The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 276

with his gladness in his God, the incomparable God of Israel, Lord of hosts, to whom there is none like for "greatness," for " terribleness," for "goodness," and for the "eternal blessedness" of his "blessing." Such was the course, such the fulfilment, such the final "manifestation," in that early "day of revelation," of one human life under heavenly guidance and Divine benediction. .And it utters forth a parable for every true servant of God which little needs an interpretation, Ver. 1.-..d just consideration of one's own position in life an ineentive to works of practical piety. Up to this point the life of David had been, to a remarkable degree, one of action. From childhood upward it is likely that he had passed little enough time which could be called iJ.le time. The first employment, however, in which he had been engaged, that of the shepherd, may be safely presumed to have fostered the power of contemplation as well as of action, and to have been distinctly favourable to meditation. There can be little doubt that the very germs of the moral reflection which the psalms of later life manifest in such rich abundance took their origin thence. The grandeur of the aspects of external nature were thence suggested to him many a time, in strange contrast to many of the aspects of human life and the individual character. And again, from the same source of personal knowledge, at a glance, and quick as the twinklin~ of an eye, he saw the analogy that obtained between the works of nature and those ~°f providence. Most noticeable, likewise, is it, that David rarely enou1!h speaks in the Rlightest approach to the temper of the censorious critic of others, or of men in general. When his meditation is most comprehensive, and his deliverance universal in its application, it is perhaps even too plain, rather than not pie.in enough, that they come forth strongly marked with the impress of personal conviction, personal struggle of thought, personal experience. Nor is it likely that the months and years of his fearing and persecuted life had passed without much and deep thought. These are the realities of life that make to think those who have a mind to think. Amazed, pathetic, melancholy, and anon all strong in faith and buoyant with confidence, were the thoughts that paced what none would deny, were the ample spaces of the large mind of David. Yet perhaps, what with personal fear and danger, wars and rumours of wars, and an ever-increasing load of responsibility, succeeded now, e.nd somewhat suddenly, by great- ness and prosperity, his care of late had been somewhat too self-regarding. He has ma.de his position-at all events, his position is made. His home is no longer the den and cave of the earth; he has builded himself a mansion of mansions-at all events, such a mansion is builded for him. We wait with interest and anxiety to know how he will use these great gifts, with what sort of heart and hand he will address himself to them. We do not wait very long, nor to be disappointed in the event. David shows that he is moved by a right principle himself, and he exhibits that principle in a very simple manner, the convenient example for all others. Let us observe- I. THE GENERAL PRINCIPLE, THAT IN WHAT A MAN RAS, OR IN WHAT HE IS HIMSELF, HE FINDS THE SUGGESTION THAT BEARS UPON OTHERS. 'l'his principle is the prohibition of selfishness, absolute and pure. It is one of the most elementary, most radical, most significant of the distinctions of the nature of man, as containing a moral element, and the nature of the brute presumably devoid of any such element. Resident as it is almost within the sphere of the mere mental qualities of human nature, unless destroyed or impaired first by causes of a moral complexion, it is nature's own simplest assertion and easiest illustration of the outrage it must be on all creation's design iu ma.n, when any one" liveth to himself" to such a degree as to disown it praclically. To exemplify this principle both consciou.~ly llnd unconsciously, alike instinctively nml intelligently, is to remain one of the brothorbood of humanity; to disacknowledgo it, or to fail in practice to acknowledge it, is to c11clude one's self, an impoverished aud miserable outcast, from the comity of the family as such. JI, THE PRINCIPLE THAT IN WHAT A MAN HAS HIMSELF OF GOOD, HE FINDS THE SUGGESTION WAKENED IN HIM TO BEEK THE ADVANTAGE OF OTHERS. There aro not II, few who, thinking they have nothing or little, will think of others quick)y, but oni.y to compare themselves disparagingly to God's providence with them. Thero are not a few who, knowing that they have much, will promptly think of others, but it is to feed the ill nature within them, on envy of those who have more than they. And there aro th03e who, having all that heart could wish and hands cau hold, think that it is a.ii I. Cl\ RONICLEB, 'l' 274 THE FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [en. xvu. 1-27