patriarchs and prophets-第148部分

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　　　　　　　　　　〃Lift　up　your　heads；　O　ye　gates；
　　　　　　　　　　　And　be　ye　lift　up；　ye　everlasting　doors；
　　　　　　　　　　　And　the　King　of　glory　shall　come　in。〃


A　band　of　singers　and　players　answered：

　　　　　　　　　　〃Who　is　this　King　of　glory？〃


From　another　company　came　the　response：

　　　　　　　　　　〃The　Lord　strong　and　mighty；
　　　　　　　　　　　The　Lord　mighty　in　battle。〃

708


Then　hundreds　of　voices；　uniting；　swelled　the　triumphal　chorus：

　　　　　　　　　　〃Lift　up　your　heads；　O　ye　gates；
　　　　　　　　　　　Even　lift　them　up；　ye　everlasting　doors；
　　　　　　　　　　　And　the　King　of　glory　shall　come　in。〃


Again　the　joyful　interrogation　was　heard；　〃Who　is　this　King　of　glory？〃　And
the　voice　of　the　great　multitude；　like　〃the　sound　of　many　waters；〃　was　heard
in　the　rapturous　reply：

　　　　　　　　　　〃The　Lord　of　hosts；
　　　　　　　　　　　He　is　the　King　of　glory。〃　Psalm　24：7…10。


Then　the　gates　were　opened　wide；　the　procession　entered；　and　with　reverent
awe　the　ark　was　deposited　in　the　tent　that　had　been　prepared　for　its
reception。　Before　the　sacred　enclosure　altars　for　sacrifice　were　erected；
the　smoke　of　peace　offerings　and　burnt　offerings；　and　the　clouds　of　incense；
with　the　praises　and　supplications　of　Israel；　ascended　to　heaven。　The
service　ended；　the　king　himself　pronounced　a　benediction　upon　his　people。
Then　with　regal　bounty　he　caused　gifts　of　food　and　wine　to　be　distributed
for　their　refreshment。

All　the　tribes　had　been　represented　in　this　service；　the　celebration　of　the
most　sacred　event　that　had　yet　marked　the　reign　of　David。　The　Spirit　of
divine　inspiration　had　rested　upon　the　king；　and　now　as　the　last　beams　of
the　setting　sun　bathed　the　tabernacle　in　a　hallowed　light；　his　heart　was
uplifted　in　gratitude　to　God　that　the　blessed　symbol　of　His　presence　was　now
so　near　the　throne　of　Israel。

Thus　musing；　David　turned　toward　his　palace；　〃to　bless　his　household。〃　But
there　was　one　who　had　witnessed　the　scene　of　rejoicing　with　a　spirit　widely
different　from　that　which　moved　the　heart　of　David。　〃As　the　ark　of　the　Lord
came　into　the　city　of　David；　Michal　Saul's　daughter　looked　through　a　window；
and　saw　King　David　leaping　and　dancing　before　the　Lord；　and　she　despised　him
in　her　heart。〃　In　the　bitterness　of　her　passion　she　could　not　await　David's
return　to　the　palace；　but　went　out　to　meet　him；　and　to　his　kindly　greeting
poured　forth　a　torrent　of　bitter　words。　Keen　and　cutting　was　the　irony　of
her　speech：

〃How　glorious　was　the　king　of　Israel　today；　who　uncovered　himself　today　in
the　eyes　of　the　handmaids　of　his　servants；　as　one　of　the　vain　fellows
shamelessly　uncovereth　himself！〃

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　711


David　felt　that　it　was　the　service　of　God　which　Michal　had　despised　and
dishonored；　and　he　sternly　answered：　〃It　was　before　the　Lord；　which　chose　me
before　thy　father；　and　before　all　his　house；　to　appoint　me　ruler　over　the
people　of　the　Lord；　over　Israel：　therefore　will　I　play　before　the　Lord。　And
I　will　yet　be　more　vile　than　thus；　and　will　be　base　in　mine　own　sight：　and
of　the　maidservants　which　thou　hast　spoken　of；　of　them　shall　I　be　had　in
honor。〃　To　David's　rebuke　was　added　that　of　the　Lord：　because　of　her　pride
and　arrogance；　Michal　〃had　no　child　unto　the　day　of　her　death。〃

The　solemn　ceremonies　attending　the　removal　of　the　ark　had　made　a　lasting
impression　upon　the　people　of　Israel；　arousing　a　deeper　interest　in　the
sanctuary　service　and　kindling　anew　their　zeal　for　Jehovah。　David　endeavored
by　every　means　in　his　power　to　deepen　these　impressions。　The　service　of　song
was　made　a　regular　part　of　religious　worship；　and　David　composed　psalms；　not
only　for　the　use　of　the　priests　in　the　sanctuary　service；　but　also　to　be
sung　by　the　people　in　their　journeys　to　the　national　altar　at　the　annual
feasts。　The　influence　thus　exerted　was　far…reaching；　and　it　resulted　in
freeing　the　nation　from　idolatry。　Many　of　the　surrounding　peoples；　beholding
the　prosperity　of　Israel；　were　led　to　think　favorably　of　Israel's　God；　who
had　done　such　great　things　for　His　people。

The　tabernacle　built　by　Moses；　with　all　that　appertained　to　the　sanctuary
service；　except　the　ark；　was　still　at　Gibeah。　It　was　David's　purpose　to　make
Jerusalem　the　religious　center　of　the　nation。　He　had　erected　a　palace　for
himself；　and　he　felt　that　it　was　not　fitting　for　the　ark　of　God　to　rest
within　a　tent。　He　determined　to　build　for　it　a　temple　of　such　magnificence
as　should　express　Israel's　appreciation　of　the　honor　granted　the　nation　in
the　abiding　presence　of　Jehovah　their　King。　Communicating　his　purpose　to　the
prophet　Nathan；　he　received　the　encouraging　response；　〃Do　all　that　is　in
thine　heart；　for　the　Lord　is　with　thee。〃

But　that　same　night　the　word　of　the　Lord　came　to　Nathan；　giving　him　a
message　for　the　king。　David　was　to　be　deprived　of　the　privilege　of　building
a　house　for　God；　but　he　was　granted　an　assurance　of　the　divine　favor　to　him；
to　his　posterity；　and　to　the　kingdom　of　Israel：　〃Thus　saith　Jehovah　of
hosts；　I　took　thee

712

from　the　sheepcote；　from　following　the　sheep；　to　be　ruler　over　My　people；
over　Israel；　and　I　was　with　thee　whithersoever　thou　wentest；　and　have　cut
off　all　thine　enemies　out　of　thy　sight；　and　have　made　thee　a　great　name；
like　unto　the　name　of　the　great　men　that　are　in　the　earth。　Moreover　I　will
appoint　a　place　for　My　people　Israel；　and　will　plant　them；　that　they　may
dwell　in　a　place　of　their　own；　and　move　no　more；　neither　shall　the　children
of　wickedness　afflict　them　any　more；　as　beforetime。〃

As　David　had　desired　to　build　a　house　for　God；　the　promise　was　given。　〃The
Lord　telleth　thee　that　He　will　make　thee　a　house。　。　。　。　I　will　set　up　thy
seed　after　thee。　。　。　。　He　shall　build　a　house　for　My　name；　and　I　will
stablish　the　throne　of　his　kingdom　forever。〃

The　reason　why　David　was　not　to　build　the　temple　was　declared：　〃Thou　hast
shed　blood　abundantly；　and　hast　made　great　wars：　thou　shalt　not　build　a
house　unto　My　name。　。　。　。　Behold；　a　son　shall　be　born　to　thee；　who　shall　be
a　man　of　rest；　and　I　will　give　him　rest　from　all　his　enemies：　。　。　。　his　name
shall　be　Solomon　＇peaceable＇；　and　I　will　give　peace　and　quietness　unto
Israel　in　his　days。　He　shall　build　a　house　for　My　name。〃　1　Chronicles
22：8…10。

Though　the　cherished　purpose　of　his　heart　had　been　denied；　David　received
the　message　with　gratitude。　〃Who　am　I；　O　Lord　God？〃　he　exclaimed；　〃and　what
is　my　house；　that　Thou　hast　brought　me　hitherto？　And　this　was　yet　a　small
thing　in　Thy　sight；　O　Lord　God；　but　Thou　hast　spoken　also　of　Thy　servant's
house　for　a　great　while　to　come；〃　and　he　then　renewed　his　covenant　with　God。

David　knew　that　it　would　be　an　honor　to　his　name　and　would　bring　glory　to
his　government　to　perform　the　work　that　he　had　purposed　in　his　heart　to　do；
but　he　was　ready　to　submit　his　will　to　the　will　of　God。　The　grateful
resignation　thus　manifested　is　rarely　seen；　even　among　Christians。　How　often
do　those　who　have　passed　the　strength　of　manhood　cling　to　the　hope　of
accomplishing　some　great　work　upon　which　their　hearts　are　set；　but　which
they　are　unfitted　to　perform！　God's　providence　may　speak　to　them；　as　did　His
prophet　to　David；　declaring　that　the　work　which　they　so　much　desire　is　not
committed　to　them。　It　is　theirs　to　prepare　the　way　for　another　to　accomplish
it。　But　instead　of　gratefully　submitting　to　the　divine　direction；　many　fall
back　as

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　713

if　slighted　and　rejected；　feeling　that　if　they　cannot　do　the　one　thing　which
they　desire　to　do；　they　will　do　nothing。　Many　cling　with　desperate　energy　to
responsibilities　which　they　are　incapable　of　bearing；　and　vainly　endeavor　to
accomplish　a　work　for　which　they　are　insufficient；　while　that　which　they
might　do；　lies　neglected。　And　because　of　this　lack　of　co…operation　on　their
part　the　greater　work　is　hindered　or　frustrated。

David；　in　his　covenant　with　Jonathan；　had　promised　that　when　he　should　have
rest　from　his　enemies　he　would　show　kindness　to　the　house　of　Saul。　In　his
prosperity；　mindful　of　this　covenant；　the　king　made　inquiry；　〃Is　there　yet
any　that　is　left　of　the　house　of　Saul；　that　I　may　show　him　kindness　for
Jonathan's　sake？〃　He　was　told　of　a　son　of　Jonathan；　Mephibosheth；　who　had
been　lame　from　childhood。　At　the　time　of　Saul's　defeat　by　the　Philistines　at
Jezreel；　the　nurse　of　this　child；　attempting　to　flee　with　him；　had　let　him
fall；　thus　making　him　a　lifelong　cripple。　David　now　summoned　the　young　man
to　court　and　received　him　with　great　kindness。　The　private　possessions　of
Saul　were　restored　to　him　for　the　support　of　his　household；　but　the　son　of
Jonathan　was　himself　to　be　the　constant　guest　of　the　king；　sitting　daily　at
the　royal　table。　Through　reports　from　the　enemies　of　David；　Mephibosheth　had
been　led　to　cherish　a　strong　prejudice　against　him　as　a　usurper；　but　the
monarch's　generous　and　courteous　reception　of　him　and　his　continued　kindness
won　the　heart　of　the　young　man；　he　became　strongly　attached　to　David；　and；
like　his　father　Jonathan；　he　felt　that　his　interest　was　one　with　that　of　the
king　whom　God　had　chosen。

After　David's　establishment　upon　the　throne　of　Israel　the　nation　enjoyed　a
long　interval　of　peace。　The　surrounding　peoples；　seeing　the　strength　and
unity　of　the　kingdom；　soon　thought　it　prudent　to　desist　from　open
hostilities；　and　David；　occupied　with　the　organization　and　upbuilding　of　his
kingdom；　refrained　from　aggressive　war。　At　last；　however；　he　made　war　upon
Israel's　old　enemies；　the　Philistines；　and　upon　the　Moabites；　and　succeeded
in　overcoming　both　and　making　them　tributary。

Then　there　was　formed　against　the　kingdom　of　David　a　vast　coalition　of　the
surrounding　nations；　out　of　which　grew　the　greatest　wars　and　victories　of
his　reign　and　the　most　extensive　accessions　to　his　power。　This　hostile
alliance；　which　really　sprang　from　jealousy　of　David's　increasing　power；　had
been　wholly

714

unprovoked　by　him。　The　circumstances　that　led　to　its　rise　were　these：

Tidings　were　received　at　Jerusalem　announcing　the　death　of　Nahash；　king　of
the　Ammonitesa　monarch　who　had　shown　kindness　to　David　when　he　was　a
fugitive　from　the　rage　of　Saul。　Now；　desiring　to　express　his　grateful
app