Last Years of David
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as head above all. Both riches and honor come of Thee, and Thou
reignest over all; and in Thine hand is power and might; and in Thine
hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. 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. For we are strangers before Thee, and sojourners, as were
all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none
abiding. O Lord our God, all this store that we have prepared to build
Thee an house for Thine holy name cometh of Thine hand, and is all
Thine own. 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
commandments, Thy testimonies, and Thy statutes, and to do all these
things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.
And David said to all the congregation, Now bless the Lord your God.
And all the congregation blessed the Lord God of their fathers, and
bowed down their heads, and worshiped the Lord.”
With deepest interest the king had gathered the rich material for
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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, as the chief of the fathers and the princes
of Israel so nobly responded to his appeal, and offered themselves
to the important work before them. And as they gave their service,
they were disposed to do more. They swelled the offerings, giving
of their own possessions into the treasury. David had felt deeply his
own unworthiness in gathering the material for the house of God,
and the expression of loyalty in the ready response of the nobles of
his kingdom, as with willing hearts they dedicated their treasures to
Jehovah and devoted themselves to His service, filled him with joy.
But it was God alone who had imparted this disposition to His people.
He, not man, must be glorified. It was He who had provided the people
with the riches of earth, and His Spirit had made them willing to bring