The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-07-16
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

A Study of fhe International Sunday
School Lesson Appointed for July
26. 1886.
Subject: Gods Promise to David that n
Grand Temple would yet be Built. Sa.,
7:1-17 (nclusiye).
Zone reading these notes should frs. carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures rs
indicated above.i
INTRODUCTION.
Article of Religion No. VI of the Episcopal
Church and Article No. Of the Methodist
Episeopal Church reads: "Holy Scripture
coutaineth all things necessary to salvation SO
that whatsoever is not read therein nor may
he proved thereby is not to be required OF any
man. that it should lie believed an article OF
faith, OF be thought requisite necessary to
salvation In the name of the Holy Scripture
we do understand those canon ical books of the
Old and New Testament, OF whose authority
was never any doubt in the Church" We see
how i'm portant Volume the Bible is, and
necessary that we study it critically.
DAvIDs PURPOSE TO BUILD A TEMPLE.
Data.
Sam, 7:1-3: l Chr. III 2.
References
These are based on the account in the Book
of Samuel.)
Verse /. King sat in his house. / Ch., II: l..
Lord had given him rest. JOSH. FL IA !;
23:1; XII, 81: 1; 2 Chr, ID: 6; Prov, 10: z (;
ST. Luke, IA. 10.
Verse 2. Nathan. 1o:1; XII, l:s, % "A !;
/ Chr, 90 80; . Ch.. 9:29.
Cedar. Sill: Chr. IA: 1 Jer., %: 1915.
Ark of God within curtains. Ex %: LID !;
40: 81; Sa., 6: II; 1 Chr, 10: 1; 16:1; Ch.
Ia.
On David's determination compare. Ps., 132:
A. 5; Acts, TAG.
Verse & In thine heart. Sam, 1877; ] XII.
S:17, 1S; Chr, 22:7; %: 2; Ps., 20: 4; 81 A.
The Lord is with thee. ! Sam, 10:7.
Time.
We date A. NJ. 1862, or B. c. 1912 This is
the date of "this day" in V. 6, or Chr, II: B.
David was then AZ years old. lie had been
King for about IL years. He occupied his own
cedar house about one year before this. The
Ark was made in the year A. NJ. 25l5, and had
been within curtains" for 5I7 years Verse
A Of Sam, z. shows the conversation between
Nathan and David was day time or early even
ing. Compare / Chron., l7:.3.
Place
The scene of the lesson was Jerusalem.
Hebron WAS the capital for seven and one half
years. Then Jerusalem was chosen. 1t be-
came the permanent capital David was King
there for 80 years, and he died there. The
Temple was ultimately built in that city.
the workmen of Hiram, King of Tyre. Sam,
5: IL.
Nathan.
He Is first men toned here. Very little Is
known about him. He a prophet-thc
prominent prophet in the reigns Of David and
Solomon. lie was another clifton, in n sense,
of Samuel. The Hebrew (Nawtharn) means
given tof Cod. We find that he. with Zadock
the priest anointed Solomon to be King in sue
ression to David. / XII, /: 30 80. Nathan was
the author of book. l Chr, 20: %; Chr,
9 20. The volume is lost.
Definitions.
J. When the King sat in his house Y. /.
When he had gotten through, for the time being,
his struggles 10 get his country into more
settled and secured condition; when he had
gotten through fighting his immediate
mics; when he could pause for awhile; when
he had fixed home.
2. House. V. l. Palace. 1t was built by
carpenters and masons sent from Tyre by
Hiram. SILL. 1t wis evidently beautiful
structure. David was ashamed to go from 1t
to the humble, cheap, old structure which con-
tanned the Ark aud represented the place of
Gods residence on earth.
g. Rest " /. lie had conquered the Pills
iues He had overcome the attempt TO estab-
lish Ishbosbeth as successor 10 Saul. 1t would
seem he was not fond of lighting Fps. 120:7),
and would gladly do SO more unless his Gov
eminent was mperiled or needed strengthen
ing. His rest was only temporary. He fought
afterwards against Moabites Syrians. etc.
A II 7 d. 70 .,,I
contained the two tables of stone on which the
decalog was inscribed, the pot of mama, the
rod that budded. Over its cover, at each end,
bowed cherub, with the faces toward each
other. 1t was placed within the Holy OF
HOLES, and was always cherished and Iever-
enced AS symbolizilg the immediate presence
and help of Deity. Ex., %: 10 %; 26 "a;
37:1-9; 40:3, 20, u.
5. Curtains w We find in Ex. 26 LA
an account of tho coverings of the Holy Place
aud the Holy of Holes in the ancient T.ber-
nacle. There were hangings of fine. twined
linen. There was vail between the two
places, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holes
Ex.. % 3l-33; 27:2l; Heb.. g 10. Elk, 26:
LA, 31-37, mentions and describes the
tains. See also Ex, SO: l4l9.
6. Sitting. Not busy with plans not con-
cerned as TO safety, conscious his Government
WAS secure, David naturally. a thoughtful
man, began to mediate on the state of things.
Two thoughts in particular engaged his atten-
ton. a. There was great discrepancy be-
tween the Palace and the Tabernacle. Hag.,
a b. Gnd had greatly blessed him. and he
was full of gratitude and DESTROYS of showing
in soms material way his sense of thankful
ness. We recall his explanatory question in
Ps, 116 IL, What shall | render unto the
Lord for all his benefits toward me?"
z. Nathan said, Go. V. g. Nathan erred.
He had, however, much to lead him to acguiesce
in the suggestion of David. 1t struck him at
once as most consistent proposition. No OBJ
lection occurred to him. The prophets were
not infallibIe. Nathan answered David
man. and not as prophet We shall see that
God interposed objection to the plan of David.
We remember David also lad the prophetic
spirit and it may be Nathnn thought David
spoke lay suggestion of the Holy Spirit. Pro-
copius Gnz;Dus suggests here that the prophets
saw things US do ordinary men, save when
special revelations were made to them. When
not under special influence of tho Divine