HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 2.-Sacrifice and blessing. The manner in which David celebrated the reception of the ark into its appointed tent on the height of his city was thoroughly character- istic. He acted as a king, and as a kind of royal mediator between the God of heaven and the chosen people Israel. I. HE BLESSED THE LORD IN THE NAME OF THE PEOPLE. For this was certainly the signific.:ance of the sacrifices, burnt offerings, and peace offerings. In offering them, the king was publicly acknowledging the authority of the supreme Lord, was publicly adoring and praising him as the God of the nation, and was publicly seeking his favour and countenance. Not that David offered these sacrifices with his own hands. What he did by means of the priests, whom he directed, he is represented as doing himself. It was a high day, a solemn and joyful festivity; and it was becoming that the Lord should be recognized, sought, and praised. II. HE BLESSED THE PEOPLE IN THE NAME OF THE Lonn. Probably he pronounced a solemn benediction, invoking the gracious regard of the God of Israel upon the chosen nation. With the ark of the covenant in their possession, in the midst of their metropolis, the people might well be encouraged to rejoice in the presence and favour of him who is ever the Source of all good. It is a proof of David's policy that he took this opportunity of feasting the assembled multitudes. This would no doubt create a favourable impression upon all minds. 'l'heir spiritual privileges, and their happine_ss in having a king so c:onsidvrate and liberal as David to reign over them, would be associated in their minds. They would connect their religion and their loyalty together, and would cherish happy recolfoctions of the solemnities of the day.-T. 'Ver. 4.-Ministerial service. A.ltho11gh the Levites were set apart for the service of the Lord's house, even from the days of Moses, it is certain that the Leviticnl services were more folly organized by David, and that from his time there was more of system and more of efficiency in their ministrations. There is BO marked a diffenmce between err. xvr. 1--43.) 'l'EIE FIUST BOOK OF TllE CHRONICLES. 251
the Jewish Church and the Christian Church, that we can only apply the <1eneral principles of the former to the latter. Yet the text may well suggest to us that..'.:'... I. PoBLIC WORSHIP HAB SCRIPTURAL AUTHORITY. \Vorship, to be acceptable, must be from the heart. But out of the abundance of the heart the mouth will speak. It is natural and appropriate that the sentiments and desires of the soul should find a vocal utterance; and it is also natural and appropriate that those who have the same tribute to offer should join together and offer it in common. The Book of the Acts in the New Testament sanctions such worship equally with these Books of Chronicles in the Old. II. PUBLIC WORSHIP SHOULD CONSIST LARGELY OF THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE. Accord- ing to the text, the Levites recorded and celebrated the glorious deeds of the Most High, adored his attributes, gave thanks for his forgiving mercy, bis bounty, aud loving- kinduess. We do not want less prayer in our congregations, but we do want more praise. "His mercy endureth for ever;" and while his mercy endures his praises should not cease. III. PUBLIC WORSHIP SHOULD BE LED BY APPOINTED MINISTERS. Common sense may teach us so much. If praise is to be sung, some musical leaders must conduct it. If the Scriptures are to be read, some human voice must read them. If prayer is to be offered, some one must pour forth the language of petition, in which others may join, whether silently or audibly. If the gospel is to be heard by men, "bow shall they hear without a preacher?" Scripture precedents abound for ministerial service. IV. While public worship must be properly conducted, IT MUST NOT BE DELEGATED TO ANY FUNCTIONARIES OR OFFICIALS, WHOSE SERVICES MAY BE SUBSTITUTED FOR THAT oF 1'HE PEOPLE. Levites under the old dispensation, pastors and teachers under the new, may aid the devotions of the people, but their offering cannot be accepted in the place of what God requires-a song, a prayer, from every heart. "Praise the Lord, all ye people!" The Christian Church admits of no exclusive priesthood; all Christians are priests unto God the Father, inasmuch as all offer to him sacrifices of willing obedience and grateful praise. CONCLUSION. 1. A rebuke to the ungrateful and undevout, who, whilst they daily receive God's mercies, acknowledge not the Giver. 2. A rebuke to the formal and ceremonial, who excuse themselves from offering sacrifices of praise on the ground that this" religious duty" is fulfilled by appointed officials. 3. A reminder and summons, to which a.II sincere Christians will do well to take heed. Some s1 iritnal ministry 11nd service may be fulfilled by every Christian; and it is a high honour to be perwitted to lead the praises and the supplications of the people of the Lord.-'!'.
Vers. 7-36.-.A psalm. When the king had organized a choir of musicians, had provided them with their instruments, had assigned them their duties and their main- tenance, it remained for him to decide what they were to sing. Ho was himself "the sweet psalmist of Israel." It is difficult for us to imagine what psalmudy must have been before the time of David. It is a grand vocation-that of putting words of praise into the lips of worshippers. And it was a glorious burst of sarred song which pealed from the heights of Jerusalem when the sublime odes of David were first rolled to heaven upon the wings of the wind. What a revelation of GoJ, what a.a inspiration for man, what new life to the world, when the psalms were first wrought into shape by the glowing heart and the glorious eloquence of David I The later Lcvitical psalms ere perhaps more reflective and elaborate, but those composed by the lyrical sovereign of Israel have at once the simplest piety, the profoundest feeling, and the most vigorous eloquence. 'rhe occasion of the composition, or, at all events, the first public rendering of David's odes, was one worthy of such efforts. When the ark fouud a restiug-placo in the city of David, when Jerusalem was consecrated by the public and regal recogni- tion of the Divine Law, when the Levites solemnly nddresse,l Jehovah in the n,lmo of Israel,-then this magnificent psalm was sung, now in melodious recitative, and again in resounding chorus, to the accompaniment of cymbal, of trumpet, and of harp. It was a fitting inauguration of a series of sublime solemnities. When we examine tho structure of the psalm, we are surprised and filled with admiration at the appropri,itu- ness, the beauty, the comprehensiveness of the composition. 'l'he psalm, as it is recorded in this place, agrees with what we find in the hundred and f.fth, niuety-sixth, 252 'l'BE FtRST BOOK OF TBE CtlRONICLES. ton. :nr.1-43.