The Throne of David, Treatise · Section 46
II. SAM. Chap. 21.
THis Chapter is branched forth in two parts, the firſt is the Hiſtory of the three years famine, that was upon the Land, to the 15. verſe. And the ſecond is the foure Victories which David and his ſervants purchaſed againſt the Philiſtims, again, the Hiſtory of the famine is reduced to theſe three particulars. 1. The famine it ſelf, and deprehenſion of the cauſe thereof, From the 1. verſe to the third. 2. The remedy that is ſought, and adhibited. 3. The ceaſing of the plague there upon, and the buriall of Saul and Jonathans bones, and the ſeven Sonnes of Saul, whom the Gibeonites hanged.
1. As for the famine it ſelf, it is one of the three ſore plagues with which the Lord uſually threatned his people for their ſinnes, the famine, the ſword, and the Peſtilence, Lev. 26. 16. Deut. 28. 23. and 2 Sam. 24. 13. And it is twofold, towit, a famine of the ſtaff of bread, wherewith our bodies are fed, and this naturall life; which is here meant, and a famine of the word of God, which is the ſpirituall bread wherewith our ſouls are fed, and the ſpirituall life thereof, Amos 8. 11. And which is the greateſt plague of any. With all theſe three fornamed plagues David, and his Land was corrected. 1. By the ſword of rebellion lately. 2. Now by three years famine, and 3. chap. 24. By the plague of Peſtilence for his numbring the people.
The time then when this famine was, is in the dayes of David, neer the end of his raigne, and after all his inteſtine troubles from the hand of man are ſetled; then the Lords own hand exerciſes David, and his people with a new correction. Whoſe courſe for deprehenſion of the cauſe of which famine he takes is, like a wiſe Phyſitian, that ſeeks out the cauſe of the ſickneſſe firſt, and ſo doth David, and the perſon at whom he inquires, is ſaid to be the Lord, who is an omniſcient God, and who laid on the rod, and therefore could beſt tell, for what cauſe he did it: which inquiry was not immediatly by David himſelf; but by the ordinary mean that was uſed, towit, by the mediation of the high prieſt, before the Ark by Ʋrim and Thumim, as was preſcribed, Numb. 21. And unto which the Lord readily and cleerly anſwered, & ſhewed that it was for Saul and his bloody houſe in generall, and more particularly, becauſe he ſlew the Gibeonites againſt oath and covenant, and ſo joyned to cruelty the fearfull ſinne of perjury. Thus David having found out the cauſe, comes next to inquire at the Gibeonites who were the party offended, what ſhould be the remedy, to whom the Gibeonites anſwer. 1. Negatively, that they would not have either Gold or Silver of Sauls, or of his houſe. 2. Neither that David ſhould for them kill any man in Iſraell, whereby they ſhew that they had no quarrell againſt the Nation in generall, for that cruelty which Saul had uſed againſt them, diſtinguiſhing ſo between a nationall and a perſonall quarrell, and between innocents and guilty. 3. They anſwer poſitively, Verſ. 5. That they would demand by way of retaliation, ſeven of Sauls Sonnes, who had conſummed them, and deviſed to deſtroy them throughout all the coaſts of Iſrael, to be delivered to them, and that they might hang them up unto the Lord, as an atonement of his wrath againſt Iſraell, for their King Saul his cruelty and perjury, and in that very place which was called from his name, Gibeah of Saul, and where he was borne and bred, 1 Sam. 10. 26. To which demand of their's David anſwered by granting the ſame, onelyonly he ſpared Mephiboſheth the Sonne of Jonathan, becauſe of the Lords oath that was between David and him, and delivered to them the two Sonnes of Rizpah Sauls Concubine, and five others▪ who are called the Sonnes of Michal Sauls. Daughter, not that ſhe did …ear them to Adriell who was their Father, ſeeing ſhe was childleſſe to the day of her death, but that ſhe adopted them, as Pharaohs Daughter did Moſes, and becauſe of her education of them as if they had been her Sonnes, and therefore it is ſaid in the text, Whom ſhe brought up for Adriell, who had to his Wife, Merab Sauls eldeſt Daughter, as we ſee, 1 Sam. 18. 19. Who was naturall mother to theſe five Sonnes, and probably was dead, and therefore her Siſter Michall had taken them to bring up. Theſe ſeven then being delivered, the Gibeonites accordingly did hang them up on the hill before the Lord, in the beginning of the barly Harveſt, which was in monethmonth which we call March. Whom Rizpah (out of naturall affection to her own two Sonnes, and kindeneſſe to the reſt) did watch night and day, that neither the birds ſhould reſt on them by day, nor the beaſts of the field by night ſhould tear them, and this ſhe did from the beginning of the barly Harveſt, till rain dropped from Heaven upon them, or that rainy wether began, after the great drouth which had been before and cauſed the famine, having ſpread ſackcloth for her upon the rock, in witneſſing of her mourning for them, where we have this doubt to be ſolved, how are theſe ſuffered to hang ſo long, ſeeing it expreſly againſt the Law of God, Deut. 21. 23. Which commandeth that the bodies of ſuch ſhall not remaine all night upon the tree? To which it is anſwered, that the Law of God is made for man and not to controll the Author, whoſe power is abſolute, and this fact (like robbing of the Egyptians by the Iſraelites) being extraordinare, having a ſpeciall warrant from the Oracle which was conſulted, no doubt their avent.
This fact of Rizpah being told to David, he is ſo moved by her kindeneſſe to the dead, as he follows her example herein, by bringing the bones of Saul and Jonathan from Jabeſh Gilead and honourable burying them in the ſepulchre of Kiſh Sauls Father, in Zelah of Benjamin, as alſo in burying of the bones of theſe ſeven Sonnes of Saul that were hanged. Whereupon the Lord was intreated for the Land, and the famine removed.
Thereafter from the 15. verſe, to the end, is ſet down the four ſucceſſive, and ſeverall Victories which David and his ſervants obtained over the Philiſtines, and in ſpeciall over the Sonnes of a great giant Rapha, the firſt whereof was, David being preſent and in great danger by one of the Sonnes of the giant, from which Abiſhai delivered him being faint, by killing the Sonne of that giant who purſued him. Whereupon Davids men reſolve by an oath, that he no more ſhould go out with them to battel, and hazard his perſon, leſt he thereby ſhould quench the light of Iſrael. The ſecond and third battle was at Gob, where the other two of the Sonnes of the giant were ſlain, and the fourth and laſt battle was at Gath, where the fourth Son of the giant was ſlain, and ſo all his Sonnes, who were borne unto him there periſhed.
OBSERVATIONS.
1. BY this famine for the ſpace of three years together, after the ſword. We ſee that it is the lot of the Godly to be exerciſed with diverſe croſſes in this life, as it is ſaid, many are the troubles of the righteous, that ſo their hearts my be weaned, from the love thereof, and ſet upon the deſire of a better life, and on the right way to attain thereto, were there is fulneſſe of joy, & pleaſures for evermore, holyneſſe being the way to this happineſſe.
2. Verſ. 1. The continuance of this famine three years together makes David at laſt to inquire for the cauſe thereof. Where we ſee, that when any croſſe, or affliction continueth unremoved, it ſhould drive us to the inquiſition, and ſelf tryall of the cauſe, which while that be found out (as Achans guiltineſſe) the rod will not be removed, nor the plague ceaſe.
3. This famine is ſaid to have continued three years. Which ſhewes unto us, that as the Lord is he who layes on the rod, ſo likewiſe he limits the time of the laying on of the ſame, as he did as long the people of Iſraell ſhould be in Egypt, and thereafter in Babylon. Which ſhould be an argument of patience under any croſſe, and of hope for a gracious deliverance in the Lords good time.
4. David all theſe three years till at laſt, inquires not of the Lord of the cauſe, partly expecting the yearly removing thereof, and partly becauſe himſelf was not pinched therewith. Which ſhewes not onelyonly; Quod non tangit, non angit, but likewiſe that the beſt hearts may be ſometimes overtaken, with dulneſſe in holy duties.
5. David when he ſees the plague, he inquires of the ſinne, conſidering that never man ſmarted cauſleſly from the hand of God, and that ſinne ever calls for puniſhment, O then when we ſuffer, that we would inquire, what have I done? and that our croſſes were a pedagogie, to lead us to repentance, as we ſee in the example of Joſephs brethren, Gen. 42. 21. Hoſea. 6. 1.
6. David is a Prophet, and yet the cauſe of this famine is not revealed to him, but he muſt inquire thereof in the ordinary way. If God then will have Prophets, to have recourſe to Prieſts, as the ordinary way, how to know his will: how much more ſhould people, now uſe the ordinary meanes, and not neglect the ſame, to inquire of Gods Word, and the miniſtry thereof, of Gods will: as they are commanded, Mal. 2. 7.
7. David no ſooner inquires of the cauſe, than the Lord by his oracle readily anſwers. Whereby we ſee a ground of great comfort to ſuch, as in ſincerity draw neer to God: as we ſee in his ready anſwer to the theefe on the croſs, and others. Yea he has been found of them, that ſought him not: as we ſee in Pauls converſion, and much more will be found of them, who ſeek him in ſincerity.
8. The Lord ſhewes that this plague on the Land, was for Saul and his bloody houſe, becauſe he ſlew the Gibeonites. Where we ſee how happy is a land, that has a good King: and how miſerable a land is, who have an ill King: whoſe ſinne is oftimes puniſhed in the perſon, not only of the people while he is alive, as Davids numbering of the people was by peſtilence: but alſo when they are dead (yet their ſinne not dying) as we ſee in the perſon of Saul, and in the famine on the land, which his ſinne procured.
9. Between Sauls ſlaying of the Gibeonites, and the time of this famine on the land, for the ſame there had intervened neer fifty yeares. Wherein it was forgot by many, that were alive, but was not forgot by God, who keepes our ſinnes unrepented of, in a freſh regiſter, till the day of our account and remuneration. It is therefore a vaine hope of impunity, which ariſes from the delay of judgments. Which oftimes is for this cauſe, that the cup of ſinners (as was of the Amorites) is not yet full.
10. This ſin was not the ſinne of the preſent age, but of the former generation, and yet thoſe of the preſent age are puniſhed: ſo that ſinne never goes unpuniſhed (as we ſay) either in the ſtock or brock, as many houſes of our land can verifie, and according as it is ſaid, that the Lord will viſite the ſinnes of the Fathers upon the Children, to the third and fourth generation: to wit, with temporall judgments as here, but not with eternall, which is only perſonall, and not ſucceſſive: except they tred the ſteps of their ſinnefull, and impenitent predeceſſours.
11. Amongſt all Sauls ſinnes, which were many and great: the Lord pitches only on blood guiltineſs, and perjury. All ſinnes having a loud cry in the Lords eares for vengeance, but none having a louder cry then blood guiltineſs. As we ſee in that of Abells, and of Chriſt whom he typified. whereof the Jewes ſaid, His blood be on us and on our Children, ſo alſo of his Martyrs, Revel. 6. 10. And of all other innocent perſons whoſoever.
12. Likewiſe as he calls Sauls houſe a bloody houſe, ſo the Lord layes to his charge, the guiltineſs of perjury by ſlaying of the Gibeonites, contrary to the oath of the Lord made unto them, by Joſhua and the Princes of Iſrael, Joſh. 9. 3. So that perjury is a grievous, and damnable ſinne, violating that which is moſt ſacred the oath of God: and which kindles Gods wrath here, that without repentance ſhall burne againſt the guilty unto all eternity hereafter, except they repent.
13. Verſ. 2. It is ſaid that Saul ſought to …tay them in his zeale to the Children of Iſrael, and Judah. Whereby we may obſerve, that mens good intention, is not a ſufficient warrant for their Actions, except the ſame …e warranted by the Word of God. As we ſee in Nadab and Abihu, and Sauls ſparing Agag, and in all will-worſhip, Colloſ. 2. 23. Neither is it enough to have zeale (which even the crucifiers of Chriſt had, and Paul when he was a perſecuter) except it be guided by right knowledge and direction from Gods Word, elſe it will prove but fury, a…d like wild fire, and will tend not to edification, but unto deſtruction.
14. Verſ. 3. David askes the Gibeonites what he ſhould do to them? and wherewith ſhould he make atonement. Whereby we ſee that he looked not on the ſecundary cauſes of the famine, as drouth and unſeaſonable ſeaſons or the like, but he looks higher to a provoked God by ſinne, who be…o…ed to be appeaſed, and to vindictive juſtice againſt blood and perjury. As all men ought to do, when either any generall plague, or puniſhment is on the land, or any particular chaſtiſement is upon themſelves, or their ne…r relations.
15. In Davids asking the Gibeonites what he ſhould do for them? We ſee likewiſe that David, as being acquainted with Gods proceedings, knew well that the removall of the judgment, behoved to beginne at the ſatisfaction of the party wronged. For we ſay, non remittitur peccatum niſi reſtituatur ablatum, and that by ſo doing, the ſinne which cryed for a curſe, being removed with the judgment, a bleſſing may come in place thereof.
16. Verſ. 4. The Gibeonites in their anſwer to David. 1. Refuſes any ſatisfaction for the blood and lives of their predeceſſours by ſilver or gold of Saul or his houſe. To ſhew that they were free of covetouſneſs in that matter, and would not make merchandiſe of that, which was ſo precious to them, who had ſuffered by Saul which thing may condemne many Chriſtians now a daies, and make them aſhamed: who for mony and price, will ſell the blood and lives of their deareſt, and neereſt relations, and not proſecute the law againſt ſuch, who have polluted the land by blood guiltineſs, if their greed be once ſatisfied.
17. Verſ. 5. In their demand alſo of ſeaven of Sauls ſonnes to be delivered to them, to be hanged by them in Gibeah of Saul, for his conſuming and deſtroying of them. We ſee not only that the Lord oftimes, retaliates ſinne with the like puniſhment, and deſtruction: but alſo that it is lawfull for perſons wronged, to have their recourſe for remedy, and ſatisfaction to the civill Magiſtrate, howſoever private revenge be alwaies forbidden.
18. The Lord ſmites the land with famine, for this wrong whereof they complaine, and they know it not, till David reveales it to them, and the Lord to him. Which ſheweth, that the righteous judge, oftimes avengeth the vexations and wrongs that are done to men, when they are not a ware, nor think thereof: our hard meaſures then, are not hid from him, though his returnes are oftimes hid from us, it is ſufficient that God can be no more neglective, then ignorant of our wrongs.
19. Verſ. 6. For Sauls offence and ſinne, ſeaven of his ſonnes are delivered to be hanged up. It is then an ill inheritance, that wicked parents leave to their Children, to wit, to be puniſhed for their offences: as is ſaid, That the Lord will viſit the ſinnes of the Fathers on the Children, to the third and fourth generation. Neither is a numerous ofſpring of Children ever a bleſſing, or to be gloried in, ſeeing as Jerubaall's 69 ſonnes were all ſlaine, by their own brother Abimelech upon one ſtone: and Sauls ſeaven ſonnes here, were hanged on a gallowes, ſo to the great griefe of their Parents, if they be alive, or to their friends if they be dead, they may come to woefull, and violent ends, though never ſo numerous.
20. Verſ. 7. Alwaies David ſpared Mephiboſheth, Jonathans ſonne, becauſe of the Lords oath, that was between them. Which ſhewes that the Godly make conſcience, of all their words and Actions, and of their fidelity and promiſes even to the dead. If Davids love alſo to Jonathan preſerves Mephiboſheth, how much more, then ſhall the Father of mercies, preſerve and do good to the Children of the Faithfull, for the covenant made with their Parents in Chriſt, in whom he is well pleaſed.
21. Verſ. 9. Sauls ſeaven ſonnes are hanged on a hill before the Lord. The acts of juſtice then as they are intended, for example and reſtraint; ſo they ſhould be done in that eminency of place, that may make others to be both inſtructed, or forewarned, and terrified, then unwarrantable courſes of private revenge, will ſeek to hide their heads in ſecrecy, but the beautifull face of juſtice, both affects the light, and becomes it.
22. Verſ. 14. After all this it is ſaid, that God was intreated for the land. Which ſhewes unto us that for the removing of this plague, not only ſatisfaction was given to the Gibeonites, but likewiſe earneſt prayer, and intreaty was uſed towards God. As we ſee the like, Chap. 24. 17. And which ſhould be the practice of all people, that are under any correction generall or particular.
23, This ſhewes in like manner, that happy is that land, where ſinne is ſharply puniſhed, and juſtice impartially executed, this being a way both to hold off judgments off of a land, if imminent, as alſo to remove them if they be incumbent.
24. Likewiſe we ſee that plagues or puniſhments, as they come from God in juſtice, ſo upon repentance and humble intreaty, and ſupplication they are taken off by God in mercy▪ as is ſaid, Hoſea. 6. 1. He has torne, and he will heale us, he hath ſmitten, and he will bind us up, being like the centurions ſervants, to whom if he ſaid come they come, and if he ſaid go they went.
25. Verſ. 10. In Rizpah's kindneſs and care, not only to her own ſonnes, but to all the reſt of Sauls ſonnes, that were hanged up, by preſerving them from being deſtroyed by birds or beaſt. We ſee a good example of naturall affection to her own ſonnes, and of pity, and piety alſo towards the reſt, though dead, and ignominiouſly hanged, from whom ſhe could expect no thanks nor reward.
26. Verſ. 12. In David likewiſe his following of her example towards the dead (though his enemies) by bringing the bones of Saul and Jonathan from Jabeſh Gilead, and burying them in Sauls City of Benjamin, and in the buriall place of his Father Kiſh, as alſo in burying Sauls ſeaven ſonnes, that were hanged. We ſee a worthy part in David, who hearing what Rizpah had done, diſdaines not to follow her example, though a woman, in that which was good and commendable. As it ſhould be the like duty in all, to imitate vertue and piety, in any perſon whatſoever.
27. Verſ. 15. It is ſaid that the Philiſtims had yet warre againe with Iſraell▪ Which ſhewes unto us, the reſtleſs and indefatigable malice, and enmity of the wicked againſt the Godly: and what ſhall be the condition, of Chriſts Church, to the end of the world, under the raigne of the ſonne of David: which may be confirmed by many examples, of all ages. In the houſes of Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob, in Egypt between Pharaoh and Gods people, in the deſert between Iſraell, and Amalek, &c. In the daies of the Judges, between Iſraell, and their many enemies, between David, here and the Philiſtims, between the Chriſtian Church, and the heathen Emperours, the Orthodox and the Arrians, and now between Chriſtians and Mahomet, and true profeſſours and Romaniſts. Whereupon let us learne two things. 1. To prepare for the battle. And 2. not to love the worſe the truth, and profeſſours thereof, becauſe it is oppoſed by many enemies.
28. It is ſaid That in the firſt battle with the Philiſtims David waxed faint, and was in great danger of his life by a gyant, till he was delivered by his Captaine Abiſhai who ſlew him. Which ſhewes unto us the infirmity of old age, as we ſee Eccl. 12. wherein David was now, his naturall ſtrength being decayed, and which every aged perſon ſhould beſeech God, to recompence with the ſpirituall ſtrength of grace. In our ſpirituall battle likewiſe with our ſpirituall enemies, oftimes we faint, and are in great danger, being invaded by the great gyant Satan: but he ſhall not prevaile, becauſe, that he who is the Captaine of the hoſt of the Lord, (Joſh. 5. 14.) is neer, and ready to deliver us, who hath overcome Satan, and freed us from his danger, as David did the lamb out of the Lyons mouth.
29. Verſ. 17. In the peoples ſwearing that David ſhould no more go out in battle with them. We ſee the loyall and loving care, that they have of the preſervation of his life, with the hazard of their own notwithſtanding. Which is and ſhould be to all loving ſubjects, an example of worthy imitation, ſeeing God has made ſuch to be our heads: therefore we ſhould be ſo farre from conſpiring with Abſoloms, or Sheba's againſt their lives, that on the contrary as in the naturall body▪ the arms and hands will ward any blow intended againſt the head: ſo ſhould we any hurt, that is intended againſt them, whom God has placed in ſupreame Authority over us.
30. The men of David decree, and ſweare this, leaſt he ſhould by endangering himſelfe, quench the light of Iſraell. Which David was, both for wiſdome and policy, as alſo for religion and piety: as Godly paſtours are likewiſe called the light of the world, Matth. 5. Both in reſpect of ſound doctrine, as alſo of a holy converſation. Where we obſerve what reverend, and good eſtimation people ſhould have, both of good Princes, and Godly Paſtours. As we ſee here of Davids men in the one, and the Galatians in the other, Gal. 4. 14. And that both Princes and Paſtours, ſhould ſtrive to be lights before their people, that as light is comfortable, ſo they may be comfortable inſtruments, for the good of their people. And as lights and lanternes goe before, and leade, as the fiery pillar did Iſraell in the wilderneſs, and the ſtarre the wiſe men: ſo they may go before in a Godly, and good example, and not be as darkneſs by the contrary.
31. In David, and his ſervants victory at laſt over all thoſe gyants that invaded them. We ſee that bodily abilities, are not to be truſted or gloried in: and that there is no wiſdome alſo, nor ſtrength againſt the Lord, nor them for whom he ſtands. As we ſee Rom. 8. 38. As likewiſe we ſee what the Godly, and they who truſt in him, may expect againſt all their moſt mighty or malicious enemies, to wit, deliverance and victory in the end. So that they may ſay with the Apoſtle, Rom. 8. 31. and 37. If God be for us, who can be againſt us? Nay in all theſe things we are more then Conquerours, through him that hath loved us.