morning without clouds； as the tender grass springeth out of the earth
by clear shining after rain。 Although my house be not so with God； yet
He hath made with me an everlasting covenant； ordered in all things；
and sure： for this is all my salvation； and all my desire； although He
make it not to grow。〃2 Sam。 23：4…5。
THE text which heads this page is taken from a chapter which ought to
be very interesting to every Christian。 It begins with the touching
expression； 〃These be the last words of David。〃
Whether that means； 〃these are the last words which David ever spoke by
inspiration as a Psalmist；〃 or 〃these are among the last sayings of
David before his death；〃 signifies little。 In either point of view； the
phrase suggests many thoughts。
It contains the experience of an old servant of God who had many ups
and downs in his life。 It is the old soldier remembering his campaigns。
It is the old traveller looking back on his journeys。
I。 Let us first consider David's humbling cotillion。
He looks forward with a prophetic eye to the future ing of the
Messiah； the promised Saviour； the seed of Abraham； and the seed of
David。 He looks forward to the Advent of a glorious kingdom in which
there shall be no wickedness； and righteousness shall be the universal
character of all the subjects。 He looks forward to the final gathering
of a perfect family in which there shall be no unsound members； no
defects； no sin； no sorrow； no deaths； no tears。 And he says； the light
of that kingdom shall be 〃as the light of the morning when the sun
riseth； even a morning without clouds。〃
But then he turns to his own family； and sorrowfully says； 〃 My house
is not so with God。〃 It is not perfect； it is not free from sin； and it
has blots and blemishes of many kinds。 It has cost me many tears。 It is
not so as I could wish； and so as I have vainly tried to make it。
Poor David might well say this！ If ever there was a man whose house was
full of trials； and whose life was full of sorrows； that man was David。
Trials from the envy of his own brethren；trials from the unjust
persecution of Saul； retrials from his own servants； such as Joab and
Ahithophel； trials from a wife； even that Michal who once loved him
so much；trials from his children； such as Absalom； Amnon； and
Adonijah；trials from his own subjects； who at one time forgot all he
had done； and drove him out of Jerusalem by rebellion；trials of all
kinds； wave upon wave； were continually breaking on David to the very
end of his days。 Some of the worst of these trials； no doubt； were the
just consequences of his own sins； and the wise chastisement of a
loving Father。 But we must have hard hearts if we do not feel that
David was indeed 〃a man of sorrows。〃
But is not this the experience of many of God's noblest saints and
dearest children？ What careful reader of the Bible can fail to see that
Adam； and Noah； and Abraham； and Isaac； and Jacob； and Joseph； and
Moses； and Samuel； were all men of many sorrows； and that those sorrows
chiefly arose out of their own homes？
The plain truth is； that home trials are one of the many means by which
God sanctifies and purifies His believing people。 By them He keeps us
humble。 By them He draws us to Himself。 By them He sends us to our
Bibles。 By them He teaches us to pray。 By them He shows us our need of
Christ。 By them He weans us from the world。 By them He prepares us for
〃a city which hath foundations；〃 in which there will be no
disappointments； no tears； and no sin。 It is no special mark of God's
favour when Christians have no trials。 They are spiritual medicines；
which poor fallen human nature absolutely needs。 King Solomon's course
was one of unbroken peace and prosperity。 But it may well be doubted
whether this was good for his soul。
Before we leave this part of our subject； let us learn some practical
lessons。
（a） Let us learn that parents cannot give grace to their children； or
masters to their servants。 We may use all means； but we cannot mand
success。 We may teach； but we cannot convert。 We may show those around
us the bread and water of life； but we cannot make them eat and drink
it。 We may point out the way to eternal life； but we cannot make others
walk in it。 〃It is the Spirit that quickeneth。〃 Life is that one thing
which the cleverest man of science cannot create or impart。 It es
〃not of blood； nor of the will of man〃 （John 1：13）。 To give life is the
grand prerogative of God。
（b） Let us learn not to expect too much from anybody or anything in
this fallen world。 One great secret of unhappiness is the habit of
indulging in exaggerated expectations。 From money； from marriage； from
business； from houses； from children； from worldly honours； from
political success； men are constantly expecting what they never find；
and the great majority die disappointed。 Happy is he who has learned to
say at all times； 〃 My soul； wait thou only upon God； my expectation is
from Him〃 （Ps。 62：5）。
（c） Let us learn not to be surprised or fret when trials e。 It is a
wise saying of Job； 〃Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward〃
（Job 5：7）。 Some； no doubt； have a larger cup of sorrows to drink than
others。 But few live long without troubles or cares of some kind。 The
greater our affections the deeper are our afflictions； and the more we
love the more we have to weep。 The only certain thing to be predicted
about the babe lying in his cradle is this；if he grows up； he will
have many troubles； and at last he will die。
（d） Let us learn； lastly； that God knows far better than we do what is
the best time for taking away from us those whom we love。 The deaths of
some of David's children were painfully remarkable； both as to age；
manner； and circumstances。 When David's little infant lay sick； David
thought he would have liked the child to live； and he fasted and
mourned till all was over。 Yet； when the last breath was drawn； he
said； with strong assurance of seeing the child again； 〃I shall go to
him； but he shall not return to me〃 （2 Sam。 12：23）。 But when； on the
contrary； Absalom died in battle…Absalom the beautiful Absalom the
darling of his heartbut Absalom who died in open sin against God and
his father； what did David say then？ Hear his hopeless cry； 〃 O
Absalom； my son； my son； would God I had died for thee！〃 （2 Sam。
18：33）。 Alas！ we none of us know when it is best for ourselves； our
children； and our friends to die。 We should pray to be able to say； 〃My
times are in Thy hands；〃 let it be when Thou wilt； where Thou wilt； and
how Thou wilt （Ps。 31：15）。
II。 Let us consider； secondly； what was the source of David's present
fort in life。 He says； 〃Though my house is not as I could wish； and
is the cause of much sorrow； God has made with me an everlasting
covenant； ordered in all things； and sure。〃 And then he adds； 〃 This is
all my salvation； and all my desire。〃
Now this word 〃covenant〃 is a deep and mysterious thing； when applied
to anything that God does。 We can understand what a covenant is between
man and man。 It is an agreement between two persons； by which they bind
themselves to fulfil certain conditions and do certain things。 But who
can fully understand a covenant made by the Eternal God？ It is
something far above us and out of sight。 It is a phrase by which He is
graciously pleased to acmodate Himself to our poor weak faculties；
but at best we can only grasp a little of it。
The covenant of God to which David refers as his fort must mean that
everlasting agreement or counsel between the Three Persons of the
Blessed Trinity which has existed from all eternity for the benefit of
all the living members of Christ。
It is a mysterious and ineffable arrangement whereby all things
necessary for the salvation of our souls； our present peace； and our
final glory； are fully and pletely provided； and all this by the
joint work of God the Father； God the Son； and God the Holy Ghost。 The
redeeming work of God the Son by dying as our Substitute on the
cross；the drawing work of God the Father by choosing and drawing us
to the Son；and the sanctifying work of the Holy Ghost in awakening；
quickening； and renewing our fallen nature；… are all contained in this
covenant； besides everything that the soul of the believer needs
between grace and glory。
Of this covenant； the Second Person of the Trinity is the Mediator
（Heb。 12：24）。 Through Him all the blessings and privileges of the
covenant are conveyed to every one of His believing members。 And when
the Bible speaks of God making a covenant with man； as in the words of
David； it means with man in Christ as a member and part of the Son。
They are His mystical body； and He is their Head； and through the Head
all the blessings of the eternal covenant are conveyed to the body。
Christ； in one word； is 〃the Surety of the covenant；〃 and through Him
believers receive its benefits。 This is the great covenant which David
had in view。
True Christians would do well to think about this covenant； remember
it； and roll the burden of their souls upon it far more than they do。
There is unspeakable consolation in the thought that the salvation of
our souls has been provided for from all eternity； and is not a mere
affair of yesterday。 Our names have long been in the Lamb's book of
life。 Our pardon and peace of conscience through Christ's blood； our
strength for duty； our fort in trial； our power to fight Christ's
battles； were all arranged for us from endless ages； and long before we
were born。 Here upon earth we pray； and read； and fight； and struggle；
and groan； and weep； and are often sore let and hindered in our
journey。 But we ought to remember that an Almighty eye has long been
upon us； and that we have been the subjects of divine provision though