_A.M. 2989. B.C. 1015._ David exhorts them to contribute toward building and furnishing the temple, 1 Chronicles 29:1. They do contribute accordingly, 1 Chronicles 29:6. He offers up solemn prayers, praises, and sacrifices to God, 1 Chronicles 29:10. Solomon is enthroned, 1 Chronicles 29:22. David... [ Continue Reading ]
_Furthermore, David said unto all the congregation_, &c. He excites them to assist his son by divers considerations, 1st, That he was a person chosen by God for this work. 2d, That nevertheless he much needed their help, because he was but a youth. 3d, That the work itself was to be very magnificent... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have prepared with all my might_ He did not intend to throw all the burden upon them, nor that it should be built wholly by the contributions of the people, although intended for their benefit; but he himself contributed to the erection of it to the uttermost of his power. Work for God must be do... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who then is willing to consecrate to this service?_ To offer an offering, as I have done. Hebrew, _to fill his hand unto the Lord._ They that engage themselves in the service of God will have their hands full: there is work enough for the whole man in that service.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The people rejoiced_ Because this was both an effect of God's grace in them, an eminent token of God's favour to them, and a pledge that this long-desired work would receive a certain and speedy accomplishment. _David also rejoiced with great joy_ To see the work which his heart was so much set upo... [ Continue Reading ]
_David said, Blessed_, &c. David was now full of days, and near his end, and it well becomes the aged children of God to have their hearts much enlarged in praise and thanksgiving. The nearer we come to the land of everlasting praise, the more we should speak the language and do the work of that wor... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now therefore, our God, we thank thee_ The more we do for God, the more we are indebted to him for the honour of being employed in his service, and for grace to enable us in any measure to serve him. _Doth he therefore thank that servant?_ said Jesus. No: but that servant has a great deal of reason... [ Continue Reading ]
_For we are strangers before thee_, &c. Poor, despicable creatures. The land which we possess is thine, not ours; we are not the proprietors, but only thy tenants: and as our fathers once were mere strangers in it, even before men, so we at this day are no better before thee, having no absolute righ... [ Continue Reading ]
_All this store cometh of thy hand, and is all thine_ We have it from thee as a free gift, and therefore are bound to use it for thee; and what we present to thee is but as rent or interest from thine own. In like manner we ought to acknowledge God in all spiritual things; referring every good thoug... [ Continue Reading ]
_I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart_, &c. That thou observest with what intention and disposition of mind any offering is made and work performed; _and hast pleasure in uprightness_ Without which the most costly gift, and most laborious services, would be as nothing before thee. And hen... [ Continue Reading ]
_O Lord God of Abraham_, &c. A God in covenant with them, and with us for their sakes. _Keep this for ever_, &c. Since it is from thy grace that thy people have such willing minds, continue that grace to them, that they may persist in the same generous disposition toward thee and thy worship. And gr... [ Continue Reading ]
_And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart_ He had charged Solomon to serve God with a perfect heart, and now he prays to God to give him such a heart. He does not pray that God would make him rich, or great, or learned, but, what is infinitely more important, that he would make him sincerely and... [ Continue Reading ]
_David said to all the congregation, Now bless the Lord your God_ Adore his divine majesty, and give him thanks for all his benefits, hereby testifying your concurrence with me in what I have done and spoken. _And all the congregation blessed the Lord_, &c. They did as David desired, _bowing down_ t... [ Continue Reading ]
_They sacrificed sacrifices unto the Lord_ Before the ark which was there. _In abundance for all Israel_ Either, 1st, On behalf of all Israel, to praise God in their names, to procure God's presence and blessing for them all. Or, 2d, So many sacrifices, that the feasts which were, according to custo... [ Continue Reading ]
_And did eat and drink before the Lord_ Before the ark, in the courts or places as near to it as they conveniently could: or, as in God's presence, in a solemn and religious manner, praising God for this great mercy, and entreating his blessing on this great affair. _They made Solomon king the secon... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord_ On the throne of Israel, which is called _the throne of the Lord_, because the Lord himself was, in a peculiar manner, the king and governor of Israel. He had the founding, he had the filling of their throne, by immediate direction.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And all the sons likewise of David submitted themselves unto Solomon_ Hebrew, _gave_, or _put the hand under Solomon_, that is, owned him for their king, and themselves for his subjects, and bound themselves by oath to be true to him, which they possibly did, according to the ancient ceremony used... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord magnified Solomon exceedingly_ Gave him great honour and reputation, together with riches and power, and all such things as render a king great and glorious. _Bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king of Israel_ Either on David or Saul, or any of the former governors... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thus David reigned_, &c. This sacred writer, having mentioned the anointing of Solomon, and, upon that occasion, proceeded to give a further account of Solomon's actual settlement in his kingdom, returns to his main business, to give an account of the close of David's reign and life. He here brings... [ Continue Reading ]
_Full of days_ Fully satisfied with the days which God had given him, having had the happiness of seeing his beloved son Solomon settled in his throne. _Riches and honour_ He had enough of this world, and of the riches and honour of it; and he knew when he had enough. He was satisfied, and very will... [ Continue Reading ]
_They are written in the book of Samuel the seer_ In the two books of Samuel, as they are now called, which were written in part by Samuel while he lived, and continued after his death by Nathan and Gad. _And in the book of Nathan, and the book of Gad_ In the public registers, or chronicles of the k... [ Continue Reading ]
_The times that went over him_ The transactions of his reign, and the changes that befell him; both his troubles and successes, the word _time_ or _times_ being often put for things done or happening in them. _And over all the kingdoms of the countries_ Those countries which bordered upon, or were n... [ Continue Reading ]