I. Otrn UNWORTHINESS AND ILL DESERT. " Who am I . . . that thou hast brought me hitherto?" It is an unwonted attitude for many minds. Men are so prone to regard their own fancied excellences, that language of humiliation and contrition is often suspected of insincerity. Yet, in the presence of him who is at once the perfectly holy and the Searcher of hearts, what more appropriate than prostration of soul and acknowledgment of sin? II. Goo's GRACE AND KWDNESS TO THOSE WHO DEPEND UPON HIM. The Lord exalts the humble and meek. The king acknowledged not only his own utter unworthi- ness of the distinction accorded to him, but God's infinite meroy and goodness in his treatment of his servant. " According to thine own heart hast thou done all this greatness." There are in Scripture many beautiful examples of God's grace to the lowly in heart. Read the song of Hannah, and the Magnificat of Mary the mother of .Tesus; and observe how the Lord is acknowledged as the great King who delights to have mercy upon the feeble who yet are faithful, and to put honour upon them, and reveal to them his love and mercy. In fact, revelation abounds with practical proofs of God's purpose ever to reject the proud, and to favour and exalt the meek, the lowly, and the contrite. It is upon those who sincerely ask, "Who am I?" that the Lord of glory delights to confer the tokens of his approval and favour. UL THE SPECIAL FAVOUR SHOWN TO UB BY GOD, WHO DEIGNS TO UBE us IN HIS SERVICE AND KINGDOM. Evidently David felt that the highest honour was put upon him in being allowed to serve Jehovah-to be an instrument in his hands for the carrying out of Divine purposes. Wbat dignity and happiness does it give to life, to know that we are commissioned and employed by the King of kings ! PRACTICAL LESSONS. 1. These considerations should enhance our conceptions of God's glory and g:race. Let us recount his mercies, and acknowledge their Divine source. 2. They should induce us to consecrate afresh to Heaven the nature Heaven has created, and the powers Heaven has conferred.-T. Vers. 20-22.- God incomparable. Surrounded as they were by idolatrous nations, it was natural that the Israelites should often draw comparisons between their own God, and the God of the whole earth, on the one hand, and the so-called gods of the heathen on the other. The most important contrast would be in character; for, whilst the idolatrous peoples worshipped godR who were the impersonation of cruelty, caprice, and lust, Jehovah was worshipped as a holy, a righteous, a merciful Lord and Ruler. Yet there was another contrast--that between the powerlessness of the idols of the nations, and the might and wisdom of the true and living God. In Ps. cxv. this contrast is wrought out with vigour and irony. I. TIIERE IB NONE LIKE GoD IN ms BEING, All creatures, as their name implies, are fashioned by a superior power, and upheld in life by him in whom they "live and move and have their being." 'l'he Lord is the self-existing Being, who is from eternity to eternity. II. THERE IB NONE LIKE GoD IN ms ATTRIBUTES. All our' qualities of mind are derived from him, and, so far as they are excellent, they are gleams of his brightness. Human virtues are the growth of a Divine seed. But in Jehovah all perfections meet and harmonize. III. '!'HERE IS NONE LIKE Gon IN HIS PROVIDENOE. This seems especially to have impressed the mind of the king, when he poured forth his adoring thanksgi".ing before the Lord. The recollection of God's goodness and faithfulness, not only to himsel~ ~nd his household, but also to the nation of Israel, awakened his grateful and a~1~mg praises. And we too have these reasons in abundance to prompt our thanksg1v10gs and confidence. II. THERE 18 NONE LIKE GOD IN MEUOY AND LOVING-KINDNESS. These are attributes or God; but they are attributes called into exercise by our state a~d position ~s sinners in the sight of the Searcher of hearts, the righteous Judge and King. _In this passage David acknowledues that God redeemed his people Israel, made them his own, became their God. Howbgloriously are these expressions justified in the dispensation of the gospel, of God's infinite love towards our race in the gift and the effective mediation of his dear Son! Let these reflections (1) awaken our gratitude to him who has made l.limself known to us, and who, though incomparable and alone, deigns to communic11to on, xvn. 1-27.J THE FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES.
in grace and compassion with us; and (2) prompt us to testify to his adorable excellence, and to summon our brethren, the children of men, to put their trust under the shadow of hie wings.-T.