Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?
Bringing the king back
I. Many have lost the comfortable presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. Some have long dwelt in the cold shade ofsuspended fellowship, and must be anxiously pining after its restoration. Now to such as these, who see no longer the bright and morning star, we say, “Why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?” If your soul has been nipped with the frosts of a long and dreary winter, if the Sun of Righteousness do but cross the line and manifest his meridian splendour, your summer will return at once. Let the king come, and all his court will follow--all the graces display themselves where the Lord of grace is revealed. Always beware of any instruction or direction which would withdraw you from the cross as the sole and simple ground of your comfort. While your bark is tossed about at sea, it is very likely that she wants a new copper bottom, or the deck requires holy-stoning, or the rigging is out of repair, or the sails want overhauling, or fifty other things may be necessary; but if the wind is blowing great guns, and the vessel is drifting towards those white-crested breakers, the first business of the mariner is to make for the haven at once, to avoid the hurricane. When he is all snug in port, he can attend to hull and rigging: and all the odds and ends besides. So with you, child of God, one thing you must do, and I beseech you do it. Do not be looking to this, or to that, or to the other out of a thousand things that may be amiss, but steer straight for the cross of Christ, which is the haven for distressed spirits. “Why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?”
1. Perhaps, you reply, “We speak not a word of this because we are afraid that the king may have forgotten us.” Oh, cruel thought concerning so kind a friend! Hear ye his own words, “I am God; I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”
2. But you say, “How shall I return to him? I feel ashamed to cometo him yet again.” Recollect that, bad as you are, you are not now worse than when you first came to him. “Why speak ye not a word of bringing the King back?”
3. I hope the answer to that question is not that you have forgotten Him. Forgotten the man of Gethsemane, crimsoned with his own blood for you? Forgotten Him whose hands were pierced for you, who bore the crown of thorns, and bowed his head, and gave up the ghost for you? Forgotten that faithful lover who ever since he ascended above the stars has never ceased to intercede for you, and such as you? Oh, shame indeed!
II. Many professors do very little to bring Christ back to his kingdom in the world.
III. A large class are rebellious subjects of this King. “The ox knoweth its owner, and the ass its master’s crib,” but you do not know, and you have lived all these years without considering. Is it not unjust? Does not conscience tell you that you do wrong to rebel against the God that made you? Christ is your lawful King, and you are a rebel against Him. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
David, a king and saviour in Israel
Joab’s timely advice, followed by the suffering father. (Pro_14:28; Pro_16:15.)
I. Why did he not immediately go back?
1. Restoration of the king’s presence must be sought by rebel subjects.
2. Because he would be king of their hearts, not of the land and city merely. So Christ’s sovereignty now must be voluntary. One day it will be obligatory, as was Solomon’s. (Php_2:10; Rev_2:27.) Christ will only rule over willing hearts in His kingdom of grace. Many Christians have their own way. Christ does not coerce; but they are slaves to self instead of being Christ’s freedmen. Observe the nature of Christ’s kingdom in the heart. (Rom_14:17; 1Jn_3:9, with Gal_3:16; Gal_4:19; Col_1:27 (Mat_2:3 --born king); 1Co_15:45-50; 1Co_15:24.) Christ waits to be invited as David did. He will not reign at Mahanaim, only at Jerusalem; but He sends messages. David’s message to rebellious Judah is really a pardon, and as such moved the hearts of the people. (verse 14.)
II. Pardon of shimei. Abishai was legally right (Exo_22:28; 1Sa_26:9), but was reminding David of that incident in his past life, and thus helping him to remain true to his own generous instincts. (1Sa_24:5.) The grand answer. I am King, because I can be a Saviour. (1Sa_11:12-13.) Christ might have been King in right of His election (Psa_2:6-8), and will be some day; but He willed to reign by right of His cross. (Psa_72:1-2; Psa_72:14.)
III. Mephibosheth, type of the true children of the bride-chamber. (Mar_2:19-20; Joh_16:20-22.)
IV. Barzillai, type of the truly weaned soul, content to do without temporal blessings and sensible comforts; satisfied with the certainty of the king’s favour. Fruitful also, leaving those whom he has led to Christ to carry on his service. Chimham apparently received David’s own inheritance. (Jer_41:17; Joh_17:24; Rev_3:21; Rev_22:16; Rev_2:28. (R. E. Faulkner.)
