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Patriarchs and Prophets
their precious things for the temple. It was all of the Lord; if His love
had not moved upon the hearts of the people, the king’s efforts would
have been vain, and the temple would never have been erected.
All that man receives of God’s bounty still belongs to God. What-
ever God has bestowed in the valuable and beautiful things of earth
is placed in the hands of men to test them—to sound the depths of
their love for Him and their appreciation of His favors. Whether it
be the treasures of wealth or of intellect, they are to be laid, a willing
offering, at the feet of Jesus; the giver saying, meanwhile, with David,
“All things come of Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee.”
When he felt that death was approaching, the burden of David’s
heart was still for Solomon and for the kingdom of Israel, whose
prosperity must so largely depend upon the fidelity of her king. “And
he charged Solomon his son, saying, I go the way of all the earth: be
thou strong therefore, and show thyself a man; and keep the charge
of the Lord thy God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, and
His commandments, and His judgments, and His testimonies, ... that
thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou
turnest thyself: that the Lord may continue His word which He spake
concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk
before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall
not fail thee (said He) a man on the throne of Israel.”
1 Kings 2:1-4
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David’s “last words,” as recorded, are a song—a song of trust, of
loftiest principle, and undying faith: