The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 131

religious life the same is true. Of most of us God asks that we will do little things for him well. What a ~racious lesson in doing cheerfully lowly work our Lord uave us when he laid aside his garments, took a towel, girded himself, and began to w~sh the disciples' feet I "He that would be greatest among you let him he your servant." TI. LOWLY SERVICES ABE NECESSARY TO THE GENERAL WELL-BEING. Illustrate from church offices. The organ-blower's is a. very humble office, but most necessary and useful. The verger, door-keeper, cleaner, etc., are but in humble places and duties, and yet the comfort of "priest and people" depend on their lowly work. So in all good enterprises there is a great deal of mechanical and insignificant work demanded, but the efficient doing of them bears directly on the entire success. Standing quite alone, the humble duty seems scarce worth the doing, but wben it is seen fitting into its place in the great whole, its real importance and dignity are recognized. Illustra- tions may be found in the importance of the lesser parts of a. great machine or work of mechanical construction. A fine tower once fell in ruins to the surprise of all, until the builder confessed that he had neglected the little iron ties-insignificant things- that held the stones together. No man ever gains a. worthy apprehension of life until he fully and finally settles with himself that he will think nothing small, and treat nothing as small, since "all things have their necessary uses," and God asks for "faith- fulness in that which is least." Ill. LOWLY SEBVICEB FIND SPHERES FOB THE EXPRESSION OF CHARACTER. And the best; for men a.re less sophisticated, more simple and more genuine in them. If we would know what a man really is, we must not watch him merely on " show days," but rather see him in the private scenes of home and business. We put on character- garments for public scenes, just as we do outer coats for the streets. When "takeu at una.wares" we express what our character really is. IV. LOWLY SEBVICEB OFTEN BECOME THE MOST EFFICIENT TESTS OF CHARACTER. The necessity for personal attentions to the poor wounded man on the road to Jericho, tested and proved the selfishness of priest and Levite, as a call for some high anil honourable service would not have done. And similar calls are made on us. ,ve want to do the great things, and show off the blossoms of fine character which we have carefully stuck on. And God, in his providences, only provides humble spheres, unobserved places, and lowly work, which will let the fine pretences alone to wither and fall off, and only test and culture the real and the worthy and the true. Who of us can review our lives, and fail to see the places where, again and again, we were "weighed in the balances and found wanting" when we were asked to take some humble place of service or do some little thing for Jesus' sake? Still we are so unwilling to take the lowest rooms, even though Uhrist taught us that he looks among the people there to find the right-hearted, the worthy, whom he may bid "Go up higher." In respect of the power to hold and exhibit character, the little things often have more capacity than the big. V. LOWLY SERVICES FIT IJS WITH GREATER ONES TO PERFECT THE WHOLE OF SERVICE, Door-keepers fit in with porters, and sacrificers, and singers, and priests, to make the whole of temple service. And the least piece lost from the whole mars the beauty of the perfect service. ·what God asks is faithfulness, and he can find it in tho "least things." Remember George Herbert's familiar verse, "Who sweeps a room," etc. -Il.'l'. Ver. 22.-Snmuel's life-work. The assertion made in this verse, that Samuel was concerned in the organization of the tabernacle service, comes upon us with surprise. We are to suppose that he provided for the reformation of the ritual and ministmtions in the tabernacle after the confusions in the days of the judges; though this state- ment is not found in any other place in the Old Testament. "Samuel the seer was zealous for the external ordinances of God's house, and the precursor of David in this respect." We have side hints given us in the Scriptures of work done by groat and good men which is not detailed so as to become a part of history. We neod not assumo that tho whole of any man's story is preserved ; only such parts as aro l)kely to provo permanently interesting and instructive. An instance may be fonnd Ill the case of David. His public life of incident pushes back out of sight his valuable labours in councctiou with tb.e sanctll!lry order and worship. So the worthy estimating of any 122 TLlE FIRS'!' DOOK Ol!' 'l'HE CHRONICLES. [011, lX, 1-4.4,