Ver. 14.-Limited permanency. For the changed locations of the ark, see Bethel (Judg. xx. 26, 27), Mizpeh, Shiloh, Kirjath-jearim, house of Obed-Edom, Jerusalem. We are often disturbed by the fact that God's promises have a sound of permanency, but that permanency has not been realized, at least in the way in which the realization was expected. There are two things which need to be taken into consideration. 1. The Bible is largely poetry, and the poetry is of the Eastern type, in which there is always an element of intensity and exaggeration. In dealing with all poetry we have to use an answering imagination to that of the writer of it, and so get at what he suggests rather than what he says. 2. It is to be borne in mind that, strictly speaking, the idea of absolute permanency can never be applied to anything created, for every created thing must be dependent on the good will of its Creator. To these considerations a third may be added. The introduction of sin, as human self-will, into the world, has introduced frailty and brevity into everything related to the sinner. The promise of permanence for David's royal house, or for the temple which his sun built, was certainly not formally realized. David's dynasty ceased; the Babylonians destroyed the temple. And it was not that the promises were conditional; it was that they were never intended to be permanent. It would not have been the best blessing for the world for David's dynasty or the Solomonic temple to have continued for ever, in a literal sense. L A. THING IS REALLY PERMANENT THAT CONTINUES BO LONG AS IT IS BEALLY NEEDED. A. thousand things are better passed away when they are done with. Mere length of endurance in time is no necessary blessing to anybody. Truo permanency is fitting to use. "A. man is immortal until his work is done." Then it is best for him to be mortal. Il. A THING 18 REALLY PERMANENT THAT PABSl!:S INTO WHAT IT PREPARED FOR. For everything is a matrix, forth from which something comes which is to live and be a matrix in its turn. In one sense everything is destroyed ; in another sense nothing is destroyed. We live for ever in the great succession of things. Our living force goes into the stream of time, flows on to the ocean of eternity, and can never be lost.-R. T,
Vere. 1-18.-Spiritual worship. "The psalmist, filled with the memory of many an ancient oracle in praise of David and his city Zion, unable to bear the thought that thie 'beauty of all the earth,' for which De.vid had toiled, should remain eunk in misery and ruin, prays to God to remember his promises, e.nd to return onca more to his chosen dwelling-place;" that the temple may be rebuilt, and the national worship restored. Some of the principal thoughts suggested are- I. THAT THE GREATEST WORK A MAN CAN DO IS TO HELP TO BRING GoD NEARER TO MEN. In this case David toiled with unwearied efforts" to find out a pince for the Lord," where the ark might at length rest. But there are me.ny ways besides of bringing God nearer to the thoughts of men. Public worship is only one means. A life divinely lived; works; conversation. God is made known best by the living temple. II. Goo WILL, HOWEVER, IN DUE TIME REWARD THE J,ABOURS OF HIS FAITHFUL SERVANTS. "Lord, remember David, and all his labour and trouble." '' Turn not nway the face of thine anointed." Do not deny his prayers. Seeming delay on God's part is no real delay. III. IT IS Goo's WILL TO REVEAL IIIMSELF AND BE FOUND OD' MEN, "The Lord bath chosen Zion; he bath desired it for his he.bitation," etc. He has created men for the fellowship of himself e.nd of one another. "This is my rest for ever;" ns the father finds rest- e.t home. IV. Goo HAS MADE ABUNDANT PROVISION FOR THE WANTS 011' OUB SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL NATURE. "I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall shout for joy ... ordained e. lamp for miue anointed," 1,tc. "I will bless her provision with increase, and satisfy her poor with bread."-S. 270 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [rs. oxxxm. 1-3.