The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 196

and thirty years of his subsequent life did David sit down to his table in the royal palace at Jerusalem with so much gladness of heart as he did this day at Hebron. Never, probably, did the thousands of Israel gather at such a jubilant assembly as when they met "to make David king," and were with him "three days ea.ting and drinking" (vers. 38, 39). The event justified their joy. They had every promise of national peace, prosperity, security. 'l'hey ,vere on the eve of a new era, in which their race would take a position and enjoy a heritage to which it had long looked forward, which had been long delayed, but which should now meet and crown their brightest hopes. They had four elements of strength; four sources, therefore, of satisfaction. 1. Large numbers. (Vers. 24-37.) "Six thousand eight hundred;" "seven thousand one hundred," etc.-in all more than three hundred and thirty thousand. 2. Discipline and equipment. The bauds were "ready armed" (vers. 23, 24, 37, 38); many were "mighty men of valour" (ver. 30); many were "expert in war" (vers. 33, 35, 36). 3. Enthusiasm. "They were not of double heart;" they were undivided, single- minded, thorough (vers. 33, 38). 4. Wisdom. For they were doing the right thing for their country's welfare; they were acting "according to the word of the Lord" (ver. 23). Here was the strongest of all reasons for congratulation and joy, the surest pledge of national prosperity. That there may be "joy in the Israel of God," in the Christian Church, that there may be a sense of assured victory and of security, there need be these four elements of strength ; they are all of value, though not of equal worth. I. THERE IS STRENGTH IN NUMBERS IN THE CAUSE OF CHRIST. A great multitude of men may be of very little account; a miscellaneous assembly is not an army. Nevertheless, it is better that the people of the Lord should be counted by thousands rather than by hundreds. 'l'here is more heart to praise God when the church is filled than when it is scantily attended. Many labourers are better than few in the h:uvest- field of Christian toil (Matt. ix. 37, 38). II. THERE IS GREATER STRENGTH IN DISCIPLINE AND CONSEQUENT PREPAREDNERS. Ten men well armed and "expert in war" will do more than ten times their number unarmed or ill armed and without knowledge of the way to strike; this is true in moral as well as in material contests, in Christian effort as well as in the "science of war." Christ has need, not only of those who, untrained, do the best they can at the moment, but of those also who, by careful discipline of mind and heart, have " bought up the opportunity," and can do well-can speak nobly, can devise skilfully, can execute admirably in the day of conflict. III. THERE IS EQUAL STRENGTH IN ENTHUSIASM. Not to "have a heart and a heart" (ver. 33, marain) but to be of one undivided mind, one fixed, ardent, resolute soul; to be fired by ~n ~rnest purpose ; to be eager for the work ; to be inspired by an impelling, exalting devotion to the great King ;-this is the source of power; t~is will carry everything before it. And yet is there one other element of more essential moment still. !V. 'l'HE GREATEST SOURCE OF STRENGTH AND SECURITY IS IN A WISE OBEDIENCE, Everything will fail, however large the number, careful the culture, fervent the spirit, if there be not the "doing of the will of the Father who is in heaven"-if the command- ment of Christ be disregarded. "Should it be according to his mind," it will be ~ell; otherwise the brightest hopes will disappear in the darkness. In all our projects, methods, enterprises for the extension of his kingdom, we must proceed "according to the Word of the Lord" (ver. 23). Then will the issue be like that _at Hebron_ on_ thi! gladsome occasion. We do not feast now as then, "three days eatmg ~nd drmkmg, but we have, or may have, our joyous times, when the work and the will of the Lord are done, when a sense of unity and security is in the soul, and we look forward to a bright and victorious future in the service of the Son of David.-C. Ver. 32.-Spiritual sagacity. It is a very high encomium, which the sacred wri_ter passes on these " children of Issachar," that they were men ' that bad unders~an_dmg of the times, to know what Israel oui;;ht to do." They were men that had ms1ght, who coul<.l see beneath the surface, who could look on beyond the events of the hour- men of sagacity and penetration. Such men arc always needed. I. 'l'HE 6AGACITY 'l'HAT WAS NEEDED THEN. What was most urgently required of the lea<.lers of the tribes i11 those early times was: 1. Which dynasty to support-whether cu. xn. 1-40.J 'l'HE FIIlST DOOK OF 'l'HE CHRO~ICLES. 189