December 22

2 Samzel v.—1. Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.

2. Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel; and the Lord said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.

3. So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron, and King David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord; and they anointed David king over Israel.

4. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

5. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.

6. And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land; which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take

away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither; thinking David cannot come in hither.

7. Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion: the same is the city of David.

8. And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.

9. So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Milo and inward.

10. And David went on, and grew great; and the Lord God of hosts was with him.

11. And Hiram, king of Tyre, sent messengers to David, and cedar-trees and carpenters and masons; and they built David a house.

12. And David perceived that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.

After the death of Saul, the hopes of the nation centred in David. When hunted by Saul as an outlaw, he had conducted himself with discretion and magnanimity. Though he had many retainers, he never attempted a rebellion; and two or three times, when Saul fell into his power, he suffered him to escape unharmed. The tribe of Judah at once proclaimed him king, and anointed him at Hebron, the most southern city of their territory, where were the tombs of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. At first, Ishboheth, a son of Saul, set up a claim to the kingdom; and a civil war dragged on at intervals for more than seven years. But the death of Ishboheth, and of Abner, his general, caused the leaders of the other tribes to make terms with David, and to acknowledge his sovereignty over all Israel. In the first conquest of Canaan, the steep fortified hill of Jerusalem had been left in the hands of the Jebusites. David captured this, and made it his capital; and now began that brilliant reign of more than thirty years, which, by its successful military

enterprises, and its development of the national resources, made Israel united at home, and respected abroad. This he himself has celebrated in that magnificent triumphal march, the eighteenth Psalm: "Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me. As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me. The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places. The Lord liveth; and blessed be my Rock, and let the God of my salvation be exalted. It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me. He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me; thou hast delivered me from the violent man. Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord! among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name. Great deliverance giveth be to his king; and showeth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed forevermore."

APPROPRIATE HYMES.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 55, 99, 144.

Thou only, O Lord! makest us to dwell in safety. We thank thee for another night of rest and comfort; for another day of life, health, and hope. We praise thee that thou didst create us with powers of knowing and of loving, and hast made this world so full of wonders and beauties to feed our minds with knowledge, and to stir our hearts with love and joy. May the glory of the heavens, the richness and beauty of the earth, as adapted to our wants, fill us with admiration of thy power, thy wisdom, thy goodness! and may the voice of gladness with which all Nature celebrates thy praise move our souls to bless and praise thee also! O Lord! may we be found faithful to thee in the duties of this day! and, amid its temptations and its trials, do thou sustain us, comfort us, and keep us. May this household, which thou hast so blessed, serve thee, not at this

altar only, but in all the walks of life! As we engage in the business of the world, as we go into society, wherever we are, and whatever we do, may we remember thee, and do thy will! Oh! grant that every member of this family may be a child of God; a humble, faithful follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. Bless all dear to us who are absent from us. We supplicate thy mercy for the needy, the afflicted, the bereaved, and the sorrowing.

Build up thy Church, O Lord! Fill our land with pure religion. Bless the industry of the people; and may its fruit be consecrated to the good of men! May our rulers be faithful and just, walking in thy fear! And we beseech thee to bring all lands under the power and glory of thy kingdom. In thy great mercy, O Lord! forgive our sins, and bring us unto thy heavenly kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.