The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 595

Israel's dominion by foreign oonqueete (oh. xxii. 44, 45). "Warlike thoughts certainly stand in the bRCkground; if we fail to see this, we lose the key to the whole transac- tion, and the Divine judgment is incomprehensible" (Hengstenberg); but it can hardly be supposed that he formed the definite purpose of" transforming the theocratic state into a conquering world-state" (Kurtz). (3) Possibly with a view to "the developmont of the royal power in Israel" and "general taxation" (Ewald); which made it obnoxious to Jo1Lb and the council (for something of the kind ~eems necessary to account for ,the oppo~it.ion of such a man). ( 4) Certainly with vain-glorious pride, self-elation, distrust of God, who "said he would increase Israel like to the stars of tho heavens" (1 Chrun. xxvii. 23), and presumptuous confidence in himself (1 Sam. xv. 1-9; Luko iv. 5-12). "David's heart was lifted up to rejoice in the number and strength of the people" (Willet). "The very same action, apparently performed with different intontions, becomes essentially different in a. moral point of view. It is the motive in which it originates, or the spirit with which it is carried on, that gives it its diijtinctive character iu the sip:ht of God. David was actuated by a vain-glorious spirit, which is always an abomination in the sight of God. He was thus indulofog a vain conceit of his own strength, a proud confidence in his own greatness, as if his chief dependence were on a? arm of flesh; forget.ting his own devout profession that. the Lord was his Rock, and Ins Fortress and his Deliverer, in whom he would trust" (Lindsay). "From its first origin Israel was caUed to the supi·emacy of the world (Dent. xxxiii. 29). • David now thought that he could rise step by step to such elevation without the help of God, who had provided for the beginning. The records should bear witness for all time that he had laid a solid foundation for this great work of the future" (Hengstenberg). "It was a momentary apostasy from Jeho'l"ah; an oblivion of the spirit of dependence incul- cated on the rulers of Israel." . This was the root of the offence; and in it the whole llation participated. "This history shows that the acts and fortunes of rulers and people are closely connected together; and thh the sins and virtues of the one exercise great influence on the happiness of the other" (Wordsworth). Consider tha~· 1 l. Goo 16 1''"EVEB ANGRY WITH ANY PERSON OR PEOPLE EXCEPT ON ACCOUNT' OF sm. "Da'l"id's causing the people to be numbered was the immediate cause of the pestilence; for the procedure originated in motives which the Lord condemned. But the primary and real cause is to be found in the verse which introduces the narrative, and which is almost invariably lost sight of in the common accounts of this transaction. It is that 'the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel.' Now, the anger of the Lord could only be awakened by nnfaithfulness and evil-doing; and that, whatever' its precise nature, was the real cause of the calamity that followed, and relieves the ·case of 'the apparent harshness, of which so much has been said, of making the people suffer for the offence of their king" (Kitto,' Daily Bible Illus.'). 1. Bin alo~e excites the anger of God; which is his holy opposition to sin and sinners, and not inconsistent with his love, but rather the effect of resistance to it (eh. xi. 27). 2. Whenever sin dwells in the·heart, no less than when it is expressed in outward actions, God observes it, and is displeased with those who are guilty of it. "For he knoweth the secrets of the heart" (Ps. xliv .. 21 ). 3. His displeasure with a whole people implies prevalen, and persistent sin among them, such as the spirit of unbelief, disobedience, vain-glorious pride, and presumption, which was manifested in the recent rebellions of Israel, and appears to have been subsequently indulged. 4. So far from being palliated or passed over because of their exalted position and privileges, their sin is a)!;gravated, and more fully ensures their chastisement on that account. "You only have I known," etc. (AmoB iii. 2). "It may be not unreasonably surmised that they were smitten with tbe same unhallowed elation of heart (as the king); that they were tempted to exult in their own strength; that they rejoiced in the prospect of beholding the proud array of their multitudes of fighting men; and that dreams of grandeur and glory may have been before their eyes, and may have caused them to depart from the Lord" (Le Bas). "The important lesson for ali here is this-that even the smallest feeling of national pride is a sin against God, and, unless there be a powerful reaction, calls down the judgments of God. With this feeling even the Romane presented offerings of atonement at their census." II. SIN m A PEOPLE IS USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH SIN IN THEIR RULER. 1. '.i'he furmer may be incited by the latt.er (1 Kings xv. 30). Or: 2. It may be an incitement to it (John xix. 12). "The people had iufected the king with their own arrogance, OIJ, XXIV, 1-26,] 'l'HE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 611