The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 531

IT. THE dONFLI0T IS PROTRA0TED AND CHARA0TEIUZED BY VICIBBITUDEB. From the day that Baul entertained a wicked jealousy of his powers (1 Sam. xviii. 8) till the revolt of Sheba, David had to be on his guard, a.nd in some form or other defenrl his person and his right to the kingdom. Now he is 1n deepest distress, a.nd now rescued by the interposition of God. Sorrow and joy were his portion. The lesson for us Is obvious. Our we.rfe.re is lifelong. As long a.s there is lurking evil within the domain df our nature, as long as strong e.nd subtle temptations come upon us, and the great enemy seeketh our life, so long we must stand in the whole armour of God arnl. watch and strive (Eph, vi. 10-17). And, also, we have our seasons of anguish and desolation, oQr fa.intings a.ad fears, our fa.Us and wounds, as well BS our songs of triump~ and jqy. , 'l'he'Apostlo Paul wrote at the close of his toils and conflicts as one who had suffered much and accomplished much. What is true of us personally is true in a way of the great Church militant; there a.re, as history reveals, times of sore defeat and sorrow and apparent aba.ndotlment, and times a.gain of magnificent triumphs. III. THERE IS, THROUGH THE CONFLICT, ABIDING TRUST IN GoD AND USE OF GIFTS. The language in which David describes the issue of his conflicts reveals that a.II through he cherished unceasing faith in God, a.nd used well the fingers to fight which Provi- den·ce had trained. In darkest sea.sons his hope wa.s in God. Not armies, but God, formed his Refuge, Strength, a.nd Defence (vers. 4-0, 41). Saving the great lapse, when for a time the soul wa.s estranged from its Source of blessing, there was a calm and unshaken confidence that the great purpose for which he was called to the throne would be realized, and this·rendered moral support to all material means employed for subduing foes .. It is the characteristic of our warfare that it is the "good fight of faith." From first to last, trust in the presence, help, and succour of God enters into the exercise of all watchfulness, prayerfulness, and resolute endeavours to subdue every- thing to Christ. Success in Christian warfare springs from a subtle blending of the most absolute faith in the almighty grace of God with the most energetic use ot' know- ledge and resolve. By this combination also, the Church, in its corporate action, seeks to banisb spiritual foes from the kingdom, and to extend Christ's supremacy over all people and lands. IV. CERTAIN AND COMPLETE VICTORY IS THE ISSUE. If we compare David when an outcast among the caves of the mountains, or a. wanderer among an alien people, dependent on heathen hospitality for his sustenance and protection (1 Sam. xxvii. 1-7), with David at the close of his rei~n, dwelling in regal splendour, and in peace from all his foes, we can see how complete his triumph, and how true in effect is the bold language of this song. Helpless, unbefriended by the Judge of all the earth, his oppressors are a.s the beaten dust and trampled mire. Aliens a.nd the rebellious among his own people (vers. 41-44) alike are brought low, and all their pride and strength ha.s vanished. It is only when we come to the end of our Christian career that we can say this of a.11 our foes; but it can even now be said of many in the past. The strongest language of David will be inadequate to express the completeness of the victory we shall at last obtain over all spiritual foes. As Israel saw no Ii ving Egyptian as they stood on the shore of the Red Sea, a.nd as the multitude in Rev. xv. 2-4 looked over ihe calm glassy scene of a former arena. of conflict and peril, so we each sha.11, through Christ, be able to survey the past and see our enemies no more. More than conquerors, we shall sing the song of triumph. Sin a.nd temptation, the horrible dangers, the slippery places, the roaring torrents, the deep waters, will have been overcome, and our sanctified na.tnre will constitute a domain in which the voice of tumult is no more heard. Our personal triumph will be analogous to the triumph of Christ over a.11 the evil forces that once opposed his blessed reign. The glory of the accomplishment of life's purpose due to God. In the section from ver. 45 to ver. 51 David looks on to wb,at God will yet do for him ; he reflects on what is now his happy position, and on the connection of this with the great deliverances of the past; and, thus taking !L threefold view of his_ life, be a.scribes a.11 the glory of real and possible achievements unto God (ver. 50). His own people and the heathen would regard him a.s a great king, a.nd ascribe his wonderful successes to his superior prowess In war, and Rkill in administration. Not so the ma.n of God. 'l'o his God he ascribes all the glory. Ta.king the particulars of David's life 8.ll means of illustration, we e.lso ~~M~~ 2N  5i6 THE SEOOND BOOK OF SA.YUE¥, [ea, xxn, 1-61,