unhesitatingly obey God. One of the most remarkable of the characteristics of Scripture is its freedom from repetition and monotony, even when engaged on subjects that may very closely resemble one another in their matter. In tbe present instance, the con- nection, the subject, the time, all closely correspond with what has immediately preceded, and the important event or issue is identical. Yet how greatly the scene differs, and with what exceedingly quickened interest do we read of this second appearance and challenge of the Philistines! The general facts of the situation are still the same. The courage and determination, however, of the Philistines in repeating their attack so soon, and after so thorough and crushing a defeat, show well the stuff of which they were made, and offer an additional touch to the picture. David on his part repeats his inquiry addressed to One whom he had come to be well persuaded Wa.'! "the God of his salvation." From this point the course of events differs and pursues a new and unwonted direction. David is divinely assured of victory over the enemy, but he is directed not to go up in the face of tbat enemy. He is to go to some plantation of trees, to await tbere a certain sound in them, to take that as the omen and sign tbat God is his Leader and tbe Leader of his hosts to the battle, and tben to make bis attack. Faith and practical obedience follow on the part of David, and the enemy suffer a great defeat, while David's fame sustains great advancement. Let us notice some special peculiarities that mark the ordering of tbis battle, and observe the probable lessons of them. I. A DlSTINCT LESSON OF PUTTING SELF INTO THE BACKGROUND. As surely as there are cases innumerable when the active exercise of our best practical powers is tbe appointed and expected test of our earnestness and reality, so surely are there some cases when we are permitted, invited, nay, even commanded, to approve a dutiful spirit, in "standing still to see." Vast is tho difference between the man whose disposition it is always" to stand still and see," and him who, when the command comes, can consent to renounce the endeavou(and the effort and the force of self, and so "stand still and see." The one is the disposition of supineness and even sloth, the other calls for the exercise of a very high measure of self-command and temperate restraint. The instance before us is remarkable in this aspect on every account. It is 11, warrior, who is to lay aside some of the most characteristic qu11,lities of the warrior. He is not to foresee, not to provide, not to prep:ue, for the battle I It is a w11,rrior, who was to the manner born, and who has intrinsically not a few of the highest gifts of the warrior. It is a warrior the very day before the battle, when desire and chivalry and courage are near their height. It is a warrior also th~ day 11,fter an engagement; he, together with his hosts, is flushed with triumphant conflict, elated with success, and feeling that he is safe for another decisive victory. Nature tells us of such a man and of such a host, tbat they burn for the fray. The Divine word, however, told them now that they must count themselves and their m11,rtial 11,rdour and their very bravery as nothing. As little like brave soldiers as possible, they are not so much as to confront their foes face to face, but to steal unawareb to the rearward of them. Tbe battle is to be won, but it plainly is not to be by tbe strength of human arm, nor by the force of human wisdom. It will be won in a way to humble tbe pride of self, to cast self into the shade, most of all to lower it in its own deep conviction, and to exalt the presence and power of another. II. A DISTINCT INSTANCE OF THE FAITH AND ODEDIENCE THAT CONSENTED TO TIIAT LESSON. "David therefore did as God commanded him." We have here a very simple but very clear case of faitb. The directions given to David were not merely contrary to individual predilection and character, but they were contrary to the methods and discernment of sense. David does neither disdain these in his mind nor practically disregard them in his act on that account. By faith he goes to the trees ; by faith he expects and waits for the appointed sign there; faith pours a stream of confidence into him when he hears that signal for battle and "the sound of going in the tops of the trees,"-simulates perfectly for him " the going forth before him" of God to "smite tho host of the Philistines." To the temper of the typical warrior and general all this would have been equally unnatural and trying but for the force of faith. '!'hero arc times when sense and unbelief, superstition and the love of the marvellous revel just. herein, that is to say, in a "sign." But this sign will be something very Jitrerc11t from one so simple as " the sound of going in the tops of the trees." '!'his was JI(> miracle, except as faith had power to transmute it into the best form of miracle. Faith can feed on what shall see!I) slender IIlaterial, and_can fincl richest enjoyment in wl111t 222 THE FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [cB, xiv.1-17.
shall seem familiar trifles to sense. This is the grandeur of faith, when nothing is great, nothing little to it except a.s they bring the invisible to sight, and make things that are not as though they were. That faith then becomes the secret aid and pre- cursor to obedience. III. A DISTINCT GAIN OF RESPECT, FEAR, REVERENCE, FOR THE MAN WHO RENOUNCED SELF AND ACCEPTED THE GUIDE OF FAITH. "The fame of David went out into all lands; and the Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations." This was the direct consequence of his having surrendered himself entirely into the hands of the great Commander himself, the Lord of all hosts. How often had Saul used all earthly power and been impatient to do so, so that he could not wait even for the right human agency I But he faiied, and for every failure lessened his influence among those round him fa.r" and wide, God made the victories of David marvellous, and therein made him marvellous, from the time of Goliath up to the present moment. To trust self and sclf's well-nigh superhuman exertions shall still leave a man an utter failure. To trust God and rigidly follow his bidding will exalt a man, and will save him from his own liability to error and inevitable loss of reputation thereby. From all this narrative we may be very forcibly reminded of two things. 1. How God would teach us that it may be often dangerous to go up dfrect against even the very worst of foes-our spiritual foes, 2. That with these foes it is above all necessary to have God himself to fight before us, for us, with us.