The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 543

\'"crs. 26, 27.-Correspon_dence between the character_ef men and the conduct of God. t<Ju·ards them. The psalmist, having spoken of God's treatment of himself accordin<r to his righteousness, now shows that his case was no exception to the general rule of the Divine proceedings, but an illustration of it; that, universally, God renders to men according to their character and works. . L THE MERCIFUL EXPERIENCE ms MERCY. Our Lord declares the same trqth, when he says, "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy" (14:att. v. 7); and when he declares," If ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also, forgive you" (Matt. vi. 14); and teaches us to pray," Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors" (Matt. vi. 12, Revised Version). But how does this con~ sist with the doctrine of justification by faith? It must be in harmony with it, since both are Divine. If it do not accord with some human statements of the doetriue, it must be because these are erroneous or defective. Faith is not a .mere assent to the truth, or reliance on the atonement of Christ and the mercy of God in him; but it, involves acceptance of Christ as Teacher and Lord as well as.Redeemer, and therefore a willing obedience to his instructions, of which part is that we.. should be forgi_ving,, and that only those who are shall be forgiven-only the merciful s)lall find mercy.. Moreover, faith in the love of God in Christ works love in the heart; a faith which does not is of no avail. From another point of view, "repentance toward God" is as essential to salvation as" faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Act6 xx. 21), and will be produced by it. It is vain, therefore, for the unmerc;iful to trust in the mercy of God, or to cry to him for mercy; his mercy is shown only to the merciful, But- to. them it is shown; and that not only in the forgiveness of their sins, but in the bestow- ruent of all needful blessings. They also should bear in mind that their enjoyment of the love of God will be in proportion to the love which they cherish and display; and that every degree of selfishness will deErive them of some blessing. . IL THE UPRIGHT EXPERIENCE Gon B UPRIGHTNESS. Hti is essentially 1,1pright, just, faithful; but the happy experience of his uprightness is for those who ". walk uprightly" (Po. luxiv. 11)-those who are sincere and true-hearted tQwards God and men. To theoe he will show himself upright by manifesting to them his (1!,vour, and fulfilling to them all his promises (comp. Ps. xcii. 12-15); while to. others he will show the same quality by the execution of his threatenings. III. THE PURE EXPERIENCE HIS PURITY. "Blessed are the pure in hearj;: for they 8ball see God" (Matt. v. 8). 1. Genuine Christians are holy. Truly so, though not per- fectly. They have beet1 cleansed Ly the Word and Spirit of God, at1d "the blood of Jesus Christ his Son" (1 John i. 7). They have turned from sin, and it is their abhorreooe. They watch and pray against it; at1d, when they fall into it, mourn with sincere grief. i'hey cherish purity of heart, lip, and life. They desire and strive after perfect holiness. !. To such Gc,d shc,ws himsel,f 1,oly. (1) He reveals to thc1u his holinClls. They nre capable of such a revelation, becanse of their purity of heart. Sin blit1ds the soul, OH. XXII, 1-61.] THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 1159