This language (comp. 1 Sam. xxvi. 13-25) neither implies entire freedom from sin nor indicates a boaetful spirit, but is expressive of sincerity, integrity fidelity· in contrast with the calumnies e.nd wickedness of enemies, in fulfilment of ; Divine ~ail, in obedience to the Divine will generally, and in the main course of life, as: (1) An expression o.nd justification of the we.ye of God in a particular instnnce. (2) Aii illus- tro.tion of the lo.w of his dealings with men (vers. 26, 27). "The truth which is here enunoio.ted le not that the conception which man forms of God is the reflected image of his own mind and heart, but that God's conduct to man is the reflection of the relation hi which tnan ho.s placed himself to God (1 Sam. ii. 30; xv. 23)" (Delitzsch ). "Jehovah is righteous; he loveth righteousness" (Ps. xi. 7). This is a most worthy reason for praise. (3) An admonition and encouragement; "with the design of inspirina0 others with zeal for the fulfilment of the Law." "And oppressed people thou ea.vest; And thine eyes a.re age.inst the haughty: them thou humblest." 4. His continued and effectual help. (Vers. 29-46.) The righteousness and faithfulness of God are further confirmed by the experience of David (after his deliverance from the hand of Saul) in his wars with the external enemies of the kingdom. (1) Having rescued his servant from destruction, he calls him to active conflict with surrounding enemies (vers, 29-32). In the former part of the song, David is represented as a passive object of his aid; in the latter, as an active instrument for effecting his purpoges, (2) He prepares him for the conflict, o.nd strengthens him in it (vers. 33-37). (3) He enables him to overcome his enemies and utterly destroy their power (vers. 38-43). (4) He extends and establishes his royal dominion, making him to be "head of the heathen n, (vers. 44---,46). Herein the Messianic element of the song specially appears. Not, indeed, that" it is a hymn of victory, spoken not in the person of the prophet himself, David, but in the Person of his illustrious Son and Lord" (J. Brown, 'The Sufferings and Glories of the Messiah') ; nor that there is here a direct and conscious prediction of the future Christ; but that the assured triumph of "David and his seed" over the nations, the extension of the theocratic kingdom, prefigured the more glorioll.'l victories of" the King Messiah." "David's history, from first to last, was a kind of acted parable of the sufferings and glory of Christ" (Binnie). "Prophecy reveals to us the foreknowledge of God; ·but typical institutions reveal, not only his foreknowledge, but his providential arrangements. The facts of history become the language of prophecy, and teach us that he with whom a thousand years are but as yesterday guides the operations of distant ages with reference to each other; and thll.'l in a typical economy we trace not only the all-beholding eye, but the all-directing hand of the Deity ; not only the Divine omniscience, but the Divine omnipotence. The foretold and minute resemblance between.characters and transactions, separated from each other by an interval of a thousand years, is too striking an argument of the hand of God to be controverted or explained awo.y " (Thompson, • Davidica '). The kingdom of Christ, nevertheless, is of a higher nature, o.nd established by other means, tho.n the theocratic kingdom of David. "This was the foundation of that resplendent image of the Messiah which it required the greatest of o.ll religious changes to move from the mind of the Jewish nation, in order to raise up instead of it the still more exalted idea which was to take its place-an anointed Sovereign conquering by other arts than those of war, and in other dominions than those of earthly empire" (Stanley). "Thus all David's hopes and all his joy terminate, as ours always should, in the great Redeemer" (Matthew Henry). II. ITS Bl'lBIT; as it o.ppeo.rs throughout the song, and particularly in its conc1usion- " Living is J ehova.h, and blessed is my Rook; Exalted is the Rook-God of my salvation," etc. (Vers. 4:7-51.) 1. Personal, appropriating faith, "Faith it is which gives its peculiar grandeur to David's song of triumph; his masterpiece, and it may be the masterpiece of human poetry, inspired or uninspired. What is the element in that ode, which even now makes it stir the heart like a trumpet? What protects such words (vers. 7-17) from the imputation of mere Ee.stem exaggeration? The firm conviction that God is the Deliverer, not only of David, but of all who trust in him; that the whole majesty oi 650 THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [on. xxn. 1-61.
God, and all the poweni of nature, are &l'l'llYed on the side of the good 1md the opprest" (C. Kingt1ley, 'David: Four Sermons'). 2. Heartfelt delight in God. 8, Fervont gralitude. 4. Unl'elerved consecration to bi11 service, hiii honour, his glory, . "Therefore will I give thankB unto thee, 0 Jehovah, among the heathen; And Bing praises unto thy Name." ' (Ven. l!O, llt) (See on thle aong, Chandler, Maclaren, W. M. Taylor, and commentariea on Ps. xvlii.) "David, King of Jndah, a soul inspired by Divine music and much other heroism, was wont to pour himaelf forth in aong; he with a seer's eye and heart discerned the God- like among the human I struck rones that were an echo of the sphere-hal'I!lonies, and are still felt to be such. Reader, art thou one of a thousand, able still to read the psalms of David, and catch some echo of it through the old dim centuries; feeling far off in thine own heart what it once was to other hearts made as thine?" (Carlyle, • Miscellaneous Essays ').-D. •