The Progress., 1896-09-03
Samuel.

| a mountain ridge. looks over trc wa!
he has come and gains vision OF the
| tourney before him.
| The song. although written about tnc
| middle of David's reign, suggests
| thoughts and feelings appropriate TO the
| end of life The feelings at the iirSt
rest and lookout in the mountain c'lmn
| are of the same kind as those when MI
! the soul when the rest and VISION AT 'lle
summit are gained.
Note in this song of praise Cd what
| were the things for which David praises
| God, ever looking to him as the source
of every good; and CO the value OF 'he
spirit of praise both in IT'S effect upon the
soul of him who praises and also upon
| those who hear the praises.
The section includes Samuel - ana
2:1-..oo | Kings 21-n, the last charge OF
David to Solomon, and l Chronicles ":
| $3.50 brief summary Of David's he
| and Psalm 49, which is substantially the
| same as David's song in Samuel y.
Historical setting. Time. This
| triumphal hymn must have been written
| before Davids great sin, but after ms
| great victories. perhaps the time referred
| to in Samuel II. This would make the
| time about b. G. 10te
|
| Jerusalem.
To-days lesson includes verses 4O-'1,
chapter %, Second Book of Samuel, as
| follows:
80 Thou hast girded.' Gas warriors
! bind up all their garments and FORTH:
| their loins, that they may be more fitted
for strenuous effort. Jameson. with
| strength to battle No small portion of
| 70 warfare
| ward enemies. the enemies of God, of his
| people, and his truth; and therefore the
enemies of the world.
4l43. THAT might destroy them that
| hate me . . | beat them as small as
| the dust" to be scattered to the four
| winds las the mire Of the street." use
| less. defilng refuse TO understand
| David's feelings in uttering these express
sions, we must put ourselves in his place.
"A. "Strivings of my people, Internal
| discussions. of which David Lad not a
! few at first but all the nation at iG.'.
became a unit. A type Of the complete
| triumph of Christian unity over all the
dissensiOns Of the kingdom. "A people
| which | know not shall serve me-" Tho
surrounding nations. of which David had
| no devious personal knowledge, attacked
| him, were defeated and came under his
| sway.
Al. THE Lord liveth." His God
Jehovah, is living God, not a dead idol
He not only exists. but lives: is alive to
the needs of his children. is quick to see
their needs, and keen to hear their pray
ers, and ready to extend all needed help.
Compare Elijah's address on Mount Car
mel q Kings 1S:2G-3W. MY rock" The
personal propoun all through this song
and through the psalms is very instruc-
tive. 1t speaks to the heart. 1t signifies
very close and definite relation. it
expresses Gods care for each individual,
and not merely for the whole 'fie cali
eth his sheep by name" knowing each
individual need and longing. MY rocE.
the God of the rock of my saliva
ton Compare with verses and 3. ana
notice 'the number and variety of the
terms which he employs to describe the
protection which God afforded him; and
the second by the emphatic personal
manner in which he speaks. He seems
to have 2. difficulty in finding any one
word which would adequately express all
that Jehovah had been to him, so he
heaps one term upon another calling
him "a rock. fortress, deliverer, a
Shield a high tower horn, refuge,
and a Saviour Taylor The rock was
a fortress, like Gibraltar, which would
sustain possible attack. A horn was q
terrible weapon Of attack and defense.
4S. ut is God that avengeth me-" by
Furnishing his enemies.
Note that David does not claim the VIC
tory himself, but attributes it, and right
ly. to God. lie could have done nothing
without God. 1t was because he identi-
fed himself with Gods cause, was ad-
vancing the righteousness of God. that
he himself would triumph. He that
Identifies himself with irreligion and sin
must fail in the end. Mrs Partington
trying to sweep out the Atlantic ocean
with her broom was wisdom compared
with the folly Of those who expect 10
succeed IN defiance of Gods laws.