The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 214

tion of the perfect blessednellS of the inhabitants of the New Jerusalem (Rev. ui, 3). It comprehends all that the most enlighlened and holy can desire. 1. 7'hey art con• stitut«i the people of God. Thus to llll'ael it is Mid by Moaee, "Thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hsth chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations th&t &re upon the earth" (Deut, xiv, 2; see also xxvi, 18). St. Peter employs similar language to describe the position of Christians (1 Pet, ii. 9); and St. Paul says (Titus ii, 14) that our Lord "gave himself for us, that he might . . . purify unto himself a peculiar people [' a people for his own possession.' Revised Vel'llion]." The representation includlls: (1) Ownership. They are liis by right of creation and of purchase. "I gave Egypt for thy ransom" (Isa. xliii. 3); " Ye ·are not your own; for ye are bought with a price " (1 Cor. vi. 19, 20). (2) Appropriation. God takes posse.."8ion of the people who are bis; in the case of Christians, by his Spirit; (3) Self-consecration. (4) Homage, including trust, love, worship (while other peoples worship other gods, the people or God worship him), and obedience. (6) Glorification. They " show forth his praise" (Isa. xliii. 21; 1 Pet. ii. 9). They promote his kingdom., 2. He is their God. All that men expect from their God he is to his people, and far more. He is theirs by covenant and promi~e. He gives himself to them. He exercises authority over them. They enjoy his love, his presence, the employment of his power. to teach and guide, to purify, to comfort, to chastise, to protect, to employ,. to perfect, to honour, to save. 3. The relation is eternal. "For ever." This is true in a sense ,C/f the relation between Israel and God. Although no longer a nation, thC¥ still are use4 to witness for him as no other people; and by their inspired men, and especially by him who is of them "according to the flesht" they have become the chief religiou!! teachers and benefactors of mankind. And the day is coming when they will accept their Messiah, and, "with the fulness of the Gentiles," form one people of God. The real, spiritual Israel of all ages and lands are God's, and he is thei!'II for ever and ever. Then : 1. Happy are the peopl,e thus favoured by the Most High! He confers on them greater honour and blessing than on any others. This is true of Israel ; of any nation who have the Word and ordinances of God amongst them; of the visible Church of Christ; and emphatically of the true spiritual Church. The distinction and glory become more marked as the reality of what is included in the title," people of God," increases. To have a Divine revelation is a great privilege; but greater to receive and be renewed by it, and thus be heirs of all its promises. 2. Be concerned to be one of the true people of God, who have Jehovah for their God for ever. 3. Take heed to live in a manner becoming your relation to l,im whom YO'U acknowledge as your God. (See Lev. xiL, passim.) The people of a God of holiness and love should be distinguished by these qualities. Only thus can they prove themselves to be his. Only such people are his in any lastingly happy sense. Would that it were possible to point to every Christian Church, and challenge the world to produce any communities equal to them in all that is pure, righteous, and benevolent 1-G. W. Ver. 25.-Gcxl's promises ancl our prayers. "Do as thou hast said." The words are used by David of the promises given to him respecting himself and his ho·use. They are applicable to all the promises. • I. THEY FUBNISH A GUIDE TO OUB PRAYERS. What God has said shows us. what we should ask. His promises indicate: 1. The kind of blessings which we shO'Uld most earne&ay seek. The promises of God-those given us in Christ especially-assure us 4f temporal good so far as is needful; but relate chiefly to spiritual and eternal blessings: The" good things" of Matt. vii. 11 are interpreted for us by Luke .J.l. 13,to be ma.inly "the Holy Spirit," which comprehends all good for our spirits, all the best things for time and eternity. While, therefore, we may pray for things temporal with moderated and submissive desire, we should most earnestly and constantly pray for things spiritue.L In praying according to what God "has said," we are guided by infinite wisdom and love; we are asking "according to his will" (1 John v. 14). To pennit ourselves to be prompted iu prayer by our own worldly, carnal incline.tions, is to turn our w~rship into sin, and to ask for evil instead of good. 2. Tlte degree of theae bleasingB which we sl.vuld seek. The promises of God encourage us to open our mouths wide for him to fill (Pc. !mi. 10). They are without limit in ex.tent and duration of blessing. Let tltt, \tll, 1-29,1 THE StWONb Bbott OF' SAMUE:t,. 210