The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 463

JV, 'l'HE MANIFOLD AND EVER-FLOWING 0ONBEQUEN0EB OF BIN ARE NOT ADEQUATELY BE0OONIZED BY MANKIND. David recognized the rebellion and death of Absalom and the 1111sociated civil inconveniences as being in some way connected with his sin; but even be did not see, when at Mahanaim, that the subsequent death of Amasa and the schism of the two kingdoms were also a consequence of his conduct, and therefore of his sin. His own people probably did not even connect the troubleM of the times with hie sin, but rather with what they regarded as a foolish over-fondness for a favourite son. In our life, we do not sufficiently connect our bodily and mental imperfections with the sins of others in the past, or, in some cases, especially witn our own sins. Political bodies and publicists fail to recognize the spiritual origin of vast and compli- cated social troubles. The Bible in this respect is the most statesmanlike and philosophical of all books, in that it givee prominence to sin as the determining factor in all our material and social troubles. A spiritual mind discerns the spiritual causes. Vars. 16-30.-The· facts are: 1. Shimei, with a considerable Benje.mite following, including Ziba and his household., joins the men of Judah to meet David at the Jordan. 2. Previous to the king being ferried over, Shimei falls down before him, confesses his past sins, and pleads for mercy, and urges as evidence of sincerity that he is the first to come and bid the king welcome. 3. On Abishai expressing his feeling tnat Sbimei should rather be put to death for his evil deeds, David resents the suggestion, and in honour of the tlay of his restoration declares to Shimei that his life shall be spared. Mephibosheth also comes, with his person uncared for, to welcome the king at Jerusalem, and on being asked why he had not gone out with him into exile, explains that it was owing to the deception of his servant Ziba. 5. Placing himself and all his interests entirely at the king's disposal, admitting that all his rights and privileges were, according to political custom, of pure clemency, he is told that he need not enter further into the question, but that he and Ziba. should divide the land between them. The influence of swperior minds. The section now under notice cannot be separated in import from the preceding words (vers. 14, 15), which relate that David bowed ine heart of all the men of Judah so that they came to conduct him over J orda.n. The particular instances of Shimei nnd Mephibosheth a.re special illustrations of the general truth expressed in David's bowing the hearts of men. The mighty power of the king's words and methods gathered around him the most bitter of foes and the most lonely and help- less of his friends. The facts bring out into view the influence whicn a superior mind exercises over others; and on the nature and conditions of this influence we may, by the help of the narrative in addition to broad facts in human life, 'make a few observations, noting- I. THE NATURAL BASIS. The bowing of the hearts of all the people indicates the swaying of an influence of an unusual kind. Whatever the means and whatever aids to this end came from the sudden transition of public feeling produced by Absalom's death, the fact remains that there was in David's nature as a man something which, when aroused, gave him a mental and moral power over others. Intellectually and morally he was a born king of men. If "king" = konig = konnen, " to be able," then he, by virtue of his nature, was king-was above others, and there went forth a spell which all recognized. Apart from special endowments, he was the superior man of the: age. There were elements in him which, under evil disposition, would render him most capable of leading people captive in evil ways, and which, under a. good disposition. did la_y hold of them tor their good. The history of mankind and the observation of daily life reveal the domination ol Qle mind over others. The influence of mind is tho most subtle and mighty thing we know. Millions sometimes submit to its spell. It is the proud prerogative of the select few to bow down the hearts of their fellows. All attempts to explain the fact by psychological analysis are insufficient. No analysis can get at the mysterious nature of the impact of one spirit on another: yet we know that the reality has its root in the peculiar constitution of the individual. This applies to preacher, statesman, philosopher, poet, king. The Apostle Paul's power was in its basis a constitutional power. Grace is grafted on nature, not a force apart from nature. II. ACQUIRED INCREMENT. The native qualities of David determined tbe fact and the kind of his superior influence over other minds, though not its moral direction. But his 474 THE SlllOOND BOOK OF SAMtmt. [on. 1:x. 1-· -43.