(66) On the eighth day he sent the people away: and they blessed the king, and went unto their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD had done for David his servant, and for Israel his people.
See, Reader! after all the great events of this chapter, the separation and departure. Oh! that your heart, and my heart, from this view of the subject, may be led upward, to contemplate that joyful meeting, and to long for it, where we shall go out no more. And in the mean time, as the Israelites are said to have blessed the king, and rejoiced for all the goodness the Lord had shown to David, and to Israel; oh! let us, at the dose of all ordinances, and all means of grace, bless God our Father for all the goodness, grace, and mercy he hath shown us in David's Lord and King, our adored Redeemer; in having established his throne, an everlasting throne, and a kingdom which shall be forever. And oh! for that mercy to eternal life, which the apostle looked for, and which the people of God shall assuredly enjoy; that, receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, we may have grace to serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. Hebrews 12:28
REFLECTIONS
Solomon! I would honour thy memory with great honour, for the view which the blessed Spirit hath been pleased to give me of thy ministry, as set forth in the dedication of the temple. Surely, never didst thou appear so truly great, as in this instance, where thou art represented so truly humble. Thou hast shown herein, a dignity well meriting imitation: and manifested, that the most supreme station any mortal can be advanced to in life, is to minister as the servant of Jehovah.
But while I behold Solomon thus honoured of his Lord, I would pass over all thoughts of the servant, to contemplate the Master. Thou, dearest Jesus! art formed to eclipse all creature excellence. Even Solomon's temple was but a faded glory, had it not been for the representation it made of thee, and of thy redemption. Oh! precious structure, the temple of thy body! Oh! sacred building, not made with hands. United to the God-head, the foundation is eternally sure, and all the blessings contained in it, endless blessings to our souls. Here, dearest Lord! in thee I see security from all evils whensoever, or wheresoever, any poor sinner who feels and knows the plague of his own heart, directs the eye of faith to thee for salvation. Though he trespass against his neighbor; though he trespass against his own soul; though he transgress against the Lord his God; and though he be carried away captive by his spiritual enemies, far from the land of his fathers; yet, if from thence, his whole heart and his whole soul be directed to Jesus, Jesus will hear from heaven, the habitation of his holiness and his glory; for he hath said; Look unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else, beside me there is no Saviour! Help me then, dearest Jesus, to have mine eyes and my whole heart eternally fixed on thee. It is thy gracious office to know all my circumstances, to direct all my ways, to observe, to pity, to regard, and still to love me in every state and every case. Oh! Lord God! let not only my eyes, but the eyes of all poor sinners, whose redemption thou hast purchased with thy blood, be gazing upon thee with holy longing, fervent waiting and continual desire: and even under the most discouraging circumstances, even if, like Jonah, I am tempted at any time to exclaim, I am cast out of the sight of thine eyes; yet, like him, to have faith still to say, I will look again towards thine holy temple. Oh! let that precious experience in thy blessed word be mine; in which it is said; they looked unto him and were lightened; and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.