patriarchs and prophets-第137章
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engage the
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sympathies of the king； to arouse his conscience； and to call from his lips
the sentence of death upon himself。 Appealing to David as the divinely
appointed guardian of his people's rights； the prophet repeated a story of
wrong and oppression that demanded redress。
〃There were two men in one city；〃 he said； 〃the one rich； and the other
poor。 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds： but the poor man had
nothing； save one little ewe lamb； which he had bought and nourished up： and
it grew up together with him； and with his children； it did eat of his own
meat； and drank of his own cup； and lay in his bosom； and was unto him as a
daughter。 And there came a traveler unto the rich man； and he spared to take
of his own flock and of his own herd； to dress for the wayfaring man that
was come unto him； but took the poor man's lamb； and dressed it for the man
that was come to him。〃
The anger of the king was roused； and he exclaimed； 〃As the Lord liveth； the
man that hath done this thing is worthy to die。 And he shall restore the
lamb fourfold； because he did this thing； and because he had no pity。〃 2
Samuel 12：5； 6； margin。
Nathan fixed his eyes upon the king； then； lifting his right hand to heaven；
he solemnly declared； 〃Thou art the man。〃 〃Wherefore；〃 he continued； 〃hast
thou despised the commandment of the Lord； to do evil in His sight？〃 The
guilty may attempt； as David had done； to conceal their crime from men； they
may seek to bury the evil deed forever from human sight or knowledge； but
〃all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to
do。〃 Hebrews 4：13。 〃There is nothing covered； that shall not be revealed；
and hid； that shall not be known。〃 Matthew 10：26。
Nathan declared： 〃Thus saith the Lord God of Israel； I anointed thee king
over Israel； and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul。 。 。 。 Wherefore
hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord； to do evil in His sight？
thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword； and hast taken his wife
to be thy wife； and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon。
Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house。 。 。 。 Behold； I
will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house； and I will take thy
wives before thine eyes； and give them unto thy neighbor。 。 。 。 For thou
didst it secretly； but I will do this thing before all Israel； and before
the sun。〃
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The prophet's rebuke touched the heart of David； conscience was aroused； his
guilt appeared in all its enormity。 His soul was bowed in penitence before
God。 With trembling lips he said； 〃I have sinned against the Lord。〃 All
wrong done to others reaches back from the injured one to God。 David had
committed a grievous sin； toward both Uriah and Bathsheba； and he keenly
felt this。 But infinitely greater was his sin against God。
Though there would be found none in Israel to execute the sentence of death
upon the anointed of the Lord； David trembled； lest； guilty and unforgiven；
he should be cut down by the swift judgment of God。 But the message was sent
him by the prophet； 〃The Lord also hath put away thy sin； thou shalt not
die。〃 Yet justice must be maintained。 The sentence of death was transferred
from David to the child of his sin。 Thus the king was given opportunity for
repentance； while to him the suffering and death of the child； as a part of
his punishment； was far more bitter than his own death could have been。 The
prophet said； 〃Because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the
enemies of the Lord to blaspheme； the child also that is born unto thee
shall surely die。〃
When his child was stricken； David； with fasting and deep humiliation；
pleaded for its life。 He put off his royal robes； he laid aside his crown；
and night after night he lay upon the earth； in heartbroken grief
interceding for the innocent one suffering for his guilt。 〃The elders of his
house arose； and went to him； to raise him up from the earth： but he would
not。〃 Often when judgments had been pronounced upon persons or cities；
humiliation and repentance had turned aside the blow； and the Ever…Merciful；
swift to pardon； had sent messengers of peace。 Encouraged by this thought；
David persevered in his supplication so long as the child was spared。 Upon
learning that it was dead； he quietly submitted to the decree of God。 The
first stroke had fallen of that retribution which he himself had declared
just； but David； trusting in God's mercy； was not without comfort。
Very many； reading the history of David's fall； have inquired； 〃Why has this
record been made public？ Why did God see fit to throw open to the world this
dark passage in the life of one so highly honored of Heaven？〃 The prophet；
in his reproof to David； had declared concerning his sin； 〃By this deed thou
hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme。〃 Through
successive generations infidels have pointed to the character of
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David； bearing this dark stain； and have exclaimed in triumph and derision；
〃This is the man after God's own heart！〃 Thus a reproach has been brought
upon religion； God and His word have been blasphemed； souls have been
hardened in unbelief； and many； under a cloak of piety； have become bold in
sin。
But the history of David furnishes no countenance to sin。 It was when he was
walking in the counsel of God that he was called a man after God's own
heart。 When he sinned； this ceased to be true of him until by repentance he
had returned to the Lord。 The word of God plainly declares； 〃The thing that
David had done was evil in the eyes of the Lord。〃 2 Samuel 11：27； margin。
And the Lord said to David by the prophet； 〃Wherefore hast thou despised the
commandment of the Lord； to do evil in His sight？ 。 。 。 Now therefore the
sword shall never depart from thine house； because thou hast despised Me。〃
Though David repented of his sin and was forgiven and accepted by the Lord；
he reaped the baleful harvest of the seed he himself had sown。 The judgments
upon him and upon his house testify to God's abhorrence of the sin。
Heretofore God's providence had preserved David against all the plottings of
his enemies； and had been directly exercised to restrain Saul。 But David's
transgression had changed his relation to God。 The Lord could not in any
wise sanction iniquity。 He could not exercise His power to protect David
from the results of his sin as he had protected him from the enmity of Saul。
There was a great change in David himself。 He was broken in spirit by the
consciousness of his sin and its far…reaching results。 He felt humbled in
the eyes of his subjects。 His influence was weakened。 Hitherto his
prosperity had been attributed to his conscientious obedience to the
commandments of the Lord。 But now his subjects； having a knowledge of his
sin； would be led to sin more freely。 His authority in his own household；
his claim to respect and obedience from his sons； was weakened。 A sense of
his guilt kept him silent when he should have condemned sin； it made his arm
feeble to execute justice in his house。 His evil example exerted its
influence upon his sons； and God would not interpose to prevent the result。
He would permit things to take their natural course； and thus David was
severely chastised。
For a whole year after his fall David lived in apparent security； there was
no outward evidence of God's displeasure。 But
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the divine sentence was hanging over him。 Swiftly and surely a day of
judgment and retribution was approaching； which no repentance could avert；
agony and shame that would darken his whole earthly life。 Those who； by
pointing to the example of David； try to lessen the guilt of their own sins；
should learn from the Bible record that the way of transgression is hard。
Though like David they should turn from their evil course； the results of
sin； even in this life； will be found bitter and hard to bear。
God intended the history of David's fall to serve as a warning that even
those whom He has greatly blessed and favored are not to feel secure and
neglect watchfulness and prayer。 And thus it has proved to those who in
humility have sought to learn the lesson that God designed to teach。 From
generation to generation thousands have thus been led to realize their own
danger from the tempter's power。 The fall of David； one so greatly honored
by the Lord； has awakened in them distrust of self。 They have felt that God
alone could keep them by His power through faith。 Knowing that in Him was
their strength and safety； they have feared to take the first step on
Satan's ground。
Even before the divine sentence was pronounced against David he had begun to
reap the fruit of transgression。 His conscience was not at rest。 The agony
of spirit which he then endured is brought to view in the thirty…second
psalm。 He says：
〃Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven； whose sin is
covered。
Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity；
And in whose spirit there is no guile。
When I kept silence； my bones waxed old
Through my roaring all the day long。
For day and night Thy hand was heavy upon me：
My moisture was changed as with the drought of summer。〃
Psalm 32：1…4； R。V。
And the fifty…first psalm is an expression of David's repentance； when the
message of reproof came to him from God：
〃Have mercy upon me； O God； according to Thy loving…kindness：
According unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out
my transgressions。
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Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity； and cleanse me from
my sin。
For I acknowledge my transgressions： and my sin is ever before
me。 。 。 。
Purge me with hyssop； and I shall be clean： wash me； and I
shall be whiter than snow。
Make me to hear joy and gladness；
That the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice。
Hide Thy face from my sins；
And blot out all mine iniquities。
Create in me a clean heart； O God；
And renew a right spirit within me。
Cast me not away from Thy presence；
And take not Thy Holy Spirit from me。
Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation；
And uphold me with Thy free Spirit。
Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways；
And sinners shall be converted unto Thee。
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness； O God； Thou God of my
salvation：
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Thy righteousness。〃
Psalm 51：1…14。
Thus in a sacred song to be sung in the public assemblies of his people； in
the presence of the courtpriests and judges； princes and men of warand
which would preserve to the latest generatio
