Ver. 23.-Naplilali's !fOodly cl,oice. N11pht,ili's positi11n was in the north of Canaan, and had its so_u\hern. border adjacent to the 11{'1\ of Galilee. A large proportion of our Lord's mm1strnt1ons were bestowed on the inhabitants within this district. Obviously the hrnds of this tribe in Mosos' day aspired after the best possessions. I. V.'E OBSERVE JIF.RE TJIE DEST JIUMAN AMDITION, "Satisfied with fn.vonr." H is scarcely conjecture that imports into Muses' words the meaning, "the favour of God;" for in the next clause he mentions distinctly the "blessing of the Lonl." No other favour can satisfy save the "favour of Jehovah." This is all-su111cient- nn ocean, in which the soul of man can bathe itself with amplest delight. This phrase, "the favour, or grace, of God," includes everything which God can supply for human need. In it is embraced light, pardon, Divine friendship, purity, peace, strength, liberty, rest. A comprehensive prayer is this," Oh, satisfy me early with thy mercy! " II, WE NOTE THE BEST AMDITION SATISFIED. "Full with the blessing of the Lord." Wo ofton desire infe1ior good, and desirn in vain. The love of God is too deep and wise to indulge our foolish requests. But when we ask for hi,c;hest good, and desire it earnestly, wo never fail to obtain. What man ever sued fur grace and wns sent empty away 7 No; God's chief complaint is that we come too seldom, and ask too little at his hnnds. Still he says to us, "Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it." '!'he possession and wise use of God's grace enlarges our capacity to receive. It is a cure for all murmuring and discontent. III. WE ~EE HOW, WITH THE HIGHEST BLESSI~G, Gou GIVES THE LOWER UNASKED. Naphtali desired to be satisfied with the Diviae favour; and a voice w,1s commissioned to say, "Possr.ss thou the sea and the south." It is a recognized niethod of Goel'~ procedure that when men ask for spiiitual riches, God grants both spiritual and temporal good. In Gibeah, God appeared to Solomon, and proposed to him, "Ask what I shall give thee;" and when Solomon craved to possess the girt of wisdom, his generous God assured him that not only should wis<lom be his, but things he ha,l not asked-even unprecedented riches and honour. 'l'o the same effect, onr Lord affirmed, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all other (needed) things shall be added unto you." He is" able to do for us exceeding abundantly nbove all that we can ask or think."-D. Vera, 24, 25,-The comprehensive benediction of Asher, No one can read this series of poetical benedictions without cherishing the conviction that Mo~es "spake as moved by the IIoly Ghost." The peculiar fitness of his aspirations for the future exigencies of the tribes, and his clenr foresight of their distant fortunes, indicate unmistakably that a supernatural light suffused his understanding. This benediction of the dying prophet foretokens- 1. NmdERICAL INCREASE. By a natural law of God's providence, rapid increase of the people is a fruit of material prosperity. When scarcity of food is a permanent condition, infanticide prevails, or children perish fur lack of nutritious food. Thi11 increase of children was, in former times, a. distinct token of God's favour, and a frequent subject of promise. As the numbers of Israel increased, so would their strength to resist aggression, It was when Israel's numbers were diminished by intestine wars, that the Eastern potentates gained decisive triumphs. Occupying, ns Asher did, the extreme north-west of Canaan, numerical increase was a source 0f defensive strength, 'l'o the Christian parent-to the Church, children are a blessing. "Happy they who have their quiver full" of these Divine arrows. II. '!'HERE IS SET FORTII SOCIAL REPUTATION AND GOOD WllL, .. Let him be acceptable to his brethren." So long ns the tribal relationship was maintained iu strength, there was a constant danger of mutual jealousies and animo~ities. Occl\sionally this evil pnssion took fire and broke into open flame. From tribal suspicion and dislike Asher would be free. It is an honour and a joy to live in the esteem and good will of brethren. '!'he outward reach of influence is enlarge(!. Life is fdt to have nobler interests. The better part of humnn nature finds dev11lopmcnt. III. TnERE IS vo1rns11ADOWED AGRICULTURAL PROSPERITY. Upon the northern hill~ of Palestine tho olive tree flourishes, and authorities affirm that no agricultural produce is so abundant and so remunerative as that of the olive. It is hardy, will flourish in rocky soil, and attains vencrnblc age. Its fruit is valuable, is utilized for domestic Ttrn BOOK OF DEUTERON\nlY. [on. n:rnr. 1-20.
purpo~e", nnd hns alwaye been 8 etaple commodity of commerce. So prolific wne the oli'l"<'R of Asher to become, that the people should have, not only the hcnrl, but tho fret also, in the abundant oil; or the language may be <lesigned as I\ bold fi<Tnre, to indicnto tlrnt ~o full should he the oil-vats at the bn~e of every oli¥c-clothed hii!, tlu\t the very l8nd shonld seem to he foot-deep in isolden oil. IV. THERE IB PREDICTED IMPREGNABLE DEFENCE. The poetical ima"ery here may he better translated, "Thy bars shall be iron and brass." It mny be th~t these mctnle were ~ou~d- in veins _among the hills, ~r rather_ iron and copper. It may thnt the gates of their c1t1es were, ID some c1111es, fashioned with these metals. Doors and tTl\tcs of iron arc still to he seen in the district of Bashan. But it is better to treat the lanuuatTo a~ elegant imagery, to indicat.e the matchless strength of Ashcr's fortresses. Ovc~ all her internal wealth there shall he a sure defence. The Chnldee paraphase reads, "'l'hou shnlt be stwng and bright, like iron and brass." "· 'l'HF.llE IS PLEDGED INTERNAL STRENG1'H PROl'ORTJONED TO NEED. "As thy days, thy strength." A precious promise this of unh•ersal application. Our days are under DiYinc inspection; our circumstances are under Divine c.ontrol. It is better for the mnn every way that his strength should be increased than that the trial should be abated. The outcome is that the man emerges stronger, nobler, more highly developcJ. 'l'he ,ujlply is always adjusted to the particular need. God is the model of fruunl economy. Jn l,is administration there is no waste. But there would be wnste if the supply of strength daily giveu were in excess of the requirement. This would be a blot upon his wisdom. What should we say of the water company that sent daily into our houses ten 1 imcs the quantity of water that is required? Or, what advantage would it he to us if the supply of light from the sun daily were a hundredfold in excess of this world's need ? Our God is perfect wisdom, as well as infinite lo'l"e, Strength shall he supplied, not in superabundant wnste, but in exact proportion to our need. ".As our days, our strength." The infant would be crushed with the strength of the full-grown man.-D.