2 Samuel 23:5

2 Samuel 23:5

Thus the thought of the shortcomings of family religion entered into the last words of David, the son of Jesse, and laid a shadow upon his dying peace. Of all the images under which another world has been revealed to us, the best and the happiest is by far "My Father's house." But in proportion as the anticipation of that Father's house is clear, and beautiful, and distinct, will the contrast of the earthly home grow every day more intolerable.

I. It is a very rare thing to find much freedom of intercourse on spiritual subjects among the members of the same family, so that many give the confidences of their souls to comparative strangers, who seldom, if ever, speak on deep matters of personal religion to their parents or brothers or sisters. The reason of this is threefold: (1) the general law which rules most minds that they honour more what is at a distance than what is near; (2) the consciousness that we all have that our near relations are acquainted with our infirmities and inconsis-tencies a consciousness which ties the tongue; (3) the want of effort, that effort without which no conversation is ever profitable, and without which no real benefit is ever given or received in any matter.

II. If the frequency of the custom had not almost accustomed our minds to it, we should all mark and be offended with the way in which many Christian fathers and mothers discharge their parental duties. The grace of reverence has fallen away from almost all our home duties. The man who is unreverential towards his parents can never have true reverence for God.

III. The chief reason of family evils is that there is so little prayer in our homes. We want the ark in the house, the Shechinah, to fill the rooms and make them all little sanctuaries.

J. Vaughan, Sermons,9th series, p. 134 (see also Fifty Sermons,1874, p. 320).

References: 2 Samuel 23:5. Spurgeon, Morning by Morning,p. 356; J. M. Neale, Sermons in Sackville College,vol. i., p. 37; J. Irons, Thursday Penny Pulpit,vol. v., p. 409; Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. i., No. 19. 2 Samuel 23:11; 2 Samuel 23:12. S. Baring-Gould, Village Preaching for a Year,vol. ii., p. 204. 2 Samuel 23:13. Sermons for Boys and Girls,p. 403. 2 Samuel 23:15. M. Nicholson, Redeeming the Time,p. 180.