The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 590

prosperity were to be dependent on perfect obedience to God's commands (Lev. xxvi. 3, 4). It ia expressly Added that then a few men will suffice against a host, and, on the other band, disobedience and "pride of power" (ver~. 14, 15--19) will entail defeat and desolation. Tbo.t this "pride of power" wo.s the real sin in David's case is seen in this--tho.t the three o.lterno.tivea offered to him are the very three forms of chastisement alluded to in Lev. xxvi. 3-10 (cf.16-20). But the point is this, that, whichever form of oho.stiaement is to.ken, the effect is the same-a diminution of the p<Ywer which was an object of pride. 'rhe sin of rejoicing in the "o.rm of flesh" (Jer. xvii. 5; cf. Isa.. xxx. 2) wo.s visited by a weakening of that "arm." Famine, war, pestilence, either, would take away from that very number which it was David's ambition to know and have as large as possible. This adaptation of chastisement to sin is seen elsewhere. The infliction for wicked craving for flesh in the wilderness (Numb. xi. 33), the con- fusion and helplessness of those who sought help in Egypt rather than in God (Isa. x.xx. 2, 3, 16, 17), the turning of Laodicean outward respectability into a. loss-of all respecta- bility (Rev. iii. 14-18), the change from boasted glory to corruption in the case of Herod (Acts xii. 21-23),-are instances of a certain adaptation of chastisement to the particular sin committed. All who make self, or personal merits, or cre:i.ted power, a. substitute for God, will find that on which they rest vanishing just when they most need comfort. VII. THE PENITENT1B TRUST m THE JUSTICE AND MERCY OF Gon. Of the three dreadful alternatives, David took the pestilence, on the ground that his broken heart could rest more calmly in God's judgments, where the hwnan element was not employed as a.gent. Here was the true instinct of the soul. God is just and good, and in his hands all is sure to be right and kind. Man is weak and evil, and as an agent may blend his own base passions with the execution of a. Divine decree. Even in the hoar of suffering, _when sin is to be punished, the heart has faith in God. Here is homage to God's justice and mercy. Many a man, who by his sins brings terrible wars on himself and family, bows in entire submission, and rests in blended justice and mercy. This is the essence of our faith in Christ as Sacrifice for sin. VIII. THE RELATIVE 0HARACTEB. OF OPEN MANIFESTATIONS OF Gon's PRESENCE. There is nothing really surprising in the appearing of the angel of the Lord to David; for it is in keeping with the theophanies of the early dispensation, when men had special need to be reminded of the reality of God's presence. Abraham, Jacob, Moses, J oshuo., Manoah, were predecessors of David in this respect. The step from the message of God by the Seer Gad to a visible manifestation is not very great to any one who believes at all in the supernatural; indeed, the final manifestation of God in Christ covers all prior manifestations. Those who profess to see difficulties in these Old Testament accounts do not understand the logic or the historical congruity of their position as believers in the visible incarnation of the Son of God. Manifestations of God's presence are relative. Creation is an expression of the bein~ and presence of God. The voice which comes to prophet or apostle, the glory on which Moses gazed, the pillar of cloud aud of fire, the appearance of manna after the promise of it, the vision of the seer, the still small voice to Elijah, the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the frustration of the scheme of the wicked and the furtherance of those of the good, and the 8piri tual revelation to the soul in fulfilment of the precious words (John xiv. 21, 22),-these are all manifestations of God. Christ differs from all in that he is the Fulness of the God- head bodily. It is a mercy that our poor dull nature has been blessed by these demonstrations of the reality of things unseen and eternal. IX. MENTAL SUFFERING THE 0HIEF PENALTY OF sm. David sinned in numbering the people; the pestilence smote many of them, but touched him not. Nevertheless, he was the greatest sufferer; for no physical death could equal, in the pain it brings, the anguish of his soul in seeing that his sin had brought such trouble and pain on "these sheep" (ver. 17). To a man of his generous nature, with all the ambition to be a good and wise ruler (eh. xxiii. 3-5), it must have been torment unspeakable to see that he wo.s an occasion of bringing woe to thousands of homes. His punishment was heavy indeed. A similar terrible mental punishment comes to the parent who sees, in his reformed years, his children diseased or ruined by former sins of his own. In this mental anguish lies, perhaps, the hell which meu so much dread. ~. 'l'1n: l'All0~M0N¥ Of l'uovIDE;NCE, David was not correct in his supposition that 606 THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [OIi, XllV, 1-25,