T. A DI,Ji:RRJt'.O WITH A DRAWDACK. Of the bravery of Othniel there could be no 'luestion ; of his poverty there could be as little. It might be honourable for her to be his wife, but she would have to suffer many Racrifices in leaving the wealthy home of her father, 11ml her husband would h11ve an additional burden to sust'lin. Are not the dispensations of providence, even when we judge them on the whole to be best for us, frequently as mysteriously qualified and limited? No man would probably care to exchange bis life for another's, but" there's a crook in every lot." Material blessings generally contain within them elements of discipline, and sometimes even of punishment. But they are alike the gift of a loving father, and are to be accepted in the spirit of trust and affection. II. CoMPENSATIONB. le the gift of Achsah's father open to grave drawbacks"! It is not therefore unalterable. Something may be done to lessen its inconveniences, if not entirely to remove them. Her father is reasonable, and she at once makes appeal to his sense of what is fit and proper. Her request is granted. So with ourselves. Our heavenly Father who apportioned our lot is surely as reasonable and affectionate as any earthly one. It is for us to exercise the same wisdom as Achsah, and request that God will give us such a1leviations to our portion in life, or reveal to us those that already exist. Sometimes there are compensations latent in the very circum- stances of which we complain: springs of water to moisten a sun-parched soil. In any case God is able to bestow upon us exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think.-1\'I. Ver. 19.-.Divine help versus material obstacles. The statement of this verse is perplexing ; hardly softened if we render " there was no driving out,'' &c. On the one hand, apparently, infinite power is on the side of Judah; on the other, there are sharply-defined limits to bis succesil, and singular reasons for his failure. (Describe inhabitants of mountain and valley.) One would suppose that if God had really been with Judah, the chariots of iron would be neither here nor there in the question. " If God be for us, who can be against us? " But the difficulty arises from looking at the problem wholly from the Divine side. The same difficulty faces us to-day. "But this temptation was so great I " "But was not the Lord with you?" Infinite power may be on our side, ltut we may be debarred by failure of faith from making full use of it. I. UNREALISED SPinITUAL POWER. Many of the brutes have power greater than man, but they cannot bring it to benr. Is man never similarly unfortunate? In what sense can the power of God in the saint be unrealised? It is not power wasted or lying idle, but simply like a cheque unused. Our spiritual nature is not developed enough. II. INSUFFICIENT REASONS FOR FAILURE OR SUCCESS. These arise from the same cause as the preceding. The tool in hands of tyro and master. The true panoply of a Church is spiritual; and its material advantages may Rometimes be as Goliath's armour to David; and so may the spiritual advantages, if we do not realise them, keep ourselves in continual communion with them, and test their virtue by continual exercises of faith. III. wAYS IN WHICH MAN LIMITS GOD. By failure of faith. By neglect of the means of grace. Dy pe.rsonal unholiness. "God's arm is not shortened," &c., "but ye are straitened in your own selves."-M.
Vers. 19-21.-.A title to be made good. Each of these-Judah, Caleb (of the same tribe), and Benjamin-had received their portion at the hands of the Lord ; but they had to conquer it. Judah partially succeeded, Caleb wholly succeeded, and Benjamin had a grievous drawback to hie success. This is suggestive of the blessed- ness to be attained by Christians. I. Tm: PROMISE IS COMPLETE AND ABSOLUTE TO EVERY CHRISTIAN. "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even your faith." The least Christian is assured of this splendid triumph. II. lTs REALISATION WILi. DEPEND UPON THE MEASURE OF HIS FAITH, &c. The estate with a mortgage. Judah had already "fought against Jerusalem" and subdued it, at least the southern portion nb!1tting upon, or included in, their boundary. But they 14 THE BOOK OF JUDGES. [CH. I, 8-20,