Note. It is good for us betimes solemnly to spread our life, and all the Lord's dealings with us before him in confession and thanksgiving.

David on numbering the people. Answered forthwith. 1 Chronicles xxi.—8 And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

9 And the Lord spake unto Gad, David's seer, saying, 10 Go and tell David, saying, Thus saith the Lord, I offer thee three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee. 11 So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Choose thee, 12 Either three years' famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the Lord, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me. 13 And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the Lord; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.

Note. Neither a sense of the greatness of our sin, nor the fear of God's anger, should prevent us from fully confessing our sin, remembering that it is written, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unright

David for his people. Answered forthwith. 1 Chronicles xxi.-17 And David said unto God,

Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered even I it is that have sinned, and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? Let thine hand, I pray thee, O Lord my God, be on me, and on my father's house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued.

18 Then the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the Lord in the thrashing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 19 And David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spake in the name of the Lord.

Note.-God's people are deeply affected by the sufferings of others through their instrumentality, and when they are the guilty parties, are humbly willing that God should make them the suffering parties.

David at the altar.

Answered immediately.

1 Chronicles xxi.-26 And David built there an altar unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the Lord; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering. 27 And the Lord commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof.

Note.

The fire of God's wrath fell on the sacrifice, not on the offender, and was appeased; so the Lord Jesus Christ, the great sacrifice for sin, received and exhausted the penalty, the sword of divine justice is sheathed, and mercy and love beam down on those for whom Christ died.

David for his people and Solomon.

1 Chronicles xxix.-10 Wherefore David blessed

the Lord before all the congregation and David said, Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. 11 Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. 12 Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. 13 Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. 14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. 15 For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding. 16 O Lord our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own. 17 I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee. 18 O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee: 19 And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.

Note. A grand prayer of thanksgiving and praise! Aged saints should be much in praise and thanksgiving-quick to mark and to recollect the benefits God bestows, and oftentimes to think of, and to speak of His greatness and glory.

2 CHRONICLES.

Solomon for wisdom. Answered immediately.

2 Chronicles i.-7 In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee. 8 And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead. 9 Now, O Lord God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the Idust of the earth in multitude. 10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great? 11 And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king: 12 Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee: and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.

Note.-God graciously condescends to invite us to ask
Him, and say to Him what we wish Him to give us.
Let us be careful to ask wisely-to ask for things

that we have reason to think God may be willing to give in love, as being for his own glory and our real good. Our prayers when real, that is, when they express real desire-discover what is in our hearts.

Solomon at dedication of the temple. Answered forthwith.

2 Chronicles vi.-12 And he stood before the altar of the Lord, in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands, 13 (For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court; and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven,) 14 And said, O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants that walk before thee with all their hearts: 15 Thou which hast kept with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him; and spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day. 16 Now therefore, O Lord God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; yet so that thy children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me. 17 Now then, O Lord God of Israel, let thy word be verified, which thou hast spoken unto thy servant David. 18 (But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven, and the heaven of heavens, cannot contain