power as displayed in the creation and sustenance of our own spirit and our own human life, his handiwork in the providential ordering of the world. lf. A SENSE OF HIS INTIMATE DIVINE RELATION TO US AND TO THE WHOLE WORLD, (Vcrs. 13, 14.) As the children of Israel felt that they were chosen of God, having received direct and special communication and consideration; as they could speak of themselves as his "chosen ones," and could say, "He is the Lord our God;" so we may and must feel that we all are the objects of his Di vino regard, that be looks with benignant eye on us and stretches out the hand of llivine friendship toward us, that he is the Lord our God who has chosen us and whom we have chosen. And as they were taught to feel that "bis judgments are in all the earth," so we also are to think of him as the supreme almighty Power reigning and ruling everywhere, "speaking and it is done, commanding and it stands fast" (Ps. xxxiii. 9). III. THANKSGIVING IN MEMORY OF HIS GOODNESS AND MEUCY. (Vers. 8, 9.) A large part of the sacred service of the Jews consisted in praise. In heathendom there was much of deprecation, something of supplication, little or nothing of praise. God's own people had such a sense of his absolute excellence that they "gave thanks at the remembrance of hi~ holiness," and such a remembrance of his distinguishing goodness to them that they sang psalms of praise because they were such large recipients at his hand. The piety of the Hebrew was vocal with constantly recurring praise; the psalms of the "sweet singer of Israel," and of Jewish worship altogether, were so largely hymns of thanksgiving, that we always associate the thought of praise with the name of them. And from us, for whom as for them God hi.a done such great things, for whom, indeed, God La, done greater things than for them, it may well be that praise is found to be the prevailing r.ote of our worship, the chief strain in our piety. IV. Joy IN Gan. (Ver.10.) The people were encouraged to "glory in God's holy Name," to triumph in the thought that they were worshipping him who was the" Holy Ooe of Liracl," in every way worthy of their profoundest adoration; also to "rejoice" in him as in One the knowledge and service of whom was the spriug of truest and abiding satisfaction. We may well do the same; and having "such an High Priest" as we have, such a Saviour and Divine Friend, such a Refuge of our soul, we may glory and rejoice with intenser joy than they. V. CoMMID-"'ION WITH Gon. (Ver. 11.) We do not enter into the full heritage of the people of God uutil we "seek the face of the Lord continually." Both in his house and in our own home, we are to seek him, to "seek his strength,'' toeome consciously into his presence, to draw nigh with our spirit to his Spirit, to walk with him, to hold con- verse with him, to pour out our heart before him, to dwell in the house of the Lord for ever, beholding his beauty as well as inquiring in his temple (Ps. xxvii. 4).-0. Vera. 15-22.-Human mindfulness of Divine promises. I. THAT Gon HAS MADE DISTINCT PROMISES TO MANKIND. David speaks here of the "covenant which God made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac" (vers. 15, 16; see ver. 18 and Gen. xvii. 2, xxvi 3, etc.). We know that he also promised David that he should sit on the throne, and his children after him (eh. xvii. 17). We think also of the primeval promise, looking far forward and embracing such large results (Gen. iii. 15). God has made "exceeding great and precious promises" to us in Christ; he promises to those who are in him pardon, peace, joy, the indwelling Spirit, sanctity, eternal life. IL '£HAT OF THESE HIS PROMISES HE HAS GIVEN US ASSURING OONFIRM.ATION. lie "confirmed the same to Jacob fur a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant" (ver. 17); he did this in word (ver. 18) and in deed (vers. 19-22). All the promises which are made to us in Christ are confirmed both in word and deed. 1. In Divine Word. By repeated assurances not only from the lips of the Lord himself, but also from the utterances of his inspired apostles. In Scripture we have the most abundant assur- ances that those who believe in Christ shall enjoy the favour of the eternal Father and possess everlasting life. 2. And also in Divine action ; for we have _the testimony of all liUcceeding generations of Christian men, who beur unvarying witness that "God is faithful, who hath called us to the fellowship of his Son" (1 Cor. L 9). This is surely a confirmation of God's working ; for are not all these witnesses his workmanship? are tLey not his husbandry, his building (Eph. ii.10; 1 Cor. iii. 9)? UL TBAT IT llEliOV.11:6 US '.l'O KEEP TB.Ell 1N CON'!'INUED AND LIVELY IIE14EMBIIANCE, err. xVI. 1-43.] THE FIRST BOOK OF THE CIIRONICLES. 255
"Be ye mindful always of his covenant" (ver. 15). In the day of spiritual awakening, in the midst of earnest Christian work, in the time of trouble, in the hour of spiritual struggle and misgiving, in the valley of the shadow of death, we have especial need to be mindful of the promises of God. But they should never be far from us, they should be always within reach, like a sword at our side, like bread beneath the roof, that we may draw them at the approaching danger, thnt we may resort to them when our heart is a-hungered. We may add, though it is not in the text-- IV. THAT WE.MUST NOT FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE CONDITIONS ATTE:<;DDfG THEM, God's promises are never unconditional: there is always an "if" impli,d if not expressed (2 Sa.m. vii. 12; 1 Kiugs ii. 4 ; Ps. cxxxii. 11, 12). His promises to us of eternal life are conditional on (1) our acceptance of Jesus Christ, and (2) our fa:thfulnes11 unto death.-O.