When the creature is abused, the Creator is dishonoured ; but a just and temperate use of material wealth is improving to man and honourable to God. IV. THE POSSESSOR 011' MATERIAL WEALTH SHOULD CONSECRATE ALL TO THE GIVER. Christians especially, who are "not their own," are bound to regard ancl to use all their property as God's. So used, it will not minister to pride, but will become a means of grace. In this certainly David has set us an example worthy of imitation.-T. Vers. 1-34.- Wisdom, kindness, and folly. In reading this chapter we are struck with three features of David's rule. 1. The presence of royal wisdom in: (1) SecuriD"' the safety of his 1kingdom by a sufficient militia without sustaining a burdensom; standing army. One month's practice in the year would suffice to maintain their soldierly qualities without seriously interfering with their civil pursuits (ver. 1). (2) Adopting the system of promotion by merit. In the list of captains (vers. 2-15) we meet with names of men that had distinguished themselves by their courage and capacity, and who had "earned their promotion." Favouritism is a ruinous policy, aud fatal to kings and ministers. (3) Limiting his own personal requirements to a moderate demand. David lived as became such a king as he was, but he did not indulge in a costly and oppressive "civil list" (see vers. 25-31). (4) Choosing so sagacious a counsellor as Ahithophel (2 Sam. xvii. 1-3, 14), and so true and brave a friend as Hushai (2 Sam. xvii. 7-14). 2. The presence of personal kindness. Although David acted, most wisely, on the principle that the highest posts should be reserved for the most capable men and those who "deserved well of their country," yet he did not neglect his own kindred in the hour of his opportunity. We find, amongst others of the foremost men, the names of his relatives, Asahel (ver. 7); Jonathan, his uncle (ver. 32); Joab (ver. 34). 3. The presence of royal folly. We are reminded here of the grievous error, the disastrous departure from rectitude, when, notwith- standing the wise counsel and somewhat strenuous opposition of Joab, he insisted on numbering the people (vers. 23, 24). Regarding the folly of the king, we learn- I. TH.AT HUMAN NATURE, EVEN AT ITS BEST, BEARS THE STAIN 011' IMPERFECTION, Devout and humble as David was, prosperous and beneficent as was his reign, he yet fell, more than once, into sin; and on this occasion (of the numbering) he involved the nation in a terrible calamity. He resembled all other good men of every age. Human excellency is a beautiful but a blemished thing; it has admirable qualities, but is never without defects; it halts somewhere. 'l'herefore: 1. Let us conclude that there is certain to be something in ourselves which needs to be corrected; we nlso, though we possess the mens conscia recti, have faults which others see aud which they regret to see in us. 2. Let us not be hasty in estimating the character of others ; if we judge meu by the first thing we see in them, it may be that we shall apprise them by the one pardonable fault behind which, unrecognized by us, hide a hundred virtues. We should not like to be judged by the first action our neighbours chanced to witness in us. 3. Let us make all kindly nllowance for men when we know them; aud placing their mauy solid graces against their few superficial failings, let us not withhold our esteem, or our confidence, or our affection. Regarding David's kindness, we leam- II. 'l'HAT WE DO WELL TO UBE OUR OWN ELEVATION TO SERVE OUR KINDRED, Nepotism is a crime as well as I\ sin, but, when other things are equal and wheu opportunity offers, we should surely remember those whom, by the ties of affinity, God commends to our kindness, and those whom, by profession of friendship in eo.rlier o.nd humbler days, we promised to assist. And in view of the king's wisdom, we may learn- III. THAT GOODNESS AND WISDOM TOGETHER ARE A SOURCE 011' INCALCULAIILE BENEFIT. David without his devou,tness would have been nothing to his country or his kind; without his wisdom he would have been little more. Piety o.nd prudence togeLher are a power for God and man.-C. Vere. 1-34.-The army, tribal princes, royal possessions, and chief counsellors of the king. This chapter brings before us the organization of the army, and also the public administration (vers. 1-15); next we have a list of the princes of the twelve tribes (vers. 16-24) ; then we have the managers of the domains and royal possessions vers, 25-31); IL!ld lastly, the chief cou11sellors of the king (vers, 32-34). 'l'hes11 4.14 THI~ FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [cu. xxvu. 1-34,
subjects follow the arraugement of the Levites' service, because it was David's earnest desire before his death to give the constitution of his kingdom a more stable form. David's object !n n~mbering the people! as we ~ay gather f~om the twenty-third verse, was to leave his kmgdom, strong w1thm and without, to his son. There were twelve divisions of the army, consisting of twenty-four thousand men in each. In the enumeration of the tribal princes, the tribes of Gad and Asher a.re omitted without any reason being assigned for the omission. With regard to David's domains and possessions, the property and income of the king were divided into treasures of the kincr, treasures in the country, in the cities, the village.•, and the castles. The treasures ~f the king were the treasures of the royal palace in Jerusalem. The remainincr treasures were fields, vineyards, plantations, cattle, camels, asses, and sheep. Officer~ were set over these various departments. With reference to David's counsellors (vers. 32-34), we have here enumerated three catalogues, and the mention of Joa.bas the comma.nder- in-chief of the army.-W.