The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 489

having In mind the old law of Deut. xx. 11, 12, remonstr11ted with Joab because h~ had not sought to come to terms before having recourse to annR. And here we 8ee a fact embodying II principle, namely, that a people of one nation, speech, religion, and covenant relation to God, pause while engaged in II ruinous strife, anJ that it is pre-eminently desirable and right on occasions of strife to seek some baMis of recon- ciliation, J, THE TRUE CONDITION 01!' THJ!l PR0'B'ESBED SERVANTS OF CHRIST 18 THAT OF UlsITY AND CON00BD, The strife between Joab's forces and tbe people of this city was unnatural. They were brethren, the chosen race, called and separated from all nations to work out II blessed purpose in which all men were concerned. Unity and concord became them. How good and beautiful II thing for them to dwell in harmony! The siege of Abel was II sign of an abnormal state of things. This is just what is taught in the New Testament. Christ's disciples are a holy nation, a peculiar people, called to show forth the glory of God and to bless mankind, and in his last most solemn dis- courses and great prayer he sets forth their unity and concord as the only state befitting them, and congruous with his spirit (John xiv.-xvii.). JI. 'l'HE BREAKING OUT OF RELIGIOUS STRIFE IS PRODUCTIVE OF SERIOUS MISCHIEF, AND THREATENS THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD WITH GREAT CALAMITIES. The fact of the strife is itself an evil, and indicates the presence somewhere of a mind alien to the mind of Christ; but also it generates evils of varied form, and intensifies their action in proportion as the spirit of strife is intense. Leaving out of view just now the revolt of Sheba against the lawful authority of David-regarding him in that respect as a type of the men who reject the authority of Christ-we see that there existed a strife between men who had not rejected David's authority. Joa.b was contending against the whole city of Abel as though it were hostile to hiw, and many in the city were con- 19nding against him 118 though he were an enemy. The evils of this were obvious: bad feelings were engendered and strengthened the longer the siege con tinned, desolation and anguish were being brought on many homes, the city 118 a centre of influence-a. mother of children-was having its power for good cut off, and the one kingdom to which all belonged was being checked in its progress. That was the belief of the wise woman and her friends, and it was in accordance with facts. Precisely the same evils attend our more modern strifes, When subjects of the same Lord are engaged in conflict, whatever the passing occasion, there is not only a dire evil in the fact it~elf, but inevitably bitter unhallowed feelings find scope, many a Christian heart and home are made desolate e.nd sad, Churches and organizations that should embody in tb m;;elves all the kindly fostering influences of mothers have their proper spiritual influence weakened, and the progress of the kingdom of love, peace, and righteousness receives a check. " The inheritance of the Lord" is la.id waste. " The boar out of the wood doth waste it" (Ps. Ixu. 13). Ill. 'l'HE CAUSES OF RELIGIOUS STRIFE MAY LIE IN MUTO' !.L MISUNDERST.L'IDING AND NEGLECT OF PRIM.ARY OBLIGATIONS. Joab fought against this city on the supposi- tion that it was in sympathy with Sheba; and the people themselves for a while were constrained by his assaults to assume a defensive attitude. Had he e.t first, in accord- ance with Deut. xx:. 11, 12, sought an interview with the elders, e.nd bad they been willing, in the spirit of that ancient rule, to receive his communications, the strife had earlier come to a close, and brethren would have been one. The beginnings of strife are very subtle, e.nd it is hard to unravel the true causes from among the intricate thoughts and feelings of the human mind ; e.nd the incidents which occasion the appearance of strife may be as far beyond the control of communities as was the sudde~ t~rowing of e.n armed force by Sheba. into this unguarded city. But most often strife 1s kept up through mutual misunderstandings. Opinions are supposed t~ be hel~ whi?h, if fai~ly looked at in e.n early stacre, would not be ascribed, e.nd motives are 1mag10ed which would disappear on close~ acquaintance. Perhaps it is inevitable that, diffo·ently constituted and educated as men are, judgments must differ as to the form of expres~- ing truth and doing Christian work; but these need not _cause actual_ stnfo, 1f formed in a prayerful loving spirit, and all for the glory of Christ_, and esp~c1a.l_ly may much contention be avoided if men will but discharge the pnmary ob\1gat10n lmd down in the ancient law (John xv. 12; Matt. v. 44), of loving and pr, _;ing for one another, and being frank and generous in intercourse (Matt. xviii. 15, 16).  502 THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. (cR. :lrX. 1-20.