2 Samuel 17:2

"Handfuls of Purpose"

For All Gleaners

"I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed" 2 Samuel 17:2 .

Such was the policy of Ahitophel. Bad men always reveal themselves at some point of their tortuous and ignoble policy. It may be only a stray sentence, but the revelation is not the less vivid and complete. See how nobly this bad man reasoned! He said he would come upon David when David was weary and weak handed. Knavery can never be noble-minded. Bad men can never rise beyond their own level; find them where we may, they are always conceiving cowardly and ungenerous and self-defeating plots. The incident is useful to us as showing the policy which is pursued by our spiritual enemy; "Your adversary the devil goeth about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." The tempter came upon Eve when she was alone. He has always come upon men in their hours of depression, when health has been feeble, when business has been unprosperous, when family affairs have gathered overhead like a frowning cloud, when there has been unusual care and anxiety in the heart. The devil is not a brave tempter; he is "that old serpent the devil;" he lurks in secret places, he watches for moments of weakness, he never invites to fair, open encounter; he plots, and conspires, and works in the dark, and strikes from behind, and in very deed and in every way shows himself to be a devil. What is true of the master is true of the servant. All who follow the devil are selfish, wily, knavish, wanting in every attribute of chivalry and generosity. They cannot be otherwise, and this is the fact that must be borne in mind by all Christian teachers and reformers. The devil can only assume the garb of an angel of light: an angel of light he can never be in reality. Even when the devil quotes Scripture we must disbelieve him, for he quotes the Scripture only partially, and perversely applies it, and seeks to make it a medium of spiritual ruin. Men should have their attention more and more called to the meanness of wickedness, not only is it hateful as wickedness, but it is hateful because of its meanness, cunning, calculation, and willingness to strike a man when he is weary and weak handed. On the other side we must remember the promises of God. Whilst we are fainting we may yet be pursuing. At the throne of grace the fainthearted may renew their courage. Christ's sweetest invitations and promises are addressed to those who are weary and heavy laden. What time we are afraid we should trust in God. When our father and our mother forsake us, our look should be upward, not downward. We should remember, too, that enemies are always on the alert. They may not be noisy, ostentatious, self-proclaiming; they may be silent, concealed, watchful: let us be sure, however, that they are always on our track, always waiting for our halting, and always gratified when we are in fear and weakness. Through all this let us listen to the voice which says, "My grace is sufficient for thee."