The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 290

reason why we should-not why we should not-ask him to give it to 1.1s. He has promised to supply all who love him with all needful things (Matt. vi. 32, 33; Phil. iv. 19). But this does not countermand the injunction to pray for our daily bread (Matt. vi. 11). There are many promises of the gift of the Holy Spirit; we are there- fore to ask for his outpouring (Luke xi. 13). We are assured that the kingdom of God shall be established in the earth; none the less, but all the more, are we to pray, "Thy kingdom come." God's promise is not to be the excuse for our silence, but the gronn<l of our supplication. II. THAT Gov's PROMISE DOES NOT EXCLUDE THE NECESSITY FOR OUR HOLY OBEDIENCE, David affirms in ver. 26 that God has " promised this goodness unto thy servant;" but in ver. 27 his petition shows that he was conscious that something more was needed beyond the bare and simple promise, in order that it might be ulti- mately'and fully realized, .And he was right. Obedience was an essential and vital condition. If-not expressed, it was always understood. The rending of the kingdom in twaio ·.IDder David's grandson proved only too surely and sadly that this was the case, All God's promises to us are conditional on our loyalty to him. If we are faith- ful unto death, we shall have his abiding love, his constant care, his gracious blessin<r, and finally his blissful presence. But we must not be so confident because of thQ promise that we are negligent of the understood conditions. III. THAT Gov'e PROMISES ARE OFTEN FULFILLED IN O'l'HER AND BETTER WAYS THA:l' WE LOOK FOR, (Ver. 27.) David was assured that, if God blessed, there would be blessed ness for ever. He was right; but the good thing in store for him was far different from that which he was presenting to his own mind at the time. Could he have foreseen the speedy rupture of the kingdom, and the captivity after a few generations had come and gone, he might have been sadly disappointed, and his faith might have received a serious shock. But could he have foreseen the way in which the Divine promise was fulfilled at length, could he have realized that One who was " the Son of David " would reign as Prince of peace and Lord of righteousness over all the human world, he would have rejoiced indeed, God's purpose was larger than his servant's thought. So with us. The hope of one period is ever found to be realized further on in another way, at first disappointi'lg but afterwards most satisfying, from that which we expected. Youth is other, and really better, than childhood pictures it; and manhood than youth imagines ; o.nd the rest of declining days than laborious prime expects to find it, 'l'he promises of life are fulfilled, but in ways which God knows to be far better for us than those which our imagiuation fancies and our heart desires. .And it may be that the heavenly world will prove to be something very different from that which piety has predicted or poetry has sung-different but better ; something which will be more fitted for our faculties as they are at first unclothed and clothed upon, as death is first swallowed up of life.-C, Vera. 1, 2.-77ie house of the Lord: David and Nathan. The event recorded in this chapter must have been separated from the events of the previous chapter by a period of several years. It is in all essential points identical with the para.lie! account in 2 Sam. vii., the differences being of a purely formal kind. The contrast which David felt between his own dwelling and that of the ark of the covenant a.wakened within him a feeling of sorrow, and led him to resolve to put an end to it by building for the latter a house worthy of it. This was o. right feeling, and was commended by the Lord (see 1 Kings viii. 18). But though right in itself, and indicating a true state of heart towards God, it was for other reasons not in accordance with the Divine will. David had been a man of war, and had shed much blood, and on this ground God would not allow him to carry out the desire of his heart. David communicated his desire to Na- than the prophet. The prophet, knowing well the character of David and his devotion of heart to the Lord, and that the Lord was with him in all that he did, said, out of the impulse of his heart, "Do all that is thine heart; for God is with thee." From this we learn how a man's heart may be right with God, how all that he purposes to do may be highly commendable, but for other reasons it may not be for God's glory that the Lord may use him. It may be more for that glory that be may be passed over and another be preferred. Man proposes but God disposes. Not even II prophet can step in between. Observe another truth hero. How graciously David allows himself to be passed over  288 THE FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [ou. xvIL 1-27