(2 Sam. 18 :3.)
These words bespeak loyalty and devotion of heart to the king of God's appointment-God's beloved, as the name implies-and each word appears as a perfect gem set over upon the time and day in which they were uttered. The beloved one was despised and rejected by men, and this not only by the nations around, but his own-of his own nation-received him not. This must have been a great grief of heart to the king. It was indeed a testing-time, a dark and evil day.
Absalom (the king's own son) had stolen the people's hearts away by his subtle wiles, under pretext of great love for them, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful, and for a time he usurped the place that belonged to David; so the king had to cross over the brook Kedron and abide for a time in the outside place (chap. 15:23).
Ahithophel also had joined Absalom and turned against the king. For him, who had been a chief counselor and professed friend, and who had walked in company into the house of God, the testing-time had come, and he had departed also. All this reminds us of the Lord's disciples, who departed from Him, and walked no more with Him (John 6:66).
Shimei too, the son of Gera, threw stones at the king, and cursed him. Great were these trials of heart, and the king felt them keenly, yet grace marked his course; he showed grace and forbearance. In all this we see how fully at this time the king was with God; and in him we see displayed the patience, grace and longsuffering of a greater David yet to come (chap. 16:5-14).
Leaving the side of rebellion, we can turn and see a lovelier one-how God touched the hearts of men, and by His Spirit drew them to the king during this time of rejection and suffering. These became the companions of David in his suffering, God opening up to them the glory and the preeminence of the person of David. We see, therefore, how well they care for and guard his person in the time of conflict and battle. '' Thou art worth ten thousand of us," they exclaim. In this we see, then, the guardians of his person, as in a former day Abram was that of the sacrifice, when the unclean birds sought to attack it. '' Abram drove them away " (Gen. 15:9-11). In both these we have very strikingly set forth two foundation truths, dear to every believer's heart:the person and the work of Christ.
With David's servants and companions there are many lovely lessons-their devotion, their loyalty, their obedience. '' Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint" (chap. 15:15). This must have given comfort and strength to the heart of David at such a time. Immediately after this, special persons come to the front.
Ittai the Gittith, attracted to the king from an outside nation, shows almost unparalleled devotion. '' Surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be."
Zadok, Abiathar and Hushai also appear and fill important posts, and give hearty and true service in the cause of the king, with devotion and loyalty of heart. Mephibosheth is not a whit behind any, unable though he be, on account of his lameness, to serve. But his heart is with David. "And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace " (chap. 19:24).
Others also, whose names are given later, minister to David when in this outside place-such as Shobi, Machir, Barzillai. Each helped according to his devotion and his ability, and their names appear upon the inspired page for our encouragement (chap. 17:27-29). In all this, we repeat, God was at work in hearts, and drawing men to see the worthiness of David.
History repeats itself. We are in the "perilous times" of the Church dispensation which most resembles that of David's time. Men today spurn the inspiration of the Scriptures, and legion is the host of evils that follow such unbelief and infidelity. The truth as to Christ's person is also denied-His true and perfect humanity, as also His deity and Godhead glory. The sinfulness and depravity of man, and the atonement by the cross; the truths of resurrection and eternal punishment, and many other important and cardinal truths revealed in the sacred Scriptures. Nor do those evils mark simply men of the outside place, avowed infidels, as were Paine, Voltaire, and Ingersoll. Such were the enemies of former times, but in our day it is men within the Christian profession who are "enemies of the cross of Christ"-destroyers of the truths of Scripture.
The Absaloms and Ahithophels, who ever seemed to run well and give fair promise as good men in the kingdom, have, since the tide of evil has turned, gone, one by one, and today they are in the enemy's ranks, planning and plotting against the " Lord that bought them"; men also, as Shimei, are not lacking in their opposition and blasphemy to the Saviour, though cringing and deceitful enough when their interests are at stake.
But God abideth faithful as of old, and His truth, amid all the difficulties and evils around us, abides as stable as the heavens. The Holy Spirit is yet here on earth, and the Church, the Body of Christ, is being called out and formed for God's habitation. Thus the work of God continues amid all the surrounding gloom, and the word of God, given to the infant Church in apostolic days, abides, with all the sacred principles that guided her at first. These will abide for the Church until the dispensation closes and the Lord returns to gather the true Church, the saints that He loves, to Himself in the heavenly glory (i Thess. 4:13-18). Thus great comfort and encouragement are given to all who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity and in truth.
The days will continue to grow more difficult. " Evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse." The Scriptures clearly show us this is the trend of things, which is to continue until He comes. But let the word of God be to us more than precious gold or great spoil (Ps. 119:126-128, 162). Let us "cleave to the Lord with purpose of heart," as Barnabas exhorted the young believers of his day, for He is "worth ten thousand of us."
We are, one and all who are called saints, to seek to guard the honor and glory of His person with a devotion beyond David's men-to drive away the enemy with the weapon of Holy Scripture, with a vigor and loyalty beyond that of Abram. We must not yield for one moment to men who do harm to the great truths of Christ's person and atonement by His sacrifice upon the cross. Oh for Abrams everywhere now!-men of faith and valor, devoted to Christ as David's men to their lord. Theirs was but a man, ours is both Man and '' God over all, blessed forever." Let the greatness of all that is revealed in Him put fire and energy and devotion into our hearts, making us to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3).
Side by side with the trend of evil that surrounds us, God still works. This we observe both in the home and foreign fields. Noble and self-denying men and women have had their eyes opened to the glory of His person. He is "worth ten thousand of us " has burned in their hearts as fire, and by a love divine they have launched forth into the distant and needy fields to publish the sweetness of His precious name. We rejoice that God is using them, and that multitudes are being drawn to Him to join the ranks of those in the home fields who day by day exclaim as they look up, " Thou art worth ten thousand of us"!
In the home fields God is continually opening up His truth, and souls are being attracted to Christ- His person, His work, His word, His coming again. Floods of light are being poured forth in many places upon these themes; many are responding; they feel a drawing together; there is given a kindred spirit, and Christ is in many places becoming the commanding and absorbing object of heart and life. May the truth thus work in all of us, giving freshness, simplicity and devotion, that day by day, as we look up, the language of our hearts may be, " Thou art worth ten thousand of us." Then, as we look forth upon the needy world that surrounds us, the language of life and pen and press will be, "He is the chiefest among ten thousand, yea, altogether lovely." A. E. B.