waa !LB balm to the desolate heart of Na.omi as she mourned her forlorn condition imparted II sweet 11entleaess to her, and enabled her to submit to the blow that ha<l shattored her early joys. David and she had herein a common experience. VI. A THOU0IITl'UL SELF-SA0RIFI0ING OARE FOB THE INTERESTS OP RELIGION. Jt wns very beautiful conduct on the pe.rt of Zadok e.nd Abiathar to bring out the ark of the covenant (ver. 24), to form a. prominent object in the sad procession out of the city· it rovenled II tender consideration for the man who in his prosperity had associated hi~ purest joys and most glorious triumphs with that precious symbol of the Divine presence. The ark could not but remind David of the mercy that endureth for ever, and its presence with him would be regarded as a pledge of blessing in his wandering. But he desired the priests to take back the treasure, e.nd he, meekly bowing to the chastisement, would go out e.nd suffer the loss of the outward privileges of the sanctuary. The reason or this no doubt was that, a.~ he had been the means of procuring a permanent restin"'- ple.ce for the ark (eh. vi. 17-19), and constituting Jerusalem the centre of religio~s influence for the nation, he would not now undo that work and serve his own personal advantage at the cost of the people. No; the religious institutions should remain intact, the blesbings of public worship and spiritual comfort should abide for Jerusalem, though he a poor exile pi.ne in solitude and peril for the "beauty of the Lord" (Ps. xiii. 1-4 ; xliii. 1, 2). How beautiful this tender care for the interests of religion appears in true submission to adverse providences is known to all acquainted with Christian biography. Not II deed, not a word, not a thought is allowed that might be prejudicial to the kingdom of God. Storms may come, hopes may be blasted, if only the Name that is above every name be still honoured. VII. A DELIBERATE COMMITTAL OF PRESENT AND FUTURE INTERESTS D!TO THE HANDS OF Goo. "If I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation. But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here I am, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him" (vers. 25, 26). 0 blessed trust! 0 sweet resignation! 0 modest yet unshaken hope! Truly the discipline was already bearing precious fruit, The spiritual barrenness of those hot days of prosperity ( eh. xi.) was clean gone. The temporal chastisement was in process, but the wandering child was a wanderer no more. Enviable beyond e:1pression is this surrender of all interests to the wise and gracious hands of the covenant-keeping God. Here comes out the essence of the true submission in the season of adversity. "He will," if he "delight" in me! "Let him do as seemeth him good!" No self-will, no boast of claim, no thought of shame; God is over all and can do all; all is in his care, and wbat he does shall be deemed the best and kindest and most just. Who does not see the purifying power of the grace of God? Holy David once fallen! APPENDIX. The sorrowing king, passing over the ridge of the Mount of Olives, on bare feet and weeping, bearing on his heart a terrible woe, and full of pity for the people rejecting his authority, and at the same time entirely submissive to the sovereign will that so ordains, reminds us of the other King, greater, wiser, more holy, and bearing on his heart the woes of many sins not his own, pacing the slopes of that same mount, weeping bitter tears, lamenting for the rebellious people, bearing all for others' good, and submitting with unparalleled gentleness and trust to the sovereign will that ordained that so he must suffer.
Fidelity in misfurtune. It is believed by many that more remarkable virtues are developed in seasons of adversity than in those of prosperity. Their precise form will depend on the individuals concerned and the stress of the time. 'l'he conduct ot" the Git.tiles, and Ittai, and Zadok, nod Abiathar is in pleasing contrast with that of Ahitho- phel and his co-conspirators. In these men we may trace the characteristics of fidelity in misfortune. I. h IS nooTED IN INTELLIGE~T SYIIIPATHY. The six hundred had probably been with David and shared in his trials prior to his departure from Gath (1 S,1m. xxvii. 2). '!'hey knew him better than any others ; they had formed a sympathy for him based on true knowledo-e, and they stood the test of the evil time. Of ltta.i we do not know HO much, but t.h~ words of the m1m prove that he np~reciated the real c~ar~cter of David in spite of the slanders which such men as Ah1thophel may have rnsmuated. The priestly functions of Zadok and Abiathar account for their interest in so devuut ,1 378 THE Sfi:OOND nooK OF S.UlUF.L.