The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 464

edt~~tion ·an? experience in the grAdual exercise of l)i!I powers In lower spheres of actrMty contnbuted to the mature form and l:a.nge of hill Influence. • 'l'he c·onqueror of lion and gia.nt beca.me, by an edncational process, a conqueror of the hearts of nien. The development of natural powers, whether of oratory, administration, will-force, motal suasion, or the more nameless thing which goes out from one's personal preso'lice, is another way of 11aying tha.t we have added to the store of influence which h\y in the mental con~titution from the first. The difference in the degree to whloh some men acquire this increment accounts, in large measure, for their ascendancy·over the equa.lly gifted. Perhaps this is the meaning of those who regard genius as a name for great powers duly developed by continuous exercise. •• III. SrmITrrAL ENDOWMEl,...T. In the case of David we must recognize this element in his superior power over the hearts of good and ba.d. Grace in him had perfected and beautified a fine nature. The spiritua.l is always the most subtle and subduing influence over men, when brought fairly into play. In spite of sin, men acknowledge the spell. The anointing by Samuel in the name of God was more than a formal act. David was indeed the Lord's anointed. Hence all the natural and acquired qualities recdved an elevation and a tone which, when the dire etils_ of the great fall were not at work on him, ga"e to his words, his counsels, his movements, and commands a chRJ'm and force over men of most diverse temperament and character. In this he was like the apostles when they stood before men. ,ve occasionally see now: how greatly the power of certain minds is increased over others when they have the natural and acquired gifts baptized with the anointing of the Holy Spirit. A consecrated heart and intellect gains influence by its consecration. There are men who by oratory have bowed the hearts of thousands; but when such men have became true Christians, the bowing of the hearts under their words is a much more thorough and enduring victory. "Covet earnestly the best gi~s" (1 Cor. xii. 31). • •- • IV. CmOUMSTANTIAL AIDS. The circumstances of the time gave advantage to David in the exercise of his ordinary powers. His friends _had mourned his sorrowful isolatic;>n; his enemies had felt that, by defeat, they had placed themselves in an awkward position ; his being aroused from his self-absorbing grief Jed him to calmly review the position of advantage in which now the goodness of God had placed him; the reflection that riow a supreme ~ffort was needed if he was to prevent the alienation of friends and follow up the fruits of victory so as to save the nation from anarchy, drew forth his entire soul into sympathy with the purpose of God in making him king ; and, as a consequence, he so infused into his conversation with the people of Mahanaim, and into his messages to the elders of Judah, the whole power of his nature that he bowed the hearts of all. Events had prepared the minds of the people to receive the influence going forth from his very souL The narrative evidently implies that there.was some unusual persu~sive- ness in his manner and language, and it reached even to Shlmei and Mephibosheth, who certainly were rendered more accessible to his influence by the change in affairs. Seasons of excitement and public interest a.re favourable to the putting forth of the influence which superior minds can exercise. The Day of Pentecost was a time which brought aid to the efforts of the apostles. A grave responsibility rests on gifted men to use their influence under such favouring circumstances as occasionally occur in human: affairs. GENERAL LESSONS. 1. It behoves us not to allow our gifts to be long unused, by reason of absorption in purely personal interests. 2. It is a scripturally enforced duty that we stir up the gifts that may lie in us. 3. Among the various powers that may be exercised in the world, we should especially de.sire and seek that of bowing down the hearts of me~ to the interests of God's kingdom. 4. We may rest assured that, if we use our powers to the utmost in a good cause and in dependence on God, we shall overcome many an obstacle and win over even adverse hearts. Royal demency. The sudden collapse of the rebellion placed David in. a position of advantage, and yet of difficulty. He was not the man to care for sovereignty over a disunited people, and the attitude of those who had been in rebellion was not quite certain. Those who do wrong are suspicious of those againsb whom the wrong' h'.'-9 been done when power comes into their _hands. It was, therefore, the policy of David to convince them that they need not be under any apprebension of his using the recovered power to punish them. This was the evident meaning of the ileputation of l'!tt. xtx.1-43.J Ttit SECOND BOOK OF 8AMUEC. 475