161 And they bring in the ark of God, and set it up in the midst of the tent that David hath stretched out for it, and they bring near burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before God; 2 and David ceaseth from offering the burnt-offering and the peace-offerings, and blesseth the people in the name of Jehovah, 3 and giveth a portion to every man of Israel, both man and woman: to each a cake of bread, and a measure of wine, and a grape-cake. 4 And he putteth before the ark of Jehovah, of the Levites, ministers, even to make mention of, and to thank, and to give praise to Jehovah, God of Israel, 5 Asaph the head, and his second Zechariah; Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, with instruments of psalteries, and with harps; and Asaph with cymbals is sounding; 6 and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests 'are' with trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.
7 On that day then hath David given at the beginning to give thanks to Jehovah by the hand of Asaph and his brethren:— 8 Give thanks to Jehovah, call in His name, Make known among the peoples His doings. 9 Sing ye to Him, sing psalms to Him, Meditate on all His wonders. 10 Boast yourselves in His holy name, Rejoice doth the heart of those seeking Jehovah. 11 Seek ye Jehovah and His strength, Seek His face continually. 12 Remember His wonders that He did, His signs, and the judgments of His mouth, 13 O seed of Israel, His servant, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones! 14 He 'is' Jehovah our God, In all the earth 'are' His judgments. 15 Remember ye to the age His covenant, The word He commanded—To a thousand generations, 16 Which He hath made with Abraham, And His oath—to Isaac, 17 And He establisheth it to Jacob for a statute, To Israel—a covenant age-during. 18 Saying: To thee I give the land of Canaan, The portion of your inheritance, 19 When ye are few of number, As a little thing, and sojourners in it. 20 And they go up and down, From nation unto nation, And from a kingdom unto another people. 21 He hath not suffered any to oppress them, And reproveth on their account kings: 22 Come not against Mine anointed ones, And against My prophets do not evil. 23 Sing to Jehovah, all the earth, Proclaim from day unto day His salvation. 24 Rehearse among nations His glory, Among all the peoples His wonders. 25 For great 'is' Jehovah, and praised greatly, And fearful He 'is' above all gods. 26 For all gods of the peoples 'are' nought, And Jehovah the heavens hath made. 27 Honour and majesty 'are' before Him, Strength and joy 'are' in His place. 28 Ascribe to Jehovah, ye families of peoples, Ascribe to Jehovah honour and strength. 29 Ascribe to Jehovah the honour of His name, Lift up a present, and come before Him. Bow yourselves to Jehovah, In the beauty of holiness. 30 Be pained before Him, all the earth: 31 Also, established is the world, It is not moved! The heavens rejoice, and the earth is glad, And they say among nations: Jehovah hath reigned. 32 Roar doth the sea, and its fulness, Exult doth the field, and all that 'is' in it, 33 Then sing do trees of the forest, From the presence of Jehovah, For He hath come to judge the earth! 34 Give thanks to Jehovah, for good, For to the age, 'is' His kindness, 35 And say, Save us, O God of our salvation, And gather us, and deliver us from the nations, To give thanks to Thy holy name, To triumph in Thy praise. 36 Blessed 'is' Jehovah, God of Israel, From the age and unto the age;' And all the people say, 'Amen,' and have given praise to Jehovah.
37 And he leaveth there before the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, for Asaph and for his brethren, to minister before the ark continually, according to the matter of a day in its day, 38 both Obed-Edom and their brethren, sixty and eight, and Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun, and Hosah for gatekeepers, 39 and Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of Jehovah, in a high place that 'is' in Gibeon, 40 to cause to ascend burnt-offerings to Jehovah, on the altar of burnt-offering continually, morning and evening, and for all that is written in the law of Jehovah, that He charged on Israel. 41 And with them 'are' Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen, who were defined by name, to give thanks to Jehovah, for to the age 'is' His kindness, 42 and with them—Heman and Jeduthun—'are' trumpets and cymbals for those sounding, and instruments of the song of God, and the sons of Jeduthun 'are' at the gate. 43 And all the people go, each to his house, and David turneth round to bless his house.
171 And it cometh to pass as David sat in his house, that David saith unto Nathan the prophet, 'Lo, I am dwelling in a house of cedars, and the ark of the covenant of Jehovah 'is' under curtains;' 2 and Nathan saith unto David, 'All that 'is' in thy heart do, for God 'is' with thee.' 3 And it cometh to pass on that night that a word of God is unto Nathan, saying, 4 'Go, and thou hast said unto David My servant, Thus said Jehovah, Thou dost not build for Me the house to dwell in: 5 for I have not dwelt in a house from the day that I brought up Israel till this day, and I am from tent unto tent: and from the tabernacle, 6 whithersoever I have walked up and down among all Israel, a word spake I, with one of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed My people, saying, Why have ye not built for Me a house of cedars? 7 'And now, thus dost thou say to My servant, to David, Thus said Jehovah of Hosts, I have taken thee from the habitation, from after the sheep, to be leader over My people Israel, 8 and I am with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and I cut off all thine enemies from thy presence, and have made for thee a name like the name of the great ones who 'are' in the earth. 9 'And I have prepared a place for My people Israel, and planted it, and it hath dwelt in its place, and is not troubled any more, and the sons of perverseness add not to wear it out as at first, 10 yea, even from the days that I appointed judges over My people Israel. 'And I have humbled all thine enemies, and I declare to thee that a house doth Jehovah build for thee, 11 and it hath come to pass, when thy days have been fulfilled to go with thy fathers, that I have raised up thy seed after thee, who is of thy sons, and I have established his kingdom, 12 he doth build for Me a house, and I have established his throne unto the age; 13 I am to him for a father, and he is to Me for a son, and My kindness I turn not aside from him as I turned it aside from him who was before thee, 14 and I have established him in My house, and in My kingdom unto the age, and his throne is established unto the age.' 15 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so spake Nathan unto David.
16 And David the king cometh in and sitteth before Jehovah, and saith, 'Who 'am' I, O Jehovah God, and what my house, that Thou hast brought me hitherto? 17 And this is small in Thine eyes, O God, and Thou speakest concerning the house of thy servant afar off, and hast seen me as a type of the man who is on high, O Jehovah God! 18 'What doth David add more unto Thee for the honour of Thy servant; and Thou Thy servant hast known. 19 O Jehovah, for Thy servant's sake, and according to Thine own heart Thou hast done all this greatness, to make known all these great things. 20 O Jehovah, there is none like Thee, and there is no god save Thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 21 'And who 'is' as Thy people Israel, one nation in the earth whom God hath gone to ransom to Him for a people, to make for Thee a name great and fearful, to cast out from the presence of Thy people whom Thou hast ransomed out of Egypt—nations? 22 Yea, Thou dost appoint Thy people Israel to Thee for a people unto the age, and Thou, O Jehovah, hast been to them for God. 23 'And now, O Jehovah, the word that Thou hast spoken concerning Thy servant, and concerning his house, let be stedfast unto the age, and do as Thou hast spoken; 24 and let it be stedfast, and Thy name is great unto the age, saying, Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel, is God to Israel, and the house of Thy servant David is established before Thee; 25 for Thou, O my God, Thou hast uncovered the ear of Thy servant—to build to him a house, therefore hath Thy servant found to pray before Thee. 26 'And now, Jehovah, Thou 'art' God Himself, and Thou speakest concerning Thy servant this goodness; 27 and now, Thou hast been pleased to bless the house of Thy servant, to be to the age before Thee; for Thou, O Jehovah, hast blessed, and it is blessed to the age.'
181 And it cometh to pass after this, that David smiteth the Philistines, and humbleth them, and taketh Gath and its small towns out of the hand of the Philistines; 2 and he smiteth Moab, and the Moabites are servants to David, bringing a present. 3 And David smiteth Hadarezer king of Zobah, at Hamath, in his going to establish his power by the river Phrat, 4 and David captureth from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen, and David destroyeth utterly all the chariots, and leaveth of them a hundred chariots 'only'. 5 And Aram of Damascus cometh in to give help to Hadarezer king of Zobah, and David smiteth in Aram twenty and two thousand men, 6 and David putteth 'garrisons' in Aram of Damascus, and the Aramaeans are to David for servants, bearing a present, and Jehovah giveth salvation to David whithersoever he hath gone. 7 And David taketh the shields of gold that have been on the servants of Hadarezer, and bringeth them in to Jerusalem; 8 and from Tibhath, and from Chun, cities of Hadarezer, hath David taken very much brass; with it hath Solomon made the brazen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass.
9 And Tou king of Hamath heareth that David hath smitten the whole force of Hadarezer king of Zobah, 10 and he sendeth Hadoram his son unto king David, to ask of him of peace, and to bless him (because that he hath fought against Hadarezer, and smiteth him, for a man of wars with Tou had Hadarezer been,) and all kinds of vessels, of gold, and silver, and brass; 11 also them hath king David sanctified to Jehovah with the silver and the gold that he hath taken from all the nations, from Edom, and from Moab, and from the sons of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek. 12 And Abishai son of Zeruiah hath smitten Edom in the valley of salt—eighteen thousand, 13 and he putteth in Edom garrisons, and all the Edomites are servants to David; and Jehovah saveth David whithersoever he hath gone.
14 And David reigneth over all Israel, and he is doing judgment and righteousness to all his people, 15 and Joab son of Zeruiah 'is' over the host, and Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud 'is' remembrancer, 16 and Zadok son of Ahitub, and Abimelech son of Abiathar, 'are' priests, and Shavsha 'is' scribe, 17 and Benaiah son of Jehoiada 'is' over the Cherethite and the Pelethite, and the elder sons of David 'are' at the hand of the king.
28 Jesus cried, therefore, in the temple, teaching and saying, 'Ye have both known me, and ye have known whence I am; and I have not come of myself, but He who sent me is true, whom ye have not known; 29 and I have known Him, because I am from Him, and He did send me.' 30 They were seeking, therefore, to seize him, and no one laid the hand on him, because his hour had not yet come, 31 and many out of the multitude did believe in him, and said—'The Christ—when he may come—will he do more signs than these that this one did?'
32 The Pharisees heard the multitude murmuring these things concerning him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers that they may take him; 33 Jesus, therefore, said to them, 'Yet a little time I am with you, and I go away unto Him who sent me; 34 ye will seek me, and ye shall not find; and where I am, ye are not able to come.' 35 The Jews, therefore, said among themselves, 'Whither is this one about to go that we shall not find him?—to the dispersion of the Greeks is he about to go? and to teach the Greeks; 36 what is this word that he said, Ye will seek me, and ye shall not find? and, Where I am, ye are not able to come?'
37 And in the last, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, 'If any one doth thirst, let him come unto me and drink; 38 he who is believing in me, according as the Writing said, Rivers out of his belly shall flow of living water;' 39 and this he said of the Spirit, which those believing in him were about to receive; for not yet was the Holy Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
40 Many, therefore out of the multitude, having heard the word, said, 'This is truly the Prophet;' 41 others said, 'This is the Christ;' and others said, 'Why, out of Galilee doth the Christ come? 42 Did not the Writing say, that out of the seed of David, and from Bethlehem—the village where David was—the Christ doth come?' 43 A division, therefore, arose among the multitude because of him. 44 And certain of them were willing to seize him, but no one laid hands on him;
45 the officers came, therefore, unto the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, 'Wherefore did ye not bring him?' 46 The officers answered, 'Never so spake man—as this man.' 47 The Pharisees, therefore, answered them, 'Have ye also been led astray? 48 did any one out of the rulers believe in him? or out of the Pharisees? 49 but this multitude, that is not knowing the law, is accursed.' 50 Nicodemus saith unto them—he who came by night unto him—being one of them, 51 'Doth our law judge the man, if it may not hear from him first, and know what he doth?' 52 They answered and said to him, 'Art thou also out of Galilee? search and see, that a prophet out of Galilee hath not risen;'
53 and each one went on to his house, but Jesus went on to the mount of the Olives.
(Read John 7:25-30)
Christ proclaimed aloud, that they were in error in their thoughts about his origin. He was sent of God, who showed himself true to his promises. This declaration, that they knew not God, with his claim to peculiar knowledge, provoked the hearers; and they sought to take him, but God can tie men's hands, though he does not turn their hearts.
(Read John 7:31-36)
The discourses of Jesus convinced many that he was the Messiah; but they had not courage to own it. It is comfort to those who are in the world, but not of it, and therefore are hated by it and weary of it, that they shall not be in it always, that they shall not be in it long. Our days being evil, it is well they are few. The days of life and of grace do not last long; and sinners, when in misery, will be glad of the help they now despise. Men dispute about such sayings, but the event will explain them.
(Read John 7:37-39)
On the last day of the feast of tabernacles, the Jews drew water and poured it out before the Lord. It is supposed that Christ alluded to this. If any man desires to be truly and for ever happy, let him apply to Christ, and be ruled by him. This thirst means strong desires after spiritual blessings, which nothing else can satisfy; so the sanctifying and comforting influences of the Holy Spirit, were intended by the waters which Jesus called on them to come to Him and drink. The comfort flows plentifully and constantly as a river; strong as a stream to bear down the opposition of doubts and fears. There is a fulness in Christ, of grace for grace. The Spirit dwelling and working in believers, is as a fountain of living, running water, out of which plentiful streams flow, cooling and cleansing as water. The miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit we do not expect, but for his more common and more valuable influences we may apply. These streams have flowed from our glorified Redeemer, down to this age, and to the remote corners of the earth. May we be anxious to make them known to others.
(Read John 7:40-53)
The malice of Christ's enemies is always against reason, and sometimes the staying of it cannot be accounted for. Never any man spake with that wisdom, and power, and grace, that convincing clearness, and that sweetness, wherewith Christ spake. Alas, that many, who are for a time restrained, and who speak highly of the word of Jesus, speedily lose their convictions, and go on in their sins! People are foolishly swayed by outward motives in matters of eternal moment, are willing even to be damned for fashion's sake. As the wisdom of God often chooses things which men despise, so the folly of men commonly despises those whom God has chosen. The Lord brings forward his weak and timid disciples, and sometimes uses them to defeat the designs of his enemies.
