Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/289

 Then addressing  the  assembled  princes  David  said: “The work is  great;  for  a house  is  prepared  not  for  man,  but  for  God. Now, if  any  man  is  willing  to  offer,  let  him  fill  his  hand  to-day, and offer  what  he  pleaseth  to  the  Lord.”  And  the  princes  and the people  joyfully  brought  their  gifts  for  the  Temple  of the  Lord.

And David  rejoicing  exclaimed: “Blessed  art  Thou,  O Lord, the God  of  Israel,  our  Father  from  eternity  to  eternity. All things are Thine,  and  we  have  given  Thee  what  we  received  of  Thy hand. O Lord, keep  for  ever  this  will  of  their  heart  and  let  this mind remain  always  for  the  worship  of  Thee; and  give  to  Solomon, my son,  a perfect  heart,  that  he  may  keep  Thy  Commandments.” Having thus  spoken,  David  slept  in  peace. He was  buried  in Sion  (Fig.  45).

God's Omniscience.  David  said  to  Solomon:  “Serve  God  with  a perfect  heart;  for  the  Lord  searcheth  all  hearts  and  thoughts  of  the  soul.”

God's Holiness.  God  indeed  forgave  David  his  sin,  but  all  the same He  told  him  that  he  should  not  build  Him  a Temple,  because  he was  a man  of  blood.

God's Justice.  “If  thou  forsake  God,”  said  David  to  Solomon, “He will  cast  thee  off  for  ever.”

The end  of  Davids  life.  The  last  days  of  the  royal  prophet’s  life were beautiful  and  edifying. His only  care  was  that  a fitting  Temple should be  raised  to  the  Lord,  and  he  urged  his  son  most  earnestly  to be  faithful  and  obedient  to  God. And then  he  slept  “in  the  Lord”, i. e.  in  the  grace  of  the  Lord. He was  able  to  gaze  back  on  his  active and eventful  life,  and  leave  it  with  the  thought  that  he  had  finished his task. The task  which  God  had  given  the  former  shepherd  to  do was  very  great  and  important  for  the  development  of  God’s  kingdom upon earth. David had  secured  to  the  chosen  people  their  possession of the  Promised  Land,  he  had  disabled  his  enemies  for  a long  time to come,  he  had  strengthened  the  unity  of  the  people,  ordered  the government of  the  country  according  to  God’s  laws,  extirpated  the