The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 148

political weakness of the nation during the life of Saul, David saw clellrly thBt the ele,,ation of hie r,eople depended chiefly on two things-vigorous, cnlighteiled stl\tesmall- ebip, and fidelity in all things to their oo'tenanted. God. The establishment of a strong oentre of govornmellt at Jerus&lem was one step; but he BILW that, if the nation was to fulfil its higbeat destiny, the prosperity he desired must also rest on a strictly religious foundation. Henoe the effort to restore religious life by bringing up the ark of the coveuan_t. Leaving out of view the particular form of religion, and the symbolism appropnate to th11t stage in the development of God's revelation, we can 11ee how profouudly wi.i;e David's judgment was. The human activities developed in national civilized life ca.n only be counted on to run into right and safe chl\nnols, and to avoid mutual destruction, when they are pervaded by the spirit of true godliness. Wealth, art, science, commerce, military display, free and easy interchange of th.ought,-these are not self-preser"'1Ltive, these do not give rest to the heart, these do not check the tendencies that ca.n-y in themselves the germs of decay and death. Only when the n11tional mind is purified, rendered calm, self-restrained, and God-like in feeling by knowledge and worship of the Holy One is there a guarantee that all will go well and endure. 'l'his is taught in the .history of Greece, Rome, and other lo.nds where God we.s not honoured by proper worship, and his Spirit .not cherished· in daily life; and it is the strenuous teaching of prophets and apostles, and especially of the Saviour, who makes clear what is the light of the world and the healing of the nat.ions. , II. THE RESTORATION OF RELIGION IS .AN EVENT OF GBEAT JOY. ' The verv idea of a restoration of the piety of former days was to David an inspiration. His cailing the chief men from ell quarters of the land, his expounding to them his sense of what was due to the symbol of God's presence, his grand processional march, and the exuberai!i delight with which he sang and danced,-reveal the high appreciation he had of the great tum now coming in the religious life of the nation. 'l'he awakening of a new enthusiasm by his influence certainly was a remarkable incident in the national life regarded in oontrast with the stolid indifference of the age of Saul. The power of a new and heal.thy religious emotion over all the "faculties, aud consequently over all departments of activity, is very great, giving elevation, spring, and purpose to all that is done or attempted. In this case there were special elements entering into the joy. 'l'he ark was the symbol of God's presence; it contained the overshadowed mercy-seat, which told of forgiveness and co=union; it was the exponent of covenant relation- ship, and the prophetic indicator to the devout mind of a glory yet to he revealed, and of a covenant on wider basis and embracing vaster blessings. Ezra knew something of this joy of restoration of religion to its proper position. '!'here was joy also when, after centuries of error and wrong, the attention of men was directed once more by Luther and his ccadjutors to the merc_y-s~t where men could find a new and living way of access to the Father. No greater 'occasion for joy could arise for our own. land than a full national enthnsiasm for those sacred deposits of truth and holy influence which God has given us in his revelation and in the institutions of his Chu,rch. What is thus true of restorations on a large scale holds of our own lives, when, after seasons of dreary separation from our God and cold miserable observance of occasional acts of worship, we go forth with all our soul after the living God, and welcome him afresh to our love and trust as the God of our salvation. Ill. lNDffiECT PERSONAL INFLUENCE CONDUCES TO A RESTORATION OF RELIGION. Jt is instructive to see how, in the providence of God, great movements have sprung ou,t of individual consecrations. The soul of David, purified, elevated, and aroused to grasp ::1piritual realities, was the human spring of this great change. Of course his official position would secure att~ntion to hiti requests and commands; but it depended on the bent of his mind as to the form and scope of hie commands. 'l'his reformation, pro- ceeded from him, but not entitely by direct personal influence. His tone and manner, his habits of devotion and strict regard for God's will, would tell on those in direct contact with him; but that was not enough. Hence in his sagacity 'he summoned select men from all parts of the land, and through them sought to act on the thousands who could not leave their hQ~e. '!'his call from all towns and villages would awaken thought there, would lead to explanations, would quicken conscience, would disseminate :hio ideas and the enthutiiasm of his spirit, would create the feeling that a holier and wiser time was at hand; and when, subsequently, the thirty thousand returned home, CH, VI, 1-23.] THE SECOND BOOK 01'' SAMUEL. 15L