Ver.14.-Household blessing. "Prosperity," says Lord Bacon, "is the blessing of the old covenant, adversity of the new." Certainly Old 'l'estarnent Scripture abounds in instances of temporal abundance, fertility, and happiness, represented as proofs of the favour of the Most High. In the text Obed-edom is recorded to have received the ark into his house, and with it to have received e.n abundant blessing upon himself and upon all that pertained to him. I. THE GROUND OF DLEBSING. Apparently this was, in the case before us, a regard for what was God's. But this ¼IlS doubtless an expression of regard for God himself. The Divine Searcher of hearts and Judge of all sauctions this principle; and althou:ch we can give nothing, save our he11.rts, to God, we can give to his people much that id 208 THE FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [cH. xm. 1-14.
acceptable to him. Our Lord Jesus often puts this motive before his disciples. What we do we are to do for his sake; and what we do to his people we are deemed to do for him. Still, as in the olden days, God honours those that honour him. II. THE SIGNS AND TOKENS OF BLESSING, Whom God blesses he blesses in them- selves-in_ their own persons. He en~iches ~hem with spiritual knowledge; he reveals to them his favour; he :fits them for his service. He bestows upon them relative bless- ings. As God blessed the house of Obed-edom, so there is no more deli"htful 0 way in which he reveals his favour to his people than by visiting in mercy those most dear to them-encompassing them with the protection of his providence, and bringing them to a knowledge of his grace and love. He blesses them in their possessions; some- times, according to the Hebrew saying, "in their basket and their store," but always by granting them grace to make a sanctified use of all they have. Let all unite in the prayer, "God be merciful unto us, and bless us, and cause his face to shine upon us!"-T.
Vers. 1-6.-Piety and policy. .As King of Israel, David made an excellent be"in- ning; he commenced his reign by an act in which piety and policy were happily united. His action was : 1. Indicative of the piety which was characteristic of him. We who know David so well from his psalms, as well as from the Biblical history of his life, are not surprised that, when anointed king over all Israel, his :first thouc,hts were directed to the service of God. With many monarchs this would have been°the last consideration. But it was deepest and uppermost with David. He felt, and most truly, that he owed his elevation to the distinguishing goodness of Jehovah, and when he had reached the height of his ambition he was not going to forget the hand that had lifted him up. Piety was a vein that ran straight through the life, because right through the character of the king. 2. Politic in all particulars. He acted: (I) With sound constitutionalism. Instead of deciding and decreeing absolutely, he "consulted," ell:., he "said unto all the congregation of Israel," etc. (vers. 1, 2). '.!.'his was " the manner of the kingdom" (see Judg. xx. 7; 1 Kings xii. 6; 2 Chron. x.x. 21). It was an act likely to impress the nation very favourably. (2) With consideration toward the sacred tribe. "Let us send . . . to the priests and Levites," etc. They would naturally expect that special reference would be made to them, and they would be gratified by the royal attention. (3) With regard to the general wishes of the people. All that could come to such a ceremony would like to be present; all were to be invited: "Our brethren everywhere" were to gather together (ver. 2); "David gathered all Israel together" (ver. 5). (4) With teuderness toward the fallen house. He did not reproach Saul with the neglect with which he might have been justly charged; ho gracefully included himself in whatever condemnation was implied: "For we inquired not at it in the days of Saul" (ver. 3). (5) Reserving one point which must be final and supreme. Their wishes were consulted and should be carried out, but subject to one condition-the approval of God himself: "And that it be of the Lord our God." (6) With persona.I participation and co-operation. He did not send up and fetch the ark; he "went up, and all Israel" with him (ver. 6). I. POLICY WITHOUT PIETY I8 A POOR AND VAIN THING. It seems clever or even brilliant to those who imitate and practise it; but it is contemned of God, disregarded by the wise and good, and certain to come to a.n ignominious end. It works in the ground, and then sports iu the sun for its little hour, and then it falls utterly to pieces and cannot be lifted up again. II. PIETY WITHOUT POLICY I8 A DEFECTIVE THING. A reverent spirit and a pious purpose are admirable things, but if they a.re dissociated from discretion, and proceed on their way without regard to the claims, wants, and wishes of men, they will commonly, if not always, fa.ii to secure the object they have in view. III. PIETY AND POLICY TOGETHER ARE A BENIGNANT POWER. Let good men be prudent as well as reverent, discreet and considerate as well a.s godly and zealous; let the cause of God be championed and conducted by those who have a knowledge of "what is in man" and what are the conditions under which they work in harmony, and then will the goal be reached and the prize be won.-C.