The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 40

orderings of Divine providence. No man's sin can ever stand alone-it must involve others in its consequences; and in this its hatefulness is revealed and a due foar of it is wrought in our minds. We should not so much hesitate to sin if we could ensure the limitation of the consequences to ourselves. Ent our sin must make us troublers. Even if the sin be forgiven, the issues must still go on. Then what a sublime idea we may gain of the redemption which God proposes I It deals with us for forgiveness and cleansing, but it also goes on after all the issues of human sin, and will not rest until the whole world is fully delivered, recovered, and saved.-R. T. Ver. 11.-Lessonsfrom the story of Boaz. 'l'he Book of Ruth is preserved to us !IS a picture of family and social life in the disorderly times of the judges. Both Ruth and Naomi have been made the frequent subject of public teaching; but Boaz stands out with sufficient prominence in the narrative to justify our fixing attention on him. Give the story, and especially the gleaning customs of those olden times; the kindly relations of masters and labourers; the customs of seeking protection from the family flOel, or avenger; of confirming covenants by the gift of a shoe; and of conducting matters of business in the open space within the city gates. Fully explain the Eastern Jaw of the goel. We may find illustrated in the conduct of Boaz- I. THE CONSIDERATENESS OF THE TRUE GENTLEMAN. See his gentle and considerattl treatment of the poor gleaner, and his gentle dealing with her when she claimed his protection. The essence of the Christian gentleman is considerateness for the feelings and wishes of others, and a gentle way of doing all things, even hard and painfol things. Find beautiful illustrations in the tender considerateness of the Lord Jesus Christ; and compare Paul's address to the elders at Miletus, and the tone of the Epistle to the Philippians. II. THE RESPONSIVENESS TO ANOTIIER's TRUST. It is always the mark of the good man that he loves to be trusted, and readily responds to trust. So Boaz did when Ruth put herself under his protection. 'l'he Lord Jesus always looked for faith-trust; and opened his best treasures for the opened, trusting heart. III. THE LOYALTY TO THE SE:)!SE OF DUTY. Shown in his taking up Ruth's case at once, and earnestly, and making himself liable for all that was involved in the vindi- cation of her rights. Then work out how Divina benedictions ever follow right character and conduct. Ruth and Boaz both get their reward. The "right" may not always disclose its issues at once. They often seem painfully delayed, but, if wo follow on, right is sure to lead to practical blessing. Right never yet led wrong; and good nevor yet finally issued in evil.-R. T. Ver. 13.-The character of Jesse. Biographies usually make much of the parental connections nnd ancestral relations of their hero. It is even discussed whether the special genius of a person is to be traced to his father or to his mother. In the earlier Scriptures the mother's name and character are seldom given (exceptions may be found in the cases of Sarah, Rebekah, and Hannah); but in the time of the later kings the mother's name is preserved with care. The importance of hereditary connections may concern both the intellectual forces of the mind and the moral qualities making up the character. There is the heritago of goodness as well as of greatness; 'and, therefore, St. Paul thanks God that Timothy stands in the third generation of marked faith and piety (2 Tim. i. 5). Almost nothing is kn0wn of tho mother of David, and the absence of information has led to strange conjecture; Dean Stanley curiously suggesting that she may have been previously a wifo or concubine of one Nahash, possibly an Ammonite king, who under somo circumstllllccs not detailed became a second wife of Jesse, and by him the mother of David. All that tho narrative suggests is that David was much younger than his brothers, and tho child of Jesse's old age. He is introduced to us as conversing with Samuel on the occasion of the anointing of David (1 Sam. xvi.); as caring for tho wants of his children whilo they were away from home in the army of Saul (1 Sam. xvii.); and as the object of David's special caro when the personal enmity of Saul put his relatives, as well as David himself, in peril (1 Sam. xxii. 3, 4). 'l'h-3 incident in which the personal character of Jesse is most fully indicated is that of sending David with a present to hiij sons in the army; a11d this s11ggests that he was a thoughtful and affcclionatc fathtr, 30 THE FIIlSl' DOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [CH, II, 1-55,