T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
513
August 1924
t The Who le Bible Sunday School Lesson Course H E & E S § s B = = = Recommended by World s Fundamental Association 3 EXPOSITION and PERTINENT QUESTIONS - - - - - T. C. Horton ] COMMENTS FROM THE COMMENTARIES - - - - - - V. V. Morgan ] ELEMENTARY - - - - - • - - - - Mrs. S. W. Barrett 1i5?gpqpqpqpq?q?q?qpqpqp«^qp«n>q?q?iq? place of fellowship with Him, and how we can best magnify His majesty through our lives (1 Thess. 5 :2 3 ). “And the very God of peaee sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body he preserved blame less unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” David’s desire was good indeed, but it was not God’s purpose for him, and God’s prophet comes to tell him what that purpose was. 2. Revelation. God sent Nathan “Go tell my servant David.” The attitude which David had taken had prepared him for a revelation from God concerning His purpose. We may have the holiest desires for God’s work, and yet God may not purpose that we should carry them out. God has His own way of revealing His will for us. There are things which we think should be done, and things which we think we would be glad to do, but God’s thought for us is not our thought for Him. How many times have our dreams been shattered. From the loftiest conception of what we would love to do, we have been lowered to the lowliest service for Him. /¡ “David, you are not to be permitted to build me a house” (1 Kings 8 :1 8 ). “And the Lord said unto David my father* Whereas It vras in thine heart to build an house unto my name* thou didst well that it was in thine heart. Nevertheless thou shalt not build the house.” David is not to build the house, but he is to have a son who will. But beyond revealing His purpose for David’s son, God reveals toi David a covenant beyond his imagina tion— an everlasting covenant— the throne of his kingdom forever! (Isa. 9 :6 ). “For unto ns a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peaee.” (Luke 1:32,33; Acts 2:25-36) He was to be the anointed of Jehovah (Acts 10 :3 8 ). He was to be the Son of David according to the flesh (v. 12; Acts 2:29-31; 13:22, 23). He was to be the Son of God (Acts 4:25-27-; Rom. 1 :4 ). Sonship, in the Old Testament, includes the government of the world, and the perpetuity of the kingdom (v. 13; John 1 :14 ; 2 :1 9 ; 14 :2 3 ). This is the message that Nathan brought to David from Jehovah. What a wonderful prophecy and what a wonderful fulfillment it has had. How can any one doubt the Bible if their eyes are open to see fulfilled prophecy? 8. Prophecy. David’s dream of the house he was to build is swept away, but a new and greater vision has been given him. “ Then went king) David in,” (from his palace to the house of curtains) “ and sat down before the Lord.’,’ TJie Eastern custom was to sit upon the ground. David was humiliated. “Who am I, O Lord God?” Have you ever said that as you have meditated upon the great truths of the Word? A sinner, saved by grace, chosen in Christ before the world was formed (Eph. 1 :4 ), unworthy to take His holy name upon your lips, and yet conscious that you have a right and title, through Jesus your Saviour and Lord, to all that He possesses! Has the marvel and mag- AUGUST 10, 1924 (Lesson 45) THE DAVIDIC COVENANT 2 Samuel, Chapters 7-10 Golden Text: “ And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established forever before thee; thy throne shall be established forever." 2 Samuel 7:16. Outline: (1) The Holy Purpose of David, Ch. 7. (2) The Hostile People Conquered, Chs. 8 and 10. (3) The Honorable Provision for Mephibosheth, Ch. 9. Introduction: In covering these four chapters we shall confine the out line to three practical heads and seek to bring out, as sim ply and practically as possible, some points of interest as well as instruction. In the sixth chapter we had David re- LESSON storing the ark to the city of God. In the EXPOSITION seventh chapter, we have David settled T. C. Horton in his own house and at rest. We are viewing these four chapters, under three heads, as Chapters Eight and Ten are similar in purpose, showing how the Lord established David’s throne. (1) THE HOLY PURPOSE OF DAVID, Ch. 7. “I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.” v. 2. 1. Reflection. The picture here is perfectly natural and has a holy suggestion. David has had years of testing and trial,— conflicts within and without; hated by Saul; hunted like a wild beast, hiding in caves; harbored by the king's enemies; finally succeeding, by God’s grace, in sitting at ease in his own house, surrounded by the comforts of a crowned king,— thinking! What is he thinking about? Is he thinking of sitting down to a life of ease and luxury? Of being satisfied with his surroundings and accumulating riches for the future? This would be natural, but we are privileged to see a pic ture of the heart of the man. He is thinking of God and of worship, and of a place for the ark. He himself dwells in a house of cedar, but God has a house of curtains. There is great blessing in the privilege of meditation. It was David who wrote Psa. 104:34: “My meditation of him shall be sweet; I will be glad in the Lord.” We ought to foster the habit of meditation. We know all too little, in these busy days, of having a quiet time with the Lord. We should have well built houses for God, but not pal aces. God dwells not now in houses made with hands. His cathedral is celestial. His house is in heaven. His sceptre is universal. But we may draw close to Him in worship, for we are all His and we are dear to Him. We should meditate on how to make these temples of our bodies— these temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16) the
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