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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [First Chronicles, Chapter XIII].</TITLE>
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"This site is for those friends and family members who may or may not know Our Lord Jesus Christ, and if not, they may come to know Our Lord through His Prophets."> <meta name="author" content="Brian Duncalfe">
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<body background="../sueback.jpg" bgproperties="fixed" >
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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<h3><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank">Back to Biblesnet.com Home Page</a>
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<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC13012.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC13014.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>F I R S T C H R O N I C L E S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XIII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In the foregoing chapter we have David made king, by which the civil
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government was happily settled. In this chapter care is taken about
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religion.
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I. David consults with the representatives of the people about bringing
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up the ark out of its obscurity into a public place; and it is resolved
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on,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+13:1-4">ver. 1-4</A>.
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II. With a great deal of solemnity and joy, it is carried from
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Kirjath-jearim,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+13:5-8">ver. 5-8</A>.
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III. Uzza is struck dead for touching it, which, for the present,
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spoils the solemnity and stops the proceedings,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+13:9-14">ver. 9-14</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="1Ch13_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch13_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch13_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch13_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch13_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch13_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch13_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch13_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Removal of the Ark.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1048.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And David consulted with the captains of thousands and
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hundreds, <I>and</I> with every leader.
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2 And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If <I>it
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seem</I> good unto you, and <I>that it be</I> of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> our God, let us
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send abroad unto our brethren every where, <I>that are</I> left in all
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the land of Israel, and with them <I>also</I> to the priests and
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Levites <I>which are</I> in their cities <I>and</I> suburbs, that they may
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gather themselves unto us:
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3 And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we
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enquired not at it in the days of Saul.
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4 And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the
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thing was right in the eyes of all the people.
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5 So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt
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even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from
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Kirjath-jearim.
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6 And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, <I>that is,</I> to
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Kirjath-jearim, which <I>belonged</I> to Judah, to bring up thence the
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ark of God the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, that dwelleth <I>between</I> the cherubims, whose
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name is called <I>on it.</I>
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7 And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the
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house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart.
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8 And David and all Israel played before God with all <I>their</I>
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might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and
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with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
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I. David's pious proposal to bring up the ark of God to Jerusalem, that
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the royal city might be the holy city,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+13:1-3"><I>v.</I> 1-3</A>.
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This part of the story we had not in Samuel. We may observe in this
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proposal,</P>
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<P>
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1. That as soon as David was well seated on his throne he had thoughts
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concerning the ark of God: <I>Let us bring the ark to us,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+13:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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Two things he aimed at herein:--
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(1.) To do honour to God, by showing respect to his ark, the token of
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his presence. As soon as he had power in his hand he would use it for
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the advancement and encouragement of religion. Note, It ought to be
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the first and great care of those that are enriched and preferred to
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honour God with their honours, and to serve him, and the interests of
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his kingdom among men, with their wealth and power. David said not,
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"What pompous thing shall I do now?" or, "What pleasant thing?" but,
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"What pious thing?"
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(2.) To have the comfort and benefit of that sacred oracle. "Let us
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bring it to us, not only that we may be a credit to it, but that it may
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be a blessing to us." Those that honour God profit themselves. Note, It
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is the wisdom of those who are setting out in the world to take God's
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ark with them, to make his oracles their counsellors and his laws their
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rule. Those are likely to proceed in the favour of God who thus begin
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in the fear of God.</P>
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<P>
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2. That he consulted with the leaders of the people about it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+13:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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Though it was without doubt a very good work, and being king, he had
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the authority to command the doing of it, yet he chose rather to do it
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by consultation,
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(1.) That he might show respect to the great men of the kingdom and put
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honour upon them. Though they made him king, yet he would not rule with
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a high hand. He did not say, "We will and command, and it is our royal
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pleasure, that you do so and so; and we will be obeyed," but, "<I>If it
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seem good to you,</I> and you think that the motion comes from the Lord
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our God, let us send out orders for this purpose." No prince that is
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wise will covet to be absolute. The people's allegiance is best secured
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by taking their concurrence in their representatives. Happy then art
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thou, O Britain!
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(2.). That he might be advised by them in the manner of doing it,
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whether just now, whether publicly. David was a very intelligent man
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himself, and yet consulted with his captains; <I>for in the multitude
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of counsellors there is safety.</I> It is wisdom to make use of the
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wisdom of others.
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(3.) That, they joining in it, it might pass the better for a national
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act and so might procure a national blessing.</P>
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<P>
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3. That he would have all the people summoned to attend on this
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occasion, both for the honour of the ark and for the people's
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satisfaction and edification,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+13:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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Observe,
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(1.) He calls the common people <I>brethren,</I> which bespeaks his
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humility and condescension (notwithstanding his advancement), and the
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tender concern he had for them. Thus our Lord Jesus is not ashamed to
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call his people brethren,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:11">Heb. ii. 11</A>.
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(2.) He speaks of the people as a remnant that had escaped: <I>Our
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brethren that are left in all the land of Israel.</I> They had been
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under scattering providences. Their wars with the Philistines, and with
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the house of Saul, had wasted the country and cut off many. We now hope
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to see an end of these troubles. Let those that are left be quickened
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by late judgments, and present mercies, to seek unto God.
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(3.) He takes care that the priests and Levites especially should be
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summoned to attend the ark; for it was their province in a particular
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manner. Thus Christian magistrates should stir up ministers to do their
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duty when they see them remiss.</P>
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<P>
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4. That all this is upon supposition that it is <I>of the Lord their
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God.</I> "Though it should <I>seem good to you</I> and me, yet if it be
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not <I>of the Lord our God,</I> we will not do it." What ever we
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undertake, this must be our enquiry, "Is it of the Lord? Is it
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agreeable to his mind? Can we approve ourselves to him in it? May we
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expect that he will own us?"</P>
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<P>
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5. That thus it was requisite they should amend what has been amiss in
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the last reign, and, as it were, atone for their neglect: "For <I>we
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enquired not at it in the days of Saul,</I> and this was the reason why
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things went so ill with us: let that original error be amended, and
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then we may hope to see our affairs in a better posture." Observe,
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David makes no peevish reflections upon Saul. He does not say, "Saul
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never cared for the ark, at least in the latter end of this reign;"
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but, in general, <I>We enquired not at it,</I> making himself with
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others guilty of this neglect. It better becomes us to judge ourselves
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than others. Humble good men lament their own share in national guilt,
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and take shame to themselves,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+9:5-19">Dan. ix. 5</A>,
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&c.</P>
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<P>
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II. The people's ready agreement to this proposal
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+13:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>):
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<I>The thing</I> was <I>right in the eyes of all the people.</I> Nobody
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could say to the contrary, but that it was a very good work and very
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seasonable; so that it was resolved, <I>nemine
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contradicente</I>--<I>unanimously,</I> that they would do so. Those
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that prudently proposed a good work, and lead in it, will perhaps find
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a more ready concurrence in it than they expected. Great men know not
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what a great deal of good they are capable of doing by their influence
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on others.</P>
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<P>
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III. The solemnity of bringing up the ark,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+13:5-8"><I>v.</I> 5</A>,
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&c., which we read
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before,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+6:1-3">2 Sam. vi. 1</A>,
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&c. Here therefore we shall only observe,
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1. That it is worth while to travel far to attend the ark of God. They
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came out of all parts of the country, from the <I>river of Egypt,</I>
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the utmost part south, to the entering of Hemath, which lay furthest
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north,
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+13:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>),
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to grace this solemnity.
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2. That we have reason greatly to rejoice in the revival of neglected
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ordinances and the return of the tokens of God's presence. When the
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light of religion shines out of obscurity, when it is openly and freely
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professed, is brought into reputation, and countenanced by princes and
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great ones, it is such a happy omen to a people as is worthy to be
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welcomed with all possible expressions of joy.
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3. When, after long disuse, ordinances come to be revived, it is too
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common for even wise and good men to make some mistakes. Who would have
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thought that David would commit such an error as this, to carry the ark
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upon a cart?
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+13:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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Because the Philistines so carried it, and a special providence drove
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the cart
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+6:12">1 Sam. vi. 12</A>),
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he thought they might do so too. But we must walk by rule, not by
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example when it varies from the rule, no, not even by those examples
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which Providence has owned.</P>
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<A NAME="1Ch13_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch13_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch13_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch13_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch13_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch13_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Death of Uzza.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1048.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>9 And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza
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put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.
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10 And the anger of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> was kindled against Uzza, and he
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smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died
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before God.
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11 And David was displeased, because the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> had made a breach
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upon Uzza: wherefore that place is called Perez-uzza to this day.
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12 And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I
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bring the ark of God <I>home</I> to me?
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13 So David brought not the ark <I>home</I> to himself to the city
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of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the
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Gittite.
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14 And the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in
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his house three months. And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> blessed the house of
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Obed-edom, and all that he had.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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This breach upon Uzza, which caused all the joy to cease, we had an
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account of,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+6:6-8">2 Sam. vi. 6</A>,
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&c.
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1. Let the sin of Uzza warn us all to take heed of presumption,
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rashness, and irreverence, in dealing about holy things
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+13:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
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and not to think that a good intention will justify a bad action. In
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our communion with God we must carefully watch over our own hearts,
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lest familiarity breed contempt, and we think God is in any way
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beholden to us.
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2. Let the punishment of Uzza convince us that the God with whom we
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have to do is a jealous God. His death, like that of Nadab and Abihu,
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proclaims aloud that God will be <I>sanctified in those that come nigh
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unto him</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+10:3">Lev. x. 3</A>),
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and that the nearer any are to him the more displeased he is with their
|
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presumptions. Let us not dare to trifle with God in our approaches to
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him; and yet let us, through Christ, <I>come boldly to the throne of
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grace;</I> for we are under the dispensation of liberty and grace, not
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of bondage and terror.
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3. Let the damp this gave to the joy of Israel be a memorandum to us
|
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always to rejoice with trembling, and to <I>serve the Lord with
|
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fear,</I> even when we <I>serve him with gladness.</I>
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4. Let David's displeasure upon this occasion caution us to take heed
|
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|
to our spirits when we are under divine rebukes, lest, instead of
|
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|
submitting to God, we quarrel with him. If God be angry with us, shall
|
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we dare to be angry with him?
|
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5. Let the stop thus put to the solemnity caution us not to be driven
|
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|
off from our duty by those providences which are only intended to drive
|
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us from our sins. David should have gone on with the work
|
||
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|
notwithstanding the breach made upon Uzza; so might the breach have
|
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been made up.
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6. Let the blessing which the ark brought with it to the house of
|
||
|
|
Obed-edom encourage us to welcome God's ordinances into our houses, as
|
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|
those that believe the ark is a guest that nobody shall lose by; not
|
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|
let it be less precious to us for its being to some a stone of
|
||
|
|
stumbling and a rock of offence. If the gospel be to some a savour of
|
||
|
|
death unto death, as the ark was to Uzza, yet let us receive it in the
|
||
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love of it and it will be to us a saviour of life unto life.</P>
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