The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-09-02
SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
SEPTEMBER 6.
Lesson Text: "David's Love for Gods
House," I Chron. xxti., g, 49,
Golden Text: Psalm lxxxiv,
A. Commentary.


6. "Then he called for Solomon, his son.
and charged him to build house for the
Lord God of Israel" It Is written ot>David
that the Lord preserved him whithersoever
he went, and that he relgped over all Israel,
executing judgment and justice among all
his people Q Chron. xviii, 13, 14). His
later years were given to making prepara-
tion for the temple which he desired to build
for the Lord and which was built by Sole
mon on Mount Moriah, where Abraham Of
fered up Isaac, and which David afterward
bought from Arannah or Ornan the Je5usite.
T. Sand David said to Solomon. my son, az
for me, 1t was in my mind to build house
unto the name of the Lord. my God" In
chapter xviii, 2, he calls it, "An house Of
rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord. 3"
The ark was the symbol of the presence of
God, for He told Moses that He would meet
with him and commune with him from
above the mercy seat, from between the
cherubim, and that there He would dwell
among them q Ex. XIV, 8, 22). Nathan the
prophet thought so we'll Of David's plan that
he said, "Do all that Is in thine heart, for
God Is with thee" (chapter xviii, q.
8. "Thou shalt not build an house unto
My name, because thou has shed much blood
upon the earth in My sight" This was the
Lords message to David through Nathan.
Compare chapter xviii, 8. There was a
ceremonial uncleanness connected with the
shedding Of bloo1 (Num. XXI, 19. 20), but
from the words of Solomon to Hiram In I
Kings v, 8. 1t would also seem that the
hindrance to David's building the temple
was the wars that were about him on every
side, and the temple must wait for time OF
rest. The tabernacle of Moses aud its lessons
are very applicable to the times in which we
live. while the temple Of Solomon rather
points to tie next age, the time OF earth's
rest, when the true Solomon shall reign.
9. "His name shall be Solomon (peacesble),
and will give peace and quietness unto
Israel in his days Thus said the Lord of
him who should build the temple. calling
him man Of rest, and saying that he should
name Of Solomon. Jedediah (beoved Of the
Lord) III Sam. Kill, Is, and margin) Is also
very suggestive OF Him who Is the true be-
loved and also the Prince Of Peace. "He
shall build the temple Of the Lord, and he
shall bear the glory and shall sit and rule
upon his throne, and he shall BIZ priest up
on his throne" Behold the man whose name
Is The Branch Czech. vi, IL, 13). Compare
Jer. yXiti., 5, 6.
TO- He shall build an house for My name,
and will establish the throne of
his kingdom over Israel forever" While
Solomon Is surely referred to in these words
and in this lesson, and also the temple which
be builded, we may we'll say in the words Of
our LORD, "a greater than Solomon is here"
(Luke xi., SD. A throne established forever
could not be for any mortal man, but David,
being a prophet. knew that God had sworn
with an oath to him that of the fruit of his
loins, according to the flesh, He would raise
up Christ to sit on His throne (Acts H., 30).
fho nd bea u,ifh hoo
and prosper thou and build the house OF the
Lord thy God, as he hath said Of thee" We
come back from the prophetic and Messianic
outlook to the temple then about to BIZ
builded at Jerusalem. The whole story OF
the temple and kingdom OF Israel had Doth
q near and far of fulhlment, the near be-
Ing partial but the far off being complete
and abiding. To the latter we are now in
this year 1896 drawing nigh, but how nigh
God alone knoweth. ''The Lord be with
thee" (see also verse 16) Is what we all need
as We live to complete the present building,
the church, or body, OF Christ, built Of stones
from all Nations (Acts xv., ID; Rev. ", 9, 10;
Eph. H.. 1929.
q. "Only the Lord give thee wisdom and
understanding, and give thee charge con-
cerning Israel" The plans OF everything
concerning the temple were given to David
by the Spirit Of the Lord (chapter xviii,
12-l9. All that Solomon needed was wis.,
dom to carry out the plan, and the same
Spirit who gave the pattern would give the
wisdom to complete the work, II only Solo,
mon would rely upon Him. God has plan
and purpose concerning the completion Of
the church, and the Spirit will carry out the
plan through US II only we are willing and
obedient. See Eph. H., 10; Heb. Kill, 20, 21;
lsa. xiv, "a; xiii, 13.
l3. "Then shalt thou prosper. Be
strong und OF good courage. Dread not. nor
be dismayed." The secret OF prosperity Is
found in taking heed to the word OF God,
meditating therein day and night that we
may observe to do all that Is written therein,
according to Josh. L., s. g. Thus the Lord
Himself vii! be our strength, and fearing
Him-that is. fearing to grieve Him-we
need have no other fear. The comfort of
Isa. Kill, 10. and Jer. xxx, II, will then be
ours See also Deut. XXI, 8.
Il. "Now behold, in my trouble have
prepared for the house Of the Lord an hun
dred thousand talents OF gold and thou
sand thousand talents Of silver" This be-
sides brass and iron without weight and
abundance OF timber and stone. ValuiDg q
talent Of gold at s25, 900 and q talent OF sill
yer Mt $500, which is very low valuation.
we have here gold and silver t. the value OF
$4,000, GOO 00o. Then from Davids private
purse we have S75, 100000 in gold and sl0,-
500. 600 in silver (chapter xxx, 81, while
the ruler gave 1926, ,000, 900 in gold and $15,-
100000 In silver. Thus we have total in
gold and silver alone of more than "a, 1885,
00O. 900 (rour billions two hundred and TWEEN.
ty-flve milions) for this temple Of the Lord.
Where Is the giving OF to-day?
Is. This verse speaks Of workmen in abun-
dance for every manner OF work, or, as In
chapter xviii, 81, willing, skillful men for
all the manner OF workmanship, for any
manuer of service, wholly at thy command.
ment. All seemed inspired with the great
fact that the palace was not for man, but for
the Lord God, therefore David prepared
with all his might and the people with per:
feet heart offered willingly to the Lord
(chapter xxx, ], g. 81.
16. "Arse and be doing, and the Lord be
with thee" 1t is written In Dan. XII, 50;
"The people that do know their God shall
be strong and do" Can 1t be that our great
difficulty is that we do moi know our God:
Are we ignorant Of His love. His purposes.
His power. and, while bearing His Damee:
yet not In sympathy with Him? He Is will
US. He has given us all things. He has all
power. Let US set our heart and soul tc
seek the Lord our God lverse l9), that We
may know Him and yield to Him for His