2 Samuel 12:22-23 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me… I. HIS AFFLICTION WAS THE DEATH OF HIS CHILD. The death of a child is by no means an uncommon event. If our offspring are spared, and appear like olive plants around our table, we ought to be thankful, and to rejoice; yet to rejoice with trembling. When we reflect on the tenderness of their frame, and consider to how many accidents and diseases they are liable; and that many of their earliest, complaints cannot be perfectly ascertained, and may be injured by the very means employed for their relief — the wonder is that they ever reach maturity. The death of David's child was predicted by Nathan, and was the consequence of the father's sin. "The landlord," says an old writer, "may distrain on any part of the premises he chooses." We would rather say that there are many cases in which he requires us to walk by faith, and not by sight: that he does all things well, even when clouds and darkness are round about him; we would say that he indemnified this child by taking it to himself — while the father was punished, and suffered more relatively than if he had died himself. II. THE BEHAVIOUR OF DAVID WITH REGARD TO THE AFFLICTION. 1. It takes in prayer — "He besought God for the child." Prayer is always proper: but how seasonable, how soothing, how sanctifying, in the day of trouble! Blessed resource and refuge! may we always make use of thee. 2. He also humbled himself: "He fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth." Much of David's distress arose from reflection on his sin: his grief was the grief not only of affliction but of penitence. III. HE DEEMED THE EVENT UNCERTAIN. It is obvious that he did not consider the threatening as absolute and irreversible. He knew that many things had been denounced conditionally; and he knew also that the goodness of God was beyond all his thoughts. But what led him to assuage his grief? 1. Continued grief was unavailing. "Now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again?" 2. He contemplates his own death as certain: "I shall go to him." By this he intends the grave: and this part of our subject is common to all mankind. 3. He expects to follow his child not only into the grave, but into glory; and anticipates a renewed union with him in heaven. This was unquestionably David's case. (1) First, as to the dead. We cannot join those in heaven who are not gone there; and all do not go there when they die. (2) The second limitation regards the living. You cannot join those who are gone to heaven if you do not go there yourselves. Remember they are not separated from you for ever — you are going to them. They are waiting to receive you into everlasting habitations. On your arrival there you will know them, and they will know you; even they will know you there who never knew you here. (W. Jay.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? |
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