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§. 212. Of David's Crosses.
III. DAVIDS Crosses were of two sorts,
- 1. Triall,
- 2. Punish∣ments.
His trialls were these,* 1.1
- 1. His brothers envious interpretation of that which he did by divine instinct, 1 Sam. 17. 28. This kind of trialls pierceth deep in the soul.
- 2. Sauls fierce persecution of him. Persecution in it self is a great trial, but David's was aggravated by many circumstances,
- 1. By the person, who persecuted him, his own Soveraign, the Lords a∣nointed: In this respect, he could not get such assistance, as otherwise he might have, had; nor might he do that to free himself, which other∣wise he might have done, 1 Sam. 24. 17. and 26. 11.
- ...
2. By the undue cause, which was no wrong on his part, Psal. 35. 7, 19. and 10. 3. and 119. 161. and 69. 4. The causes which Saul took to persecute him, were those,
His Valour, Wisedom, Success, Peoples acknowledgement thereof, the love which the Kings Son and servants bear him, and the notice, which Saul had that David should be King after him.
- 3. By the extent of his persecution, it was unto blood. For this cause Saul raised up armies to pursue him.
- 4. By the consequences following thereon: which were,
- 1. The destruction of the Lords Priests, 1 Sam. 22. 18, 19.
- 2. The danger of his parents and kind•…•…ed, 1 Sam. 22. 3.
- 3. His own expulsion from the people of God, and from the house of God, 1 Sam. 21. 10. and 27. 2. This pierced dee∣pest to his soul, Psal. 84. 1. 1 Sam. 26. 19.
- 3. The jealousy which they had of him; to whom he fled for succour, 1 Sam. 21. 11. and 29. 4. How great this triall was, is evident by changing his behaviour, 1 Sam. 21. 13. and by the Psalmes, which he penned thereupon, as Psal. 34. 1. and 56. 1.
- 4. The spoilig of the City which he had allotted to him for himself, his Soul∣diers, and all that belonged to him. This triall was the greater, because his Soul∣diers thereby were stirred up to mutinie against him, 1 Sam. 30. 1, 6.
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5. The setting up of Shebosheth the Son of Saul after Saul was dead, against him, and that by the General Abner, and the greatest part of Israel. 2 Sam. 2. 8.
Those trialls David was brought unto, betwixt the time that he was first anointed, and well setled in his Kingdoms.
Hereby we see that God will not have great preferments easily attained to; witness Ioseph's case.
To those trialls may be added others which befell him in his Kingdom. As,
- 6. The Indignity which was offered to his Ambassadours, (2 Sam. 10. 4.) whereby his intended kindnes was misinterpreted and perverted.
- 7. Davids fainting in the battle, 2 Sam. 21. 15. such was the consequence thereof, that if one of his worthies had not rescued him, he might have then pe∣rished, 2 Sam. 21. 15.
The trialls which arose from his Sons, as Amnon, Absalon, Ad•…•…nijah, were punishments of his sins, as we shall afterwards see.