The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 472

and in this was le.id the le.sting breach between himself and his nephew, which neithor the one nor the other ever forgave" (Ste.nley). But, convinced the.t he he.d given oocasion for reproof, ht, now patiently submitted to it ~s. cxli. 5). "Hard natures e.nd he.rsh words have their uses in life e.fter all" (Scott . "The undisciplined- word of Joeb beC&llle a means of discipline to De.vid, and the ing turned from the destructive path into whioh unbridled feeling had led him." III. READILY RESTRAINED and le.id aside. "And the king arose," etc. (ver. 8). •• He was stung into act.ion, 1rnd immediately roused himself to the discharge of his royal duties." Would we overcome immoderate grief? We must: 1. Listen to tho admonitions of truth, however disagreeable; and learn tho evil of indulging it. 2. Receive the consoling assurances of Heaven, and pray for neodful strength. 3. Repress it lll'ith pro1I1pt and determined effort. 4. Devote ourselves with diligence .to necessary and nseful aotivities. "Hee.ven he.th assigned Two sovereign remedies for hume.n grief : Religion, surest, :firmest, fust, and best, Strength to the weak, and to the wounded, balm ; And atreftUOIUl action next." (Southey,} Ordinary grief must be restrained within due bounds. But there is a. sorrow-:-tender, hoperu}. godly sorrow for sin, to which we may freely and folly surrender ourselves; for it always conducts to greater purity, strength, a.nd joy.-D. Ver. 15.-David's reflu/rn, 'to Jerusal,em. "And David returned, and c~e to_ the Jordan" (the eastern bank; while Judah came to Gilga.l, joined by Shimei and Ziba.; and a ferry-boat was passing to and fro to carry over the king's household, ver. 18) ; crossed over (to the western bank, conducted by Judah and half the people of Israel, ,vers. 39, 40); came t.o Gilga.l (where all the men of Israel met him, and a new conten- tion arose, ver. 41; eh. x.xi 1); and finally (conducted by the men of Judah) to Jerusalem (eh. x.xi. 3). The return of David, like his flight, is described minutely a.nd graphically. As he had been called to the throne by the voice of the people (eh. v. 1-il), so he desired to return to it, not by force, but by their free consent; a.nd would t.ake no active measures for his restoration until he 1:1hould receive some intimation thereof. "Our Lord Jesus will rule only in those that invite him to the throne in. their hearts, and not till he is invited. He first bows the heart, a.nd makes it willing in, the day of his power, then rules in the midst of his enemies (Ps. ex. 2, 3)" (Matthew Henry). David's restoration was distinguished by: 1. The returning allegiance of the rel>elliO'US. (Vers. 9, 10.) "All the tribes of Israel" (except Judah). Popular revolutions are usually followed by speedy reactions. Convinced of their error, ingratitude, and injustice by their defeat, remembering the great services which David had rendered on their behalf, and considering the present condition of affairs, " all the people" manifest a disposition to " brin11: the king back ; " and this gratifying intelligence is reported to him while waiting at Ma.ha.naim. 2. The dedsive action of the dilatory. (Vers. 11-15.) "The men of Judah," who, since the rebellion arose in their territory, feared the king'11 disple&!lure, or proudly held aloof in continued disaffection under Amass. But when assured of his regard, reminded of their kinship, and urged to activity, they· are at once "drawn" unto him '' as one man;" send the message, "Return," etc.; and come to conduct him across the Jordan. Judah is a.gain to the front. David's appeal was conciliatory, and seems wise and j•ist (though some think otherwise), however disastrous its ultimate effect. 3. The l,umble submission of the guilty. (Vers. lG-23.) Shimei, with a thousand men of Benjamin, and Ziba," etc. "'l'hey went eagerly [prosperously, Hebrew, tzalach] over the Jordan in the presence of the king" (ver. 17); and "Shimei fell down before the king in his crossing over (ribar) th Jordan" (while the transit wa.s going on). "With a ~If-control rare in Western no less than Eastern history, every step in his progress was marked by forgiveness" (Maclel!',r). 4. 1'he joyful wilam.e of tl.e suspected. (Vers. 24-30.) The innocent Mephibosheth, the grandson of &w,/,, now vindicated aud restored to "all tba.t be most cared for-the king's favour, his old place e.t the kiag•~ table, and th" formal recognition of his ownership" of the Ott. XII. 1-43,] THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 483