August 1924
522
T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
The important lesson for all here is this— that even the smallest feeling of national pride is a sin against God, and, unless there be a powerful reaction, it calls down the judg ment of God. With this feeling, even the ancient Romans presented offerings of atonement at their census.— Le Bas. David was, for the time the image and emblem of all who in anw age, or in any country, love to have arrayed before them the elements of their worldly strength; who delight to see spread out the full enrollment of their powers and resources, and who forget that there is One before1 whose breath all these things shall be even as the cloud- capped towers and palaces before the breath of the whirl wind.— Pulpit Commentary. Vs. 9-13, 18, 19— The Prophet Gad. The three elements which enter into the true conception of a prophet are reve lation, inspiration and utterance; for the prophet is the inspired medium of truth to other minds.— Ladd. V. 14. “ Let us now fall into the hand of Jehovah.”' Already David had been convinced of his sin. He had also- confessed it and sought forgiveness. Nor had he done so in vain. But, as formerly (12:10-12) so now the temporal penalties of sin must follow. Throughout he exhibited a spirit the exact reverse of that which he had shown in num bering the peopled—Vaughan. Jesus Christ is the object of the Two Testaments— of the Old, its expectancy. Of the New— -its model. Of both, the- center.— Paschal. To the cross of Christ all eternity looked forward; to the cross of Christ all eternity will look back. With reference to it all other objects were created and are still preserved; and every event that takes place in heaven, earth and hell is directed and overruled.— Payson. V. 24. “Neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing.” We have in the cofitext a laudable contention between a good! king and a good subject.— Manton. Araunah wished to give the site for an altar, the animals and fuel for sacrifice, taking-— on account of the necessity for haste— the threshing oxen and implements for the pur pose. David insisted on paying for it all. The text ex presses his reason. He felt it was unworthy of his position and means as a monarch, of the greatness of God, and of his own relation and obligations to Him, to offer sacrifices which had cost him nothing. His determination is worthy of adoption by all, and will be adopted by all true-hearted Christians.S-Pulpit Commentary. ELEMENTARY Mrs. S. W . Barrett Memory verses:— John 14:14, 15; John 14:13; 1 John 3:22. Do you like to have Mother give you what you ask for? __ _
“And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it; and as he was destroying» the Lord beheld and repented him of the evil» and said to the angel» It is enough» Stay now thine hand. And the angel of the Lord stood by the threshingfloor of Oman the Jebusite.” David saw it and his confession is sincere as with, broken heart he pours out his soul’s sorrow over his sin. (1 Chron. 21 :17 ). And what is the result? God answers. He always does. What is His promise? (Psa. 91:15, 16). “He shall call upon me» and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him» and shew him my salva tion.” (4) DEVOTION OF POSSESSIONS, vs. 18-25, “Neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing.” v. 24. We are glad to close the lesson with a splendid picture of David. Here we have the heart of a great and good man. He would not allow Araunah to furnish the funds for the altar and sacrifice which he was to offer unto the Lord. Here we have a much needed text for many Christians,— cheap Christians! Who are perfectly willing that others shall make the offerings and pay the bills, while they spend their money on themselves and take advantage of all the means of grace, and are— oftentimes— the severest critics concerning the worship and work of the church. Hurrah for David! He sinned, but he confessed his sin. His heart was broken over it. But now he refuses to allow any one else to pay his dues. He rejoices in the privilege. May the Lord multiply his kind of givers! Araunah and David are of one mind and one heart in giving. Topics for Study (1) What was the motive controlling David in his deci sion to number the people? (2) What was the gravest mistake he made in the mat ter? (3) Why were not Joab and God consulted? (4) Why did God permit David to do wrong? (5) Can we ever sin without involving others? (6) Why did God delay His judgment upon David? (7) Was David’s choice of punishment a display of wis dom? (8) Why did God punish Israel for David’s sin? (9) What lesson do you draw from David’s refusal to accept Araunah’s offer? (10) How much do you think ought to be devoted to God? V. 1. “ Go, number Israel and Judah.” The very same action, apparently performed with different intentions, be comes essentially different from a moral point of view. It is the motive in which it originates, or the spirit with which it is carried on, that gives it a dis- COMMENTS tinctive character in the sight of God. FROM THE David was actuated by a vain-glorious COMMENTARIES spirit, which is always an abomination V. V. Morgan in the sight of God. He was thus indulging a vain conceit of his own strength, a proud confidence in his own greatness, as if his chief dependence were on an arm of flesh; forgetting his own devout profession that the Lord was his Rock and his Fortress and his Deliverer, in whom he would trust.— Lindsay. From its first origin Israel was called to the supremacy of the world. (Deut. 23 :29 ). David now thought that he help of God, who had provided for the beginning. The records should bear witness for all time that he had laid a solid foundation for this great work of the future.— Heng- stenberg. It was a momentary apostasy from Jehovah; an oblivion of the spirit of dependence inculcated on the rulers of Israel. This was the root of the offense, and in it the whole nation participated. This history shows that the acts and fortunes of rulers and people are closely connected and that the sins and virtues of the one exercise great influence on the happiness of the other.— Words worth.
And if you ask for something that is all right for you to have she gives it to you, doesn’t she? M o t h e r g i v e s you things because you are her very own child. She may give the neigh bors’ children some things, but. she looks after your wants first. Our Heavenly Father gives the sunshine and rain and food to everybody, good and bad alike, but when we take the Lord Jesus into our hearts as our Saviour and King, He makes us the children of God and He also gives us this prom ise; “ If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it. If ye- love me, keep my command ments.” Do you know where to find that promise? John 14:14, 15. Today our'story from the Bible is— How God Answered King David’s Prayer How many of you ever saw an ox-team? A long time ago people used strong teams of
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ToLn. N '■^ oxen to do everything, and even now, in -the country' around Jerusalem the farmers use ox-teams to thresh out the grain, just as they did in the time of King David.
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