450
T h e K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
July 1927
Fred S. Shepard’s Blackboard Outline
of prayer, because of the mere paper or leather binding of the Bible, or because of the wooden or. stone church where we meet, but because of the presence of God in our hearts. The literal Ark has long ago disappeared; to worship it would be idolatry; but the real Ark, the Lord Jesus Christ, shines as gloriously as ever, and will come to dwell in the humblest heart or home. (Picture David's joy and •the blessing that came to David and his people when God was honored and wor shipped.) (Teach M. V.) Have you given God His place in your, heart? Prayer.
Paul’s Epistle to the Church at Rome opens very similarly to the Gospel by Mat thew for he tells us that his “Gospel of salvation" is “concerning Jesus Christ our Lord, the seed of David . . . and declared to be the Son of God with power by¡the resurrection” (Rom. 1:3-4). Chap ter 4 of the same Epistle definitely relates the covenant of grace to the promises made, both to Abraham and to David. The blessedness of these promises, he ar gues, is not for the circumcision (Jews) only, but for all who have like faith with Abraham and David. The New Testament closes, as it opens, by reminding us that Christ “is the root and offspring of David, the bright and morning'star” (Rev. 22:16), which shall soon appear for the Church. Thus at be ginning, middle and end of the New Testament are we reminded that our re lationship to God is through the One who is the son of David. And what shall be said as to the eter nal house which David’s greater Son should build? Who can fail to see that Solomon’s temple stood as a type of an other and eternal temple? We need not pause to argue the ques tion as to' whether or not a literal temple must be erected by the Jews at Jerusaleiri iri order to save the face of the prophe cies. Suffice it for our present purpose to know that the apostle Peter saw a great temple being built of “l i v i n g stones;’’ Jesus Christ being its “chief cor ner stone” (1 Pet. 2 :4-6). To■ the Corinthian Church, Paul said: “Know ye not that > ye are the temple of God?” { 1 Cor. 3:16). Later he compares individual Christians to temples indwelt of God. (1 Cor. 6 :19) . The Ephesian Chris tians were told that .they were “built upon the foundation of the prophets and apostles, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, in whom all the build ing, fitly framed together, groweth into an holy temple in the Lord” (Eph. 2:20- 2 1 ). Are you one of the stones of that liv ing and ever-enduring temple? It is evi dent that those who will have nothing to do with Jesus Christ as a personal Sav iour cannot be a part of it, for He is its chief corner stone. —o— P ith and P oint If God declines to accept our method, He at least gives us credit for our mo tive (1 Kings 8:18); Men who cannot bear to lavish more upon self than they give to God, are as scarce as hen’s teeth. Many a man has had to be turned do.wn flat before he would learn the folly of human opinion in the things of God (vs. 3-4). Whatever we sincerely design to do for God, we shall in no wise lose our reward for, though providence prevents our do ing it (v. 9)., Though we cannot build God a house, he will not fail to build us one (v. 10). Fidelity in the humble place fits one for divine favor in the higher place (v. 7). We cannot afford to let our generous impulses outrun the command of God. S uggestive Q uestions How did David happen to live in a cedar house? (1 Chron. 14:1). What was the prime reason that the
W ORSHIP W orks Not every one who saith —but he that doeth. Matt. 7 :2l.
the people, but it was God’s presence there that brought blessing. So we are blessed, riot because of the outward act
-^'4- ¿4» afe? afe A ugust 21, 1927 God’s Prom ise to David Lesson Text—-1 Chronicles 17:1-15
TAAVID found himself living in a splen did costly house. His life had been so full of the desire to exalt the Lord, that it was most natural that in a time of
if we devote ourselves to thesgspecific tasks for which God has fitted u s! The genius of David’s son would better suit the building of the house, and financial conditions would be more favorable. The prophetic message reminds David that the Lord had never asked for a house of cedar. It recalled the fact that David’s past life had been wholly shaped and blessed of God because David had stuck to the Lord’s will. Then, strange to say, the king’s-¿proposal was reversed. “The Lord telleth thee," said Nathan; “that He will build thee an house" (v. 10). The promise concerning the peaceful dwelling place for Israel was faithfully performed to David and his seed in due time. There can be no doubt but that the promises were directly concerning David’s natural posterity and earthly kingdom, but their larger and subiimer reference is certainly, according to the plainest Scrip tural teaching, to Christ, the Son of David, and His spiritual kingdom. Their culmination reaches to His second coming and universal rule. David is here informed of One who should be of his seed according to the flesh, and who should have an everlasting kingdom and who should, build Him an house. We certainly do not see the com plete fulfillment of' this' in Solomon. There is, as in many prophetic utterances, a double meaning. The New Testament presents Christ as the promised seed and Son of David. Ac cording to both Old and New Testaments, it is His kingdom which shall be estab lished forever. The plain statement of the Apostle Paul to the church is that, “Of this man’s seed (David’s) hath God, according to His promise (He is citing this very promise before us) raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus." There has arisen in recent years an at tempt to make out that all New Testa ment references to Christ as-“Son of David,” have to do with temporal prom ises belonging alone to Israel as a nation. The expression being found in Matthew’s Gospel, some have relegated the entire contents of this Gospel to the Jews in a future age. This is strange juggling in view of the fact that Paul, the special -apostle to the Gentiles, persists in relating the promises of David to the present Gospel age, and in the latest of his Epistles (2 Tim. 2:8) calls upon believers to “remember Jesus Christ as the son of David."
reflection it crossed his mind that the ark of the covenant, the symbol of God’s pres ence, was resting in a cheap and temporary tent. The contrast of things impressed him painfully. certainly to be com
Thus far he is
mended. What would happen if our church members today paused to con trast the luxury in which they live, with the dilapidated condition of the church where they worship? Many of them, sad to say, spend far more for movies, chew ing gum, tobacco, lipsticks and rouge than they contribute to the service of God. David formed the idea of erecting a costly temple. His design was communi cated to the prophet Nathan, who heartily approved. Neither had consulted God. Both were mistaken in their assurance that it woud meet with' the divine ap proval. Our most well-meant ideas for advancing God’s cause may often meet with a veto when submitted to the Lord in prayer. It was not the right time to build this costly house, nor was David God’s man for undertaking it. That very night God made plain His will in the matter to Na than (v. 3). God had called David from the sheepcote for one, specific task, to es tablish His people Israel as a nation; to bring them rest in the land He had prom ised long before to Abraham. Though we consider ourselves abund antly qualified to undertake greater things, it is well for us to stick to the task to which we are certain God has called us. Elsewhere and at another time God commended David’s purpose and gave His reason for declining it. He would indeed have a house, but another would have the glory of seeing it com pleted. That is a bitter pill to some of us—just to step back and let the other fellow carry out our “original ideas.” David was a man of war. Let him en large the borders of Israel. David was a sweet psalmist. Let him write thé Psalms which should be used in God’s house throughout generations to come. How much more we may accomplish in the end
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