Twice in this chapter we are told that the Lord gave victory to David ‘‘whithersoever he went,’’ vs. 6, 14. Indeed, he was more than a conqueror, for he obtained not only victory but the spoils of his foes, of which he afterward made large donations to the house of God. We are reminded of those great words: ‘*Now thanks be unto God, who always leadeth us in triumph in Christ’’; and, ‘‘They also shall overcome that are with him [the Lamb], called and chosen and faithful,’’ 2 Cor. 2:14 and Rev. 17:14, R. V.

Never in this world shall we be able to lay down our weapons. Often temptations that we thought had passed out of our lives, will revive in their old vigor and present themselves with even greater subtlety and force. Resolutions and vows will fail us. We shall be constantly kept in mind of our weakness and depend-

once. The only victory which is permanent is our faith, which receives from him what we cannot achieve for ourselves. It is a very humbling experience, but it is our safeguard against overweening pride.

2 Samuel 9: 1-13. This poor cripple at.Lodebar never supposed that David would show him favor. Did he not belong to the rejected house of Saul? What could he expect from one whom his grandfather had hunted like a partridge on the mountains? Besides, his lameness made him unfit for court-life. We, ike him, are the children of an apostate race; we have neither beauty nor worth to commend us. We may class together those two sentences: ‘‘ What is thy servant, that thou shouldst look upon such a dead dog as I am?”’’ and, ‘‘ Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord,’’ v. 8 and Luke 5: 8.

But Mephibosheth had been included in a covenant. He might be unaware of it, but David could not forget, 1 Sam. 20:14-16. For the sake of the beloved Jonathan, David treated his son as a blood-relation. Nothing in the course of events could alter the sacred word that David had sworn to his departed friend. Our own case is similar. We were chosen in Christ before the world began, predestined to be sons, included in the covenant between the Father and our Surety. Let us join with Paul in Ephesians 1: 3.