Open thy mouth for the dumb— Open thy mouth for the dumb; give judgment to those who have experienced the vicisstudes of human affairs. The latter clause may be rendered, In the cause of all strangers, or all children of change.
REFLECTIONS.—We have here,
1. The address of Bathsheba to her son Solomon: What, my son? Either it intimates the tender concern with which she spoke; or, as if she wanted words to enforce the lesson she was about to deliver; or, as designed to awaken his attention; or as an expostulation, having observed in him a tendency to the evils from which she would dissuade him, and which were so unbecoming a prince: and hereunto the following words seem most suited: What, the son of my womb? have I brought thee forth with sorrow, and educated thee with such parental care? and shall it be fruitless? hear what the tenderest affection dictates; and grant me (it is all I ask) this small return for all my pains: and what, the son of my vows? devoted to God from earliest infancy; the son of many prayers; and doubly criminal it would be in such to be unfaithful. Note; (1.) That mother shews true tenderness to her children, who labours to bring them up from earliest infancy in the discipline and admonition of the Lord; and the more exalted their station, the more carefully their education deserves to be attended to. (2.) We must plead with our children the many prayers which have been offered for them, and the obligations they are under of being early devoted to God, and acquainted with his word, as what will render their unfaithfulness more ungrateful and inexcusable.
2. Her warning. [1.] Against lewdness: one false step had nearly ruined his father; and by this sin kingdoms have been overturned. [2.] Against drunkenness: the moderate use of wine and other good things, is not forbidden; but all excess in a king were doubly criminal and scandalous; it is a profanation of their dignity, disqualifies them for the discharge of their high estate, gives the most pernicious example to their subjects, makes God's law forgotten, and lays them open to exercise wanton tyranny and cruel injustice. Note; If drunkenness be so unbecoming a king, how ought those who are anointed kings and priests unto God to be especially careful of excess, and shun whatever should lead them to so dishonourable a deed.
3. Her advice: To be liberal, compassionate, the advocate of the oppressed, and the upright magistrate: these are the things which exalt a king. Instead of abusing affluence, employ it for the use of the needy, give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, to support his fainting spirits, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts, to revive them when dejected, low, and in distress. Let him drink moderately and forget his poverty, his spirits being cheered and refreshed, and remember his misery no more. Wine thus employed is well bestowed. How much better thus to put our bottle to our indigent neighbour's mouth to revive his fainting soul, than in excess to drown his senses? Spiritually, this represents the state of a sinner's soul, distressed under a sense of guilt, perishing under the apprehension of the divine wrath, conscious of his abject spiritual poverty: to them the sweet wine of gospel-promises should be freely given, that a sense of the love of God in Christ may cheer their drooping hearts; and by faith, drinking in a rich supply of mercy and grace, they may forget their poverty, and no more consider their misery, God having forgiven their iniquity, and promised to heal all their infirmities. Instead of negligence or oppression, open thy mouth for the dumb, be the advocate of the disconcerted or ignorant, who cannot plead their own cause; and rescue them from their cruel persecutors, who seem bent on their destruction. Open thy mouth with boldness and zeal, judge righteously, without respect to persons, unawed by any consideration, and plead the cause of the poor and needy, whose meanness might expose them to be trampled upon, their cause neglected, or their right over-ruled.