1 Chronicles 23:25 For David said, The LORD God of Israel has given rest to his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever: I. IN THE MYSTERIOUS POLITY OF THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL SPIRITUAL AND TEMPORAL BLESSINGS WERE SO CLOSELY ALLIED THAT THE SAME LANGUAGE MIGHT NATURALLY BE EMPLOYED TO SIGNIFY EITHER. II. It is not unwarrantable for us to conjecture that in the joyous utterance contained in the text David insinuated PROFOUNDER TRUTHS THAN LIE ON THE SURFACE OF HIS WORDS. III. If "there remaineth a rest to the people of God," IT BECOMES US TO SECURE THIS GREAT BLESSING AS THE SOLE OR CHIEF OBJECT OF EXISTENCE. IV. REST AND PEACE MUST FALL UPON A CHRISTIAN SPIRIT. 1. From its devotion to Christ Himself, and its devoted imitation of His pure and perfect example. 2. By the elevating tendency of the singleness of the object of his hope. Those who have many debts often feel it a relief to exchange them all for a single creditor; he whose whole heart is bent on reaching a single point leaves all around him on his way in equal and complete indifference. God is one; let our affections but partake of the unity of that object, and we shall have reached the pathway of real and imperishable rest. 3. From the very nature of the Christian affections. 4. From its hope being anchored in a future world. To support, still more to exalt us, heaven must mingle with earth. To direct a vessel upon the ocean there must be two elements at work, the air must modify the agency of the water; to set a vessel at rest there must be more elements than one employed, and the earth must afford the means of resisting the breezes and the sea. Such is the position in the voyage of this life. The earthly and the heavenly elements must combine, or we are powerless. Confined to the single element of our corrupted nature, we are the sport of every accident, we have no rules for our navigation. But they who join to the human nature the higher element, they have a power that guides them to the everlasting haven. To have the great object of our thoughts placed beyond the chances of human life is to place ourselves beyond them. (W. A. Butler.) Parallel Verses KJV: For David said, The LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever: |
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