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From Eternity Past
in the erection of the temple and the government of God’s people.
David said, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor
be dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; He
will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
Again David appealed to the congregation: “Solomon my son,
whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work
is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the Lord God.” He said,
“I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God,” and he
went on to enumerate the materials he had gathered. “Who then,” he
asked of the assembled multitude that had brought their liberal gifts,
“who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord?”
There was a ready response from the assembly. “Then the people
rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they
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offered willingly to the Lord: and David the king also rejoiced with
great joy.”
“Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation:
and David said, Blessed be Thou, Lord God of Israel our father, forever
and ever... . Now therefore, our God, we thank Thee, and praise Thy
glorious name. But who am I, and what is my people, that we should
be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of Thee,
and of Thine own have we given Thee... . Give unto Solomon my
son a perfect heart, to keep Thy 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 Example Is No Excuse for Sin Today
With deepest interest the king had gathered the rich material for
building and beautifying the temple. He had composed the glorious
anthems that in afteryears should echo through its courts. Now his
heart was made glad in God. The chief of the fathers and the princes
of Israel swelled the offerings, giving of their own possessions into
the treasury. It was God alone who had imparted this disposition to
His people. He, not man, must be glorified. His Spirit had made them
willing. If His love had not moved upon the hearts of the people, the
temple would never have been erected.
When he felt that death was approaching, the burden of David’s
heart was still for Solomon and for Israel, whose prosperity must so