Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

Ir David had any son other than Solomon worthy at all to succeed him on the throne, the history gives no hint of it, no light as to his name or character. Both Absalom and Adonijah thought themselves worthy it is doubtless well that the Lord thought otherwise. The succession fell to Solomon, prob. ably as being prospectively the fit man, and possibly by virtue of some divinely manifested choice. In his early years he did indeed appear exceedingly well, as we shall see. Adonijah, a younger brother of Absalom, missed the lessons of wisdom which he ought to have learned from the failure of his brother's conspiracy for the throne. Probably he relied upon the extreme age of his father and the youthfulness of Solomon, and, not least, upon the momentum which his movement would receive from the prestige of Joab's name and influence. But the sins of earlier years lay heavy upon Joab. Neither David nor the Lord could forget them, and probably his standing before the people suffered in consequence. Adoni. jah's real strength, therefore, was never great. Following close in the footsteps of Absalom he affected royal display,chariots, horses, fifty men to run before him; and, to crown all, a great feast, under the inspiration of which the trumpet was to ring out its blast with the proclamation, "Adonijah reigneth!" "God save King Adonijah!" Nathan the prophet is prominent in counteracting this conspiracy. Hastening to Bathsheba, the queen-mother, in few words he puts before her mind the pending danger both to herself and to her son and to the whole realm. She brings the case before the aged king. He rouses himself to one last effort; under the solemn oath confirms the kingdom to Solomon, and directs the steps to be taken to secure the succession to him. Under the leadership of Nathan the prophet, Zadok the priest, and Benaiah, now captain-general of the army in place of Joab, Solomon is re-anointed, and the proclamation thereof goes abroad over the city in the joyful acclamations of the people. The con. spiracy of Adonijah is squelched without a blow. His guests were about to close their long feasting and revelry when the quick ear of Joab caught the trumpet-blast, and he started up, inquiring, "Where. fore is this noise of the city being in an uproar?" (1 Kings 1:41.) At this juncture Jonathan, son of Abiathar, arrives, fully able to explain it. Hearing his story, "all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way," and nobody said any more that Adonijah was king. Quietly, peacefully, without bloodshed or further delay, Solomon was firmly seated on the throne of his father. Some old political offenders-Joab, Shimei, and this Adonijah- were one by one disposed of, Joab with no conditions and no interposition of clemency, the other two under conditions which might have saved them from death for their political crimes. Joab was a hard man, born to rule, -of stern and resolute will, a veteran and able warrior and little else, a man who subserved the purposes of his king in many very important respects, yet who, compared with David, lacked most if not all of his softer, nobler qualities; whom David never could love, though he could use him because he must, and though he feared him for his dangerous rashness and reckless violation of David's known commands and wishes. As a representative man Joab belonged to an age which in David's time was passing away, and with the advent of Solomon had passed altogether. Abiathar deserved his penalty, that of being displaced from the high-priesthood, the last incumbent in the line of Eli, in whom the judgment passed two generations before upon Eli and his house received its consummating fulfilment. The tone of the narrative (1 Kings 1 and 2) does not give indications that this uprising of Adonijah was specially grave in character or grievous to the aged king. But it may have been more so than appears at first view. David was an old man, passing that stage of this earthly life when "the grasshopper is a burden." His vital forces were extremely low; "he gat no heat." Disease was upon him; old friends, from whom he had a right to expect better fidelity, were turning against him; and this second conspiracy of a son, even though not specially formidable, was yet painfully suggestive, and to a father so near the last days of life, must have been cruelly afflictive. These considerations will show the adaptation of two separate

1 And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards3 over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty

4

men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem.

2 Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: Asfor me, I had in mine heart5 to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and for the footstool of our God, and had made· ready for the building:

PARALLEL PASSAGES. 1Ch. 27:16. 2Ch. 27:1, 2. Ch. 27:25. 132:2, 7. Ps. 99:5. La. 2:1.

4Ch. 11 : 10. 52 Sam. 7:2. Ps.

groups of Psalms to these scenes of his life, viz. Ps. 38-41 and Ps. 69-71. To the careful reader of these Psalms it will be entirely obvious that they give the experience of the Psalmist in extreme old age, and under the weight, not of years only, but of infirmities and of sickness. They have special interest as being the latest utterances of that voice which sang the high praises of God so sweetly in early life, and which seems to have missed no opportunity to bear its testimony to a heart warm with the love of God, for the most part constant and abiding in its trust, and true to the high mission of service for God and God's people to which the Spirit had called him. Corcles.

1. And David assembled all the princes, etc. We have repeatedly seen the constitution of the kingdom of Israel required not only that the monarch should be designated by Jehovah and anointed by the priest, but also that he should be publicly recognized and accepted by the tribes or their properly authorized representatives. Thus, a considerable time after his anointing by Samuel, Saul was chosen by the people; and many years intervened between David's designation at Bethlehem and his election to the throne, first of Judah at Hebron and afterward of the twelve tribes at Jerusalem. Until, therefore, the assembly of the representatives of the people had ratified, and, as it were, repeated the deed of Zadok, Solomon was not in all respects the king. Hence, some time after the event which we have just described, when David had gained so much strength that he could undergo the fatigue of a long day in the open air, he summoned "all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem." It was a solemn occasion, like to that on which Moses had taken farewell of the tribes whom he had led through the wilderness, or that on which Joshua had given his parting exhortation to the people whom he had settled in Canaan, or that on which Samuel had formally laid aside his functions and handed over the sovereignty to Saul. Deep must have been the feelings of David's heart as he presided for the last time over the assembly of the people; and with mingled emotions they must have looked on the fragile form of him who had been so long identified with their national history, and on the intelligent counte. nance of the youth at his side, who was so soon to add new lustre to their renown. Taylor.

2. Stood upon his feet. That he might address the people standing. Hitherto he had probably been sitting on his throne, not lying upon his bed, as Jewish expositors infer from 1 Kings 1:1. Keil.Hear me, my brethren, and my people. With tender affection David addressed them as his brethren and his people, and unfolded to them the cherished purpose of his heart, to build a temple to Jehovah, together with the message which he had received from Nathan in regard to it. Then turning to the blushing youth beside him, he said, "And thou Solomon, my son, know thou the God of thy father," etc. After this he gave him the plans, which he had already prepared by divine direction, of the porch and of the houses thereof, etc.; then he brought forth the gold which he had accumulated for the various articles which the Temple required; and when the spectators had recovered from the amazement which the sight of such treasures must have produced, he renewed his charge to his son, "Be strong and of good courage," etc. Solomon was not the only party concerned; so, turning to the congregation, David commended his son to their confidence and care, detailing still more of the preparations which he had made for the great work which he wished to be performed, and beseeching them to do their best, since the palace was not for man, but for God. Wm. Taylor.-To build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant, and for the footstool of our God. Heaven is his throne of glory; the earth, and the most magnificent temples that can be built upon it, are but his footstool. So much difference is there between the manifestations of the divine glory in the upper and the lower world.

3 But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build a house for my name,1 because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.

4 Howbeit the Lord God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah3, to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel :

5 And of all my sons, (for the Lord hath given me many sons,5) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.

6 And he said unto me,7 Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and

my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.

7 Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.

8 Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the Lord, and in the audience of our God,10 keep11 and seek12 for all the commandments of the Lord your God: that13 ye may possess this good land, and leave14 it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever.

9¶ And thou, Solomon my son,15 know thou the God of thy father, and serve16 him with a perfect heart,17

PARALLEL PASSAGES.-11 Kings 5:3. 21 Sam. 16:7-13; 5: 2. Gen. 49:8-10. Ps. 60:7; 78: 68. Heb. 7:14. 41 Sam. 16:1; 53:1; 22:9, 10. 72 Sam. 7:13, 14. 8Ch. 22:13. Deut. 4:6. Matt. 5:14-16. 10 Deut. 29:10, 15. 11Ps. 119:4, 10. 12Is. 34:16. Acts 17:11. 18Deut. 6:1-3. 14Ez. 9:12. Prov. 13:22. 15 Jer. 9:24. John 17:3. 16Job 36: 11, 12. 172 Kings 20:3. Ps. 101: 2. John 4:24. Rom. 1:9. Heb. 12:28.

3. A man of war. As an evidence of the sincerity of his purpose to build the temple, he tells them that he had made ready for it, but that God would not suffer them to proceed; he must serve the public with the sword; another must do it with the line and plummet. Times of rest are building times. See what need we have to pray that God will give peace in our time, because in time of war the building of the gospel temple commonly goes slowly on. Peace gave him (Solomon) an opportunity to build it. Henry.

4. The Lord God of Israel chose me. He produces his own title first, and then Solomon's, to the crown both were undoubtedly divine; such a title as no monarch on earth can make out; the Lord God of Israel chose them both immediately by prophecy, not providence. David was the youngest son of Jesse; but God takes whom he likes, and likes whom he makes like himself. Solomon was one of the youngest sons of David; yet God chose him to sit on the throne, because the likeliest to build the temple, the wisest and best inclined.

7. I will establish his kingdom forever. This must have its accomplishment in the kingdom of the Messiah, which shall continue in his hands through all the ages of time. As to Solomon, this promise of the establishment of his kingdom is here made conditional. If we be constant to our duty, then, and not otherwise, we may expect the continuance of God's favor. Let those that are well taught and begin well notice this: if they be constant, they are happy; perseverance wears the crown, though it wins it not. Henry.

8. Keep and seek for all the commandments of the Lord your God. God's commandments will not be kept without great care. He charges them in the sight of all Israel and in the audience of their God; and if they do not heed it it is their fault, and God and man will be witnesses against them. The motive to observe this charge: it was the way to be happy, to have the peaceable possession of this good land themselves, and to preserve the entail of it on their children. Henry.

9. And thou, Solomon, etc. David instructs his son to "know the God of his father," that is, to acknowledge and to love him; also to "serve him with a perfect heart and a willing mind," showing him thereby that his love was to be expressed by obedience to God, and that entirely and cheerfully, out of choice and not by constraint, not to gain the good opinion of men, but the favor of God: for hearty piety, and not the outward appearance of it merely, is the surest support of a prince's power and author. ity, and will dispose his servants to love and reverence him as sincerely as he does God. David proceeds to press him with two arguments. for sincerity in his obedience: the first, because "the Lord searcheth all hearts," that is, cannot be deceived with external services, but looks into the heart and discerns the most secret motions there; the second, because "if thou seek Him he will be found of thee," that is, God bestows his blessings on men only on the condition of their hearty cbedience. -as we behave

and with a wiling mind: for the Lord searcheth1 all hearts, and understandeth2 all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him,3 he will be found of thee; but if thou

forsake him, he will cast thee off for

ever.

10 Take heed now; for the Lord hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.

PARALLEL PASSAGES.-11 Sam. 16:7. Ps. 7:9. Jer. 17:10. Rev. 2:23. 2Ps. 139:2. $2 Chron. 15:2. 4Verse 6.

towards Him so will he behave towards us. Bp. Patrick. As sometimes the setting sun gilds the western sky and makes of the very clouds which had obscured the afternoon a bank of burnished gold, giving thereby a glory to the heavens, which in the absence of the clouds could never be produced, so this last public appearance of the aged monarch fringes with a golden border even the dark passages of his life, and borrows, too, from them a framework of blackness which, by its very contrast, brings out more vividly the brightness of the departing luminary. The clouds had been very dark, but the sun had been behind them all the while; and now, ere he goes down beneath the west, he has broken through them and partially dispersed them, and men recognize once more his greatness. We see now the "one increasing purpose" which ran through all his life. We understand now why he was so eager in amassing treasure and so active in adding spoil to spoil; for as the student on his return from college lays reverently in his mother's lap the prizes which he has toiled night and day to win, so David here places devoutly on Jehovah's altar all that he had gained throughout his earthly career, saying, virtually, "For thee I won them, and to thee I give them." Even as he laid them there, indeed, they were wet with his penitential tears over the great transgression of his life. Still he laid them there; and He who forgave the iniquity of his sin accepted the gift he brought. But this public service was probably not the only thing connected with Solomon's anointing; for after the assembly had dispersed, and the aged king had retired to his chamber, it is not unlikely that he took his harp once more, and sang to its strains that wondrous Messiah-psalm which, rising from the circumstances of his son, looks down through all the ages to the final triumph of the Redeemer's kingdom. I refer to the 72d Psalm; and as we read it now, in the light of the events which I have recounted, we cannot but feel a new interest in it and derive new inspiration from it. "He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth." Then he asserts the universality of his dominion: "His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth;" and the perpetuity of his reign: "His name shall endure forever; his name shall be continued as long as the sun and men shall be blessed in him; all nations shall call him blessed." The conclusion is a grand outburst of praise, which seems almost to anticipate the hallelujahs of the skies. "Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name forever; and let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen." Little wonder that as men read this glowing ode they say, "A greater than Solomon is here." This is emphatically the missionary Psalm. Wm. Taylor.

LESSON II. JULY 9, 1876.

SOLOMON'S CHOICE. 2 CHRONICLES 1:1-17.
[B. C. 1015.]

CONNECTION.

Solomon was twenty years old when his father died. His first act gave evidence of unusual wisdom and vigor, even before that superhuman wisdom, which more than his wealth has made his name famous, was bestowed upon him. Adonijah having shown signs of an inclination to renew his pretensions to the throne, he caused both him and Joab to be put to death; suspended Abiathar from his office of high-priest, and thus nipped in the bud a threatened civil war. Shimei, who had cursed David in his flight, and whose hostility to Solomon himself was ill-concealed, was spared, on condition that he should never leave Jerusalem. Three years afterwards he broke his parole and perished. Palmer.

Solomon's early promise. In common with Saul, Israel's first king, Solomon, at least in his early life, was modest and humble, neither self-conceited nor vain. Both had at first a reasonably just sense of the great responsibilities of a king. This is more apparent in Solomon than even in Saul, and

1 And1 Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him, and magnified3 him exceedingly.

2 Then Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges,

and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers.

3 So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the ser

PARALLEL PASSAGES.- -11 Kings 2:46. 2Gen. 39:2. 31 Chron. 29:25. 41 Chron. 27:1. 8:4. 61 Chron. 16:39.

51 Kings

constituted one of the brightest tokens of his future promise. His strong desire to rule well, coupled with a sense of personal obligation to God, which was evinced in his devotion to religious duties, must have inspired large expectations in the hearts of the sagacious elders of Israel, and if evinced fully to David before his death must have been exceedingly gratifying to him. The record in 1 Chron. 28:9, 10, 20, 21, gives very fully the warm parental exhortations with which David devolved upon his hopeful son these great responsibilities, but drops not a word of reply from Solomon; nothing to indicate the spirit with which he received these exhortations. But when he entered upon his royal duties his spirit became at once apparent, giving the best of testimony that the counsels of his dying father had gone to his heart. Such regard for wise parental counsels is in any young man among the brightest and best elements of future promise.

Solomon's dream at Gibeon: God's word to him and his choice. Of this great event the staple facts are given in both Kings and Chronicles (1 Kings 3:4-15 and 2 Chron. 1:2-12), but most fully in Kings, although the antecedent circumstances are stated more at length in Chronicles. The two accounts are manifestly independent of each other. The author of Chronicles states that Solomon spake to all Israel-officers of every grade and people-to go with him to Gibeon, and explains the reason for assembling at that place, viz. because the tabernacle built by Moses was still there, although the ark had long been in Jerusalem in a tent specially provided for it by David. The brazen altar, built originally in the wilderness, was also there. Thither Solomon and all the congregation resorted, and there he offered a thousand burnt-offerings. On the night following the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and said, "Ask what shall I give thee." From this point we have the more expanded statements in Kings. Cowles.

[ocr errors]

1. Solomon was strengthened in his kingdom. Although Solomon's reign was the culminating point of the prosperity of Israel, its story may be told in few words. The internal affairs of the kingdom were administered with such sagacity and justice that Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig-tree," from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon. Foreign treaties wisely contracted, the construction of mercantile fleets, and the opening up of wellmade and well-guarded roads throughout the country, made it the highway of nations and the emporium of the commerce of the world. Incalculable wealth thus flowed into the country, and the magnificence of the Hebrew monarch exceeded that of any of the most opulent and luxurious courts of the ancient world. The vast and almost fabulous resources which Solomon possessed were well and wisely applied; the largest share was appropriated to the building of a fitting temple for the abode of the God of Israel. Besides the magnificent temple, of which the Bible gives us so graphic a description, Solomon constructed many noble and useful public works, some of which, as the Pools of Solomon near Bethlehem, from which, by a splendid aqueduct, Jerusalem was supplied with water, remain to the present day as lasting monuments of his divinely-inspired wisdom and his power. Palmer. - He had a contested title, yet God being with him he was strengthened in his kingdom, his heart, hands, and interest in the people. God's presence will be our strength. Henry. - How old Solomon was at this time we hardly know-scarcely more than twenty years. Keil.

3. So Solomon and all the congregation went to the high place at Gibeon. Gibeon was the proper place of worship, and is called the "great high place" (1 Kings 3:4), because there the original tabernacle and altar that were made in the wilderness were kept. Solomon showed a proper sense of religion in deeming it his first duty there to address himself to God in prayer and sacrifice, in acknowledgment of his kindness in placing him on his father's throne. Stackhouse.-— It is remarkable that the original tabernacle was at this time at Gibeon while the ark was at Jerusalem. On what account they were separated so that the ark was without the tabernacle and its vessels, and the vessels, altar, and tabernacle without the seat of the divine glory, it is by no means easy to explain. Bp. Patrick. - Gibeon (belonging to a hill). It lay within the territory of Benjamin; for, having obtained through craft a league with Israel, its inhabitants were condemned to be hewers of wood and drawers of water.

-

« AnteriorContinua »