The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 527

perfecting of tM deUtlffllfl.Ct!, So thorough WAB the reserve to be tbnt the swollen torrents and deep placea were to be entirely made bare of water in order to render eacape complete. We may look at our deliverances as from enemies human or fieb.dlsh, and we shall find that God does make himself known as our Friend, and causes ow foet1 to feel his displeasure. We know that he helps, but we know not all hie way.,, He brings influences to bear on our foes, so that they are weakened, and what he doae he doe■ perfectly, clearing away whatever InAy hinder our safety. The same general truths will hold good if we look at our many deliverances from spiritual peril, He 1ets himself against evil, and oomes to our sorrowing soul. He lets us know;enough for our cheer, but does not throw full light on all his methods. He brings the miithty influences of his Word and Spirit to destroy the power of sin, and by the tremendous work of Christ clears away every obstacle to our full salvation. GENE•AL LESSONS. 1. When we come 'into great troubles let us take comfort that in this matter we are sharing in an experience which, in the case of some of the best of men, has developed a more earnest spirit of prayer. 2. The records of God's dealings with his saints sbowe that there is no distress too deep for him to reach and remedy. 3. There is no place on earth but that the voice of prayer is free to enter into God's holy temple and even to his ear. 4. Although for a season during the prosperity of those who persecute the pious it may seem as though they were exempt from displeasure, yet God is angry with them, and will in some significant way cause them to know it. 5. However desperate our case, we may rest•assured that God is in possession of all the means of gaining access to our need, and of scattering whatever evils three.ten us with ruin. 6. '!'here are no powers, however:deep-seated and established, but that, if we trust in God, he will clear them out of the way, so· that we may find a position of safety, and consequent elevation to honour and blessedness. Vers. 20--30.-God's righteousness in sewing the righteous. The facts are: 1. David states that, in delivering him from his enemies, God recognized his uprightness and purity. 2. He affirms that, as a matter of fact, he had in his conduct endeavoured to live according to the will of God. 3. He declares the general truth that, in thus rescuing him the upright, and showing disfavour to the perverse persecutor, there was e:r.emplified the principle of the usual Divine procedure, 4. He ascribes the successes of the past, not to himself, however upright, but to ;God, his Light in darkness and his Strength for deeds of daring. There is, in David's references to his own righteous- ness and purity, ao appearance of what is now called self-righteousness. He seems to violate the primary canons of Christiao propriety and to establish a doctrine of merit. But this ioterprete.tion of his words is an utter miRconception of his meaning, and proceeds from an ignorance of the historical circumstances he had in mind when penning the words. It is a wrong done to personal experiences of the Old Testament to approach their ioterpretation with certain prepossessions based on New Testament teaching with reference to our personal unworthiness before God on account of our essential sinfulness. David was not speaking of his state absolutely befo:e God; ~e was not thioking of the question as to whether he or any one else was a srnner. His sole thought was of the distinct charges brought against him by such men as Doeg the Edomite, aod believed by the foolish king Saul; and he was conscious that his being hunted by Saul was a grievous wrong, a treatment be did not deserve. He was the righteous man, for he loved Saul, showed him kindness, and paid him•honour; Saul and Doeg and others in the conspiracy were the unrighteous men, uttering falsehoods, wri..ng cruelty, and cherishing malice. God came as Judge between .them, ~nd b_y interposition showed his delight in what his serv~ot ~ad been and done. in_ this particular matter, and his displeasure with Saul far hlB wicked conduct. He vmd1cates the gracioUB interposition of God on the ground that it is a righteous and glorious thing on the part of God to rescue those who suffer un~ghteously, and to declare, b! his rescue of them, his delight in them as compared with the men who ~ause their llllfferings (cf. I Sam. ui. 7; xxii. 9-13, 18-23; xxiv. 7-15; , xxv1. 10--20). The vindication and illll6tration of God's righteousness in saving his people may be considered as follows. I. THERE ABE SPECIAL lllBT.6.BOES IN WRICH IT MAY BE SA.m THAT GoD BAVBI 'l'ID BIGBTEOUB, ID ordinary 11peech we •1 that God 1avee ainner1, That is true in OD, :U:D, 1-51,] THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 641