a
ZION’S I. AND MARKS
.187
born in a manger, and reputed*to be
the son of a carpenter, yet he was
anointed with the oil of gladness
above Ids fellows, (Ps. 45.-7,) and
the Spirit of the Lord God was upon
him. Isa. 61;1. In the second
place, David was persecuted by his
enemies for a time, under the jealous
Saul, and subjected to sufferings and
scoffs before he was exalted to the
tlirone of Israel. So Christ was a
man of sorrows, and acquainted with
grief; was persecuted and mocked by
the jealous and haughty spirit of the
self-righteous and arrogant Pharisees,
before he was exalted to the throneof
his glorv.
But David, thirdly, had toexhibit
bis power in the overthrow of the
enemy of his people, and give e\d-
dence of his love and devotion to
them and their cause, before he Mms
cstsblished in his kingdom. So it
Avas with Christ.
Let us see how the parallel runs.
The Philistines, the implacable enc'
niies of Israel, were gathered together
in full force against Israel, and met
them in the valley of Elah, and set
the battle in array. The champion
of their armies, a mighty giant,
called Goliath, goes in advance of his
armies, and defies and challenges the
armies of Israel. In view of this
nughty giant, six cubits and a span
in height, the staff of whose s})ear
was like a weaver’s beam, clad in a
coat of mail, the armies of Israel
I'lernbled with dismay, and even
Saul himself was sore afraid. So
the spiritual Israel of God are met
in the vale of sin and condemnation
by their spiritual enemies, under the
pi ince of darkness, who defies the
trembling ranks of Israel; and in
view of such a roaring lion, and
.sensible of their own weakness, they
quake with fear. The giant con
tinues his defiant cha,Ilenges and
temptations against Israel for forty
days, calling for their strongest man
to meet him in mortal combat. So
the devil tempted and tried our Re
deemer forty days and nights.—
Gohath reminds Israel that they are
servants to Saul, and if he can over
come their strongest man they shall
become the servants of their entmies
and victors. So the devil suggests
to God’s Israel the humiliating Let
that they are under the law and ser
vants to sin, and if he can conquer
their Captain and overcome them
they shall be Ids servants; but this
mighty champion of the enemy pro
poses that if the trembling hosts of
Israel can find a man that can slay
him ^Then we will be your servmnts.”
Well, Ave shall see the result present-
h-
The two armies are in array in
the valley, Israel advancing, but
faint-hearted, and falls back in dis
may at the sight of the terrible gi^nt
and his spear. In this critical hour
of distress and trouble in Israel, when
their all was at stake, and when all
appeared likely to be lost, the young
David appears in camp, and proposes
to meet this mighty enemy, this un
circumcised Philistine, in mortal
strife.
He hears this enemy defying the
armies of the living God, and he de
termines to meet him in the name of
the God of Israel. Some are ready
to encourage him, and offer him great
rewards, even that of the King’s
daughter to wife, and that his flimily
should be free in Israel. So when
there was no eye to pity, and no arm
to save the Israel of God, Christ
makes his appearance to meet the
powers of darkness, saying to his
desponding Israel : “I will contend
Avith him that contendeth Avith thee,
and IavIII save thy children ” Isa.
49 : 25. He came with strong hand,
and his arm shall rule for him : be'
hold his reward is with him and his
Avork before him. The promised
bride, the King’s daughter, is all
glorious Avithin, and her raiment of
Avrought gold; no Avonder then that
our spiritual DaAud should give his
life for her. But young David AA-as
chided and ridiculed bv his OAvn bre
thren for his seeming impudence and
arrogance; and so Christ Avas dersided
by his brethren and countrymen.
See Math. 13:55. But Saul, aau'11-
ing to see the youth meet the mighty
champion, and risk a battle on the
disputed ground, endeavors to arm
him for the struggle and the deadly
conflict; but the coat of mail and the
armor of Saul did not suit the youno-
warrior, either to travel in or %ht
in. So Avhen Jesus Avas about to
meet and grapple Avith the enemy of
souls, the King of terrors, and to
contend Avith all the poAvers of dark
ness, no earthly arm, no secular au
thority or povAer, no royal protection!
or covering, would assist him in the
awful conflict.
Young David goes alone, Avith his
sling and five stones, the haughty
monster approaches the stripling,
disdains and curses him in the name
of his gods. David replies, remind
ing his mighty antagonist that he had
Tome in the name of the God of
Israel, and that he should presently
take his head from his shoulders.—
The Philistines exult, Avhile the
anxious armies of Israel look on and
tremble.
Out of all the thousands of Israel
none is found to accompany the lone
AA^arrior, none to assist or uphold ;
and yet all Avas staked on the result
of the struggle about to take place in
the valley of Elah. The life and
liberty of the people of Israel were
suspended upon the victory of this
lone Avarriorand daysman. “And I
looked, and there was none to help;
and I Avondered that there Avas none
to uphold; therefore mine OAvn arm
brought salvation unto me, and my
fury, it upheld me.” “I have trod
den the wine-press alone, and of the
people there Avas none Avith me.”—
“Then all the disciples forsook him
and fled.” See Isa. 63, and Math.
26 :66.
The young hero, trusting in the
Lord of hosts, and with a holy zeal
for His cause and people, hurled a
stone from his sling that brought his
mighty antagonist to the ground, and
running upon him he trod on his
vanquished foe and, beheaded him
Avith his OAvn SAA'ord. The dishear
tened hosts of the Philistines now
fly in disujay, a shout goes up from
the camps of Israel, and they pursue
and overthrow the enemy in heaps.—
The inhabitants of the land of Israel
noAv come out of their cities rejoicing
Avith music and dancing, ascribing
victory to him avIio Avas to reign over
Israel soon, and drive out the ene
mies of the land. In like manner
Avhen Christ, the captain of our salva
tion, come to destroy him that had
the power of death, that is the devil,
and deliver his people from captivity,
sin and death, he hurled a shaft of
almighty power against the enemy,
and trampled him in his fury. The
Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root
of David, prevailed over all the poAv-
ers of darkness, led captivity captiA^e
triumphed over death, hell and the
grave, and obtained eternal redemp
tion for us. This triumphant Kino-
is the Lord, mighty in battle, and
mighty to save. Let the inhabitants
of Jerusalem sing and sliout for joy.
Letsinner’sredeemed love, praiseand
adore the Son of David, and let his
heralds lift up their voice and sound
his fame throughout the land.
Yours to serve,
I. N. VANMETER.
“What a strange disposition is
that which leads people to say
“hateful’’ things for the mere plea
sure of saying them. You are
never safe Avith such a person,—
When you have done your best to
please, and are feeling very kindly
and pleasantly, out Avill pop some
under-hand stab Avhich you alone
can comprehend,—a sneer Avhich is
masked, but Avhich is too Avell aimed
to be misunderstood. It may be at
your person, your mental failing,
your foolish habits of thouglR, or
some little secret of faith or opinion
confessed in a moment of genuine
confidence. It matters not hoA\’-
sacred it may be to you, he Avill
have bis fling at it ; nay,
since the
wish is to make you suffer, he is all
the happier the nearer he touches
your heart. Just half a dozen
words, only for the pleasure of see
ing a cheek flush and an eye lose its
brightness, only spoken because he
is afraid you are too happy. Yet
they are AVorse than so many blows.
How many sleepless nights have*
such mean attacks caused tender
hearted men ! How after them, one
aAvakes Avith aching eyes and head,
to remember that speech before
everything—that bright, .sharp,
well-aimed needle of a speech that
probed the very centre of your
soul ?”
Grace is the blossom-bud of glory;
and a Avork of grace upon the heart
is a needful preparation for glory.—
By grace men are brought into the
school of Christ, and bound appren
tices for heaven. In this school they
learn to Avalk Avith God, to love him
and to serve him—to be straimei’s
upon earth, and to seek a better coun
try, looking for the coming of the
Son of God. These are some Scrip
ture marks of the heirs of glory. I)q
you find them in your breast?—I^er-
rkJge.
The longer I live the more I apt
conAunced that, if ever you are saved,
grace must save you; and if ever I
am saved, grace must save me. ’Tis
not of Avorks, lest anv man should
boast.—Tiptaft.
If sensuality were happiness, beasts
were happier than men ; but human fe
licity is lodged in the soul, not in the
flesh.—Seneca.
Sin is a hard task-mastir, and pay.s
dreadful wages. “The wages of sin !•
death.” . \
The swearer’s mouth is blackened by
the soot of hell.