October 30

OCTOBER 30.—“And it was told king David, saying, The Lord hath blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with gladness.”—2 Samuel 6:12.

Two things may be usefully remarked here. The first is, the fame of the blessing. It was soon known and noticed. The report of it spread in all directions, and even reached the throne—“and it was told king David, saying, The Lord hath blessed Obed-edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark.” The manifestation of the sons of God is principally future. They will hereafter shine forth from every cloud that conceals them, as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. The wisdom of their choice, and the advantages resulting from it, will then so convincingly appear, that those who vilify them now will be constrained to say, “we fools counted their life madness and their end to be without honour. How are they numbered with the children of God, and their lot is among the saints.” But the Lord does not leave his people entirely undistinguished even now. He begins to honour them here. He sets a mark upon their foreheads, that the executioners may pass them by in the day of evil. He sometimes puts such a difference between them and others, that men, profane and infidel men, say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous, verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth. Even Balaam exclaimed, How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his. How easily, even in this life can he bring their enemies to their feet, and make them know that he has loved them! And has he not said, “Their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed?”

Let us from hence learn our duty. While we are in the world we should pray, with David; Lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies; or, as it is in the margin, observers. Many eyes are upon us; and though they cannot judge of our experience, they can estimate our conduct. They will be sure to compare it with our profession; and their disposition will not suffer them to make those allowances which candour and truth require. They will magnify infirmities into crimes, and impute the miscarriages of a few to the whole body. Let us then walk in the fear of the Lord because of the reproach of the heathen. Let us put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: yea, let us constrain them by our good works, which they behold, to glorify God in the day of visitation. Let them see that our religion is not a mere notion, but that there is a reality, an excellency, an efficiency in it that recommends it to every reflecting mind. Let them see the advantages we have derived from it, in the government of our tempers, in our readiness to forgive, in our humility when we prosper, in our patience when we suffer, in the confidence and calmness of our minds with regard to every future event. Let them see that we have found, what others are seeking after in vain, contentment and happiness. And thus shall we adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour, and be ever saying to those around us, “Come with us, and we will do you good, for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel.”

The Second is the influence of it. It doubtless impressed many; but David only is mentioned. He is mentioned because of his eminence—not for its own sake—but relatively to his usefulness. The soul of a prince is no more precious than the soul of a beggar; but when the great are set in motion they draw others after them. No sooner was David informed of the blessing of God upon Obed-edom for the sake of the ark, than his apprehensions vanished, his zeal was roused, and he resolved to obtain a share of the same goodness—“So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with gladness.” And here we see that the proofs others have shown of the gain of godliness should excite and encourage us to follow their example. The children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light. No improvements in husbandry or trade will be long confined to individuals. Every useful invention and discovery in the arts and sciences, is soon and eagerly adopted by those who are informed of them, as we see in the case of the mariner’s compass, and printing, and a thousand other things. Upon this principle, why do not men embrace the Gospel, which is so evidently conducive to the personal and social welfare of mankind? What numbers have recommended it from their own experience, living and dying! Let us repair to a Physician who has only, yet has so often, cured the complaints under which we labour. Let us reflect upon those who have been enlightened, and pardoned, and renewed in the spirit of their minds, and blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ; and pray, “Bless me, even me also, O my father”—“We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”

David not only brought up the ark, but with gladness. What we do for God we should do readily and cheerfully. God loves a cheerful giver. The charity of some is like the sour emission obtained from crabs by grinding and pressing them. But it drops from a Christian like a honeycomb, or flows like a living spring. He doth all things without murmuring or disputing, because the love of God is shed abroad in his heart. He cannot always claim the promises; yea, they sometimes make him tremble, lest he should come short through unbelief: but he always delights in the law of God after the inward man. He cannot always rejoice in the full assurance of hope; but his meat is to do the will of his heavenly Father. His duty is his privilege. The Sabbath and the sanctuary are his attractions; and he finds it good to draw nigh to God.

But wonder not if you meet with opposition and reflection. “As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.” People will commend or excuse warmth in every thing but religion—There it is often decried as weakness or ridiculed as folly. And should we encounter this in our exertions for the cause of God what are we to do?—Do! go forward. Do! do as David did, who bound the scandal as a garland around his brow, and said, “I will yet be more vile.” So, blessed Redeemer! wast thou treated in the days of thy flesh. So didst thou bear the contradiction of sinners against thyself, thy spirit blasphemed, thy words and actions perverted, thy name cast out as evil. May it be enough for us that the disciple