The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 416

In a scene of an exceptional character, with much of just importance in it, and of essential impressiveness, let UB pause to note the main features. I. THE ASSEMBLY ITSELF WAS ONE OF A DIGNIFIED CHABACTEB. And the dignity of it was a true dignity. The assembly represented a nation. It represented the worth and the substance of a nation. It was not its idle wealth, its idle fashion, its idle glitter, its sinecurism, but the strong head and strong purpose and strong arm of the nation. Thero was position in abundance there, but it was that healthy position that comes of high office worthily filled, of doing a nation's work and of adjudged compe- tence to do it. This assembly represented, therefore, the diligence of a united, happy, active people. And when we consider the purpose for which the assembly was gathered together, it undoubtedly bespeaks its highest honour as representative of tho order and obedience of a divinely governed nation. There is no nation that is governeu fit to be so named, that is not divinely governed, if only that be ta.ken into account which is transpiring a very small depth below the surface. And this fact postulates order, a. .listening ear, and obedience. The government, the legislature, the nation that go on with but just a moderate workable amount of these, know a certain unsatisfactoriness, but they little know the wreck and absolute misery of ruin where the indispensable minimum is absent. On the other hand, the nation then most nearly touches the point of perfection when its order, attention, and obedience, as perfect as that of an army, are at the same time moral in their character and voluntary in their forthcoming. II. SPECIAL ELEMENTS OF DIGNITY GATHER BOUND THE PERSON WHO CONVENES THIS ASSEMBLY, David is the centre ofit; the chief, not to say the only speaker in it. Yet even he is not acting in his own name and right alone. He is the visible deputy of one far higher, and who is invisible. He is an aged man, and furthermore older than his years. Great is the contrast, wonderfully effective the contrast, between what he now is, putting off the armour, and what he once was, when he "assayed to go" in the improved armour of Saul, and "put it off" also (1 Sam. xvii. 39). The juvenility, the simplicity, the unexpectingness, the inexperience of that day a.re at the extreme antipodes of what he now is and feels. Then so ruddy and robust, of rude physical health, and of abounding energy of limb, but now with sunken eye and sallow cheek, only with difficulty able to rise from his royal chair, and "beside those things that aru without" (2 Cor. xi. 28), more weighted still with the responsibilities of office and the accumulations of experience, and "the care of all the" ·nation. The figure of that "old man eloquent," but yet "more eloquent" in deeds through his whole life than in words even, must stand a sculpture of most dofined and enduring outline against the Bible sky while the Bible lasts. But the life that was bounded by these two extremes had played a great part, and the tides had risen full and high and tumultuous, times without number, in it. Yet through all the conflicts, work, periis, e.nd sins, a.ad virtues of the life, a certain thread of continuity had been preserved, and indeed had preserved it. As the truest image often comes out clearest a.ad best in death, so wa.s it now. There had been a thing long in the heart of David. The decline of life speaks it out with extraordinary emphasis. And does he not then touch the highest point of his fa.me when, with the grand company in front of him, he rises with some effort, addresses those who listen to their father and their king, e.s "my brethren e.nd my people," and shares with them the deepest wish and the most real ambition to which his life owned? How different this from the close of many careers I Nay, how very few a.re those who h11,ve the faith, the calm determination (or even the merciful opportunity given them), to put into the he.nd of another the secret of a brilliant future that had been thought of by themselves, longed for by themselves, but denied to themselves I When Paul wrote to Timothy he was a yet higher illustration of this, yet it must be ta.ken into account that Paul was not disappointed as David was. Ill. STATEMENTS OF EMINENTLY :MORAL SIGNIFICANCE IN THE ADDRESS, IN WIIICH D.A.VID NOW ADMITS ALL TO BE SHARERS 01!' HIS BOSOM'S DEAREST SECRET. 1. After a courteous appeal to all, addressing them under kindly titles to hear him, who might, from his office and age, ilave commanded, David credits the sovereignty of all the kingdom to God. 'l'he throne is" the throne of the kingdom qf the Lord over Israel" (vcr. 5). 2. Ile credits all that he was himse?f, all which had been given him, all to which he had been raised, to the sovereignty qf God. These David traces throu~h four stages. The Divine sovereig!l choice of the tribe of Judah, of the house of hi,<! father, of himself out of  420 'lHE FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [cu. xxvm. 1-21.