Ver. 29.-(MARANAIM.) • Is the young man , , . safe," Youth is a seJLqon of intense activity, favourable opportunities, and glowing promise, "The passion, which in youth Drives fut downhill, means that the impulse gained Should speed m up the hill that's_ opposite." (Sir H. Taylor,) This question is specially suggestive of-:- !. DANGEL No soldier on the battle-field, no traveller on II dark mountains," no ship on a tempestuoll!I sea, is exposed to greater peril than e. young man. Of what? Not so much of physical 1,uff'ering and death, as of sin-the only real evil, ·and one which involves the loss of his highest life (Matt. x. 28). From what? Chiefly from himself-his" own heart n (Jer. xvii. 9); inexperience; susceptibility· to impressions; personal endowments (eh. xiv. 25); "youthful lusts" (2 'Jim. ii. 22), the love of pleasure, excitement, " name and fame ; " impatience of control, self-confidence, rash- ness, and presumption.. .Also from false friends (eh. xiii. 3), rather than open enemies; sceptical and sensuous literature; "the defilements [miasma] of the age" (2 Pet. ii. 20); and the peculiar temptations of the place, the occupation, and the society with which he is connected. •; Rejoice, 0 young man," etc. (Eccles. xi. 9). • IL SAFETY. "To be forewarned is to be forearmed." ",vherewithal, etc.? By taking heed thereto according to thy Word n (Ps. cxix. 9). The most essential thing is a right state of heart; its supreme affection set on God, its ruling purpose directed to the doing of his will (Prov. iv. 23), its varied powers II united to fear his Name'.' (Ps. lxxxvi 11; Prov. i. 7). There is also need of watchfulness (1 Cor. xvi. 31), keeping out of the way of temptation, trusting in God to be kept by him, unceasing prayer, association with good men, the cultivation ·of proper habits, profitable reading; seasonable recreation, useful employment, and advancement toward the true end of life. "If ye do these things, ye shall never stumble," etc. (2 Pet. i. 10, 11). III. Al-"XIETY; on the part of parents, instructors, Christian friends ; arising from sincere affection, a clear perception of his danger, and an ardent desire for his welfare ; expressed in fervent prayer, appropriate endeavour (ver. 5), and frequent inquiries (ver. 32). Alas! that a young man for whom others are so tenderly concerned should; recklessly and wilfully "lose himself and become castaway" 1-D. • Ver. 33.-(MAHil'JJJrL) David's lament over .dbsa1om. "Would that I had died in thy stead, 0 .A.bsalom ! my son I my son I" In a little court between the inner and the outer gate of the fortified city wall, where (in the early morning) he stood and watched his brave soldiers going forth to battle (ver. 4), sits the aged king at eventid~ (eh. xix. 3, '1), awaiting tidings from the battle-field. The watchman, "from the .roof of the gate at the wall," calls out to him that he descries, first one nian "running alone" (not with others, as in flight, ver. 25), then another, and, as the foremost approaches nearer, says that he thinks his running is like that of the swift-footed Ahima.az (eh. xvii. 17). On the arrival of the news of victory (" Peace I"), the first on. XVIII, 1~33.J THE SECOND DOOK OF SAMUI<;L, 4,55
worcl.9 of ~avid (like his Jo,gt, ver, 5) are of Absalom; "Is there peace (.~halom) to [i~ it well with] the young man Absa.lom?" nnd, perceiving bis deep concern, AhimMz dares no; re~eal the wh?le trnth (ver. 20). Again, the kin~ makes the same inquiry of the Cush1te, who (with less sympathy, but greater fidelity) utters the wish that as the young man, so might all the king's enemies be! "And the kin"'0 was much moved (greatly agitated with grief), and went up to the upper chamber of the "'ate, 0 and wept; e.nd thus he ee.id1 ns he walked (to and fro)-: My son Absa.lom I my son I my son Abee.lorn I" etc. ·,. Is it so far from thee Thou canst no longer see In the chamber over the gate That old man desolate, Weeping and wailing sore For his son who is no more? ' 0 Absalom, my son I' "Somewhere at every hour The watchman on the tower Looks forth, and sees the fleet Approach. of hnnying feet Of megsengers, that bear The tidings of despair. . • 0 Absalom, my son I ' " That 'tie a common grief Bringeth but slight relief: Ours is the bitterest Joss. Onrs is the heaviest cross: And for ever the cry will be, ' Would God I bad died for thee, 0 Absalom, my son ! '" (Longfellow.) "Absa.Iom afflicted his,father moro by his death than by his life" (Augustine). This expression of intense and absorbing grief (in which all joy of victory is swallowed up, eh. xix. 2) is indicative of- L PARENTAL AFFECTION from which it springs. Five times the afflicted father cries, "My son I " (B'ni); thrice,," Absalom ! " A father's love ( especially in such a fervid soul as David's) is: 1. 'l'he natural, instinctive, spontaneous effect of the relationship which subsists between him and his child. It is the closest relationship of life, and is mercifully joined by the Creator and Father of all with a great and peculiar ~fection; which, nevertheless (whilst it is intensified and exalted by a proper appreciation of its object, as" the offspring of God") requires to be regulated by intelligence and piety. 2. Deeply rooted, enduring, indestructible. It is not eradicated by a son's estrange- ment (Luke xv. 12), wilfulness, manifold transgressions, or even open rebellion. It makes large allowances, has much patience and forbearance; "believeth all thing3," etc. (1 Cor. xiii. 7), "covereth all sins " (Prov. x. 12). It feels persuaded that he has "some good thing in him," and cannot endure the thought of his entire abandonment. "Not only the question itself (ver. 29), but the very terms of it, breathe the tenderness of David's feeliri:i;s. Absalom is 'the youth,' as if his youth were a full excuse for his conduct" (' Speaker's Commentary'). 3. Pitiful, sympathetic, self-sacrificing (Ps. ciii. 13). " My son, my beloved, my beautiful Absalom I miserably slain, and now lying dead I :Would that l had died for thee In (cb. xxiv. 17; Exo,l xx:i:ii. 32 i Rom. ix. 3). "Thou seest the braided roots that bind Yon towering cedar to the rock: Thou seest the clinging ivy twined As ifto spurn the whirlwind's shook;- Poor emblems of the strings that tie His offspring to a parent's bee.rt; For those will, mouldering, yield and die, Ilut these can nover, never part." THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [on. xvm, 1-33.