CERTAINTY OF MESSIAH'S KINGDOM. 383 Does the prospect of such a calamity destroy David's confidence, and cut off his hope? Not in the least. He looks higher than mere family relationship, and earthly power and glory. His soul realizes the spiritual plan and purpose of God in human redemption, and his faith apprehends the glorious dominion of that future son of his, who was also to be the Son of God; and instead of being distracted or distressed, he says in terms of exultation : Although my house be not so with God; Yet He hath made with me an everlasting covenant, For this is all my salvation, and all my desire." He saw that whatever contingency might threaten his family, whatever calamity crush his successors, and thus affect the permanency of his temporal throne, the grand redeeming purpose of God, the establishment of his son on the throne of a spiritual Zion, was certain, "ordered in all things, and sure: " and "this," he says, "is all my salvation, and all my desire." To this he looked with a steady confidence, and an unwavering faith, as the means of his own salvation, and the redemption of the world: it was in this, therefore, that all his desires met and culminated. Whatever may be thought of this exposition of the difficult scripture under consideration, it is certain that what we have supposed the royal Psalmist to have apprehended, actually came to pass. The successors of David on his throne did prove disobedient and unfaithful; they fell to a fearful extent into apostasy and idolatry. Yet for a long time the Lord spared them, and upheld them on the throne, for His word's sake, and for His servant David's sake. But they persisted in their course of iniquity so generally, and to such an extent, that they were at length cut off, and all the tribes of Israel carried into captivity. But although the descendants of David were thus removed from the throne, the covenant mercies of God stood sure. In the fulness of time, the promised Saviour and Son was announced; and in strict accordance with all we have stated, it was declared of Him, that "the Lord God shall give Him the throne of His father David: and He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end." (Luke i. 32, 33.) This prediction has been fulfilled. This prophetic announcement was gloriously verified in our Lord Jesus Christ. Having passed through His course of ministry, passion, death, and resurrection, as man's incarnate Saviour, He ascended on high, and is seated on His mediatorial throne,-the Son of David, and the Son of God. His reign over the true spiritual Israel has been established in the earth, and Jesus is enthroned King in Zion. Millions of the human race have subjected themselves to His sway, and have been taken to the presence of the great King. Millions more now bow to His will, revere His gracious sway, and exult in the privilege of being subjects in the kingdom of God. And thus Christ, ruling in the Christian church, subduing the world to His dominion, verifies the covenant mercies of David, and affords an undying pledge that this glorious kingdom shall go on increasing, and ultimately become universal and everlasting. This we regard as a correct exposition of the beautiful poem entitled, "The last words of David." It sets forth his character, exhibits the nature of the revelations made to him by God, points out the happy results DAVID'S CHARACTER. 385 of his reign to the nation, and gives a remarkable proof of the great extent to which he apprehended the scheme of human redemption, and the strength of his faith in the covenant mercies of Jehovah. The concluding lines of the poem, which speak of the wicked, the danger of contact with them, and of their doom, do not come within the range of our subject. We cannot finish this sketch of the life and reign of David without a few brief concluding observations. In offering these, we must first notice his personal character. The principal events of his life have been passed in review before us; and the impression has from the first acquired increasing strength, as we have considered the man from his youth to the days of his old age, that the history of the world has shown but few men, if any, so truly great and eminent. His indomitable bravery, his daring courage, and his military genius, first demand attention. It is not necessary here to cite examples. From the days of his youth when he slew Goliath, to the personal conflict in which he narrowly escaped with his life, he was a brave, heroic soldier. With some religious persons, the continued exercise of this attribute may, perhaps, be considered rather a defect than a virtue; but such persons should consider two things. David's valour had for its ruling element mighty faith in God. He was certainly naturally courageous and valiant; but take his conflict with Goliath as the true exponent of this feature of his character. When the proud Philistine ridiculed his appearance, and spoke to him with ineffable contempt, what was his reply? He did not vaunt the power of his sling, or the strength of his arm, but said, "I come to thee in the name of the God of Israel." This was not an exceptional case, but the principle which always influenced the valour of David. L L It should further be considered that the wars of David were undertaken for the express purpose of carrying into effect the promises of God respecting His people, namely, to place them in full and undisturbed possession of the country which He had given them; and then to extend their dominion over all the countries included in the Divine promise to Abraham. The wars of David, therefore, were not mere struggles for national ascendancy or aggrandisement, but measures necessary to the accomplishment of the declared will of the Almighty respecting Israel. The only correct view to take of these numerous martial operations is to regard them as supplementary to the wars of Joshua. The son of Jesse only completed what the son of Nun had but begun; and both acted under the sanction and immediate auspices of Jehovah. He was also a statesman of no ordinary calibre. Consider the state of the kingdom when he began to reign, in comparison with the condition in which he left it. Take into account the powers of mind necessary to organize his band, and to use them during his wanderings so as to elude all the energy of Saul. Let a fair estimate be formed of the administrative ability that was necessary to keep all the countries that he had subdued in harmonious subjection to his power, -the vast empire which included Philistia, Edom, Moab, Ammon, Syria, and all the other tribes between the Mediterranean and the Euphrates. And let it be remembered that David had not simply to govern this empire; he created it first, and afterwards reigned over it. In David the feelings of the man were not lost in the warrior and the statesman. He was eminent for strong family attachment, for deep parental affection. See him lying seven days on the earth, fasting, on THE EXALTED PIETY OF DAVID. 387 account of the sickness of his infant child; hear his intense lamentation on the death of the rebel son who sought his life. Where can we find a stronger proof of pure fatherly love? Need his powers as a poet be mentioned? Have they ever been excelled, so far as the range of subject, and the class of poetry to which he devoted himself, is concerned? And if we possessed the necessary information, perhaps we should be able to say as much for his musical powers and attainments. He was evidently gifted with a pure and lofty genius in both these elegant arts. In the consideration of the character of David, his piety towards God, his earnest, devoted religion, must not be forgotten. When this is spoken of, his foul and flagrant sins are always brought to remembrance. But we should never have known the depth and sincerity, the purity and power of his religion but for these sins Here we see the deep sorrow of his repentance, the true earnest strivings of an agonized soul, succeeded by the joys of pardon, and happy intercourse with God. No higher testimony to the personal religion of David can be given than is found in the fact, that the out-spoken exercises of his soul, the operations of his faith, hope, and love to God and His sanctuary, exhibited in the Psalms, have virtually become the type and model of experimental and practical spiritual religion in all ages of the church. There is another aspect of David's character, and one certainly not the least interesting and important, which must not be lost sight of; namely, the prominent position which he was appointed to occupy in the development of the grand scheme of human redemption. If we trace the progress of this Divine plan from the fall of Adam to the close of the New Testament canon, |