The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-02-11

throne of David The court of Solomon
was far more brilliant than the court
of David had been. Under him the king
dom reached the limit of its extent and
rose to the zenith of wealth and magnifi-
cence. Yet Solomon never thought of
the throne on which he sat as other than
the throne of David. In the touching
prayer for wisdom with which he began
his reign, the foundation of his prayer
is that he was king in his fathers
stead, that it was to David God had
Showed this great kindness, that He had
given him a son to sit upon his throne.
Four centuries later the word of the
Lord that came to Jehorakim, son of
Josiah, by the mouth of jeremiah ap-
peals to him as sitting on the throne of
David. And so the memories and the
hopes of the nation continued to be CEN
tered in the throne of David until Dav-
ids greater son appeared in the person
of the Virgin-born, whose Kingdom shall
have no end.
Now. if Solomon and his surprising
greatness could not efface in the heart
oe the people their attachment to the
throne of David, why need any suppose
that the reign of Queen Victoria in mems
heart and affections, and in its influence
on the world is ended. Already it is
anticipated that the Court of st. James
, will, under Edward VII, assume bril-,
lance such as it has not known since
the shadow of that great sorrow fell
across the reign of Victoria when in De-
cember, 1861, her consort, Prince Albert
the Good, was taken from her in the
prime of life. But as Solomon in all his
splendor and magnificence never thought
Iof his throne as other than the throne
! of David, and, Notwithstanding his
riches and wisdom, the reign of Solo
mon made no such impressions on the
heart of the nation as the reign of Dav-
fxNx hax- L. IL
J in all the vicissitudes of the national
life, may it not be confidently hoped and
believed that the memories of Queen Vic
toria will survive, when those who
} came after her are but lightly remem-
! bered? In expressing such hope and be-
(, lief We are on sure and solid ground.
How came it to pass that the reign of
David made such lasting impression On
the heart of Gods people? Because tne
sense OF Gods presence was ever with
! him, and ne ruled in the fear of God, It
matters not whether you think of him as
the shepherd boy fearlessly graphing
with lion and bear in defence of his
flock, or calmly stepping towards the
giant of Gath, before whom the whole
army of Israel quailed, with nothing in
his hand but sling and stone; or en-
/ during SauPs bitter and relentless perse-
, cution year. after year; or as the sweet
isinger OF Israel, composing psalms in
which the Christian church unites with
the elder church in the voice of prayer
and praise, or as a sovereign feeding
3 Gods people with faithful and true
heart. and ruling them prudently with
all his power; the ruling motive of his
i life was not personal ambition, nor self
/ ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, but to do the will of
God, submitting himself wholly to His
hands, and never failing in absolute de-
lpendence upon God and in perfect trust
lin Gods mercy. power, and love- And
when you call to mind the touching
/ words in which at the end of his life he
[summed up his reign, you can under
stand why its memory floated down the
lagos: The Spirit of the Lord esi IKE by
me and His word was In my tongue.
The God of Israel said, the Rock of Is
j rael spake to me, He that ru1eth over
men must be just, ruling IN the fear OF
God. And he shall be as the light of the
morning. when the sun riseth. even q
morning without clouds; as the tender