The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 428

There is one truth more in this narrative. It is a very precious one. It is brought before us in the fourteenth verse,and again in eh. :nix. 2-5. "Gold for things of gold, and silver for things to be made of silver, brass for things of brass, iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood." In other words, whatever golden things were needed, David had the gold provided for them; or whatever things of silver, brass, iron, or wood, David had the silver, brass, iron, and wood ready for them. It is so still in the Church of Christ as well as in the individual Christian's own history. What is our need? Do we occupy a golden position, or one of iron or wood 1 In Christ, the true David, there is the fulness to meet it. There is all we need for every position, every duty, every want, every hour of need. These needs may be great or small, lofty or lowly, corresponding to the "gold" or the "wood;" but he has exactly what is suited to meet the emer- gency or the need, whatever it may be: "My God shall supply all your need out of his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." How truly the teaching of the New Testament is contained in the Old !-W. Ver. 2.-0ld men's testimony. 'l'he emphatic sentence," Then David the king atood up upon his feet," brings before us a vivid picture of the aged and infirm king making a great effort, gathering up all his strength, and once again standing up that he might render a last testimony for Jehovah. "Towards the end of David's life, he was obliged to keep to his chamber, and almost to his bed. In those later and quiet days he ~eems to have reviewed his long and checkered career, and his last song embodies the thoughts with which he regarded it. That last song (2 Sam. xxiii.1-7) is full of mingled regret and hope; over the scenes of bis shame he lingers for a moment sadly, but from them he turns to look up to the faithful God, whom he had ever desired to serve, and assured his heart of the permanence of that everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure. In those closing words the old prophet-power came back to him, and we wish that such sentiments of humility, trust, and joy in God were the only dying utterances of his that had been preserved for us." The occasion of the effort recorded in our text was a public one: the solemn commendation of Solomon to the people, and closing public instructions for Solomon himself. The subject suggested is the moral influence exerted by the aged godly man, who has behind him the varied experiences of a long and checkered life. 'l'he importance of the witness of such a man's life, and of such a man's own expression of the results of his life, and of his moods of mind on coming to its close, need to be pointed out, as these may bear on the men of his own age, and as they may bear on the young generation that is growing up to take the place of those who are "passing away." .As the treatment of these divisions must Jirectly depend on the feeling and experience of the preacher, we prefer to give only the barest outline, at most suggesting lines along which the development and illus- tration of each point may run. .As far as possible the treatment should be made oheerful and hopeful, the experience of those who see more good than evil in life being preferred. I. THE OLD MAN'S TESTIMONY CONCERNING LIFE. He will say that he has found it other-but, on the whole, better-than he expected. Contrast the sunny anticipations of the youth with the serious reviews of the aged. .A thousand anticipations have never been realized, but more than a thousand good things, of which youth could not have dreamed, have crowned the passing days with beauty and joy. Many an old man speaks brightly of the "good way wherein the Lord bis God has led him." H. 'l'HE OLD MAN'S TESTIHONY CONCERNING MAN. Looking back, he can to some extent know himself and judge his fellows. 'l'his at least the old man has learned. Man imagines and even purposes more than he can ever accomplish, and he lives, works, and dies with scaffoldings all about which were but beginningij of buildings that were never built. He has to shelter in the great hope that God will accept bis purposes . .And so God will, if the unwrought schemes were no mere sentimental dreams, but resolves as serious as David's, to build a temple for the Lord his God. III. THE OLD MAN'S •rEBTIMONY CONC.'ERNING GoD. He says he is the Wonder-worker who always gets hiM will over man's. And he iM the faithful One, who keeps cuvenant and ful.fils promise, and may be wholly trusted. He says, "I have been young, and now am old, yet have I never seen the righteous fon!aken, nor his seed brgging bread." 'l'he light of the old men's experience may well brighten and cheer the young men's 432 THE FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [cH. xx.vm. 1-21.