Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-20

David's army consolidated the unit
ed nation composed of all the tribes
by it's sweeping victories in all direc'
tons. He quickly conquered the
peoples of Edom, Ammon, Moab, Phi
istia and Amalek." Although Ammon
put up a stubborn resistance and the
Aramaean kings gave David powerful
opposition. he was victorious and ruled
in peaae all Syria. Conditions IN
Egypt, due to domestic weakness ana
official corruption, freed him from any
possible peril from the armies VINO
in time past had Frequently overrun
Palestine and dictated treaties and
tribute from the conquered peoples.
Similar political conditions existed in
the formerly strong Asiatic empires.
Peace reigned within the nation due
to David's success as an executive in
exercising authority over his subjects
with their diversity in race, language
and religion" Due to the centralza'
ton Of authority in Jerusalem and the
concentration of wealth, resulting
from trade, treaty and tribute from
other nations. David became power
full and prosperous ruler. He exercised
despotic control over his subjects,
but never forgot the sourse OF power,
prosperity and peace was Jehovah. 1t
was this fact and his desire to unity
the diverse elements OF his Kingdom
by means of religious worship as well
as his love for the Lord, that prompt
ed the moving of the ark to Jerusa-
lem. When he had erected a house
of cedar for himself, he was moved TO
propose to Nathan, the prophet, the
building Of a temple for the glory or
Jehovah. Although the man of God
had commended the kings program
to honor the Lord. he was directed to
prohibit the building Of the temple
and give to David a promise that is
the subject Of our study this week.
Temple Building Permit Refused.
In his message to David. that re-
voked the approval given by Nathan
for the building Of a temple to be
erected for the glory Of God and divine
worship, the Lord did not condemn
his religious purpose. The King proved
by his pious plans that he had met
the acid test Of prosperity. He did
not forget in his prosperity that he
owed it all to Gods blessing. He looked
upon his possessions as being in
trusted to him, as steward, to be
used for the glory Of Jehovah. David g
proposal was most worthy one. God
approved Of his good intentions when
he told the King that thou didst well
that 1t was in thy heart to build an
house for My name" Years later
Jehovah condemned the people for
their neglect Of His temple, when they
lived in ceiled houses and allowed His
house to lie waste. We need more Of
the spirit Of David, for we ought not
to build magnificent homes for our
own use and let our church buildings
be cheap and dilapidated. 1t would
open a new era If Americans should
recognize their obligation to give
the Lord the best, il we refuse to al
low our church building programs to
interfere with our gifts for missions
and the furtherance of the kingdom.
DavidS career as a warrior that
called for the necessary shedding OF
blood, we learn in his farewell mes
sage, was given to him as a personal
reason for prohibiting his building the
temple. This may have been based
upon "the sacredness Of blood" as a
symbol Of which so much is made un.
der the old covenant. Some hold that
David had not completed his con.
quests when he planned to build GCA'a
house and that just as long as he had
to engage in battles his kingdom was
not completely established. This slug.
gests that the temple, as a symbol of
the kingdom Of God, was to represent
peace as we'll as permanence of His
realm. There was a deeper meaning
to the veto. the Lord had no need Of
a temple; the Most High 'dwelleth
not in temples made with hands" His
existence and power do not depend
upon the erection Of great cathedrals,
churches and temples, but our faith
demands that we give expression to
the vital tie that binds us to the