truly as Sa.muel or Moses (Acts ii. 30). "David, as well as Moses, was made like to Christ the Son of David in this respect, thRt by him God gave a new ecclesiastical establishment and new ordinances of worship" (Jon. Edwards). 11 On that day then David ordered for the first time to thank the Lord by Asl'ph and hie brethrou" (1 Chron, xvi. 7). "Thauk ye the Lord, call on his Name, Make known his deeds among the people," eto. (1 Cl:iron. xvi. 8-22; Ps, cv. 1-15.)' • Sing ye tc the Lord, all the earth, Proclaim from day to day his salvation," etc. (1 Chron. xvi. 23-36; Ps. xcvi. 2--13; ovi. 11 47, 48.) "A day to be remembered for all time I Then 'the sweet ~inger of Isrnel' first gave the suggestions of his inspiration, and the product of his pen, to embody and guide the praises of the Church. What effects have followed that first hymn I What streams of praise ... what clouds of incense have gushed and risen and are ever rising and gushing the world over at this moment, from the immortal impulse of that Divine act I" (Binney), Yet it is Christ himself "in the midst of the Church" (Heb. ii. 12) who inspires its noblest praises, and bJ whom the sacrifice is rendered acceptable to God (Heb. xiii. 15). III. A GRACIOUS BE!>'EDICTION. ".And he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts;" recognizing him as" the God of omnipotent power in heaven, who victoriously accomplishes bis work of salvation" (l Sam. L 3), and solemnly invoking a blessin" on his people in accordance with his Name and covenant. His act, although not strktly an assumption of the office of the Levitical priesthood, was of a priestly character ( even more so than the patriarchal blessing) ; " and thus, though but in a passing and tempo- rary manner, he prefigured in his own person the union of the kingly and priestly offices" (Perowne), alluded to in Ps. ex. (written after this event), 'The victorious king and priest.' .. Jehovah bath sworn, and will not repent: Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek." (Ps. CL 4.) It was while the Lord Jesus" lifted up his hands and blessed them" that "be parted from them, and was carried up into heaven" (Luke xxiv. 51)-a sign of his continual' intercession and benediction. " Wherefore al.so he is able to save," etc. (Heb. vii. 25). IV. A GE:rrnnous BE!>'EFACTION. ".And be distributed to all the people, even to the whole mnltitude of Israel, as well to the women as to the men, to every one a cake of bread, and a measure [of wine], and a raisin-cake," that they might feast together before the Lord (according to custom in the case of peace offerings, 1 Sam. i. 4; ix. 13) as a nation, with thankfulness, gladness, and charity. "It is a good thing when benedicere aDd bertl'-jarere go together, and when in a prince is seen, not only piety toward God, but love and liberality toward his people" (Guild). How much greater are the benefits bestowed by the exalted Redeemer than those conferred by any oorthly monarch (Mark xvi. 20 ; Acts ii. 33) ! "Christ has risen bodily into heaven that he may be spiritually present in the earthly heaven of the Church; the bodily ascension and the spiritual indwelling are two aspects of the same act. . . . 'l'he mystical David, from his own high home, dispenses his own flesh for the life of the world, and that spiritual bread which he that hungers after righteousness shall eat of and be satisfied,, and that 'fruit of the vine' which is even now to be drunk in the earthly 'kingdom of the Father'" (W. Archer Butler).-D. Ver. 17.-The, ark and the Bible. The a.rk of the covenant has been taken as representative of religion, of Christ, of the Church, or of the sacraments and means of grace. It may also be compared with the Bible (or Scriptures of the old and new covenants), which is of even greater value to us than the ark was to Israel, The nsemblance appears in their: 1. Supernatural origin. The ark was made according w the pattern shown (in vision) by God to },foses in the mount (Exod. xxv. 9), by Bezaleel, who was "filled with the Spirit of God" (Exod. xxxi. 3), and other wise- Learted men; and the tables of i;tone which it contained were "written with the IJil, VI, 1-23.] 'l'HE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 171
finger of God" (Exod. xxxiv. 1). 'l'he Bible is the product of Divine inspiration (2 'l'im. iii. 16), though, like the e.rk, in connection with the (literary) skill of man. "It is a Divine-human book." 2. External characteristics, such as choice and precious materials (acacia wood ancl pure gold), durability, painstaking workmanship (" beaten work"), simplicity, compactness, beauty (" a crown of gold round about"), practical utility (rings and staves), which are e.11 apparent in the Scriptures. 3. Spiritual significance-the presence of God, the Law (as a testimony against sin and a rule of life), a.toning mercy, Divine fellowship and favour. "In the worrls of God we he.ve the heo.rt ot' God." The ark was a sign of these sublime realities, "not the very things themselves." With the Bible, wherein they are so much more clearly e.nd fully set forth, it is the same. 4. Wondrous achievements; not, indeed, by their inherent virtue, but by the Divine might of which they were appointed instruments; in blessing or bane according to the diverse moral re1-itionships of men. By the ark the Israelites were led through the wilderness, their enemies scattered, the waves of the Jordan arrested, the walls of Jericho demolished, the land subdued, Dagon destroyed, the rebellious punished, the irreverent smitten, the obedient blessed. Who shall describe the achievements of the Word of God? What enemies it has overcome ! what reformations effected! what blessings conferred I 5. Varied forlunes; after long wanderings finding rest; misunderstood and superstitiously perverted, Jost for a see.son to its appointed guardians, persistently striven against, treated with irreverP.nt curiosity, buried in obscurity and neglect, eagerly sought after and found, cherished in private dwellings, exalted to the highest honour. 6. Transc.ende:nt claims on human regard- attention, reverence, faith, love, and obedience. 7. Preparatory purpose and temporary duration. At the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians the ark perished or was lost beyond recovery; in the new dispensation there is no place for it (Jer. iii.16); but the mercy and judgment which it symbolized cannot fail (Rev. xi 19). The Bible is necessary only in a state where" we see by means of e. mirror obscurely" (1 Cor. xiii. 12, 13), not where we see "face to face." But, though in its outward form it vanish away, yet in the spiritual realities of which it testifies, the effects which it produces, the fulfilment of its promises and threatenings, "the Word of the Lord endureth for ever."-D.