The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 550

consider what le involved In the Divine processes by which they are exalted, they resolve themselves into attention (so to speak) to, and animating or controlling inHuence over, a countless multitude of small matters. Yet we shall not be astonished at this when we remember that not a sparrow is forgotten by God, and that his children "are of more value than many sparrows" (Luke xii. 6, 7). Also that great results depend on small things; and that, in fact, to the Infinite Mind there is nothing great, nothing small. (3) And pre-eminently, the incarnation and work of the Son of God. The self-humiliation of the eternal Word in becoming man (John i. 1-3, 14), and of the God-Man in lowly service to lowly people, patiently enduring the greatest indignities and most painful and ignominious sufferings, "obedient unto death, even the death ol the cross" (Matt. xx. 28; Luke xxii. 27; John xiii. 2-5 ; Phil. ii. &---8). ( 4) The worl& of the Holy Spirit. Stooping to dwell in the hearts of the mean and sinful, bearing with neglect, waywardness, resistance, and disobedience. 2. The condescension thm displayed promotes spiritual greatnesa. Not only as it is exercised in the ways before mentioned, but: (1) As it is apprehended e.nd realized. The majesty,holiness, and justice of God tend to humiliate e.od repress the hwria.n spirit, and discourage aspiration and effort. At best it produces only a "spirit of bondage" (Rom. viii. 15). But under the influence of condescending love, love is enkindled, confidence is awakened, the heart expands e.nd enlarges, is inspired with the freedom and courage which prepare for noble service of God and man,·rises heavenward a.nd yet looks on earth with kindlier eye, and more resolute purpose to la.hour e.nd suffer for its good. (2) As it incites to imitation. Contemplating the grandeur a.nd beauty of the Divine condescension, we become trans- formed into its image. We learn to stoop to the lowly and even the degraded. We are content to serve in lowly offices, if thereby we can benefit our fellow-men. It no longer seems strange that we should be required "to wash one another's feet" (John xiii. 14). And this is the wa.y to become great (Mark x. 43, 44). Yet we must not indulge the thought or assume the air of condescension, or we shall fail both to benefit others and to secure honour for ourselves. Rather let us accustom ourselves to think in how many and important respects we are on a. level with those whose good we seek. This will produce in us genuine humility, and enable us to feel towards our brethren a brotherly sympathy which will banish the sense of superiority.-G. W. Vers; 44, 45.,-The head of the nations. David once more records how God had delivered him in and from the contestsin which he had been involved; and declares that he had thus kept him " to be the head of the nations " ( Revised Version), not only Israel, but foreign peoples. He, or, if not he, the Spirit which spake by him (eh. xxiii. 2), may.have had in view the ultimate purpose of God respecting him and his posterity, viz. the exaltation of his great Son to be, in a. wider sense than was applicable to David himself, "the Head of the nations." We may e.t least take the words as applioa.ble to the Lord Jesus Christ. I. THE OPPOSITION BE ENCOUNTERS. Like David, he has to withstand many "striv- ings of the people." 1. In, his life M eQ/l"th. he was much opposed. He endured the "contradiction of sinners against himself" (Heb. xii. 3). "He came unto his own, and bis own received him not" (John i. 11)-his own people, his own family (John vii. 5). All classes, with e. few exceptions, rejected him-Pharisees and Sadducees, elders e.nd scribes, ecclesiastics e.nd politicians, rulers and people. The multitude sought once to make him king (John vi. 15), and, when he entered Jerusalem for the last time, welcomed him, in the hope that be we.s a.bout to ascend the throne; but he would not be such a king as they desired, and they ea.red not to have such a King a.s he was to be. Hence they united with their superiors in saying, "We will not have this Man to reign over us" (Luke xix. 14); and, to put e.n end to his pretensions, put him to death. They did not know that they were thus very effectually promoting his victories and reign. 2. He has met with various and cunstant opposition ever since, His ea.use has advanced in spite of perpetual "strivings" against it. Jews e.nd Gentiles, kings e.ntl sub- jects, rich and poor, the intellectual e.nd the ignorant, the refined and the coarse, have "set themselves . . . against the Lord, and age.inst his Anointed" (Ps. ii. 2). He, too, can speak still of the "strivings of my people." .As at first amongst the Jews, so Aince amongst Christians (so-called), and amongst those in high positions in his Church, have been found his worst foes, Men are willing to bear bis Name, to receive some of  liGS THE SEOOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [on. x::rm. 1-61.