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Spiritual Gifts, Volume 4a
willing mind; for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all
the imaginations of the thoughts. If thou seek him, he will be found of
thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off forever. Take heed
now, for the Lord hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary.
Be strong, and do it.”
After giving this charge to his son, in the audience of the people,
and in the presence of God, he offers grateful thanks to God for dis-
posing his own heart, and the hearts of the people, to give willingly
for the great work of building. He also entreats the Lord to incline
the heart of Solomon to his commandments. He says, “I know also,
my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness.
As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart, I have willingly offered
all these things. And now have I seen with joy thy people, which are
present here, to offer willingly unto thee. O Lord God of Abraham,
Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the imagination
of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto
thee. And give unto Solomon, my son, a perfect heart, to keep thy
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commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these
things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.”
David’s public labor was about to close. He knew that he should
soon die, and he does not leave his business matters in confusion,
to vex the soul of his son, but while he has sufficient physical and
mental strength, he arranges the affairs of his kingdom, even to the
minutest matters, not forgetting to warn Solomon in regard to the
case of Shimei. He knew that he would cause trouble in the kingdom.
He was a dangerous man of violent temper, and only kept in control
through fear. Whenever he dared, he would cause rebellion, or, if
he had a favorable opportunity, would not hesitate to take the life of
Solomon.
David, in arranging his business, sets a good example to all who
are advanced in years, to settle their matters while they are capable
of doing so, that when they shall be drawing near to death, and their
mental faculties are dimmed, they shall have nothing of a worldly
nature to divert their minds from God.
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