The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 438

"Love your enemies" is a Divine command; but we aro not so good AS was he who r;nve the commAnd, and so he will condone our cherishing some hatred I Be truthful in wor<l and deed is the meaning to us all of Christ's life; but the pressure of businose and the difficulties or diplomacy in national l\ffairs are such that we cannot tnke this gra~d li1w of life into all departments of activity I 'l'hus by arguments apparently con- clusive the "commandments of God" are "made of none effect." IV. THE TRUE INTERESTS OF ALL LIE IN ADHERENCE TO PRIMARY PRINOIPLES. Joab by his de\'iation from the king's command, while seeming to secure an ndvantage ~ the state, wa.s really sowing the seed of rebellion; for it set aside the supreme law, and its natural tendency was to weaken the royal authority throughout Israel. To gain a temporary ad vantage at the cost of damaging the force of a cardinal truth is no real gain in the er,d, for the consequences of such an iujury are incalculable. Once impair the supremacy of right principles in the national or individual mind, and you have prepared the way for all kinds of degeneracy. God never departs from right, and his ways always come out rir:ht. Moral principles are as rigid in their demand for implicit and full reco~nition us any laws of physics, and they vindicate their neglect with as absolute a certainty. Chr:st has made it clear that strict and severe adherence to his authority al,,ne will issue well. 'l'he sermon on the mount is a statement of unconditioned practical truth. The Church of Christ would have done more for the world had this Bermon been more recognized, apart from the limitations of accommodating rules , of interpretation. Vers. 19-33.-The facts are: 1. Ahimaaz being eager to convey tidings of victory to the king, ii; denied J::8-rmission by Joab, who, however, sends Cushi. 2. Persisting in his desire to run after Cushi, Joab at last allows him to go. 3. The watchman at the gate ,,f the city reports to the king that a runner is in sight, followed by another, whereupon Dadd takes courage, and hopes for good news. 4. On Ahimaaz being the first to arrive, he brictly announces that all is well, and then prostrates •himself before the king, aud blesses God for having brought victory to the king's cause. 5. David,. in liis deep concern for Absalom, inquires after his safety, and receives from Ahimaaz an evasive reply. 6. Just then Cushi comes in and announces tidings of victory, and, in answer to the question as to Absalom's safety, bluntly makes known the fact of his death. 7. The kiug, overwhelmed with anguish, enters his chamber, o.nd there pours out bis soul in a most pathetic lamentation. The relation of character to work. The work recently accomplished by joab now gave rise to another, "·hich included elements of good and evil. He was keen enough to see that the communication of the fact of victory would be most welcome to David, but that a statement of the particulars would be most distressing; and, therefore, with bis usue.l practical sagacity, he sought out for the work of conveying tidings to the kin(T a man whose character would fit him for dealing with the evil side of the message very much as be himself would. • L IN CARRYING ON HUMAN AJl'FAIBS THERE ARE OCCASIONS REQUIRING THE PER- FORMANCE oF DISAGII.EEADLE woRK. It was a pleasant thing to have to announce to David a great victory over his foes, but far from pleasant to have to tell him what had become of his son, and who had slain him. On a former occasion, when evil tidings, blended with news of the fall of a foe, was brought to him, it went ill with the bearer (eh. L 13-16). In this case the disagreeable work arose out of the wrong deeds of Joab. One evil created another. Disobedience to absolute authority cannot but bring the transgressor into an awkward position and impose unpleas~nt obl!gations. The. flow: of human life is a flow of work. In consequence of transgression agarnst God, and v1olat1on of social order, an immense amount of annoying work has to be done. 'l'he sons of Jacob after the sale of their brother found difficult work on their hands. The imperfect life u{ thf, Church creates the nece~sity of doing things that pain the tender heart, and which is more adapted to rough and hard men. Evil deeds create duties which always carry with them more or less of pain and sorrow. II. THERE IS A NATURAL AFFINITY BETWEEN CERTAIN CHARAOTERB AND DIBA- GllEl':ABLE FOnHS OF woRK. The reasons for Joab's rejection of Ahimaaz were probably thtst : fear lest he should so state the facts as to prejudice David egainst himself, and on. xvm. 1-38.] THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 14i