1ST CHOIR.-Who is this King of glory? BOTH CHOIRS.-Lift up your heads, O ye gates; Even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; 1ET CHOIR.-Who is this King of glory? 2D CHOIR.-The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Whether this was the order or not we cannot say. But of this we are certain, from 1 Chron. xvi. 7, "On that day David delivered first this psalm, to thank the LORD, into the hand of Asaph and his brethren," beginning with, "Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people," &c. It is gathered out of several psalms. From the beginning to ver. 23, is taken from Psalm cv. 1, &c., and then ver. 23 to ver. 34 is the whole of Psalm xcvi., and the two last verses are taken from the close of Psalm cvi. When the ark was set in its place, David blessed all the people, and having distributed refreshments among them, he appointed four thousand Levites to be constantly employed in singing praises to God, and playing on musical instruments before the tabernacle; these he divided into companies, under the direction of Asaph, Hermon, and Jeduthun. This being done, he had a mind to build a house for the ark of God, which had hitherto dwelt in curtains.-2 Sam. vii. 2, 3. But God would not accept of his design, because he had shed much blood; but he promised that he should have a son, who should build him an house.-2 Sam. vii. 12, 13. And in 2 Sam. viii. 1-14, we have an account of his victories over his enemies. "And David reigned over all Israel; and he executed judgment and justice to all his people. And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; and Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe. And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites," who were the king's guards. And David's sons, as they came of age, helped him to rule the people. Now David was very rich and powerful, and the Israelites were feared and respected by their neighbours. "Every morning and evening the smoke of sacrifices rose from the altar on Mount Zion, and from the altar which stood before the tabernacle of Moses at Gibeon. There songs of praise to God were heard from the choirs of Levites, accompanied by the sound of the harp, the psaltery, and the cymbal, making loud and cheerful music." In the midst of all this prosperity, "David, the beloved of the Lord," was permitted to fall, to fall disgracefully, into the foul sin of adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of the gallant Uriah, whom he afterwards caused to be basely deserted and slain.— 2 Sam. xi. 15. For this sin David testified his sincere repentance in the 51st Psalm; yet God saw it proper to punish him severely, because he had given the enemies of God cause to blaspheme.-2 Sam. xii. 14. On account of this sin David was visited with sore trials in his own family, namely, in the case of his three sons, Amnon, Absalom, and Adonijah. For the case of Amnon, see 2 Sam. xiii. For the rebellion of Absalom against his father, see 2 Sam. xiv. and xv. Another chief blemish in the life of David besides his connection with Bathsheba, and the death of her husband, was, that in the pride of his heart he numbered all the people of the tribes of Israel, in order that he might know how great a king he was. For which sin God him leave to choose one of these three punishments :-either seven years famine, or three months of war, or three days pestilence. "And David said unto Gad (the seer), I am in a great strait let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great and let me not fall into the hand of man. the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.". -2 Sam. xxiv. 14, 15. gave So In 1 Kings, chap. i., we find, when David was old, and declining in his health, then Adonijah his son, by Haggith, "exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. And he conferred with Joab and Abiathar the priest; and they following Adonijah helped him." But by the designation both of God and David, Solomon was to be the man that should fill the throne. Hence at the instigation of Bathsheba his mother, and Nathan the prophet, "David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king. And he said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon: and let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon. And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet, and piped with pipes, and all the people rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them. Then said David, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it. Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, I go the way of all the earth be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; and keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, 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." David also gave Solomon charge concerning Joab and Shimei; all which, we will afterwards find, he executed. "So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David."-1 Kings ii. 10. Having thus briefly taken notice of the most remarkable events in the life of David, king of Israel, I shall now conclude by giving a summary view of his character, extracted from the Rev. G. Gilfillan's "Bards of the Bible," of whom that master of description writes thus: "At first we find him as simple and noble a child of God, nature, and genius, as ever breathed. And yet this boy had done, even ere he went to the camp of Israel, one deed of 'derring-do;' he had wet his hands in the blood of a lion and a bear. We can conceive few subjects fitter for picture or poetry, than that of the young David measuring the mass of steel-Goliath with an eye which mingled in its ray, wonder, eagerness, anger, and 'That stern joy which warriors feel In foemen worthy of their steel.' A hundred battles looked forth in that lingering, longing, insatiate glance. Every one knows the result to the giant of Gath he fell before the smooth sling-stone. The result on David's mind is not quite so evident; but we think, that all the praises and promotion he received did not materially affect the simplicity of his habits, or the integrity of his purposes. Nor did at first the persecution of Saul much exasperate his spirit, balanced as that was by the love of Jonathan. But his long continued flight and exile the insecurity of his life-the converse he had with 'wild men and wild usages' in the cave of Adullam, and the wilderness of Ziph, although they failed in weaning him from his God, or his Jonathan, or even from Saul -did not fail somewhat to imbitter his generous nature, and to render him less fitted for bearing the prosperity which suddenly brake upon him. More men are prepared for sudden death than for sudden success. When he had brought up the ark of the LORD to the city of David-when the Philistines were bridled, the Syrians smitten, the Ammonites chastised, and their city upon the point of being taken-from this very pride of place David fell-fell disgracefully-but fell not for ever. From that hour his life ran on in a current of disaster, chequered with splendid successes. It was a tract of irregular and ragged glory, tempering at last into a troubled yet beautiful sunset. David retained to the last his heart, his intellect, his simplicity, his devotion-above all, his sincerity; loved his God; saw from afar off his Redeemer; and let the man, who is without sin' among his detractors, cast the first stone. His character is chequered, but the stripes outnumber the stains, and the streaks of light outnumber both. * * * "The piety of the Psalms is altogether inexplicable, except on the theory of a peculiar inspiration. The touched spirit of David, whether wandering in the desert, or seated in his own palace, whether in defeat or victory, whether in glory or in deep guilt, turns instinctively to heaven. Wild, holy, tameless strains, how have ye run down through ages, in which large poems, systems, and religions have perished, firing the souls of poets, kissing the lips of children, smoothing the pillows of the dying, storming the warrior to heroic rage, perfuming the chambers of solitary saints, and clasping into one the hearts and voices of thousands of assembled worshippers; tinging many a literature, and finding a home in many a land; and still ye seem as fresh and young and powerful as ever; yea, preparing for even mightier triumphs than when first chanted! Britain, Germany, and America, now sing you; but you must yet awaken the dumb millions of China and Japan.' EXERCISES. What relation was David to Ruth? What was the character which one of Saul's servants gave of David? For what purpose was David first sent for by Saul? Who was it that then defied and challenged the armies of Israel? Who accepted the challenge and gained the victory? Did Saul love him on account of his courage and success? Did Jonathan love David? Before whom did David play the madman? When, and where, did David cut off the skirt of Saul's robe? Might he not have cut off his head? Mention another time, and place, where David might have destroyed Saul? Did David do right in joining himself to Achish, king of Gath? By whom was Abner slain? What became of Ish-bosheth? Where was David anointed king by all Israel? What was the first thing he did when he came to the stronghold of Zion? Where was the ark of God at this time? What did David design to do for the ark? Why did God not accept of his design? Had David any wars after this? In what manner did he govern Israel? What were the two great sins of his life? How was he punished for the first of these crimes? How for the second? What took place in David's family when he was old and declining in health? In what manner was Solomon anointed to be king over Israel? What was his father's last charge to him? Where was David buried? Give a summary account of his character. CHAPTER XIII. FROM THE DEATH OF DAVID TO THE DEATH OF SOLOMON, A.M. 2989-3029. The Lord appearing to Solomon in a Dream-Solomon's RequestGod's Answer-The Extent of his Vast Dominions-The Pomp of his Establishment-His Friendly Relations with Hiram, king of Tyre-The Number of his Masons-The Variety of his Gifts and Accomplishments-The Richness and Diversified Character of his Writings-His Going Astray-His Punishment-His Death and Burial-The Opinion of the Church concerning his Last End. Towards the close of the last chapter we found that Adonijah had attempted to fill the throne of his father, in which attempt he was aided by Joab and Abiathar. Upon Adonijah's finding that Solomon was made king, and that all the people shouted for joy, he was afraid on account of what he had done, and went and caught hold of the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me to-day, that he will not slay his servant with the sword. Solomon spared him for that time, though for another offence he put him to death.—1 Kings i. 50-53, and ii. 2-24. "Then Solomon sat upon the throne of his father David; and his kingdom was established greatly." And we find him executing all the charge that his father gave him concerning Adonijah, Abiathar, Joab, and Shimei. Adonijah had aimed at the crown, and Solomon did not consider himself safe while he lives. Many a head has been lost by catching at a crown." The slaying of Abiathar was the fulfilling of the threatening against the house of Eli.-1 Sam. ii. 30. He was the last priest of that family. God's judgments, though not executed speedily, will be executed surely. 46 In 1 Kings, chap. iii., we have an account of Solomon's marriage to Pharaoh's daughter, with a general view of his religion. In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king in : |