IV. 'l'm,; DIRl!0T CON'rROL OF Goo Bl!CURES TIIANSITION FnoM BTAQF, TO STAGJI. 'l'ho wordM to David wcro, "I brought up the children of Israel;" "I have walkc,l in a te11t;" " I commanded to feed;" "I took thee from the sheepcote;" "I bavo appointed a place." 'l'hus men were free, aml history was formed by the free action of man; but, still, in pursuance of the Divine purpose, an unseen hand so fashioned the sum of human free 11ction that captivity in Egypt yielded to a seUled home, and a good shepherd appeared to care for the flock in that settled home. It was this recognition of the actual control of God so as to shape the items of human history and secure II succession of transitions towards a definite goal that distinguished the teaching of the prophets. It is this which gave such assurance to apostles (Rom. viii. 22, 28, 31). The contending forces of each age are subject to him who by his mighty working can subdue all things unto himself (Phil. iii. 21). V, 'l'HE VALUE OF MEANS IN THE WORKING OUT OF THE PURPOSE IS RELATIVE, David's pious dissatisfaction with the tabernacle as an abode for the ark was met by the assurance (vers. 6, 7) that God was not dissatisfied, bnt had shown his approval of his servants who were identified with its maintenance. The tabernacle may have been inadequate to the later stage, but it was perfect in its adaptation to the early stage of God's method of workin~ He never complained of disrespect to his Name; he even honoured bis servants who served him with such humble means. This applies to the methods by which, in diffei'ent ages, revelations came to men-agencies for diffusing and preserving the truth, the condition of the Churches by which his will is still done and the individual .efforts of Christians to bring on the final triumph of Christ. Those who will not approve of action and appliances and methods till they meet with what is absolutely pe1Ject, do not know history, or else, knowing it, are unwilling to accept its lessons. In an imperfect world where perfect holin,ess has to be attained through means inferior, and out of perfect relation to the end in view, we have to estimate each method and agency by its fitness to raise us to a stage above the present, and in which it may be dispensed with for something that will be a stepping-stone to a still higher point. . VI. THE WHOLE OF THE SUC0ESBIVE STAGES TEND TO THE PERMANENT DWELLING OF Gon WITH MAN. David was right in his ambition and faith. To have God perruanen,ly among Israel was the perfection of holy desire. All hitherto bad pointed in that direction ; and though in the visible sense in which David desired it his wishes were not to be granted, yet he was pointed on to tbe reality of a" house" (ver. 11), which we know involved the raising up of Immanuel. This is the goal of all Old 'l'estament revelations and ancient forms of instntction and discipline. And now that God has been vis,ibly manifest in the flesh, the process is going on by which b'!>iritually the dwelling of God with man in permanent union is to be realized (2 Cor. iii. 7-11; cf. Eph. ii, 18-22). GENERAL LESSONS. 1. Life should be conducted on the principle that God is with man and working with and for him. 2. The comparison of events illustrated by the Bible teaching will enable us to trace out the line of God's working. 3. Although occasions may arise, as during periods of Israel's history, when the signs of God's working are obscured (Isa. xiv. 15), our faith shouid rest on the general revelation. 4. However unable we may be sometimes to see the unity of God's working, Providence will throw light upon it, and by some explicit "I have walked," "I took thee," our confidence will be confirmed. 6. All our desires and efforts and methods should, in their nature, ha'9'e reference to the great issue-God's habitation of the Church through the Spirit.
Consolation in disappointmtrnt. Although vers. 11, 12 of Ps. cx.xxii. make it clear that the psalm was written after the date of Nathau's visit to David, it is highly probable that the sentiments expressed in vers. 3-5 of that psalm were cherished before the king unboeomeu himself to the prophet. In the fallibility characteristic of prophets when not authorized to speak by God, Nathan piously encouraged his king in hie cherished wishes, and it is certain that that night David went to rest believing that now, with the concurrence of so good a man, the great ambition of his heart would soon be realized. 'l'be authorized revelation of the prophet on the following day must have brought w!th it a disappointment corresponding in bitterness to the previous 192 THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [ClR, VU, 1-29,