. 7; comp. Ps. lv. 22). ." In nothing be anxious, but_ in everything by prayer," etc. (Phil. iv. 6, 7, Revised Version). "The peace of God" thus obtained will best "guard" the he.'\rt and the thoughts against all that tends to despondency. 4. The communion of saints. Christian society ; social worship; visitation of the Christian poor, whose privations and sufferings will often make our own seem small, whose cheerfulness and resignation will shame our discon- tent and impatience, and assist us to e. better mind. 5. Prompt and resolute rejection, with loathing, of every thought of this as a possible way out of trouble. Probably many persons of a nervous and desponding temper are visited with such thoughts. Let them be instantly dismissed, lest they grow in freque1;1cy and power, and in a weak moment produce the corresponding deed. In conclusion, all sin is of the nature of suicide. He who impenitently persists-in it destroys the life of his own souL All they that hate the Divine wisdom and forsake its ways "love death" (Prov. viii. 36).-G. W. - Vers. 27-29.-Suppl-iesfor theki11g'aarmy. Mahanaimis memorable in the history of Jacob; derived, indeed, its name from the circumstance tha.t there" the angels of God met him" (Gen. mii. 1) on his way back to the promised la.nd, a.nd just before his interview with Esau, about whose present disposition towards him he was doubtful. In our text also we read of veritable angels (messengers) of God, though human, coming to the same place to succour and encourage another of his servants when in circumstances of grea.t difficulty. David had with him a large company of friends and subjects, who remained faithful while so many were faithless; but their very number was an embarrassment, and they arrived in tbe neighbourhood "hungry, and weary, aud thirsty." Very welcome, therefore, were the supplies which these chieftains brought for their relief, and which the historian enumerates with so much evident pleasure. They thus cheered the heart of David, eontributed very materially to his final victory over his rebellious son and subjects, and obtained for themselves a good name. In the Christian warfare aii;ainst error and sin there is room and need for this kind of service. The progress of the spiritual cause depends no little on the material aids. As soldien; must eat and drink in order that they may fight, so Christian ministers and missionaries, however spiritual and holy ap.d disinterested, cannot preach and teach unless .they are fed and clothed, and their work faci~tated by various appliances which are only to be obtained and maintained by money or money's worth. It is onl.v in exceptional cases that competent labourers are able to support themselves by the labour of their hands or from their private fortunes. Hence the absolute nece66ity that Christians should furnish material supplies, and the certainty that the progress of the Christian cause in the world will be greatly hindered if, through indiffer- ence or avarice, such supplies are scantily furnished. In our time the duty of furnish- ing them more abundantly needs to be pressed on the attention of the disciples of Christ with much urgency. The world is almost everywhere open to the missionary; devottd men and women offer themselves, ready to go aoywhere to ,;nake Christ known; but in many instances they cannot be sent forth for wa.nt of the means of sending aud i;ustainiug theQl. T~t the ability of Christ's servants iu tbis direction is being  err. XVII, 1-29.] 'l'HE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 435