patriarchs and prophets-第185章
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came into the city of David； Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window；
and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord； and she despised him
in her heart。〃 In the bitterness of her passion she could not await David's
return to the palace； but went out to meet him； and to his kindly greeting
poured forth a torrent of bitter words。 Keen and cutting was the irony of
her speech：
〃How glorious was the king of Israel today； who uncovered himself today in
the eyes of the handmaids of his servants； as one of the vain fellows
shamelessly uncovereth himself！〃
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David felt that it was the service of God which Michal had despised and
dishonored； and he sternly answered： 〃It was before the Lord； which chose me
before thy father； and before all his house； to appoint me ruler over the
people of the Lord； over Israel： therefore will I play before the Lord。 And
I will yet be more vile than thus； and will be base in mine own sight： and
of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of； of them shall I be had in
honor。〃 To David's rebuke was added that of the Lord： because of her pride
and arrogance； Michal 〃had no child unto the day of her death。〃
The solemn ceremonies attending the removal of the ark had made a lasting
impression upon the people of Israel； arousing a deeper interest in the
sanctuary service and kindling anew their zeal for Jehovah。 David endeavored
by every means in his power to deepen these impressions。 The service of song
was made a regular part of religious worship； and David composed psalms； not
only for the use of the priests in the sanctuary service； but also to be
sung by the people in their journeys to the national altar at the annual
feasts。 The influence thus exerted was far…reaching； and it resulted in
freeing the nation from idolatry。 Many of the surrounding peoples； beholding
the prosperity of Israel； were led to think favorably of Israel's God； who
had done such great things for His people。
The tabernacle built by Moses； with all that appertained to the sanctuary
service； except the ark； was still at Gibeah。 It was David's purpose to make
Jerusalem the religious center of the nation。 He had erected a palace for
himself； and he felt that it was not fitting for the ark of God to rest
within a tent。 He determined to build for it a temple of such magnificence
as should express Israel's appreciation of the honor granted the nation in
the abiding presence of Jehovah their King。 Communicating his purpose to the
prophet Nathan； he received the encouraging response； 〃Do all that is in
thine heart； for the Lord is with thee。〃
But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan； giving him a
message for the king。 David was to be deprived of the privilege of building
a house for God； but he was granted an assurance of the divine favor to him；
to his posterity； and to the kingdom of Israel： 〃Thus saith Jehovah of
hosts； I took thee
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from the sheepcote； from following the sheep； to be ruler over My people；
over Israel； and I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest； and have cut
off all thine enemies out of thy sight； and have made thee a great name；
like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth。 Moreover I will
appoint a place for My people Israel； and will plant them； that they may
dwell in a place of their own； and move no more； neither shall the children
of wickedness afflict them any more； as beforetime。〃
As David had desired to build a house for God； the promise was given。 〃The
Lord telleth thee that He will make thee a house。 。 。 。 I will set up thy
seed after thee。 。 。 。 He shall build a house for My name； and I will
stablish the throne of his kingdom forever。〃
The reason why David was not to build the temple was declared： 〃Thou hast
shed blood abundantly； and hast made great wars： thou shalt not build a
house unto My name。 。 。 。 Behold； a son shall be born to thee； who shall be
a man of rest； and I will give him rest from all his enemies： 。 。 。 his name
shall be Solomon ＇peaceable＇； and I will give peace and quietness unto
Israel in his days。 He shall build a house for My name。〃 1 Chronicles
22：8…10。
Though the cherished purpose of his heart had been denied； David received
the message with gratitude。 〃Who am I； O Lord God？〃 he exclaimed； 〃and what
is my house； that Thou hast brought me hitherto？ And this was yet a small
thing in Thy sight； O Lord God； but Thou hast spoken also of Thy servant's
house for a great while to come；〃 and he then renewed his covenant with God。
David knew that it would be an honor to his name and would bring glory to
his government to perform the work that he had purposed in his heart to do；
but he was ready to submit his will to the will of God。 The grateful
resignation thus manifested is rarely seen； even among Christians。 How often
do those who have passed the strength of manhood cling to the hope of
accomplishing some great work upon which their hearts are set； but which
they are unfitted to perform！ God's providence may speak to them； as did His
prophet to David； declaring that the work which they so much desire is not
committed to them。 It is theirs to prepare the way for another to accomplish
it。 But instead of gratefully submitting to the divine direction； many fall
back as
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if slighted and rejected； feeling that if they cannot do the one thing which
they desire to do； they will do nothing。 Many cling with desperate energy to
responsibilities which they are incapable of bearing； and vainly endeavor to
accomplish a work for which they are insufficient； while that which they
might do； lies neglected。 And because of this lack of co…operation on their
part the greater work is hindered or frustrated。
David； in his covenant with Jonathan； had promised that when he should have
rest from his enemies he would show kindness to the house of Saul。 In his
prosperity； mindful of this covenant； the king made inquiry； 〃Is there yet
any that is left of the house of Saul； that I may show him kindness for
Jonathan's sake？〃 He was told of a son of Jonathan； Mephibosheth； who had
been lame from childhood。 At the time of Saul's defeat by the Philistines at
Jezreel； the nurse of this child； attempting to flee with him； had let him
fall； thus making him a lifelong cripple。 David now summoned the young man
to court and received him with great kindness。 The private possessions of
Saul were restored to him for the support of his household； but the son of
Jonathan was himself to be the constant guest of the king； sitting daily at
the royal table。 Through reports from the enemies of David； Mephibosheth had
been led to cherish a strong prejudice against him as a usurper； but the
monarch's generous and courteous reception of him and his continued kindness
won the heart of the young man； he became strongly attached to David； and；
like his father Jonathan； he felt that his interest was one with that of the
king whom God had chosen。
After David's establishment upon the throne of Israel the nation enjoyed a
long interval of peace。 The surrounding peoples； seeing the strength and
unity of the kingdom； soon thought it prudent to desist from open
hostilities； and David； occupied with the organization and upbuilding of his
kingdom； refrained from aggressive war。 At last； however； he made war upon
Israel's old enemies； the Philistines； and upon the Moabites； and succeeded
in overcoming both and making them tributary。
Then there was formed against the kingdom of David a vast coalition of the
surrounding nations； out of which grew the greatest wars and victories of
his reign and the most extensive accessions to his power。 This hostile
alliance； which really sprang from jealousy of David's increasing power； had
been wholly
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unprovoked by him。 The circumstances that led to its rise were these：
Tidings were received at Jerusalem announcing the death of Nahash； king of
the Ammonitesa monarch who had shown kindness to David when he was a
fugitive from the rage of Saul。 Now； desiring to express his grateful
ap
