按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃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 wh