enterprise. Besides, as proved to be the case, David had yet enough to do in carrying on extensive wars, to subdue the enemies of God and of his people.

He was told, too, by the prophet, that, as the Israelites, from the time of their departure out of Egypt, had been in a wandering and unsettled state, God had chosen to have the ark of his covenant deposited in a tabernacle, which could be easily removed from place to place, and had not, therefore, given any directions for the building of a house for its residence. He was reminded of the signal favors which the Lord had bestowed upon him and upon the Israelites, and assured that still more abundant blessings would be shed down upon him and them. He should have a son who would build that temple the erection of which lay so near his heart, and this son would be under the peculiar protection of the Almighty. In making these promises to David and his offspring, expressions were used which clearly pointed out higher and holier privileges, and showed that reference was had, also, to his spiritual posterity, and to that Messiah, who should be one of his descendants, and whose kingdom should be an everlasting kingdom.

On hearing this message from the lips of the prophet of the Lord, David immediately repaired to the tabernacle, there to pour out the overflowings of gratitude to God, and to invoke the con

tinuance of his blessings.* He felt how utterly unworthy he was of any of the mercies which had been bestowed upon him, and that all which he had received was from the sovereign grace of God. "Who am I, O Lord God? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto ?" "For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them. Wherefore thou art great, O Lord God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears."

And "who am I, O Lord God?" may each one of us also say, in view of the Divine goodness and forbearance which have followed us all our lives. What are we but miserable sinners against the wisest and the best of beings; and what hope have we but in the abundance of his mercy towards us, through Jesus Christ! When we thank him for his favors, or implore those which we still need, it becomes us, like David, to prostrate ourselves before him with the deepest humility and self-abasement.

The humility of David was accompanied with an unshaken confidence in Jehovah, as a covenantkeeping God, and in the expression of this filial sentiment he concluded his prayer. "For thou,

* David is supposed, about this time, to have composed Psalms 2, 45, 22, 16, 118 and 110.

O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee a house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee. And now, O Lord God, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant: Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord God, hast spoken it and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever."

m

CHAPTER XXVI.

David subdues his enemies, and dedicates the spoils to God. He garrisons Edom, and reigns over all Israel. He is kind to Mephibosheth. He again is victorious over his enemies.

A few years after this we find David engaged in a war with his old enemies the Philistines, and entirely subduing them. He fought, also, with the Moabites, making such of them as he spared become tributary to him. He routed Hadadezer, king of Zobar, a country in Syria, who came, with a powerful army, to claim some territory near the Euphrates, and took from him immense spoils,

among the rest, shields of gold which he brought to Jerusalem. He destroyed two-and-twenty thousand Syrians of Damascus who came to succor Hadadezer, establishing garrisons in their country, and making them his tributaries. He brought from certain of the cities of the king of Zobah a vast quantity of brass which Solomon afterwards used for the service of the temple, in making the brazen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass. The golden shields, too, were employed in a similar way, as were the vessels of silver, of gold and of brass, presented to David by Toi, king of Hamath, as a token of gratitude for the victory which the former had obtained over Hadadezer, the enemy of Toi. Indeed, we are told that David thus dedicated entirely to the Lord all the silver and the gold taken as spoils from the various nations which he subdued. They had forfeited it by their extreme wickedness. They were deprived of it in the prosecution of the wars against them which God himself had commanded, and it was needed for that magnificent building in which his glory was to be so signally manifested.

The Edomites, in their turn, were subdued, garrisons established among them, and they made tributary to the Israelites.

Thus, we are told, "The Lord preserved David whithersoever he went. And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and jus

tice unto all his people." Joab was commanderin-chief over all the army. Jehoshaphat was the recorder, who kept an account of all the public proceedings. Zadok and Ahimelech were the priests. Seraiah was the scribe, to act as secretary to the king. Benaiah was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, who are supposed to have been David's body-guard, and his sons held the high rank of princes, or chief rulers.*

Enjoying now a season of peace, and being free from any harassing public cares, David felt that the sacred duties of friendship had strong claims upon his attention. He cherished still the liveliest recollection of one to whom he had been endeared by the tenderest ties, and with whom in early life he had made a covenant of perpetual attachment. How could he forget Jonathan! How could he fail to do all in his power to honor his memory! He may have reproached himself for having too long neglected to do this; or, what is more probable, he may have long been intending to do it, and been only waiting for a favorable season to carry his benevolent design into effect.

"Is there yet," said he, inquiring among his attendants, "any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?" Ziba, a former servant of Saul, was found and

* About this time, and while gaining some of his victories, it is thought that David composed Psalms 60 and 108.