Vers. 4-7, 36-43.-Regular Divine service. These verses may snggest to us whole- some truths respecting the constant worship of God as distinguished from acts of exceptional devotion. L THAT DEVOTION HUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO EVAPORATE IN TEMPORARY EXCITEMENT. David was wise in not sending the people home (ver. 43) until he had designed a plan or arrangement in virtue of which the thankful spirit of the people should express itself in ordinary and regular exercises (vers. 4-37). 'l'he time of revival, of exceptional religious excitement, of spiritual ecstasy, may be very pleasant and promising, but it will end in nothing or in positive evil, if those who prompt and lead it do not devise measures by which it shall find due utterance in permanent institutions. II. THAT SACRED THINGS MUST BE ENTRUSTED TO THE CHARGE OF CAPABLE A~D RESPONSIBLE PERSONS. However admirable the institution, it will not take care of itself. Good things will soon wane and die if they be not taken charge of by living earnest souls. David sought and found the best men to be engaged in the service of praise (vers. 5, 6). In every part of Divine service, success can only be attained and main- tained by competent and responsible men taking the matter in hand. If we trust to the intrinsic excellency of the exercise, and allow negligence or favouritism to enter, we may expect speedy, or, at any rate, certain decline and ultimate extinction. In God's service let each post be assigned to that man whom he has made fittest for it, and who will feel that he is personally accountable for the way in which it is kept. Ill. THAT INFERIOR POSTS ARE NOT WITHOUT A REAL IMPORTANCE IN THE SERVICE OF Goo. Much mention is made here (as elsewhere) of doorkeepers (vers. 38-43; see Ps. lxx.xiv. 10). The doorkeepers of our sanctuaries are men of humble position; never- theless, they may contribute much by conscientious carefulness and Christian courtesy to the comfort, peace of mind, and devoutness of spirit of the worshippers; and thus to the cause of God. A:ny position in the service of the Supreme, of a gracious and almighty Redeemer, is one which we do well to "magnify" in our esteom, thnt we may do our duty therein faithfully, as unto the Lord as well as unto men. IV. 'J.'HAT PRAYER AS WELL AS PRAISE MUST DE INCLUDED IN DIVINE SERVICE. Though there was to be daily service at Jerusalem for the future, there must o.lso bo daily sacrifice at Gibeon (vers. 39, 40). 'fhe choir-master could not rlo the work of the priest; there must be sacrifice as well as praise. We should multiply our service of song and can hardly go too far in sacred psalmody; yet we must nover make light of the prayer of confe~sion, of the entreaty for Divine morcy, of our need to seek again the pardoning love of God. v. THAT ON!!: 111.AN JIIAY LEAD, BUT ALL MUBT PARTICIPATE IN, THE SERVICE OF Goo. David alone prepared and delivered the psalm. Asaph alone received it at the king'• hand, and made the musical arrangements (vers. 6--7); but" all the people said, Amen, and praised the Lord" (ver. 36). h is well sometimes that one mau should speak for others, they following nnd participating in thought, and saying "Amen" at the end, in token and utteranco of their hearty assent. It is also well-perhaps better-that " nll the people" should utter together the words of prayer and praise. Most men can best follow the sense when they utter the sound of sacred words. Thill is a question fur individual and congregational aptitudes and preferences; the matter of importance is that, whatever method be adopted, the service of God shall be one in whicn all hearts unite in supplication, iu adoration, in thanksgiving, in consecration.-C.
Vers. 8-14.-The constituents of piety. In our psalms and in our prayers we often indicate the real elements of religion as fully, and perhaps as clearly, as in our exhorta- tions. In this psalo1 of David we have the essential principles of piety. I. M1NDFULNESB oF Goo's POWER AND GOODNESS. (Vers. 8, 9, 12.) We cannot feel toward him as we should except we consider "his deeds among the people," except wo "talk of all his wondrous works," except we "remember his marvellous works." Calling these to mind, we shall be powerfully and rightly affected by a realization of his Divine power aod goodness. We shall naturally dwell on his works in 11aturc, hi~ 254 THE FIRST DCJOK 0.1!' THE CHRONIULES. [cH, u1. 1-43.