按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
only gave up the war； but became tributary to Israel。 Against the Ammonites
David pushed the war with vigor； until their strongholds fell and the whole
region came under the dominion of Israel。
The dangers which had threatened the nation with utter destruction proved；
through the providence of God； to be the very means by which it rose to
unprecedented greatness。 In commemorating his remarkable deliverances； David
sings：
〃The Lord liveth； and blessed be my rock； and exalted be the
God of my salvation：
Even the God that executeth vengeance for me； and subdueth
peoples under me。
716
He rescueth me from mine enemies：
Yea； Thou liftest me up above them that rise up against me：
Thou deliverest me from the violent man。
Therefore I will give thanks unto Thee； O Lord； among the
nations；
And will sing praises unto Thy name。
Great deliverance giveth He to His king；
And sheweth loving…kindness to His anointed；
To David and to his seed； forevermore。〃
Psalm 18：46…50； R。V。
And throughout the songs of David the thought was impressed on his people
that Jehovah was their strength and deliverer：
〃There is no king saved by the multitude of a host：
A mighty man is not delivered by much strength。
A horse is a vain thing for safety：
Neither shall he deliver any by his great strength。〃
Psalm 33：16； 17。
〃Thou art my King； O God：
Command deliverances for Jacob。
Through Thee will we push down our enemies：
Through Thy name will we tread them under that rise up
against us。
For I will not trust in my bow；
Neither shall my sword save me。
But Thou hast saved us from our enemies；
And hast put them to shame that hated us。〃 Psalm 44：4…7。
〃Some trust in chariots； and some in horses：
But we will remember the name of Jehovah our God。〃
Psalm 20：7。
The kingdom of Israel had now reached in extent the fulfillment of the
promise given to Abraham； and afterward repeated to Moses： 〃Unto thy seed
have I given this land； from the river of Egypt unto the great river； the
river Euphrates。〃 Genesis 15：18。 Israel had become a mighty nation；
respected and feared by surrounding peoples。 In his own realm David's power
had become very great。 He commanded； as few sovereigns in any age have been
able to command； the affections and allegiance of his people。 He had honored
God； and God was now honoring him。
But in the midst of prosperity lurked danger。 In the time of his greatest
outward triumph David was in the greatest peril； and met his most
humiliating defeat。
（717）
Chapter 71
David's Sin and Repentance
The Bible has little to say in praise of men。 Little space is given to
recounting the virtues of even the best men who have ever lived。 This
silence is not without purpose； it is not without a lesson。 All the good
qualities that men possess are the gift of God； their good deeds are
performed by the grace of God through Christ。 Since they owe all to God the
glory of whatever they are or do belongs to Him alone； they are but
instruments in His hands。 More than thisas all the lessons of Bible
history teachit is a perilous thing to praise or exalt men； for if one
comes to lose sight of his entire dependence on God； and to trust to his own
strength； he is sure to fall。 Man is contending with foes who are stronger
than he。 〃We wrestle not against flesh and blood； but against
principalities； against powers； against the rulers of the darkness of this
world； against wicked spirits in high places。〃 Ephesians 6：12； margin。 It is
impossible for us in our own strength to maintain the conflict； and whatever
diverts the mind from God； whatever leads to self…exaltation or to
self…dependence； is surely preparing the way for our overthrow。 The tenor of
the Bible is to inculcate distrust of human power and to encourage trust in
divine power。
It was the spirit of self…confidence and self…exaltation that prepared the
way for David's fall。 Flattery and the subtle allurements of power and
luxury were not without effect upon him。 Intercourse with surrounding
nations also exerted an influence for evil。 According to the customs
prevailing among Eastern rulers； crimes not to be tolerated in subjects were
uncondemned in the king； the monarch was not under obligation to exercise
the same self…restraint as the subject。 All this tended to lessen David's
sense of the exceeding sinfulness of sin。 And instead of relying in humility
upon the power of Jehovah； he began to trust to his own wisdom and might。 As
soon as Satan can separate the soul from
718
God； the only Source of strength； he will seek to arouse the unholy desires
of man's carnal nature。 The work of the enemy is not abrupt； it is not； at
the outset； sudden and startling； it is a secret undermining of the
strongholds of principle。 It begins in apparently small thingsthe neglect
to be true to God and to rely upon Him wholly； the disposition to follow the
customs and practices of the world。
Before the conclusion of the war with the Ammonites； David； leaving the
conduct of the army to Joab； returned to Jerusalem。 The Syrians had already
submitted to Israel； and the complete overthrow of the Ammonites appeared
certain。 David was surrounded by the fruits of victory and the honors of his
wise and able rule。 It was now； while he was at ease and unguarded； that the
tempter seized the opportunity to occupy his mind。 The fact that God had
taken David into so close connection with Himself and had manifested so
great favor toward him； should have been to him the strongest of incentives
to preserve his character unblemished。 But when in ease and self…security he
let go his hold upon God； David yielded to Satan and brought upon his soul
the stain of guilt。 He； the Heaven…appointed leader of the nation； chosen by
God to execute His law； himself trampled upon its precepts。 He who should
have been a terror to evildoers； by his own act strengthened their hands。
Amid the perils of his earlier life David in conscious integrity could trust
his case with God。 The Lord's hand had guided him safely past the unnumbered
snares that had been laid for his feet。 But now； guilty and unrepentant； he
did not ask help and guidance from Heaven； but sought to extricate himself
from the dangers in which sin had involved him。 Bathsheba； whose fatal
beauty had proved a snare to the king； was the wife of Uriah the Hittite；
one of David's bravest and most faithful officers。 None could foresee what
would be the result should the crime become known。 The law of God pronounced
the adulterer guilty of death； and the proud…spirited soldier； so shamefully
wronged； might avenge h