CHAPTER XIII.

In the foregoing chapter we had David made king; by which the civil government was happily settled: in this chapter the Lord inclined David to take care about religion. (1.) David consults with the representatives of the people about bringing up the ark ont of its obscurity into a public place, and it is resolved on, ver. 1-4. (2.) With a great deal of solemnity and joy it is carried from Kirjathjearim, ver. 5-8. (3.) Uzzah is struck dead for touching it, which for the time spoils the solemnity, and stops the proceedings, ver. 9--14.

VER. 6. "To bring up thence the ark of God the Lord, that dwelleth between the cherubims, whose name is called on it."]-The ark was a lively type of the Lord Jesus, as the mercy-seat, propitiation, and dwelling of Jehovah, where he meets and communes with his people. In the beginning of this chapter David proposes to bring up the ark of God to Jerusalem, that the royal city might be the holy city, ver. 1, 2, 3. This part of the story we had not in Samuel.

As soon as David was settled in his throne, he had thoughts concerning the ark of God: "Let us bring that to us." Two things he aimed at herein: first, to do honour to God, by shewing respect to his ark, the token of his presence. As soon as he had power in his hand he would use it for the advancement and encouragement of religion. It ought to be the first and great care of those that are enriched and preferred to honour God with their honours, and to serve him and the interests of his kingdom among men, with their wealth and power. Not what pompous thing shall I do now, or what pleasant thing; but what great thing; to have the comfort and benefit of that sacred oracle. Let us bring it to us, not only that we may be a credit to it, but that it may be a blessing to us. It is the

wisdom of those that are setting out in the world to take God's ark with them, and to make his oracles their coun sellors, and his laws their rule. Those are likely to proceed in the favour of God, that thus begin in the fear of God.

CHAPTER XIV.

In this chapter we have, (1.) David's kingdom established, ver. 1. 2. (2.) His family built up, ver. 3-7. (3.) His enemies the philistines routed in two campaigus, ver. 8-17. This is repeated here from 2 Sam. xv. 11, &c.

VER. 2. "For his kingdom was lifted up on high, because of his people Israel."]-David was a type of Christ, and the exaltation of his kingdom was a figure of the exaltation of Christ's mediatorial kingdom, in his name and person, in the glory of his word and ordinances; which kingdom of Christ is lifted up on high, that is, in the heights of everlasting love, or in the heights of affection and adoration among his spiritual Israel.

Ver. 15. "And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry-trees, that then thon shalt go out to battle."]-When David heard the sound of wind in the tops of the mulberry-trees, then he was to go forth against the enemy; which was a sign or token of the Lord's presence with him, and victory over his adversaries. This in a spiritual sense may be figurative of the Lord's power and presence with his people, as wind in its freeagency, power, and influence, is an emblem of the power of the Holy Ghost, in the ministration of the word, in regeneration, and consolation: this is effected by the power of the Holy Ghost, and is a spiritual sign or token of the Lord's power and presence with us, and of a certain conquest over all our enemies.

CHAPTER XV.

The bringing up of the ark to the city of David was a very good work; it was resolved upon, chap. xiii. 4. and attempted, but not perfected; it "lay by the way" in the house of Obed-edom.” Now this chapter gives us an account of the completing of that good work. 1. It was done more regularly than before. (1.) A place was prepared for it, ver. 1. (2.) The priests were ordered to carry it, ver. 2—15. (3.) The Levites had their offices assigned them in attending on it, ver. 16—24. 2. More successfully than before, ver. 25. (1.) The Levites made no blunder in their work, ver. 26. 2. David and the people met with no damp upon their joy, ver. 27, 28. As for Michal's despising David, it was nothing, ver. 29.

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VER. 13. "For because ye did it not at the first, the Lord our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order."]-In these words we have David's concern to bring home the ark of God by the Levites, according to the commandment of the Lord, which was, that the Levites were to carry the ark upon their shoulders. David, through grace, bethought himself of that which he could not but know before, that none ought to carry the ark but the Levites." The Kohathites carried it in their ordinary marches, and therefore had no waggons allotted them, because their work was to bear upon their shoulders," Numb. vii. 9. But upon extraordinary occasions, as when they passed Jordan, and compassed Jericho, the priests carried it. This rule was express, and yet David himself forgot it, and put the ark upon a cart. Even they that are very knowing in the word of God, yet have it not always so ready to them as were to be wished, when they have occasion to use it. Wise and good men may be guilty of an oversight. David doth not go about to justify what had been done amiss, nor to lay the blame on others, but owns himself guilty, with others, of not seeking God in a due order, and now takes care, not only to summon the Levites to the solemnity, as he did all Israel, ver. 3. and had done before, chap. xiii. 2. but to see that they were assembled, ver. 4. especially the sons of Aaron, ver. 11. to them he gives that solemn charge, ver. 12. "You are the chief of the fathers of the Levites," therefore do you "bring up the ark of the Lord." Those that are advanced above others in dignity are expected to go before others in duty; as leaders, guides, and directors in the things of God, to influence others in the way of their duty. You did it not at the first, neither did your duty yourselves, nor took care to instruct us, and we smarted for it, "the Lord made a breach upon us."

Ver. 26. And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord."]The ark was no great burden, and we find that the Lord strengthened the Levites. It is good to take notice of the assistance of divine providence, even in those things that fall within the compass of our natural powers: if God did not help us, we could not stir a step. In all our religious exercises we must particularly derive help from heaven: see Acts xxvi. 22. All our sufficiency for duties is from God. The Levites perhaps, remembering the breach made upon Uzza, were ready to tremble when they took up the

ark, but God helped them, that is, he encouraged them to it, silenced their fears, strengthened their faith: God helped them to do it decently and well, and without making any blunder. If we perform any religious duties, agreeably to the word of God, and to his honour, we must own it was God that helped us; for had we been left to our selves, we should have been guilty of some fatal mis-car. riages. God's ministers that bear the vessels of the Lord have special need of divine help in their ministrations, that God in them may be glorified, and his church edified. And if God help the Levites, the people have the benefit of it.

CHAPTER XVI.

This chapter concludes that great royal city; and with it the during the reign of David. the ark was fixed, ver. 1-6. on this occasion, ver. 7-36. worship of God in order from

affair of the settlement of the ark in the settlement of the public worship of God Here is, (1.) The solemnity with which (2.) The psalm David gave to be sung (3.) The settling of the constant stated thenceforward, ver. 37–43.

VER. 2. "He blessed the people in the name of the Lord."-It was a glorious day when the ark of God was safely lodged in the tent David had pitched for it. King David had his heart much upon it, and could not sleep coutentedly till it was done, Psalm cxxxii. 4. The circumstances of the ark were now better than what they had been. It had been obscure in a country town, in the fields of the wood, now it is removed to a public place, to the royal city, where all might have resort to it. It had been neglected as a despised broken vessel: now it is attended with veneration, and God is enquired of by it. It had borrowed a room in a private house, which it enjoyed upon kindness; now it has a habitation of its own entire to itself, is set in the midst of it, and not crowded into a corner. Though God's word and ordinances may be clouded and eclipsed for a time, they shall at length shine out of obscurity. Yet they were much short of what was intended in the next reign, when the tem ple was to be built. This was but a tent, a poor mean dwelling, yet this was the tabernacle, the temple which David in his psalms often speaks of with so much affection. David that pitched a tent for the ark, and cleaved to it, did far better than Solomon that built a temple for it, and yet in

his latter end turned his back upon it. The church's poorest times are always its purest.

Now David is easy in his mind: the ark is fixed, and fixed near him; now see how he takes care that God may have the glory of it. Two ways he gives him honour upon this occasion: by sacrifices, burnt-offerings in adoration of his perfections, peace-offerings in acknowledgment of his favours, and by songs; he appointed Levites to record this story in a song for the benefit of others, or to celebrate it themselves by "thanking and praising the God of Israel:" all our rejoicings must express themselves in thanksgivings to him, from whom all our comforts are received.

Ver. 9. "Talk ye of all his wondrous works."]→ The ark was an emblem of the Lord's presence and glory with his people, and it engaged the king, the priests, and the Levites, to shew forth the praises of God in hymnus and thankful songs to his name; it excited them to talk of his wonderful works; and the joy here expressed was a lively figure of the powerful influcuce of divine grace upon the mind, which sweetly engages the christian in love and praise to the Lord, for his electing and redeeming love, flowing in that wonderful way of salvation, by the death and sufferings of the great and glorious Mediator.

Ver. 10. Glory ye in his holy name."]-This shews that the name of the Lord is the foundation of the christian's joy; for his name may import his divine perfections, grace, and salvation.

Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.”]For he will hear them, supply them, save them, and comfort them; and it is impossible for that soul to perish that sees a beauty and glory in Christ's salvation, and seeks to be saved thereby; and therefore it is not presumption for such a soul to rejoice in the provision which God hath made, and the precious promises which he has given to such who seek

the Lord.

Ver. 11. "Seek the Lord and his strength."]-By the Lord's strength we are to understand the Lord Jesus, who is the strength of Israel, and the man of God's right-hand, to whom the soul is to seek for the strength of faith, hope, life, and love to his name, and for strength and support under every trial, temptation, and affliction; in short, for strength every day and every hour, to live by faith, and to walk by faith, until our change shall come.

Ver. 12. "Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders," &c ]-That is, the wonders of his