2 Samuel 8

2 Samuel 8:David’s Further Conquests

1 After this it came to pass that David attacked the Philistines and subdued them. And David took Metheg Ammah from the hand of the Philistines. 2 Then he defeated Moab. Forcing them down to the ground, he measured them off with a line. With two lines he measured off those to be put to death, and with one full line those to be kept alive. So the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought tribute.

“‘After this’ etc. ‘This is not a temporal clause.” [John T. Willis] It has nothing to do with chronology. The NIV renders it, ‘In the course of time’; and Willis affirmed that the word 'Now' might be better." (Coffman Commentary) “Out of action he would not be; but seeing he might not build God a house, he would, by subduing his enemies on all hands, provide for his son Solomon both peace - the daughter of war - and spoils for materials great store. And it is observable that he assailed no nation which he overcame not, besieged no city which he took not; the same which our chronicles affirm of David.” (John Trapp)

"After the house of David in the previous chapter, in this chapter comes his kingdom. When the house is established, there is also strength to fight. David has been in the sanctuary and is now coming outside to gain victories. We can overcome enemies by the Spirit. The Lord Jesus has conquered the world and we can do so in the power of His Spirit.” (G. de Koning) “Beware,” says One greater than David, “My Kingdom is not of this world or else My disciples would fight.”

“‘After this it came to pass that David attacked the Philistines and subdued them.’ The first campaign was against David’s old friends, the Philistines. In former battles, David seems to have been content with driving them out of his territories--now he attacked them in their own…. It was now David’s lot, amid the vicissitudes of the world, to attack the place where he had once been sheltered--to hurl his weapons against the king (if he was still alive) whose hospitality he had experienced.” (The Biblical Illustrator) “Not even their disastrous discomfiture near the plain of Rephaim had taught submission to that restless people. On this occasion David carried the war into their own country, and took some of their towns, establishing garrisons there, as the Philistines had done formerly in the land of Israel.” (The Expositor's Bible Commentary) “Samson was long ago the man who had been told he would begin to defeat the Philistines (Jdg 13:5), but Samson himself was defeated by them. The same goes for Saul. David has already begun to defeat the Philistines (2Sam 5:17-25) and is now completing his work. This brings to an end a long period in which the people of God were delivered to the power of the Philistines.” (G. de Koning)— “‘And David took Metheg Ammah from the hand of the Philistines.’ The Hebrew name “Methegammah” means, “bridle of bondage.” The Phillistine had kept the upper hand since the days of Joshua, but now Israel.

Then he defeated Moab. “For although the king of Moab, out of hatred to Saul, gave protection to David’s parents, 1 Samuel 22:3-4; yet the Moabites were perpetual and sworn enemies to the Israelites, who therefore were forbidden to admit them into the congregation of the Lord. God indeed commanded the Israelites, in their march to Canaan, to spare the Moabites for the sake of their progenitor Lot, but afterward they became such fierce enemies to him and his people, that he was provoked to treat them in a different manner.” (Joseph Benson)

“Here a pre-fulfilment of the prophecy of Balaam takes place: ‘A star shall come forth from Jacob, a scepter shall rise from Israel, and shall crush through the forehead of Moab’ (Num 24:17)….. The Moabites remained indebted to Israel until after the death of Ahab. Then they rebelled and were never subjected again (2Kgs 3:4-5). The final submission, according to the quoted prophecy of Balaam, will be done by ‘the star of Jacob” and the ‘scepter of Israel’, which in reality refers to the Lord Jesus, the Messiah of Israel.” (G. de Koning)—

“‘Forcing them down to the ground, he measured them off with a line..” “As a carpenter marketh out with a line Isa 44:13 what he meaneth to hew off. Compare Isaiah 34:11 .— ‘And with one full line to keep alive.’— See a like mixture of severity and mercy in Zechariah 13:8-9 . So Christ will at the last day shed and sever the sheep from the goats.” (John Trapp) “Many an Eastern conqueror would have put the whole army to the sword; David with a measuring line measured two-thirds for destruction and a full third for preservation. Thus the Moabites in the south-east were subdued as thoroughly as the Philistines in the south-west, and brought tribute to the conqueror, in token of their subjection.” (The Expositor's Bible Commentary) He executed what seems to be a very personal Judgment for he knew them personally.

"David at one time had trusted the Moabites to the extent of lodging his father and mother with the king of Moab while David was a fugitive from Saul (1 Samuel 22:3-4). ‘Whatever the Moabites had done to provoke this action by David, must have made him very angry.’ [John T. Willis]…In the total absence of any other explanation of this, we find these words from Jamieson a possible reason for what otherwise must remain a mystery: ‘Jewish writers assert that the cause of this particular severity against the Moabites was their having massacred David's parents and family, whom he had, during his exile, entrusted to them.’[Jamieson, Fausset, Brown]…” (Coffman Commentary) Consider the eternal Judgment of Emmanuel:

“Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.” (Revelation 11:1) “The reed must then symbolize the word or Gospel in its function of determining who is in the church and who is outside of its bounds.” (Lenski) Measure, that; is, “take an exact estimate of the temple, of the altar, and of the true worshippers.” (Albert Barnes) “In Old Testament times, measuring involved judgment with regard to who would live and who would die. For example David 'defeated Moab, and measured them with the line, making them lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death and one full line to keep alive' (2 Samuel 8:2).” (Ranko Stephanovic)— “But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.” (Revelation 11:2) At the time of Jesus, there were man-made divisions in the temple that were not in the design. “The court outside the temple corresponds to the court to which Gentiles had access in the first century, which lay outside the court into which only Jews could come.” (Dr. Thomas B.Constable) In the end-time, the Gentiles or Hellenized Christians “will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.” (2b) So-called pastors teach things contrary to the Word of God, which lives and will abides forever. — “And do not measure it— “Kenneth Strand suggests that the only Old Testament background which adequately explains the measuring process specified in Revelation 11:1 is Leviticus 16. He shows persuasively how the measuring of the temple, altar, and worshipers has its most complete thematic parallel with the description of the Israelite Day of Atonement ritual. On that day, atonement was made for the priest themselves, the sanctuary, the altar, and the congregation. The only other place in the Bible where the sanctuary, the altar, and the people are mentioning together is here in Revelation 11:1–2. 'With the exception of the omission of the priesthood in Revelation 11:1, the same three elements under review are common to both passages: temple, altar and worshipers. The fact that one particular omission is made is perfectly logical, for Christ as New Testament High Priest, would need no atonement (or 'measuring') made for Himself." (Ranko Stephanovic)

2 Samuel 8:David’s Further Conquests

3 David also defeated (smote) Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his territory at the River Euphrates. 4 David took from him one thousand chariots, seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. Also David hamstrung all the chariot horses, except that he spared enough of them for one hundred chariots.

“David remembered the grant (the promise) which God had made to his people of all the land, as far as that river; and, having subdued his neighbouring enemies, went to recover his rights, according to the divine promise and gift.” (Joseph Benson)

The promise- “On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: ‘To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates— the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.’” (Gen 15:18-21)

The trust of Israel- “There must have been some remarkable stroke of genius in this achievement, for nothing is more apt to embarrass and baffle a commonplace general (Hadadezer) than the presence of an opposing force to which his army affords no counterpart.” (The Expositor's Bible Commentary) “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.” (Psalm 20:7)

“‘David also smote Hadadezer,’ etc. as those former people of Moab devoted for destruction, ‘as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrate’s.’ When Hadadezer attempted to recover his shattered power on the Euphrates, David completed the work begun by Saul and brought the entire territory into subjection to him.” (Kretzmann's Popular Commentary)

"'David took from him one thousand chariots, seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. Also David hamstrung all the chariot horses" (4) Hamstringing horses is inhumane and not Hebrew policy. Suffering had no part in their policy of the people of God, except stripes (supervised by a priest) for sins not deserving of death.

Some think that David hamstrung some the horses and took others contrary to the law of God. However, I believe that David “took” them and subsequently he “cutoff” all the horses from the chariots (2 Sam 8:4b; cp. Josh 11:6), just as the LORD had commanded Joshua. Adam Clarke explained: “The Hebrew word עקר akar, which we render to hough or hamstring, signifies to wound, cut, or lop off. It is very likely that it means here, not only an act by which they were rendered useless, but by which they were destroyed; as God had purposed that his people should not possess any cattle of this kind, that a warlike and enterprising spirit might not be cultivated among them; and that, when obliged to defend themselves and their country, they might be led to depend upon God for protection and victory. On the same ground, God had forbidden the kings of Israel to multiply horses, Deut 17:16.”

“The destruction of the chariot horses, seems to have been done in conformity to that law of God, which forbad the Israelites from increasing their cavalry, lest they should thereby be tempted to put their trust in horses and chariots, See Deuteronomy 17:16 ; Psalms 20:7.” (Poor Man's Commentary) “So in the hard conflicts we have to sustain with the world, Christ has instructed us to be wise as serpents, and bold as lions: and by bidding us, as Joshua, not to be afraid, he gives us the pledge of victory-” (Sutcliffe) by the Spirit. “Nothing could be better timed than these words as a preparation for the work that had to be done” (A. B. Mackay) We are so few, but “it is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has been become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.” (1 Cor 1:30)

“‘Except that he spared enough of them for one hundred chariots.’ (4b) He kept a tithe of the the chariots to carry the booty of war of the things that were not devoted for destruction.- perhaps the gold and bronze (see 2 Samuel 8:5-8) for the house of God when his son might build it, according to the instructions given to Moses on the mount for the tabernacle.

2 Samuel 8: David’s Further Conquests

5 When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand of the Syrians. 6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought tribute. So the Lord preserved David wherever he went. 7 And David took the shields of gold that had belonged to the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 Also from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a large amount of bronze.

“The Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah. They do this to their own destruction. All the conspiracy against the LORD and His anointed one only simplifies the judgment of them. The enemies of God are also joined together in the end times by an invisible power to be completely destroyed in one moment (Isa 8:9).” (G. de Koning)— “David killed twenty-two thousand of the Syrians.” (5). “The enemies of God's church, that think to secure themselves, will prove, in the end, to ruin themselves, by their confederacies with each other. Associate yourselves, and you shall be broken in pieces, Isaiah 8:9.” (Matthew Henry)

“‘Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus.’ To hold them in subjection he placed posts, garrisons in their territory, comp. 1 Samuel 10:5; 1 Samuel 13:3. ‘He made them subject and tributary to him.’” (P. J. Lange)“Which lay north of Judea, as the Moabites did east, the Philistines west, and the Edomites 2Sa 8:14 south. Thus he laid about him lustily; beating his enemies on all sides; himself the chief actor.” (John Trapp)—

“And the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought tribute’ to purchase their peace, and acknowledge their subjection to him.” (Matthew Poole) “’So the Lord preserved David wherever he went.’ It seems, he went in person, and, in the cause of God and Israel, jeoparded his own life in the high places of the field; but God covered his head in the day of battle, which he often speaks of, in his psalms, to the glory of God.” (Matthew Henry) “Reader! what a sweet thought is it, to be always under the eye, upheld by the arm, directed by the hand, and beloved in the heart of our blessed and all powerful Jesus!… Surely if Jesus hath purchased me with his blood, it must imply, that from so dear a price, the object of his purchase must be dear to him also; and he will preserve it whithersoever it goeth.” (Poor Man's Commentary)

I may die but I will live again at the resurrection. “‘And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.’ For the use of the temple.” (Geneva Study Bible) This is taught in the types of the tabernacle in the wilderness. “Shields of gold (v.7) were not the proper possession of Hadadezer and his servants. For gold speaks of the glory of God, and Syria cannot honestly claim to be seeking God's glory as is true of God's chosen King, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (L. M. Grant) — “‘And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.’ Called afterwards [by Israel] Tibhath and Chun. 1Ch 18:8…” (Trapp)— "'King David took a large amount of bronze.' Wherewith Solomon made the brazen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass’ 1 Chronicles 18:8. “ (Albert Barnes) This speaks of the Judgment of God. “The enemies of God's church may associate themselves, but they shall be broken to pieces. (2.) Better to be relied on than shields of gold, is God, the shield and the defence of every spiritual Israelite.” (Thomas Coke)

The gold and brass were not devoted for destruction. They could be consecrated for use in the house of God. “So you remember last week David had expressed his desire to Nathan to build a house for God. Nathan off the top of his head said, ‘Oh, do everything that you want to do!’ Then God spoke to Nathan and said, ‘You spoke out of turn. David can't build a house for me, you must go and tell David because he is a man of war, he's a bloody man, has been bloodied by battles and all, he cannot build a house for me. But I will build David a house,’ and He prophesied of the coming Messiah.But even though he was refused by God, the privilege of building a house for God, yet David then set about to raise all of the treasure for the house of God. In other words, he started gathering gold and silver, and brass in abundance. Laying up a huge store so that when his son Solomon went to build a house of God, all they needed for the gold vessels and the silver vessels, and all, was already gathered by David. So the Lord didn't say anything, ‘You can't gather together all the loot to build the house,’ so David set about gathering the wealth in order that the house might be built.He not only did that, he drew up the plans for the house of God, so that Solomon only had to build it. David did everything but build it, really. He gathered all of the precious metals and all, he gathered, he created the plans, and then he left it to Solomon his son to build the house of God.” (Smith's Commentary)

"Jesus answered and said to them, 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up [by resurrection].' Then the Jews said, 'It has taken forty-six years to build this temple [not Solomon's but the second temple], and will You raise it up in three days?'

But He was speaking of the temple of His body." (John 2:19-21)

2 Samuel 8: David’s Further Conquests

9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer, 10 then Toi sent Joram his son to King David, to greet him and bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him (for Hadadezer had been at war with Toi); and Joram brought with him articles of silver, articles of gold, and articles of bronze. 11 King David also dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he had subdued— 12 from Syria, from Moab, from the people of Ammon, from the Philistines, from Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

“The people of Hamath were descendants of Ham and Canaan (Genesis 10:18).” (F. N. Peluobet) They were cursed by Noah for Ham’s act, but we see this generation with a blessing for greeting and blessing Israel. "This [land] was contiguous to Hadadezer; and led him to wage war with Toi, that he might get possession of his territories.” (Adam Clarke) The subjects subjected themselves to the kingdom of Israel. “For seeing David victorious, he was glad to ask for peace.” (Geneva Study Bible) “Toi does not come forced, but voluntarily. In the realm of peace, kings and realms will be subjected with an iron rod, while others will voluntarily submit to the rule of the Lord Jesus (Psalm 18:43-45).” (G. de Koning)

When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated his old enemy, “then Toi sent Joram his son to King David, to greet him and bless him,’ in Toi’s name, properly, to ask after his welfare, comp. Genesis 43:2, 27) to bless him, that is, to congratulate him on his victory over Hadadezer. The reason for this congratulation is given in the words: ‘for a man of wars of Toi was Hadadezer,’ that is, Hadadezer carried on constant wars with Toi;” (Lange’s Commentary)— He was ruthless. “‘And Joram— the king’s son— brought with him articles of silver, articles of gold, and articles of bronze. King David also dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he had subdued’ (10b-11) —The offering David made to God of the spoils of the nations and all the rich things that were brought him. He dedicated all to the LORD, 2 Samuel 8:11; 2 Samuel 8:12. This crowned all his victories, and made them far to out-shine Alexander's or Caesar's, that they sought their own glory, but he aimed at the glory of God.” (Matthew Henry)

“Toi, king of Hamath is typical of those Gentiles who will willingly submit to the authority of the Lord Jesus when He is manifested in glory.” (L. M. Grant) “That the temple is built from the spoils and gifts of pagan peoples shows God’s benevolence to the pagans. The house of God will therefore be called ‘a house of prayer for all nations’ (Isa 56:7). We see the same with the new Jerusalem. And we read of ‘the kings of the earth’ that they ‘bring their glory to her’ (Rev 21:24).” (G. de Koning) As it was with the gold, silver and bronze, so shall it be with our talents— "For the building and beautifying of his temple. So did Christ, when he went forth conquering and to conquer, Rev 6:2 make use of the spoils he took from the world for the good of his Church, and for the building up of that spiritual temple.” (Trapp)

2 Samuel 8: David Makes a Name

13 And David made himself a name when he returned from killing eighteen thousand Syrians in the Valley of Salt. 14 He also put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the LORD preserved David wherever he went.

“‘And David gat him a name,’ etc. To get a name, in the Eastern style, does not mean to be called by this or that particular name, but to be celebrated as a happy and glorious person. Thus it is joined with praise, Zephaniah 3:20. It is said of God himself, upon account of the signs and wonders he wrought in Egypt, thou hast made thee a name; which our version in Dan 9:15 renders, thou hast gotten thee renown.” (Thomas Coke)— “‘when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of Salt.’ “In this place they are said to be Syrians, but in 1 Chronicles 18:12, and in the title of Psalms 60:1, which was composed on account of these victories, they are called Edomites, and said to be of Edom; which may be reconciled by observing, that the Syrians and Edomites were confederates in this war; and that whereas the latter were auxiliaries to the former, the whole body of the army might be called Syrians.” (Gill)

Esau sold his bithright for a pot of lentils. And therefore got a different blessing- he would be a great nation but would serve his brother. "Esau would be under Jacob, but not forever. The promise also was that Esau would break his yoke from your neck.” (David Guzik)

These were descendants of Esau. Earlier in the history of Israel, "Moses had sent ambassadors from Kadesh to the king of Edom to seek a passage through their land on the way to Canaan. (Num20:21) The best route- the King's Highway- passed right through their country. They told him all about their recent hardships "to ingratiate themselves to the Edomites, and gain their request, pleading relation to them." (Gill) But the king of Edom would not help their brother nation and thus eventually aligned themselves with the enemy of Israel from the north- Syria, which is prophetic of the end-time (Cp. Daniel 11).

Esau became subservient to Jacob. David "also put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became David’s servants.” (14) “In this way and at this moment the blessing of Isaac is fulfilled, in which he made Jacob lord over Esau (Gen 27:37-40).” (G. de Koning) "Though Esau was not personally subject to his brother, his posterity were tributary to the Israelites, till the reign of Joram when they revolted and established a kingdom of their own (2 Ki 8:20; 2 Chron 21:8-10).”(Jamieson, Fausset, Brown)

But the yoke could be completely broken off by joining themselves (not to any nation but) to the Messiah of Israel- the Prince of Peace. “’And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.’ It was due to God's protection, to his blessing, that David was so successful in his campaign.” (Paul E. Kretzmann) "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:11)

2 Samuel 8:David’s Administration

15 So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered judgment and justice to all his people. 16 Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; 17 Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests; Seraiah was the scribe; 18 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the executioners and runners; and David’s sons were chief ministers.

The calling of God is without repentance by God but people fail in answering their callings.

“‘And David reigned over all Israel.’ Not only over Judah, but over all the tribes of Israel, and over the whole land of Canaan, as promised to Abraham, Genesis 15:18; reaching to the river Euphrates, as Syria did, now conquered by David.” (John Gill) The people of Israel “were his loyal subjects at home; like as his foes abroad were his slaves and vassals; the bounds of his kingdom also were extended to the uttermost, as God had anciently promised.” (John Trapp) “‘‘And David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.’ “Note how this is also to be the sign of the great everlasting king (Isaiah 11:1-4).” (Peter Pett)

The twelve tribes had judges (Deuteronomy 16:18) but when these magistrates brought cases to him, he judged fairly. “When he returned from his wars, he heard and tried all causes impartially, brought before him, and gave sentence according to the law of God, and administered righteous judgment without any respect to persons; all had justice done them that applied unto him, whether high or low, rich or poor; and indeed during his wars he was not negligent of the civil government of his subjects, and the distribution of justice to them by proper officers, in which he was a type of Christ; see Isaiah 11:5.” (John Gill)

“The sacred writer no sooner gives us an account of David’s executing justice and judgment, but he immediately adds a list of the great officers then employed by him. For a principal part of a king’s wisdom, as well as of his felicity, consists in the choice of able ministers to discharge the great offices of the state.” (Delaney) “Order prevailed in all things.” (Gaebelein)

“‘And Joab the son of Zeruiah [was] over the host,’.... Joab having doubtless declared his repentance for his former crimes, and having done eminent service for his country, and having received the chief command by virtue of David’s promise and contract, 2 Samuel 5:8, was still continued in his place.” (Matthew Poole) “This honour he had purchased by his valour, 1Ch 11:6 but [finally] forfeited by his blood-guiltiness.” (John Trapp)

“‘And Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud [was] recorder’; of memorable events, who kept a diary of whatsoever remarkable happened, which were digested into a chronicle.” (John Gill) Good and bad was recorded by him. He was no whitewasher or window-dresser.

“‘Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests.’ “Ahimelech… being the only high priest: till he was thrust out by Solomon for siding with Adonijah; and Zadek set in his room. 1Ki 2:25 ; 1Ki 2:27.” (John Trapp)

“‘Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites.’ Here brave men are added to Israel. “Then there was a captain of the Cherethites ( 1 Sam 30:13) and Pelethites, the bodyguard of foreign mercenaries now first appearing in Israelite history....Pelethite only occurs in the phrase ‘Cherethites and Pelethites,’ the title of the bodyguard; it is generally regarded as a variant of Philistine.” (Author Peake) They were “great and mighty men of stature, but proselytes and professors of the true religion.” (John Trapp) These were “the king's body-guard, who not only carried out the royal orders, but also executed the royal death sentences, being executioners and runners.” (Kretzmann)

“Finally, the sons of David were made priests, or as the A.V. has it, ‘chief rulers,’ the reference undoubtedly being to positions of civic, rather than religious, authority.” (Morgan's Exposition) However, “Samuel's sons did not walk in Samuels ways (1 Samuel 8:3), and Absalom certainly did not walk in David's ways (2 Samuel 13:28-29).” (L. M. Grant) Absalom judged the people though he had no such calling and stole their hearts with flattery.

“Our Lord Jesus has appointed officers in his kingdom, for his honour and the good of the community; when he ascended on high he gave these gifts (Ephesians 4:8-11), to every man his work,Mark 13:34. David made his sons chief rulers; but all believers, Christ's spiritual seed, are better preferred, for they are made to our God kings and priests, Revelation 1:6.” (Henry)“Those who do the work of preparation and those who inherit and carry on their labour are one in the kingdom of God. The man who fells the tree, and digs up the roots, and plans out the ground for a city, is a co-worker with him who raises the walls and builds the palaces. Without the toil of the first the work of the latter could not be accomplished, but there is danger that, when the whole is finished, the part which the first labourer had in the work may be forgotten. David, in what we may believe was far less congenial work than the building of a temple would have been, made the building of that temple possible, and, by the establishment of an orderly system of Divine worship and service, educated the spiritual perceptions of the people, so that, when they possessed a more permanent and gorgeous house of God, they might understand that it was but the means to an end—only the outward and visible sign of an inward and unseen reality—of that worship of the heart and homage of the life, without which all other gifts and service are not only worthless in the sight of God, but an insult and an abomination. Let no worker for God be discouraged because he cannot do the completed work upon which he has set his heart, it is a law of the Divine kingdom that one man ‘sows and another reaps.’ The sowing is not the most joyous part of the work, but for this very reason it may be more honourable, and is that without which the other could not exist.” (Preacher's Homiletical)