205 lines
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205 lines
15 KiB
XML
<div2 id="iCh.xiv" n="xiv" next="iCh.xv" prev="iCh.xiii" progress="75.91%" title="Chapter XIII">
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<h2 id="iCh.xiv-p0.1">F I R S T C H R O N I C L E
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S</h2>
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<h3 id="iCh.xiv-p0.2">CHAP. XIII.</h3>
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<p class="intro" id="iCh.xiv-p1">In the foregoing chapter we have David made king,
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by which the civil government was happily settled. In this chapter
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care is taken about religion. I. David consults with the
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representatives of the people about bringing up the ark out of its
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obscurity into a public place; and it is resolved on, <scripRef id="iCh.xiv-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.13.1-1Chr.13.4" parsed="|1Chr|13|1|13|4" passage="1Ch 13:1-4">ver. 1-4</scripRef>. II. With a great deal of
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solemnity and joy, it is carried from Kirjath-jearim, <scripRef id="iCh.xiv-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.13.5-1Chr.13.8" parsed="|1Chr|13|5|13|8" passage="1Ch 13:5-8">ver. 5-8</scripRef>. III. Uzza is struck dead
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for touching it, which, for the present, spoils the solemnity and
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stops the proceedings, <scripRef id="iCh.xiv-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.13.9-1Chr.13.14" parsed="|1Chr|13|9|13|14" passage="1Ch 13:9-14">ver.
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9-14</scripRef>.</p>
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<scripCom id="iCh.xiv-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.13" parsed="|1Chr|13|0|0|0" passage="1Ch 13" type="Commentary"/>
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<scripCom id="iCh.xiv-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.13.1-1Chr.13.8" parsed="|1Chr|13|1|13|8" passage="1Ch 13:1-8" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Chr.13.1-1Chr.13.8">
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<h4 id="iCh.xiv-p1.6">The Removal of the Ark. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.xiv-p1.7">b. c.</span> 1048.)</h4>
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<p class="passage" id="iCh.xiv-p2">1 And David consulted with the captains of
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thousands and hundreds, <i>and</i> with every leader. 2 And
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David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If <i>it seem</i>
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good unto you, and <i>that it be</i> of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.xiv-p2.1">Lord</span> our God, let us send abroad unto our
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brethren every where, <i>that are</i> left in all the land of
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Israel, and with them <i>also</i> to the priests and Levites
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<i>which are</i> in their cities <i>and</i> suburbs, that they may
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gather themselves unto us: 3 And let us bring again the ark
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of our God to us: for we 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
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the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. 5 So
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David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto
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the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from
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Kirjath-jearim. 6 And David went up, and all Israel, to
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Baalah, <i>that is,</i> to Kirjath-jearim, which <i>belonged</i> to
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Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God the <span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.xiv-p2.2">Lord</span>, that dwelleth <i>between</i> the
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cherubims, whose name is called <i>on it.</i> 7 And they
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carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab:
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and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart. 8 And David and all Israel
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played before God with all <i>their</i> might, and with singing,
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and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with
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cymbals, and with trumpets.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="iCh.xiv-p3">Here is, I. David's pious proposal to bring
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up the ark of God to Jerusalem, that the royal city might be the
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holy city, <scripRef id="iCh.xiv-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.13.1-1Chr.13.3" parsed="|1Chr|13|1|13|3" passage="1Ch 13:1-3"><i>v.</i> 1-3</scripRef>.
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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 class="indent" id="iCh.xiv-p4">1. That as soon as David was well seated on
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his throne he had thoughts concerning the ark of God: <i>Let us
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bring the ark to us,</i> <scripRef id="iCh.xiv-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.13.3" parsed="|1Chr|13|3|0|0" passage="1Ch 13:3"><i>v.</i>
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3</scripRef>. Two things he aimed at herein:—(1.) To do honour to
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God, by showing respect to his ark, the token of his presence. As
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soon as he had power in his hand he would use it for the
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advancement and encouragement of religion. Note, It ought to be the
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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
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of his kingdom among men, with their wealth and power. David said
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not, "What pompous thing shall I do now?" or, "What pleasant
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thing?" but, "What pious thing?" (2.) To have the comfort and
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benefit of that sacred oracle. "Let us bring it to us, not only
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that we may be a credit to it, but that it may be a blessing to
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us." Those that honour God profit themselves. Note, It is the
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wisdom of those who are setting out in the world to take God's ark
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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
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begin in the fear of God.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="iCh.xiv-p5">2. That he consulted with the leaders of
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the people about it, <scripRef id="iCh.xiv-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.13.1" parsed="|1Chr|13|1|0|0" passage="1Ch 13:1"><i>v.</i>
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1</scripRef>. Though it was without doubt a very good work, and
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being king, he had the authority to command the doing of it, yet he
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chose rather to do it by consultation, (1.) That he might show
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respect to the great men of the kingdom and put honour upon them.
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Though they made him king, yet he would not rule with a high hand.
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He did not say, "We will and command, and it is our royal pleasure,
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that you do so and so; and we will be obeyed," but, "<i>If it seem
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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
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is wise will covet to be absolute. The people's allegiance is best
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secured by taking their concurrence in their representatives. Happy
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then art thou, O Britain! (2.). That he might be advised by them in
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the manner of doing it, whether just now, whether publicly. David
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was a very intelligent man himself, and yet consulted with his
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captains; <i>for in the multitude of counsellors there is
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safety.</i> It is wisdom to make use of the wisdom of others. (3.)
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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 class="indent" id="iCh.xiv-p6">3. That he would have all the people
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summoned to attend on this occasion, both for the honour of the ark
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and for the people's satisfaction and edification, <scripRef id="iCh.xiv-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.13.2" parsed="|1Chr|13|2|0|0" passage="1Ch 13:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. Observe, (1.) He calls
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the common people <i>brethren,</i> which bespeaks his humility and
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condescension (notwithstanding his advancement), and the tender
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concern he had for them. Thus our Lord Jesus is not ashamed to call
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his people brethren, <scripRef id="iCh.xiv-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Heb.2.11" parsed="|Heb|2|11|0|0" passage="Heb 2:11">Heb. ii.
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11</scripRef>. (2.) He speaks of the people as a remnant that had
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escaped: <i>Our brethren that are left in all the land of
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Israel.</i> They had been under scattering providences. Their wars
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with the Philistines, and with the house of Saul, had wasted the
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country and cut off many. We now hope to see an end of these
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troubles. Let those that are left be quickened by late judgments,
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and present mercies, to seek unto God. (3.) He takes care that the
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priests and Levites especially should be summoned to attend the
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ark; for it was their province in a particular manner. Thus
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Christian magistrates should stir up ministers to do their duty
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when they see them remiss.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="iCh.xiv-p7">4. That all this is upon supposition that
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it is <i>of the Lord their God.</i> "Though it should <i>seem good
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to you</i> and me, yet if it be not <i>of the Lord our God,</i> we
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will not do it." What ever we undertake, this must be our enquiry,
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"Is it of the Lord? Is it agreeable to his mind? Can we approve
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ourselves to him in it? May we expect that he will own us?"</p>
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<p class="indent" id="iCh.xiv-p8">5. That thus it was requisite they should
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amend what has been amiss in the last reign, and, as it were, atone
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for their neglect: "For <i>we enquired not at it in the days of
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Saul,</i> and this was the reason why things went so ill with us:
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let that original error be amended, and then we may hope to see our
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affairs in a better posture." Observe, David makes no peevish
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reflections upon Saul. He does not say, "Saul never cared for the
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ark, at least in the latter end of this reign;" but, in general,
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<i>We enquired not at it,</i> making himself with others guilty of
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this neglect. It better becomes us to judge ourselves than others.
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Humble good men lament their own share in national guilt, and take
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shame to themselves, <scripRef id="iCh.xiv-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Dan.9.5-Dan.9.19" parsed="|Dan|9|5|9|19" passage="Da 9:5-19">Dan. ix.
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5</scripRef>, &c.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="iCh.xiv-p9">II. The people's ready agreement to this
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proposal (<scripRef id="iCh.xiv-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.13.4" parsed="|1Chr|13|4|0|0" passage="1Ch 13:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>):
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<i>The thing</i> was <i>right in the eyes of all the people.</i>
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Nobody could say to the contrary, but that it was a very good work
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and very 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
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find a more ready concurrence in it than they expected. Great men
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know not what a great deal of good they are capable of doing by
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their influence on others.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="iCh.xiv-p10">III. The solemnity of bringing up the ark,
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<scripRef id="iCh.xiv-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.13.5-1Chr.13.8" parsed="|1Chr|13|5|13|8" passage="1Ch 13:5-8"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>, &c.,
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which we read before, <scripRef id="iCh.xiv-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.6.1-2Sam.6.3" parsed="|2Sam|6|1|6|3" passage="2Sa 6:1-3">2 Sam. vi.
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1</scripRef>, &c. Here therefore we shall only observe, 1. That
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it is worth while to travel far to attend the ark of God. They came
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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
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furthest north, (<scripRef id="iCh.xiv-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.13.5" parsed="|1Chr|13|5|0|0" passage="1Ch 13:5"><i>v.</i>
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5</scripRef>), to grace this solemnity. 2. That we have reason
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greatly to rejoice in the revival of neglected ordinances and the
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return of the tokens of God's presence. When the light of religion
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shines out of obscurity, when it is openly and freely professed, is
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brought into reputation, and countenanced by princes and great
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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. 3. When, after long
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disuse, ordinances come to be revived, it is too common for even
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wise and good men to make some mistakes. Who would have thought
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that David would commit such an error as this, to carry the ark
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upon a cart? <scripRef id="iCh.xiv-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.13.7" parsed="|1Chr|13|7|0|0" passage="1Ch 13:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>.
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Because the Philistines so carried it, and a special providence
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drove the cart (<scripRef id="iCh.xiv-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.6.12" parsed="|1Sam|6|12|0|0" passage="1Sa 6:12">1 Sam. vi.
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12</scripRef>), he thought they might do so too. But we must walk
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by rule, not by example when it varies from the rule, no, not even
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by those examples which Providence has owned.</p>
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</div><scripCom id="iCh.xiv-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.13.9-1Chr.13.14" parsed="|1Chr|13|9|13|14" passage="1Ch 13:9-14" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Chr.13.9-1Chr.13.14">
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<h4 id="iCh.xiv-p10.7">The Death of Uzza. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.xiv-p10.8">b. c.</span> 1048.)</h4>
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<p class="passage" id="iCh.xiv-p11">9 And when they came unto the threshingfloor of
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Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen
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stumbled. 10 And the anger of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.xiv-p11.1">Lord</span> was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him,
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because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God.
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11 And David was displeased, because the <span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.xiv-p11.2">Lord</span> had made a breach upon Uzza: wherefore that
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place is called Perez-uzza to this day. 12 And David was
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afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God
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<i>home</i> to me? 13 So David brought not the ark
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<i>home</i> to himself to the city of David, but carried it aside
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into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 14 And the ark of
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God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three
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months. And the <span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.xiv-p11.3">Lord</span> blessed the
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house of Obed-edom, and all that he had.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="iCh.xiv-p12">This breach upon Uzza, which caused all the
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joy to cease, we had an account of, <scripRef id="iCh.xiv-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.6.6-2Sam.6.8" parsed="|2Sam|6|6|6|8" passage="2Sa 6:6-8">2
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Sam. vi. 6</scripRef>, &c. 1. Let the sin of Uzza warn us all
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to take heed of presumption, rashness, and irreverence, in dealing
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about holy things (<scripRef id="iCh.xiv-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.13.9" parsed="|1Chr|13|9|0|0" passage="1Ch 13:9"><i>v.</i>
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9</scripRef>), and not to think that a good intention will justify
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a bad action. In our communion with God we must carefully watch
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over our own hearts, lest familiarity breed contempt, and we think
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God is in any way beholden to us. 2. Let the punishment of Uzza
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convince us that the God with whom we have to do is a jealous God.
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His death, like that of Nadab and Abihu, proclaims aloud that God
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will be <i>sanctified in those that come nigh unto him</i>
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(<scripRef id="iCh.xiv-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.10.3" parsed="|Lev|10|3|0|0" passage="Le 10:3">Lev. x. 3</scripRef>), and that the
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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
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to him; and yet let us, through Christ, <i>come boldly to the
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throne of grace;</i> for we are under the dispensation of liberty
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and grace, not of bondage and terror. 3. Let the damp this gave to
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the joy of Israel be a memorandum to us always to rejoice with
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trembling, and to <i>serve the Lord with fear,</i> even when we
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<i>serve him with gladness.</i> 4. Let David's displeasure upon
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this occasion caution us to take heed to our spirits when we are
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under divine rebukes, lest, instead of submitting to God, we
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quarrel with him. If God be angry with us, shall we dare to be
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angry with him? 5. Let the stop thus put to the solemnity caution
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us not to be driven off from our duty by those providences which
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are only intended to drive us from our sins. David should have gone
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on with the work notwithstanding the breach made upon Uzza; so
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might the breach have been made up. 6. Let the blessing which the
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ark brought with it to the house of Obed-edom encourage us to
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welcome God's ordinances into our houses, as those that believe the
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ark is a guest that nobody shall lose by; not let it be less
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precious to us for its being to some a stone of stumbling and a
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rock of offence. If the gospel be to some a savour of death unto
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death, as the ark was to Uzza, yet let us receive it in the love of
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it and it will be to us a saviour of life unto life.</p>
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</div></div2> |