Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

more splendid and extensive victories of David, during his protracted reign, must have manifested to the conquered nations the superiority of the God of Israel over the deities whom they feared; and although their ignorance, inveterate habits of idolatry, and attachments to its obscene and lascivious rites, would prevent their becoming proselytes to the Jewish religion, they were compelled to acknowledge that the God of this people was the Lord God Almighty; the Lord of Hosts, and terrible in battle. This would teach them to revere his power, which is the first object of reverence, and is the most prevalent in uncultivated minds.

When Benhadad, the king of Syria, besieged Samaria, in the days of Ahab, exulting in the superiority of his numbers, he threatened their total destruction. "The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me." "And behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab, king of Israel, saying, thus saith the Lord, hast thou seen all this great multitude? Behold I will deliver it into thine hand this day, and thou shalt know that I am the Lord." The signal vicstruck their ad

tory obtained by the Israelites,

versaries with awe. They ascribed it to the peculiar aid of their God; but they were dis

posed to consider him as a local deity. “The

servants of the king of Syria said their Gods are Gods of the hills, therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. And there came a man of God and spake unto the king of Israel, and said; thus saith the Lord, because the Syrians have said the Lord is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the Lord."

In the above interesting narrative we perceive the extreme reluctance with which pre-conceived opinions, however erroneous and absurd, are relinquished; the power of the Almighty to subdue them and the objects for which such extraordinary occurrences were ordained to take place; that men might learn to know the Lord.

The Pagans not only attributed national calamities, and personal afflictions, to the anger of their gods, but they ascribe national prospe rity to their peculiar favour. The concerns of this life occupying every attention, these became the sole criterions of good and evil, and constituted the sole motives of worship. Acting upon these principles, they frequently forsook

*

the deities they were bound to serve, and adopted those of their enemies, who were more victorious, or in greater prosperity than themselves. This could be done without any violence being committed upon their ancient habits and rites of worship; for these were universally similar in their nature. Power being the primary attribute of their attention, they eagerly followed its manifestations. The experienced imbecility of their own gods weakened their attachments, and induced a preference of those who seemed to be more able to protect them.

It will appear, from a close attention to sacred history, that the remarkable splendour which distinguished the reign of Solomon, was permitted and appointed, not solely to indulge this select people with the objects most congenial with human ambition, but to convince surrounding nations, that the God of the Hebrews was the God of Peace, and of national prosperity, as well as the Lord mighty in battle."

During the whole of this sovereign's reign, the Jewish nation was advanced to the summit of worldly grandeur, and worldly happiness. The dominions of the Israelites were very extensive, and they lived in peace and amity with

all foreign powers. Solomon made an affinity with the king of those very Egyptians whose ancestors were their rigid oppressors; and he took the king's daughter in marriage. When we read of his forty thousand horses for his chariots, and his twelve thousand horsemen, we may be assured that this extraordinary state of the sovereign, would answer a much more impor tant purpose than to gratify personal, or national vanity. It would attract the admiration, and awaken a salutary jealousy in the breasts of the Heathens, respecting the peculiar patronage conferred by the Supreme Ruler, upon this highly-favoured people. We are informed that the wisdom of Solomon exceeded all the wisdom of the east, and all the wisdom of Egypt; and we are informed also, "that his fame was in all nations round about;" and we know that his superior abilities were ascribed to the inspiration of his God.:

It appears, from the instances upon record, that the wisdom of Solomon, during the earlier part of his reign, was of the popular kind; and in his advanced years, it was manifested by the judicious and moral reflections which the recollection of his own follies, in suffering so superior a mind to be corrupted by worldly pleasures, had inspired. By these he inculcated

B b

principles which might become an antidote to the contagion of his example; and leave the important lesson to his people, and to the world, that the highest sublunary enjoyment is but vanity; and that the whole of man is to fear God, and keep his commandments.

We are informed that "Hiram, the Pagan king of Tyre, loved David." He had liberally proposed to give him every assistance which the cedars of Lebanon, cunning workmen, and his maritime situation would afford, to promote the design of David, in building a house for the Lord. This aid was afterwards given to his son Solomon, in the most cordial and effectual manner. When he learned from Solomon the terms upon which his proposals would be received, "he rejoiced greatly, and said, blessed be the Lord, this day, who hath given unto David a wise son over this great people.” Hiram also assisted Solomon in his plan of forming a large navy of merchantmen;" sending his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon." In consequence of such aids Judea became a large maritime state, under the reign of Solomon. The king was also enabled to supply himself with the richest ornaments for the house of the Lord, "bring

[ocr errors]
« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »