III. THAT WE MUST BE READY TO TAKE THE PLACE FOR WHICH Goo HAS FITTED us. "Of the sons of Gad, one of the least was over an hundred, and the greatest over a thousand" (ver. 14). It is in our human nature to covet the highest place; but we are to learn of Christ-of his example and of his Word-to take with cheerfulness the humbler seat. And we may do this, not only because it is essentially Christian, but also because (1) it is right and reasonable that they who have the greater qualifications should occupy the more responsible posts; and because (2) it will contribute to our own peace and joy of heart to have as much as, but no more than, we are able to execute placed in our hands. IV. 'l'HAT THE CAUSE OF Goo IS ONE THAT GATHRRS STRENGTH BY COXTIXUAL ACCESSION. (Ver. 22.) There may come times in the history of the great spiritual struggle in which the Church is occupied when large accessions are made to the ranks of God. But this triumph has been preceded by long, incessant toil; moreover, it is not the rule, but the exception. "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation;" it is "day by day" that souls come in, until the army of the great King is made and the "host of God" is com plete.-C. Vera. 16-18.-The offer of the upright, etc. These verses suggest- I. '!'HE OFFER OF THE UPRIGHT. (Ver. 17.) David made this offer to the men of Benjamin and Judah in good faith. He did not mean one thing in the moment of danger, and another in the hour of security. He fully intended the thing he said; he was prepared, in the event of this band of men coming over to bis side, to regaru them with perfect favour and to give them a good place in his ranks. The maintenance of all our social activities depends on trustworthiness between man and man ; therefore on honesty of thought and integrity of word and deed in ordinary as well as extra- ordinary occasions. When uprightness is gone and confidence undermined, all security has vanished and everything is in confusion. 'l'he engagP,ments of daily lire, of trade and commerce, of all human industry, rest ou morality and ultimately on religion. II. THE RESOURCE OF THE DEVOUT. (Ver. 17.) When David" went out to meet" those men, he placed himself (as I read the story) in their power. He made them an offer which they might accept or not. Accepting it, they would reinforce his army and strengthen his position; refusing it, they might avail themselves of his venture an<l get him into their power. This latter alternative he vigorously deprecates; but if they should abuse his confidence he has one resource-the appeal to God. "If ye be come to betray me to mine enemies ... the God of our fathers ... rebuke it." In the last extremity the devout man can fall back on Divine interposition: "Our God whom we serve is nble to deliver us ... and he will deliver us" (Dan. iii. 17). Things can never be· so bad with the servants of righteousness but they have one valuable resource-the appeal to God, his rebuke of the guilty, his succour of the upright. But it is only those who can say, "Seeing there is no wrong in mine hands," who have a consciousness of rectitude and reconciliation, that have this refuge in the hour of neccl. Ill. THE DECISION, INVOCATION, AND ACQUISlTION OF TIIE WISE. (Ver. 18.) 1. '!'he decision of the wise. '!'hose who know what it is best to do will join themselves, not to the cause of the man who has forsaken God and whom he has forsaken-the party of Haul, but to the side of him who serves God and whom he helps-the party ot Davie!. He whom" his God helpeth" is the champion to whom we should attach ourselves and our interests. 2. The invocation of the wise. "Peace, peace be unto thee and ... unto thine helpers." The thoughtless and "shallow-hearted" may wish for their frien<ls the cup of pleasure, or a sceptre of power, or a wreath of glory; the wiser heart <iesires peace. There is no blessing so true, profound, abiding, as peace of mind, rest of heart, stillness of soul in God. 3 And this is the acquisition of the wise. 11 l>eace be unto thee, ... for thy God helpeth thee." If God be the llclper of our soul, ns he is ready to be, as he will be to those who earnestly and perseveringly seek his aid ; if he grant the helpful influence of his illumining, reue"·ing, sanctifying, comforting Spirit, there will be peace," great peace"-the "peace which passeth un<lorHt.an<ling," the peace of Christ himself (John xiv. 27).-0.
Vers. 23-31, 33-4.0.-" Joy in (the) Israel (of God)." A right joyous ~..:e11e was that described in the conclu<ling verses of this chapter. Never, probably, in tl.tu tl.iree 188 THE FIRST BOOK OF 'l'HE CHRONICLES. [on. xu. 1-4.0,