The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 611

'l'be Prophet G1Mi was eent to him, not to assure him of :pa.rdon, but to offer him a ohoice of punishments (vers. 12, 13). He chose pestilence, as being more immediately from "the hand of the Lord," whose "merciClll are great." Accordingly, a tcmible plague foll on the people, destroying eeventy thousand men in less, apparently, than one day. F,,r althongh t.hree days had been named as the duration of the pestilence, the time ww; evident.ly shortened, and the plague oeased &S it threatened to destroy Jorusalem (ver. 16). To thnt extent the prayers of David (vers. 10, 17), and the sacrifices whioh he hHstmed to offer by direction of the prophet, prevailed. The king had sinned; the punishment fell on the people. David felt and pleaded the,.incongruity (ver.17). What can we SHY respectin!!: it? 1. lt .is accoi•d;ng to a universal law of Divine procedure. The difficulty meets us everywhere. Subjecta suffer on account of the sins o.nd even the mistakes, of their rulers; children, of their parents; and, more widely, th~ innocent, because of the sins and follies of others. It is useless to argue age.inst facts. 2. Events which are jrtdgments to the guuty are simple trials to the innocent, and may be unspeak- able ble1JSi11gs. When the godly are struck down with others in a time of general calamity they exchange earth for~eaven. "The sword, the pestilence, or fire, Shull but fulfil their best desire; From sins and sorrows set them free, And bring thy children, Lord, to tLeo." (Watte.) 3. In this case th£ people suffered for sins of their own. It was because •• t.b.l) anger of the Lord waa kindled against Israel" for their sins (ver. I), that David's sin was per- mitted and its punishment inflicted. Many other cases would admit of 11, similar explanation. 4. .Although the calamity which fell .on the nation was great, a greater would have been the death of its sovereign by the plague. 5. IJavid suffered severely in the <iestruction of so 'TTU1,ny of kis subjects. lf his sin was that of pride in the number whom he ruled and conld lead to war, the punishment corresponded to the sin. He was me.de to feel how soon God could deprive him of that in which he boasted. 6. When all has been thought and said that is possible, it is for us (1) to recognize that God's way,; are necesse.rily beyond ,our comprehension-we are soon out of our depth as we contemplate them; (2) to cherish undoubting confidence in his wisdom, righteousness, and love in all hie prooeed.ings, whether they are discernible by us or not. Such confi- dence is required a.nd justified by what we do distinctly know of him; and it is the only way to settled peace in a world so full of misery and mystery. 7. Let us carefully avoid, sin, not only because it is evil in itself and will bring pain and sorrow to ourselves, but because others will inevitably be involved in the consequences of our conduct. Many children are sufferers for life through the wickedness of their parents.-G. W. Ver. 13.-Pressingfor an answer to God's message. "Advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me." These words of Gad to David might well be addressed by religj,oue teachers, and especially ministers of the gospel, to those whom they instruct. Notice- L Goo's MESSENGERS. "Him that sent me." 1. True ministers of (Jhrist are God's messengers. Their office is not a human invention. They are not mere lecturers, who may chOOl!C their own themes and aims; not mere philosophers, free to speculate at will and give the people the result of their speculations; still lees mere performers, whose business is to amuse. They are sent of God, by the operations of his Spirit, the guidance of his providence, and the appointment of his Church; and have a definite message from him to their hearerfi, viz. the gospel (in the wider sense) of J esue Christ-its revelations, precepts, promises, a.ad threatening~. In deliverinl! this message, they have a definite end to seek-the salvation of their hearer,;, He who is not convinced that he is God- ,;ent-" 1U\1'11rcl1y moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon him this office and ministration" (Prayer-bookHught not to a.sewne it. 2. They alwuld clterish a due sense of their 7,ositwn. Which will keep alive: (1) The feeling of responsibility to God. ".As they tLat must give account" (Heb. i.iii.17). (2) Humility. The conscioUBnese of a Divine miE,iun might tempt them to pride and arrogance, but the consciousness of unworthiness 2.JJ.J uLJfitiLJess for DU bllcred a work will kc~p them burub!<i. "Who is sufficient for these OH, XXIV, 1-25,] 'l'HE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 627