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！
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 spake by me： 。 。 。
One that ruleth over men righteously；
That ruleth in the fear of God；
He shall be as the light of the morning； when the sun riseth；
A morning without clouds；
When the tender grass springeth out of the earth；
Through clear shining after rain。
Verily my house is not so with God；
Yet He hath made me an everlasting covenant；
Ordered in all things； and sure：
For it is all my salvation； and all my desire。〃
2 Samuel 23：1…5； R。V。
Great had been David's fall； but deep was his repentance； ardent was his
love； and strong his faith。 He had been forgiven much； and therefore he
loved much。 Luke 7：48。
The psalms of David pass through the whole range of experience； from the
depths of conscious guilt and self…condemnation to the loftiest faith and
the most exalted communing with God。 His life record declares that sin can
bring only shame and woe； but that God's love and mercy can reach to the
deepest depths； that faith will lift up the repenting soul to share the
adoption of the sons of God。 Of all the assurances which His word contains；
it is one of the strongest testimonies to the faithfulness； the justice； and
the covenant mercy of God。
Man 〃fleeth also as a shadow； and continueth not；〃 〃but the word of our God
shall stand forever。〃 〃The mercy of Jehovah is from everlasting to
everlasting upon them that fear Him； and His righteousness unto children's
children； to such as keep His covenant； and to those that remember His
commandments to do them。〃 Job 14：2； Isaiah 40：8； Psalm 103：17； 18。
〃Whatsoever God doeth； it shall be forever。〃 Ecclesiastes 3：14。
Glorious are the promises made to David and his house； promises that look
forward to the eternal ages； and find their complete fulfillment in Christ。
The Lord declared：
755
〃I have sworn unto David My servant 。 。 。 with whom My hand shall be
established： Mine arm also shall strengthen him。 。 。 。 My faithfulness and
My mercy shall be with him： and in My name shall his horn be exalted。 I will
set his hand also in the sea； and his right hand in the rivers。 He shall cry
unto Me； Thou art my Father； my God； and the Rock of my salvation。 Also I
will make him My first…born； higher than the kings of the earth。 My mercy
will I keep for him forevermore； and My covenant shall stand fast with him。〃
Psalm 89：3…28。
〃His seed also will I make to endure forever；
And his throne as the days of heaven。〃 Psalm 89：29。
〃He shall judge the poor of the people；
He shall save the children of the needy；
And shall break in pieces the oppressor。
They shall fear thee while the sun endureth；
And so long as the moon； throughout all generations。 。 。 。
In his days shall the righteous flourish；
And abundance of peace； till the moon be no more。
He shall have dominion also from sea to sea；
And from the river unto the ends of the earth。〃
〃His name shall endure forever：
His name shall be continued as long as the sun：
And men shall be blessed in him：
All nations shall call him blessed。〃
Psalm 72：4…8； R。V。； 17。
〃For unto us a Child is born； unto us a Son is given： and the government
shall be upon His shoulder： and His name shall be called Wonderful；
Counselor； The mighty God； The everlasting Father； The Prince of Peace。〃 〃He
shall be great； and shall be called the Son of the Highest； and the Lord God
shall give unto Him the throne of His father David： and He shall reign over
the house of Jacob forever； and of His kingdom there shall be no end。〃
Isaiah 9：6； Luke 1：32； 33。
（757）
APPENDIX
NOTE I。 PAGE 258。 IN THE COMMAND FOR ISRAEL'S RELEASE； THE LORD SAID TO
PHARAOH； 〃ISRAEL IS MY SON； EVEN MY FIRST…BORN。。。。 LET MY SON GO； THAT HE
MAY SERVE ME。〃 EXODUS 4：22； 23。 THE PSALMIST TELL US WHY GOD DELIVERED
ISRAEL FROM EGYPT： 〃HE BROUGHT FORTH HIS PEOPLE WITH JOY； AND HIS CHOSEN
WITH GLADNESS： AND GAVE THEM THE LANDS OF THE HEATHEN： AND THEY INHERITED
THE LABOR OF THE PEOPLE； THAT THEY MIGHT OBSERVE HIS STATUTES； AND KEEP HIS
LAWS。〃 PSALM 105：43…45。 HERE WE LEARN THAT THE HEBREWS COULD NOT SERVE GOD
IN EGYPT。
IN DEUTERONOMY 5：14； 15 WE FIND SPECIAL EMPHASIS GIVEN TO THAT PORTION OF
THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT WHICH REQUIRES THE MANSERVANT AND THE MAIDSERVANT TO
REST； AND THE ISRAELITE WAS TOLD TO REMEMBER THAT HE HAD BEEN A SERVANT IN
THE LAND OF EGYPT。 THE LORD SAID； 〃THE SEVENTH DAY IS THE SABBATH OF THE
LORD THY GOD： IN IT THOU SHALT NOT DO ANY WORK； THOU； NOR THY SON； NOR THY
DAUGHTER； NOR THY MANSERVANT； NOR THY MAIDSERVANT； NOR THINE OX； NOR THINE
ASS； NOR ANY OF THY CATTLE； NOR THY STRANGER THAT IS WITHIN THY GATES