The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 523

or personRl history to be found in the Old Testament, and even in the entire Bible with the exception of that referring to Christ-seeing that that history was one of most strange vicissitudes, e.nd full of dangers. 'l'he story of David's life is so necessarily occupied with events e.e they appeared to men e.nd as they pertain to, visible history that this song is e. true supplement, inASilluch as it brings into view the deep spiritual feelings that influenced him in the midst of those events, and so furnishes a key to the religious life of the gree.t king. This song of deliverances reminds us of the song of Moses when Israel triumphed over Pharaoh and his hosts at the Red Sea (Exod. :r.v.), of the song of the ransomed e.s they were to return to Zion with everlasting joy on their heads (IS&. x:u::v. 10), and of the still more wonderful new song by the redeemed from e.11 nations a.nd kindreds of the earth (Rev. v. 9-13; xiv. 1-3). In theee his- toric e.nd prophetic instances we have illustrations of songs of delivera.nce ever rising from grateful hearts, establishing thus with the pe.sb and the future a community of religious experience which is at once a fruit and a.n evidence of the Divine redemption wrought out by our Saviour, Taking the experience of David a.s our guide, we may observe-- I. THE PERILS OP' LIFE ARE SOM:ETIMES SO EXTREME AS TO INDUCE ni::MENBE EFFORTS TO ESCAPE THEIL History tells us some of the perils of David's life, both'when Saul pursued him with relentless cunning and cruelty, and when, as king, kindred, friend, e.nd foe, and also the unseen powers of darkness, sought his ruin. The subsequent references in vers. 5, 6 give his impression of the greatness of his distress; and the allusions to" rock," "high tower," and "fortress" remind us of the time when· his t>Xtremity was such that he climbed the craggy cliff or hid himself in the inaccessible clefts of the rooks. No man was so near to death as was David, and no good man came nearer to moral e.nd spiritual destruction than did he in the case of Bathsheba a.nd Uriah. This is the common lot of men on earth, though some find their perils less than those of their fellows. In business affairs, in statesmanship, in special enter- prises, in matters of health, in common intercourse with men, a.nd in spiritual experi- ence, there are seasons when it seems to be a question of a few hours whether we make wreck or escape. Then comes a strain, a deme.nd on our fullest resources, correspond- ing to that on David when Saul sought his life, or when spiritual destruction was in the train of Bathsheba's unholy love. JL NO HIGH OliARACTEB RAISES US ABOVE LIABILITY TO THESE EXTREME PERILS, The world is infested with evil, and the best characters find that, as mortal, fallible men, they are liable to the exigencies of life, and as good men they are objects of attack by the powers of darkness. David was a.n honest, sincere, devout man, and specially dear t.o God when Saul hunted his life; and he was superior to many before the horrible temptation to depart from purity fell upon his soul. Character is a defence against some dangers, else were it of little worth; but danger to our calling, our enterprises, our health, our moral position-subtle and serious-cannot but be our earthly lot. Even our Lord knew the tempter's power in the bitterness of poverty; and he warned the best men around hie Person to expect peril to earthly interests, and to watch lest at any time even their devouter hearts should be overcharged with surfeiting and drunken• ness and the cares of this life (Luke :r.xi. 34 ; of. 16). ill TRULY RELIGIOUS HEN WILL USE EVERY EFFORT TO ESCAPE THESE PERILS, Jn his reference to "rook," "refuge," and "fortress," David at once carries us back to the time when he used his utmost endeavours to escape from Saul by climbing the rocks and taking refuge among the fastnesses of the mountains (1 Sam. xxii. 1, 6; xxiii. 14, 15). David acted as though all depended on himself. 'l'he cave, the cliff, the gorge, the lofty peak, were sought to cover him as a" shield," or to raise him as on a" high tower." So far w. the two men were concerned, it was a case of skill against skill, endurance against endurance. So, also, in the more spiritual conflicts of hie life, he laboured hard to save himself from destruction. Prayer, medit.ation on the Divine Law, taking heed to his steps, going to the ho1188 of the Lord, were so many forms of personal exertion to escape the foes of his highest life. So is it with the followers of Christ. They strive daily to ward off the ills which threaten their temporal interests, and when peril becomes extreme, they stir up all their energies to maintain their head high above all impending evils; and what is true of temporal ill truti also of spiritual interest1-the7 give all diligence to make their calling sure, Ott. XXII. 1-61.J TllE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEt. 637