The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-11-26

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David's Charge to Solomon
David's substantial gain in good
ness is not more convincingly evil
denced than in the patience with
which he bore the defeat of his great
building scheme. The erection of a
house for God was the commanding
ambition of his soul. He desired it
more than victory or territory or tri-
butte. 1t was his polar star. Other
things faded in comparison.
He had the true theocratic idea.
God was Israel's real King. As such
palace should be erected for him,
which, in its aptitude, magnificence,
and costliness, should be as worthy
as possible of its Divine Occupant.
He could i'll brook the situation long
er. He himself was dwelling in a
cedar palace, while Gods ark was
still lin a tent. He would rise aud
build house 80 exceeding magnif-
icent that its fame and glory should
spread to all countries" and the
kings of earth would vie with each
other in bringing presents to it, And
all should be only for the glory Of
God.
Yet when this noble ambition was
defeated, when this royal proposition
was declined, David did not NOPE.
He did not assume an injured air
His dignity was not insulted. 1t was
a crushing, overwhelming disappOint
ment; but David played the man.
This ardent, aggressive spirit, accus-
toned to bring things to pass in spite
of almost insuperable difficulties,
calmly, patiently submitted. He
cried, 1.-The will of the Lord be done.n
He lost no interest in the undertake
ing because another's name was
going to be associated with it, and
another was to have the honor of its
contamination. He kept on plan
ming, deYising, scheming. He amass
ed an almost incredible store of gold
and silver They left off weighing
the brass and iron. Acres of stone
were quarried and hammered. For
ests of cedar were felled. The prep
aration was abundant
David's dying address to his son is
touching. He refers pathetically to
his ambition to build the temple him
self and to the reason why his service
is declined. His very victories are
his defeat. The sanguinary cam
paigns, undertaken for God and
Israel, unfit him for the erection of a
house which shall stand as the sym
Dol, and be the habitation of peace
Then follows the narration of the
cherished promise which had helped
relieve his disappointment. His son,
whose very name signified peace,
should not be diverted from this
undertaking by alarm of invasion or
sedition. A peaceful character would
be matched by a peaceful environ
ment. He shall be the child of a
special providential care.
Now follows David's stately charge
and commission to Solomon. 1t is a
warrant, interjected with prayer:
Build the house, The Lord be
with the" Prosper" THE Lord
give thee wisdom and understand
ing" Jubilant eXhortation follows:
"Be strong" "Of good courage"
Dread nor" Nor be dismayedr
David's conclusive argument is:
IF |, in troublous times, have been
able to gather the material, you, in
peaceful times, ought to be able to
build the house" The young prince
needed prayer, advice, encourage
ment, exhortation, He needed sight
of the vast store of metals, precious
and base, the heaps of fragrant lum-
Der, the piles ofchiseled marbles, and
the army of cunning artificers of