Vers. 81--51.-The facts are: 1. David asserr.s the ex.elusive perfection of God, 2. He states that his strength and power are from God, and that God teaches him• to move and act with ad vantage in times of war and difficulty. 3. He refers to the help received through the graciousness of God, and the fact that thereby he was able to subdue all his enemies. 4. Be alludes to the subjugation of the people to himself as the con- sequence of Divine help, and looks on to further triumphs over strangers. 5. He recounts the fact of his deliverance, and makes the final reference to them a fresh reason for thanksgiving. •
Know'ledge of Godf(l'U,nded on e:rperience.. From vers. 31 to 87 David seems to state some of the results arising out of his experience of God's dealing with him during the earlier portion of his life. He can now say with emphasis what at one time could only be said as a matter of general profession on the part of a pious Hebrew; and there is in ver. 31 an implied contrast with certain apprehensions entertained during those seasons of isolation a.ud distress, when no one cared for his soul, and the course of providence seemed to be all against him. And in this respect others are like him; the more profound their personal experience in life, the more clear and sure a.re their conceptions of the ineffable perfections of God. L A KNOWLEDGE OF GOD 18 MORE A QUESTION OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAN OF SPECULATION. Among the Hebrews there were grand traditional beliefs and con- ceptious which placed their pure monotheism far above the theistic faiths of other uations, and David in early yea.re inherited these, and could give beautiful expression to them. But the traditional and even reasoned views which he had acquired were·not his greatest treasure. A long life of communhn, service, conflict, and patient trust bad cau~ed him to see that experience was the most important element in this matter of k1Jowledge of God. No doubt it is possible to rea.i;on up to God. The logical outcome of the principle of causation is God, and the moral nature of man is' only intelligible on the hypothesis of a supreme personal Ruler. It is not true that specu- lative philosophy leads away from God. All its lines, when straightly pursuer!, con,- verge on him. The question is one of personal relations, and it iR not within the competence of a speculative inquirer to settle this great question regardless of thll deup, ineradicable, and most 11&ered experience of which human nature is etipable. JL As A MATTEB OF FAM, EXPERIENOE GIVEB A CLEABEB, FULLEB; AND HOBB ABBUBED KNOWLEDGE THAN ANY OTHER MEANS. Experience is of fint importance in matters pertaining to spiritual things. We know the reality of unseen beings existing beneath the fleshly covering of the body more truly by the mysterious contact of our self with e.n invisible counterpart, than by any physiological or psychological arguments. There ill an inexFreBBible knowledge in our oonscioUI intuitions of other- minds being OIi. XXII, 1-51.] THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 543
tn communion with our own, which Is the more clea.r, sure, a.nd satisfying, in that it is inexpressible in words. Likewise the personal experience of holy men brings them so near to the living God, so directly in contact with bis Spirit, a.nd gives them such clear and irresistible convictions of his Being and his glorious character, that to such men the light thrown on the question of the Divino existence and charncter by procossee of reasoning seems very cold and dim. 'l'hey can dispense with it for themselves. Like the Apostle John, they have tasted and handled and felt the Divine reality (1 John i. 1-3). • Ill. '.J.'HE CLEARER AND MORE SUBE KNOWLEDGE RELATES ESPECIALLY TO BIB EXCLU- SIVE PEI\FEOTIONB. After his deep and often trying experience, David could speak most confidently of God as "perfect" in all things. He a.lone was worthy of the name God. The points referred to a.re: 1. His methods. 2. His Word. 3. His care. His methods of discipline, of guidance, of instruction, and of working out purposes seemed strange and obscure while David was in trial, hut in the end he saw that ~n was perfect. So is it ever. The more we experience of his "ways," the more do we learn their wisdom, goodness,. and justice. His "Word," considered as promise, covenant, revelation, or manifestation in Christ, requires personal experience to enable us to see how pe,:fect it is. How hearty an" Amen" can multitudes give to this statement! His care is discovered by our experience through scenes of danger and peril to be indeed sufficient, suited to every emergency, and most gentle and considerate. As our "Buckler," "Shield," and "Rock," we know him more truly, as life advances and the heart ·becomes charged with unutterable experiences, to be perfect. How vain are all the negations and disputations of restless speculators to the soul rich in such experience! IV. TEE KNOWLEDGE OF Gon GAINED BY EXPERIENCE ISSUES IN DEVELOPME~T OF GllARACTER AND FITNESS FOi\ HIGHEST FORM OF WORK. The holy mall enriched by such knowledge is not a mere knowing creature; he becomes a man of higher character and more extended activity. His way is made perfect; his feet are those of the hind; he rises to the best positions in the spiritual sphere; his hands are fit for warfare; he becomes calm and strong in the guarantee of a perpetual shield; and distinction in the highest society and fitness f11r the holiest service are the outcome of God's gracious dealings. As David, after all his strange experience of God's power and gentleness, was more strong in faith, more skilful in administration, more apt at spiritual warfare, and -more conformed to the Divine will; so all who follow on to know the Lord more perfectly, and enter more deeply into the secret of the Lord, rise in spiritual character, end become more fit instruments for doing the purest form of work in the world.