The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 42

the grea.t principles of truth and righteousness, as illustrated by their own living history. Chart of the ocean of life in the children's bands; rocks and shoals and hidden currents traced by the care and toil and suffering of those who sailed befo1·e tLern. Let them use it wisely if they would have a safe and prosperous voyage. III. THE STEADFASTNESS OF Gon's PURPOSE Al\lID ALL THE CHANGES OF HUMAN HISTORY. David dies in the faith that "the Lord will continue Hie word." 'fhe " everla,sting covenant ordered in all things and sure '' is not fl.uctu&ting and pe1ish- able as the things and beings of earth. Steadfast order of the heavenly bodies and of the seasons a symbol of the sure covenant (Jer. xxxili. 20). The frailty of ma,n often serves to deepen our impression of the eternity of God. •Human life a tale soon told, but "the counsel of the Lord standeth fast," &c. This is our security for the triumph of the cause of truth and righteousness in the world, "All flesh is grass,'' &c. (1 Peter i. 24). Man dies, but God lives; and the hope that stays itself upon His word can never be put to shame. IV. THE CONDITIONAL NATURE OF DIVINE PROMISES. "Ilthy children take heed," &c. All Divine promises are thus conditional. Faith and practical submission needed to place us in the line of their fulfilment. God "continues His word'' to those who continue in His ways. The promises are "Yea and amen" in Christ. Be "in Him " if you would realize them.-W. Vers. 2, 3. - A charge from a dying king. The utterances of dying men naturally have weight. Those who stand on the border line between time and eternity have less temptation to disguise the truth, and are more likely than others to see things in their true relations. When those who speak to us thence are men who have long loved us, and who have ever proved worthy of our love, we must be callous indeed if their words are powerless. Exemplify by the mention of any whose whole future destiny turned upon the wish and the counsel of a dying father or friend. David's counsel to Solomon had this double value. He spoke as ~ dying man, and as a wise and loving father. Happy would it have been for the son bad this counsel always been the law of his life. 1. The an~iety of David for. the moral and spiritual welfare of his son. Some parents deem their duty done if they see their sons and daughters fairly" settled in life," without much consider- ation for character. David cared first for character, and next for circumstances. He believed that if the heart were right with God, things would of themselves go right with men. 2. The willingness of Solomon to receive such counsels. How different was his spirit from that of Adonijah (1 Kings i. 5). Though young, high- spirited, of princely rank, and already anointed king, he bows to listen to his aged father. Lessons of reverence for age, and respect to parents, to be drawn from this. In his chuge to Solomon, David inculcates- !. THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPLETE OBEDIENCE TO Goo. He had seen the terrible effects of partial obedience in Saul, his own predecessor. (Illustrate from Saul's life.) 1. This implies the recognition of God aa King. He is King of kings, and Lord of lords, and even princely Solomon was to remember that he had a Master in heaven. This would be not only for his own good, but for the welfare of his kingdom. The tyrannies, the exactions, the cruelties of an ordinary Eastern despot would be impossible to one who habitually acknowledged that be was responsible to God, and that wrongs which no human court could avenge would receive just retribution from "the Judge of all the earth." The wishes of his dying father might somewhat restrain him, but these could not have the abiding power of the l&w of the ever-living and ever-present God. What safety belongs to him who, like Joseph, says in the hour of temptation, " How can I do this great -wickedness, and sin against God .I " That thought may be ours in the darkness as well as in the light, amid strangers as well as in the precincts of home. To the lad setting out from his father's house, to the man undertaking new resi;>onsibilities, the meisige comes, "Keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk m His ways." 2. 1.'hia iwvolvea thoro'IJ1lhne11 in obedience. David uses no vain repetitions when he speaks of "statutes, commandments, judgments, and testimonies." The whou law, not a part of it only, was to be remembered. We 11,re all tempted to parti11,l obedie~Qe. OH, u; 1-11.] '11HE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 85