St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-10-12


played like a chime of sweet-toned
bells.
What more could the heart Of the
king desire, seeing that the Lord hath
established me in the kingdom and
given me this splendid house in which
to dwell. My heart does magnify the
Lord, and l do long to serve him and
to establish the people in their devo-
ton to the Lord. What more can l
do?" And David lay in silent medi-
tation striving to find some new way
in which he could show honor to God
and prove his devotion before all the
nation. Strangely enough his mind
kept reverting to the recent incidents
connected with bringing up the ark to
Jerusalem, and he soon was absorbed
in tracing the journey step by step,
until Jerusalem was reached and with
the sound of music and with dancing
the ark was restored to its place in the
tabernacle.
Suddenly, almost violently, the king
sat bolt upright as the thought flashed
across his mind that the ark of the
Lord rested within a tabernacle made
of curtains, and he, the king, dwelt
within a house made of cedar. With
almost a reproach in his eyes he
looked about him. as he exclaimed:
Can it be that | am content to dwell
within these splendid walls while the
ark of the Lord rests still within the
curtained walls of the tabernacle. as
it did when our fathers took their jour
neys through the wilderness? Shame
on David he repeated over and over
again as he paced back and forth
through his apartments under the ex-
element which stirred within him at
the thought of the contrast. But"
he exclaimed, with great vehemence,
as he stopped abruptly before the
beautiful archway overlooking the gar.
den plot of the courtway, IF Davids
house was built FIRST it shall be only
that he might build the house for the
Lord even more magnificently. This
is the thing which 1 will do" and catch
ing up his outer garment he hastily
turned and left the apartment and was
soon on his way back to the taber
nacle.
With the intensity of the emotions
which stirred within him he paced
back and forth in the areaway sur
rounding the outer court of the taber-
| nacle. He viewed it from every angle
and stepped off all the surface Of the
great rock on which the tabernacle
had been pitched
How splendid is this location. How
glorious will be this city when David
hath built the Lord temple in which
to dwell in the midst of his people!"
And m his minds eye he tried to pic
ture just how it would appear.
Yes" he exclaimed, as he again
measured of the size of the taber-
nacle and then the surface of the rock,
yes, the temple shall be double the
dimensions of the tabernacle con-
structed under the direction of Moses. -
And after making various mental
| calculations and studying over the
| new plans which were formulating in
his mind, he returned home and was
soon confiding all his plans to Nathan,
the prophet, whom, he had summoned
| to his presence. And with the hearty
commentator of the prophet ringing
in his ears and new song of gladness
| sounding in his heart he betook him
self to his couch and was soon lost in
| slumber, from which the next morning
he was awakened by one OF the serv-
ants entering and announcing that the
Prophet Nathan desired to see him.
SHOW him in at once" cried David,
eagerly, and as the prophet entered, he
exclaimed: What, but some splendid
thought concerning the building of
| the Lords temple could bring thee
| hither so early?"
The king paused. Surely the prophet
did not share his elation of spirits. He
looked at him in wonder as he noted
the detected look and the ,hesitating
manner.
Speak" he said, briefly, tfor I per.
| ceive that thou hast a message from
the Lord
YEA" spake the prophet, verify
the Lord hath said that thou shalt not
build him a temple" And went on to
tell him all that the Lord had spoken.
With bowed head David listened and
when Nathan had ceased he kept
silent, ard the prophet withdrew
Then King David went to the taber.
nacle and sat before the Lord and
there was given that vision which
caused him to exclaim in rapture: 20
Lord God, thou hast spoken of thy
servant for great while to come and
hast regarded me in the arrangement
about the man that is to be from
| above, o, Lord God Jehovah"