1 Chronicles, chapters 22-29
David was king over Israel many years and was loved by the people. He had wanted very much to have a beautiful house, or temple, built in Jerusalem where all should come to worship the Lord. But instead the Lord had said his son Solomon, who would be king after him, should build such a temple.
But in his last days, David sent for the chief men and the people to come together, so he could tell them his wishes for the temple, and said for them to help Solomon in all the work. He spoke of the great stones already cut for the walls, and much cedar wood ready for the inside, with much iron for the nails and bars; brass, marble, gold, silver, and precious stones, for this was to be a very grand house.
David rejoiced that the people had already been so willing to give, and we will learn of that great building later, the Lord willing.
David also spoke to Solomon to keep all God’s words, and he said God had said to him:
Although David did not build the temple, yet he left a greater work, for very many of the songs and prayers we have in our Bibles were written by David, and have been read and sung and enjoyed by people ever since, and have been a great comfort and a help to all. He loved to praise the Lord and wanted others to know Him, He said:
David’s life teaches us to trust in the Lord, and to ask His help whatever our trouble. He said the Lord was his rock, his fortress, his deliverer, his shield, his horn of salvation, his high tower, his refuge, and his lamp (2 Sam. 22:2,3,292And he said, The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; 3The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. (2 Samuel 22:2‑3)
29For thou art my lamp, O Lord: and the Lord will lighten my darkness. (2 Samuel 22:29)).
It was from the family of ‘David that Jesus was born into this world, many years after David.
David makes us think of the life of the Lord Jesus, who took the humble place and was obedient. Yet David sometimes sinned and forgot God’s words, while the Lord Jesus did no sin, but was perfect in all His ways.
Look over the Psalms in your Bible and see if you do not find many marked “A Psalm of David.” Perhaps you could choose one you could learn. Many boys and girls have learned the 103rd Psalm, although it is quite long. David wrote much of the One to be the Great King not only of Israel, but of the whole earth.
ML 12/25/1938