patriarchs and prophets-第157部分

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after　the　death　of　David　they　suffered　the　penalty　of

750

their　crime。　The　execution　of　the　sentence　upon　the　son　of　David　completed
the　fourfold　judgment　that　testified　to　God's　abhorrence　of　the　father's
sin。

From　the　very　opening　of　David's　reign　one　of　his　most　cherished　plans　had
been　that　of　erecting　a　temple　to　the　Lord。　Though　he　had　not　been　permitted
to　execute　this　design；　he　had　manifested　no　less　zeal　and　earnestness　in
its　behalf。　He　had　provided　an　abundance　of　the　most　costly　materialgold；
silver；　onyx　stones；　and　stones　of　divers　colors；　marble；　and　the　most
precious　woods。　And　now　these　valuable　treasures　that　he　had　collected　must
be　committed　to　others；　for　other　hands　must　build　the　house　for　the　ark；
the　symbol　of　God's　presence。

Seeing　that　his　end　was　near；　the　king　summoned　the　princes　of　Israel；　with
representative　men　from　all　parts　of　the　kingdom；　to　receive　this　legacy　in
trust。　He　desired　to　commit　to　them　his　dying　charge　and　secure　their
concurrence　and　support　in　the　great　work　to　be　accomplished。　Because　of　his
physical　weakness；　it　had　not　been　expected　that　he　would　attend　to　this
transfer　in　person；　but　the　inspiration　of　God　came　upon　him；　and　with　more
than　his　wonted　fervor　and　power；　he　was　able；　for　the　last　time；　to　address
his　people。　He　told　them　of　his　own　desire　to　build　the　temple；　and　of　the
Lord's　command　that　the　work　should　be　committed　to　Solomon　his　son。　The
divine　assurance　was；　〃Solomon　thy　son；　he　shall　build　My　house　and　My
courts；　for　I　have　chosen　him　to　be　My　son；　and　I　will　be　his　Father。
Moreover　I　will　establish　his　kingdom　forever；　if　he　be　constant　to　do　My
commandments　and　My　judgments；　as　at　this　day。〃　〃Now　therefore；〃　David　said；
〃in　the　sight　of　all　Israel　the　congregation　of　the　Lord；　and　in　the
audience　of　our　God；　keep　and　seek　for　all　the　commandments　of　the　Lord　your
God：　that　ye　may　possess　this　good　land；　and　leave　it　for　an　inheritance　for
your　children　after　you　forever。〃

David　had　learned　by　his　own　experience　how　hard　is　the　path　of　him　who
departs　from　God。　He　had　felt　the　condemnation　of　the　broken　law；　and　had
reaped　the　fruits　of　transgression；　and　his　whole　soul　was　moved　with
solicitude　that　the　leaders　of　Israel　should　be　true　to　God；　and　that
Solomon　should　obey　God's　law；　shunning　the　sins　that　had　weakened　his
father's　authority；　embittered　his　life；　and　dishonored　God。　David　knew

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that　it　would　require　humility　of　heart；　a　constant　trust　in　God；　and
unceasing　watchfulness　to　withstand　the　temptations　that　would　surely　beset
Solomon　in　his　exalted　station；　for　such　prominent　characters　are　a　special
mark　for　the　shafts　of　Satan。　Turning　to　his　son；　already　acknowledged　as
his　successor　on　the　throne；　David　said：　〃And　thou；　Solomon　my　son；　know
thou　the　God　of　thy　father；　and　serve　Him　with　a　perfect　heart　and　with　a
willing　mind：　for　the　Lord　searcheth　all　hearts；　and　understandeth　all　the
imaginations　of　the　thoughts：　if　thou　seek　Him；　He　will　be　found　of　thee；
but　if　thou　forsake　Him；　He　will　cast　thee　off　forever。　Take　heed　now；　for
the　Lord　hath　chosen　thee　to　build　a　house　for　the　sanctuary：　be　strong；　and
do　it。〃

David　gave　Solomon　minute　directions　for　building　the　temple；　with　patterns
of　every　part；　and　of　all　its　instruments　of　service；　as　had　been　revealed
to　him　by　divine　inspiration。　Solomon　was　still　young；　and　shrank　from　the
weighty　responsibilities　that　would　devolve　upon　him　in　the　erection　of　the
temple　and　in　the　government　of　God's　people。　David　said　to　his　son；　〃Be
strong　and　of　good　courage；　and　do　it：　fear　not；　nor　be　dismayed；　for　the
Lord　God；　even　my　God；　will　be　with　thee；　He　will　not　fail　thee；　nor　forsake
thee。〃

Again　David　appealed　to　the　congregation：　〃Solomon　my　son；　whom　alone　God
hath　chosen；　is　yet　young　and　tender；　and　the　work　is　great：　for　the　palace
is　not　for　man；　but　for　the　Lord　God。〃　He　said；　〃I　have　prepared　will　all　my
might　for　the　house　of　my　God；〃　and　he　went　on　to　enumerate　the　materials　he
had　gathered。　More　than　this；　he　said；　〃I　have　set　my　affection　to　the　house
of　my　God；　I　have　of　mine　own　proper　good；　of　gold　and　silver；　which　I　have
given　to　the　house　of　my　God；　over　and　above　all　that　I　have　prepared　for
the　holy　house；　even　three　thousand　talents　of　gold；　of　the　gold　of　Ophir；
and　seven　thousand　talents　of　refined　silver；　to　overlay　the　walls　of　the
houses　withal。〃　〃Who　then；〃　he　asked　of　the　assembled　multitude　that　had
brought　their　liberal　gifts〃who　then　is　willing　to　consecrate　his　service
this　day　unto　the　Lord？〃

There　was　a　ready　response　from　the　assembly。　〃The　chief　of　the　fathers　and
princes　of　the　tribes　of　Israel；　and　the　captains　of　thousands　and　of
hundreds；　with　the　rulers　of　the　king's　work；　offered　willingly；　and　gave；
for　the　service　of　the　house　of　God；　of

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gold　five　thousand　talents　and　ten　thousand　drams；　and　of　silver　ten
thousand　talents；　and　of　brass　eighteen　thousand　talents；　and　one　hundred
thousand　talents　of　iron。　And　they　with　whom　precious　stones　were　found　gave
them　to　the　treasure　of　the　house　of　the　Lord。　。　。　。　Then　the　people
rejoiced；　for　that　they　offered　willingly；　because　with　perfect　heart　they
offered　willingly　to　the　Lord：　and　David　the　king　also　rejoiced　with　great
joy。

〃Wherefore　David　blessed　the　Lord　before　all　the　congregation：　and　David
said；　Blessed　be　Thou；　Lord　God　of　Israel　our　father；　forever　and　ever。
Thine；　O　Lord；　is　the　greatness；　and　the　power；　and　the　glory；　and　the
victory；　and　the　majesty：　for　all　that　is　in　the　heaven　and　in　the　earth　is
Thine；　Thine　is　the　kingdom；　O　Lord；　and　Thou　art　exalted　as　head　above　all。
Both　riches　and　honor　come　of　Thee；　and　Thou　reignest　over　all；　and　in　Thine
hand　is　power　and　might；　and　in　Thine　hand　it　is　to　make　great；　and　to　give
strength　unto　all。　Now　therefore；　our　God；　we　thank　Thee；　and　praise　Thy
glorious　name。　But　who　am　I；　and　what　is　my　people；　that　we　should　be　able
to　offer　so　willingly　after　this　sort？　for　all　things　come　of　Thee；　and　of
Thine　own　have　we　given　Thee。　For　we　are　strangers　before　Thee；　and
sojourners；　as　were　all　our　fathers：　our　days　on　the　earth　are　as　a　shadow；
and　there　is　none　abiding。　O　Lord　our　God；　all　this　store　that　we　have
prepared　to　build　Thee　an　house　for　Thine　holy　name　cometh　of　Thine　hand；
and　is　all　Thine　own。　I　know　also；　my　God；　that　Thou　triest　the　heart；　and
hast　pleasure　in　uprightness。

〃As　for　me；　in　the　uprightness　of　mine　heart　I　have　willingly　offered　all
these　things：　and　now　have　I　seen　with　joy　Thy　people；　which　are　present
here；　to　offer　willingly　unto　Thee。　O　Lord　God　of　Abraham；　Isaac　and　of
Israel；　our　fathers；　keep　this　forever　in　the　imagination　of　the　thoughts　of
the　heart　of　Thy　people；　and　prepare　their　heart　unto　Thee：　and　give　unto
Solomon　my　son　a　perfect　heart；　to　keep　Thy　commandments；　Thy　testimonies；
and　Thy　statutes；　and　to　do　all　these　things；　and　to　build　the　palace；　for
the　which　I　have　made　provision。　And　David　said　to　all　the　congregation；　Now
bless　the　Lord　your　God。　And　all　the　congregation　blessed　the　Lord　God　of
their　fathers；　and　bowed　down　their　heads；　and　worshiped　the　Lord。〃

With　deepest　interest　the　king　had　gathered　the　rich　material

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for　building　and　beautifying　the　temple。　He　had　composed　the　glorious
anthems　that　in　afteryears　should　echo　through　its　courts。　Now　his　heart　was
made　glad　in　God；　as　the　chief　of　the　fathers　and　the　princes　of　Israel　so
nobly　responded　to　his　appeal；　and　offered　themselves　to　the　important　work
before　them。　And　as　they　gave　their　service；　they　were　disposed　to　do　more。
They　swelled　the　offerings；　giving　of　their　own　possessions　into　the
treasury。　David　had　felt　deeply　his　own　unworthiness　in　gathering　the
material　for　the　house　of　God；　and　the　expression　of　loyalty　in　the　ready
response　of　the　nobles　of　his　kingdom；　as　with　willing　hearts　they　dedicated
their　treasures　to　Jehovah　and　devoted　themselves　to　His　service；　filled　him
with　joy。　But　it　was　God　alone　who　had　imparted　this　disposition　to　His
people。　He；　not　man；　must　be　glorified。　It　was　He　who　had　provided　the
people　with　the　riches　of　earth；　and　His　Spirit　had　made　them　willing　to
bring　their　precious　things　for　the　temple。　It　was　all　of　the　Lord；　if　His
love　had　not　moved　upon　the　hearts　of　the　people；　the　king's　efforts　would
have　been　vain；　and　the　temple　would　never　have　been　erected。

All　that　man　receives　of　God's　bounty　still　belongs　to　God。　Whatever　God　has
bestowed　in　the　valuable　and　beautiful　things　of　earth　is　placed　in　the
hands　of　men　to　test　themto　sound　the　depths　of　their　love　for　Him　and
their　appreciation　of　His　favors。　Whether　it　be　the　treasures　of　wealth　or
of　intellect；　they　are　to　be　laid；　a　willing　offering；　at　the　feet　of　Jesus；
the　giver　saying；　meanwhile；　with　David；　〃All　things　come　of　Thee；　and　of
Thine　own　have　we　given　Thee。〃

When　he　felt　that　death　was　approaching；　the　burden　of　David's　heart　was
still　for　Solomon　and　for　the　kingdom　of　Israel；　whose　prosperity　must　so
largely　depend　upon　the　fidelity　of　her　king。　〃And　he　charged　Solomon　his
son；　saying；　I　go　the　way　of　all　the　earth：　be　thou　strong　therefore；　and
show　thyself　a　man；　and　keep　the　charge　of　the　Lord　thy　God；　to　walk　in　His
ways；　to　keep　His　statutes；　and　His　commandments；　and　His　judgments；　and　His
testimonies；　。　。　。　that　thou　mayest　prosper　in　all　that　thou　doest；　and
whithersoever　thou　turnest　thyself：　that　the　Lord　may　continue　His　word
which　He　spake　concerning　me；　saying；　If　thy　children　take　heed　to　their
way；　to　walk　before　Me　in　truth　with　all　their　heart　and　with　all　their
soul；　there　shall　not　fail　thee　（said　He）　a　man　on　the　throne　of　Israel。〃
1　Kings　2：1…4。

754


David's　〃last　words；〃　as　recorded；　are　a　songa　song　of　trust；　of　loftiest
principle；　and　undying　faith：

　　　　　　　　　　〃David　the　son　of　Jesse　saith；
　　　　　　　　　　　And　the　man　who　was　raised　on　high　saith；
　　　　　　　　　　　The　anointed　of　the　God　of　Jacob；
　　　　　　　　　　　And　the　sweet　psalmist　of　Israel：
　　　　　　　　　　　The　Spirit　of　Jehovah