I. A ROYAL RECTIFICATION. We have the useful fiction in England that "the king can do no wrong." It has been too often assumed by the potentates of the earth that they could not be mistaken, and need not return on their way. David was not so foolish and so faulty. He had the sense to see that he had erred in the way in which he had carried out a good desire, and he was prepared openly and honourably to retrace his steps. So he said to his courtiers, "No one ought to carry the ark of God," etc. (ver. 2), with obvious reference to the transaction recorded in ch. 13. And he "gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem," and "assembling the children of Aaron and the Levites" (ver. 4), he spoke plainly of the departure from the Law of which he and others had been guilty (vers. 12, 13). We certainly need not be ashamed "to come after the king "in the way of retractation. Where a monarch leads the way we may be content to follow. There is no more certain indication of foolish and fatal obstinacy than the refusal to admit an error. They who cling to their own mistakes and pertinaciously justify them are sure to come to some great grief in time. But they who have the humility and penetration to see that they are wrong, and also the courage to avow and correct it, are sure to find themselves on the upward road. They may take a wrong turn or two, but they move in the right direction, and, like David and the ark, will reach Jerusalem in time.

II. A GRACIOUS ADMONITION. (Vers. 11-13.) There may have been some doubt as to where the blame really lay, whether on the king or on the priests, or (as was probable enough) on both. David, while he did not exonerate himself, evidently felt that the priests and Levites were included in the condemnation: indeed, he addresses them and admonishes them as delinquents: "Because ye did it not at the first," etc. (ver. 13). His words and their attitude together may suggest to us that admonition should be graciously given and as graciously received. We should, on such occasions as this, speak as those

(1) who convey their message with reluctance and only on constraint;

(2) who desire to spare feeling as much as faithfulness will allow;

(3) who know that they have themselves reason to desire all possible elemency to be shown;

(4) who must not shun to declare the whole counsel of God. And on such occasions we should, when ourselves admonished, receive the admonition as those

(1) who are likely enough to have erred;

(2) who are prepared to be reproved by those who are in any position of authority;

(3) who are ready to correct our mistake at the earliest opportunity.

III. A PROMPT OBEDIENCE. (Vers. 14, 15.) There seems to have been no hesitancy. on the part of the priests and Levites; they appear to have applied themselves at once, with due zest, to the work which they had neglected before. They sanctified themselves for it (ver. 14), and then they executed it (ver. 15), doing all things "as Moses commanded, according to the word of the Lord." Like them, and like the prodigal of the parable (Luke 15.), who said, "I will arise," and he arose, we should feel and do, conclude and act, with no interval between of which the enemy can make use. When we have taken due time for understanding, and have seen the way we should take, then we should, like the men of whom we read here,

(1) at once make needful preparations for action, and,

(2) these made, carry our conclusions into effect. It is an evil spirit of uncertainty and delay which often makes penitence to be unavailing; it is prompt, unhesitating obedience to the Word of the Lord which takes us to the post of duty and then to the seat of honour and of joy. - C.

1. By personal sanctification.

2. By implicit obedience to God's command.

II. HEARTY CO-OPERATION IN GOD'S WORK.

1. Gained by consultation. Teachers' Meetings, Ministers' Conferences, National Councils of great help in effective work.

2. Displayed in united ranks.

3. Expressed by individual effort.

III. SUCCESS ACHIEVED IN GOD'S WORK.

(J. Wolfendale.)