HOMILIES BY V.A.RIOUS .AUTHORS. ·;· V~rs. 1-51 (:i's. xviii.).-(JERUSALEM.) Davia's song of praise. "And David spake unto' Jehovah the words of this song," etc. (ver. 1). It is a song of: 1. The anoint.er!, (messiah) of the. Lord, his king (ver. 51), his servant (Ps. xviii., inscription). Like Moses and Joshua, David held a peculiar and exalted position in the kingdom of God un\ier the Old Testament. He was "a man [unlike Saul] of God's own choosing" (l S11-m, xiii. 14; xvi. 28), to fill the office of theocratic king, and to fulfil his purposes concerning Israel and the world; he was also specially fitted for his vocation, faithfully 4evoted to it, and greatly blessed in it. And in the consciousness of this he here speaks. 2. Praise to the Lord, on the ground of his perfections, his relations, his benefits ; prompted by ,th~ desire to render to him the honour which is his due (1 Sam. ii. 1-10). "To praise God means nothing else than to ascribe to him the glorious perfections v.·hich he possesses; for we can only give to him what is his own" (Hengstenberg). And, more especially, of: 3. Thanksgiving for past deliverance, from imminent perils, to which, ns the servant of God, he was exposed through the hatred and opposition of his enemies. Of these .Saul was the most formidable; and, after becoming King of ls!"1el, David was attacked by numerous heathen nations, both separately and in combination (eh. v. 17; viii.; x.). It was probably when "the Lord had given him rest round about from all bis enemies" (eh. vii.1), and after the promise of an everlasting kingdom (eh. vii. 12-16), that the song was uttered; though by some it is regarded as "a great hallelujah, with which he retired from the theatre of life.n "Haviag obtaiaed many and signal victories, he does not, as irreligious men are accustomed to do, sing a song. of triumph ..in :honour of himself, but exalts and magnifies God, the Author of these victories, by a train of striking and appropriate epithets, and in a style of surpassing grandeur and sublimity" (Calvin). 4. Confidence in future triumph over all the enemies of the kingdom of God ; of, which the success already attained is an assurance. God is pro.ieed, not only for what he is and has been to him, but also for what be will be to'' David and his seed for ever" (vor. 61). Of this song, consider- !. ITs suasTANCE; or, tho reasons for praise. 1. Xhe personal and intimate relation- 1hip of Jehovah to his servant (ver~. 2-4). 548 THE SEOOND BOOK OF SAMUEL, [oll. xxn. 1-61,
"Jehovah is_iny Rock, and my Fortre111, and my, yea, my Deliverer, My Rook-God, in -whom I trust," eto. (Ven. 9, B.) (l) He stands in a peculiar relation (beyond that which he bean to all men)· to those t,o whom he reveals hie Name, whom be takes into hie fellowship, and to whom he promises to be "their God." These things make it possible to say, "my God-" and (along with his gracioue acts) incite the personal a.nd ardent affection expressed ~t the commencement of Ps. xviii. (a liturgical variation of the song), "Fervently do I love thee'. 0 Jehovah my Strength," etc. (2) Nature, history, and experience furnish me.n1fold emblems of hie excellences, and of the blessings which he bestows on those who trust in him (1 Sam. ii. 2; Deut. xxxii. 4; Gen. xv. 1). These images were suggested by the physical aspect of Palestine, and by the perilous oondition and special deliverances of David in his early life, as a fugitive and a soldier, beset by many foes. (3). He is all-sufficient for the needs _of his people, however numerous and great, for theu rescue, defence, permanent secunty, and complete salvation. "As worthy t.o be praised, do I oall on Jehovah, . And (whenever I call) I am saved from mine enemies.n " Faith knows no past and no future. What God has done and will do is present to it." 2. Bu marvelloUB ,leUverance. (Vers. 6-20.) ·Ina single comprehensive picture David describes the many dangers that encompassed him during his persecution by Saul, and the many providential interpositions (1 Sam. xxiii. 24-28) that were made on his behalf. (1) Even those whom God loves (ver. 20) are sometimes "greatly afflicted," and reduced to the utmost e:J!tremity (1 Sam. xxx. 1-10). "For breakers of death surrounded me, Streams of Belial terrified me ; Cords of Sheol girt me about, SD&?eB of death overtook me." (Vere. 5, 6.) (2) Their extreme need impels them to rely upon God all the more entirely, and t.o call upon him all the more fervently; nor do they call in vain. "In my distress I called," etc. (ver. 7), "and he heard my voice (instantly) out of his (heavenly) temple." (3) Very wonderful is the answer of God to their cry, in ~he discomfiture of their adversaries and their complete deliverance. "The means by which this deliverance was achieved were, as far as we know, those which we see in the Books of Samuel-the turns and chances of providence, his own extraordinary activity, the faithfulness of his followers, the unexpected increase of his friends. But the act of deliverance itself is described in the language which belongs to the descent upon Mount Sinai or the passage of the Red Sea" (Stanley). The unseen and eternal King was moved with wrath, at which the whole creation trembled (vers. 8, 9); he approached in the gathering thunder-clouds, and upon the wings of the wind, armed as·" a man of war" (Exod. xv. 3), and preceded by his arrows of lightning (vers. 10-13); then, in the full outburst of the tempest, with the thunder of his power, "hailstones and coals of fire," he scattered the enemy, and disclosed the depths from which the cry for help arose (vers. 14-16); finally, with distinguishing, condescending, and tender care (ver. 36)- • "He reached from above, he laid hold of me, He drew me out of great waters," etc. (Vere. 17-20.) "It is true that the delive!'llllce of David was not actually attended by any such ext~ ordinary natural phenomena; but the saving hand of God from heaven was so obviously manifested that the deliverance experienced by him could be poetically described as a miraculous interposition on the part of God" ~Keil).. 3. Hia righteoua proced'lllrtJ, (Vers. 21-28.) "He delivered me because he delighted m me" {ver. 20). He acted toward David in accordance with hie gracious choice of him to be his servant, and delivered him because he wae "well pleased" with his faithful service; the ground of this deliverance being now stated more fully- " Jehovah rendered me according to my righteousness, Aocording t.o the cleanness of my hands bath he recompenlled me," et.a. Oll, XXII, 1-51.] THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 54!)