The Great Duty of Self-Resignation to the Divine Will, Section 2 · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI. Of the Example of DAVID.
XI. THe fourth Example. I shall propose of Self-Resignation is holy David, a man after God's own heart, that would fulfill foreign, all his wills, as it is Acts xiii. 22. He was eminent for obedience to the Divine Commands; he delighted to do the will of God, yea his law was within his heart, Psal. xl. 11. And had respect unto all his Commandments, Psal. cxix. 6. And he was likewise eminent for a patient submissive temper under great trials and sufferings.
That was an exceeding great trial, when, with his houshold and loyal Subjects, he was forced to fly with all speed out of Ierusalem, for the saving his life from the bloudy machinations of his own Son Absolom. We have the Story in 2 Sam. 15, & 16. Chapters. Absolom, his third son by birth, but now his eldest, and therefore Heir apparent to the Crown, being impatient to stay for it till the natural death of his Father, designed first by flattering civilities to insinuate himself into the hearts of the people, and afterwards by armed power to force his way into his Throne.
For his person, he was of a very lovely aspect and taking presence, so that in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absolom for his beauty;Ch. xiv. from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.
He had also a fair and smooth tongue,Ch. xv. 2, 3, 4, 5. was of a winning and insinuating behaviour, so that he stole away the hearts of the men of Israel. V. 6, 13.And having so done it was an easie business to get himself chosen and proclaimed King, which was done by the men of Israel, and that in Hebron too, the very place where his Father was first anointed by the men of Iudah, Ch. xv. 10.and seven years and an half after by the Tribes of Israel.
And now Absolom endeavours to confirm himself in his usurped dominion by the best arts of power and policy he could imagine. He gains Achitophel to be of his side, who was the King's Counsellor, a man of that venerable esteem for his great wisdom, that his Counsel is said to be, as if a man had enquired at the Oracle of God, Chap. xvi. 23.
He is busie in preparing a great Army against his Father; the Conspiracy was strong, and the people increased continually with Absolom, which made him cry out, as he did, in the third Psalm, ver. 1, 2. (a Psalm penned upon this occasion) Lord, how are they increased that trouble me? many are they that rise up against me, many there be which say of my soul, there is no help for him in God. And that these many were not the foreign, Philistims, Moabites, Amalakites, Amonites, and other Heathens, but his own Subjects, was a more afflicting trouble. And that among these should be found Achitophel, his Friend and Counsellor, that his head and hand should be in all this, this made it more afflicting still, as he complaineth 55. 12. It was not an enemy that reproached me, then I could have born it: Neither was it he that hated me, that did magnifie himself against me, then would I have hid my self from him. But it was thou, a man, mine equal, my guide and my acquaintance: we took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.
And that the General, he that headed the Army against him should be Amasa, the son of his sister Abigail, and therefore so near to him, as that David saith of him, that he was bone of his bone, 2 Sam. ix. 13.and flesh of his flesh; this was another aggravation of his affliction.
And lastly, This made the affliction most sharp of all, that he that was at the head of all, that animated this rebellious body should be Absolom. That the Son should thirst after the Fathers bloud, that he which came forth of his bowels should seek his life, as he complains Chap. xvi. 11. And that he should be the son whom he loved most passionately,foreign. even so passionately, that after his three years absence from Court, it is said Chap. xiii. 39. That the soul of David longed (foreign was consumed) to go forth unto Absolom. And then, all this to befall him in his old age too, and after he had by his valour and prudent conduct saved his people out of the hands of their enemies.
Put all these sad circumstances together, and was not David in sore troubles and trials? But how doth he behave and acquit himself herein? Doth he quarrel with Providence, and the instruments of his trouble? Nothing less: But his disposition and carriage was all composed of meekness and submission to the Will of God.
Being sensible of the eminent danger he was in, he prudently provides for his security by removing from Ierusalem, which he and his servants did with all speed, lest Absolom should suddenly overtake them,Ch. xv. 14. foreign and thrust (or push) evil upon them, as the word is: For his enemies were most quick and active in their preparations against him: which therefore he calls the stormy wind and tempest, Psal. lv. 8. Of his hasty fleeing he speaks, Psal. lv. 6, 7. (which refers to this occasion, as appears by ver. 14.) where he cries: Oh that I had wings like a dove; for then would I flee away and be at rest: Lo then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah. I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.
Being gotten out of the City in haste, he and his Guard, they tarry in a place that was far off (v. 17.) to refresh themselves; not knowing whither to go, or where to be at rest, (as he then told Ittai the Gittite, who was come to him resolving to fare as he did) v. 20.
Having made a little pause, here he passeth over the Brook Kidron, ver. 23. (a Brook between the City and Mount Olivet) the Countrey weeping with a loud voice at this sad Procession: As also when they were going up Mount Olivet, they went weeping as they went up, every one covering his had, after the manner of mourners, ver. 30. And in the midst of these hardships and sorrowful sympathizings of the people, which could not but much affect his heart, (having given order to Zadok the Priest to return back to the City with the Ark of God, which thus far accompanied him, desiring that that Monument of God's Glory and Presence might not wander up and down with him in his desolate condition, but be placed again in the City of God) he thus expresseth the humble and quiet resignation of his spirit, Ch. xv. 25, 26. If I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and shew me both it (the Ark) and his habitation, (Ierusalem the City of the great King) but if he thus say, I have no delight in thee, behold here am I, let him do unto me as seemeth good unto him.
Though I be brought to excessive straits, though I be deprived of all my glory in this my old age, after all the good services I have done for Israel and Iudah, yet here am I, let him do as seemeth good to him, not as seemeth good to me. Thy will, O Lord, shall be my will, thy pleasure I will rest satisfied with and acquiesce in. Thou shalt chuse for me, and to thy choice will I accommodate my self. Be it so as thou wouldest have it to be, O thou most holy and wise, and the Lord of all, who dost whatsoever pleaseth thee both in heaven and earth. My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready, it is fixed and resolved to drink of that Cup which thou hast appointed me.
And his humble disposition of Soul discovered it self immediately after in his penitential behaviour (already mentioned) as he went up the Mount.V. 30. He wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot, which were the most significant expressions of a great humiliation and submissness of spirit.
And this meek frame of Soul in reference to God's disposals did dispose him to a rare meekness and patience in reference to men.
There happened a little after he was past Mount Olivet a very provoking occasion: For Shimei a Benjamite threw stones at him and his men, and cast dust at them all along in the way, and added to this indignity curses and revilings of the person of the King. Abishai, Ch. xvi. 7, 8.one of his three chief Commanders, was so incensed at the horrid insolence of this dead dog, as he called Shimei, that he prays the King that he might go over to him and take off his head. But David was so far from permitting this, that he was more offended at Abishai's Zeal for him, than at Shimei's injuries, and thus replies to him: What have I to do with you ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the Lord hath said unto him, Curse David, (that is, because the Lord saw it good to permit him to curse me for my punishment) who then shall say, Wherefore hast thou done so? Again, Behold, (saith he) my son which came forth of my bowels seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? Let him alone, and let him curse: for the Lord hath bidden him.
David was not a person of a dull phlegmatick temper, of a slow and stupid disposition, but of a vigorous active spirit; he was sensible what a barbarous act this was in Shimei thus to insult over his King, and that in his great distress, but being also sensible of God's Providence in permitting this wretched man thus to affront, revile and curse him, to correct him for his sins, he quietly and meekly submitted to it.
And David lost nothing by his humble submission; for God delivered him from the policies of Achitophel, from the powerful Army of Absolom, and brought him back with joy and triumph to Ierusalem.
And as for Shimei, God returned his wickedness upon his own head, and David found that true, which he did but modestly suppose upon Shimei's cursing:Ver. 12. It may be (saith he) the Lord will look upon mine asfliction, and that the Lord will requite good for his cursing this day. And he that spake with such an humble resigned mind, But if he say, I have no delight in thee, behold here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good to him, found that God did delight in him, and therefore delivered him: As he himself expresseth it, Psalm xviii. 19. He delivered me because he delighted in me. God did what seemed good to David, seeing he was willing he should do what seemed good to himself.
I will adde one more passage expressive of David's Resignation: It is in Psal. xxxix. The particular occasion is not mentioned, but that he was in a most afflicted condition we find in the tenth verse: Remove thy stroke away from me, I am consumed by the blow of thine hand: And v. 13. he prayeth, that God would spare him that he might recover strength. But yet he was patient, submissive and quiet, ver. 9. I was dumb, I opened not my mouth, because thou didst it: As in another case he saith, Surely I have behaved and quieted my self as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child, Psal. cxxxi. 2.
See how this great man expresseth himself in words of greatest lowliness and humility. When he has to do with God, he is as a little child, a poor, low, contemptible thing in his own esteem; as a worm and no man, as he speaks Psal. xxii. 6. Though when he had to do with men, and was to fight the Lord's Battels, whom more a man than David? Who more courageous and stout-hearted? When he was but a stripling, he encountred and slew a Lion and a Bear, and the great Giant Goliah.
Now if David a King, one of such heighth and dignity, one of so great fame and renown in the world, one of such incomparable courage and magnanimity, did with such meekness and subjection of Soul submit to the Divine Providence, and in such instances as these, wherein as a King and as a Father he was most highly provoked and unworthily dealt with: is it not a shame for us, who are so much his inferiors, to be impatient and unresigned, and that in far less trials than his were.