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I. HIS SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. He looked beyond the outward symbols to Him who had appointed the use of those symbols as a means of good. "Carry back," he says, "the ark of God into the city." He felt that it alone could do nothing for him in his banishment. Here was spirituality of mind, brought, it may be, into livelier exercise by trial, but evidently forming a part of David's character. And it would be well for us to inquire, How far are we of the same mind with the sweet psalmist of Israel?

II. THE SIMPLICITY OF DAVID'S FAITH. "If I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, He will bring me again and show me both it and His habitation." Here was an unwavering confidence in the power of God to bring good out of evil; and a conviction that if the Lord saw fit He would do so. And here we may mark the peculiar and proper office of faith. It leads to effort; it encourages in duty while it prevents a departure from the way of God's commandments. We beseech you to cultivate more of this spirit, which appeared so conspicuously in the man after God's own heart; view every turn in your history as appointed by the Lord, and seek to have continually a lively apprehension of His overruling providence.

III. DAVID'S HUMBLE RESIGNATION TO THE DIVINE WILL. That Christian is much to be envied, who, happen what may, can exclaim with sincerity of heart, "It is the Lord, let Him do what seemeth Him good"; I desire to acquiesce in the Divine appointments, because "I know in whom I have believed"; I know, that though deep are the water-floods that roll over me, the wisdom of God is deeper than them all. Let us keep in mind, that the sources from whence we look for comfort may become the fruitful springs of bitter anguish. Let us not forget that the most secure of all our earthly comforts are in reality insecure.

(S. Bridge, M. A.)

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KJV: And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation:

WEB: The king said to Zadok, "Carry back the ark of God into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of Yahweh, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation;