An interesting and, at first glance, paradoxical situation: "we are strangers and sojourners on the earth," says the one who, to strengthen the people on the land given them by God, had to do perhaps more than anyone else...
An interesting and, at first glance, paradoxical situation: "we are strangers and sojourners on the earth," says the one who, to strengthen the people on the land given them by God, had to do perhaps more than anyone else, the victor over the Philistines, the true founder of the Jewish state, the great religious reformer, in short, King David, about whom one could speak endlessly. But while being a remarkable ruler, a great warrior, and a great reformer, David still remained first of all a prophet, a man of God. And like every true prophet, he did not so much understand well as feel perfectly the spiritual and, so to speak, metaphysical lightness of human deeds, plans, and creations. This does not mean that what he did was useless or weightless; not at all. He did so much that was truly necessary, including as ruler, that very few before or after him did as much. But he apparently sensed what only a person who truly knows God and senses His presence in his life senses: the more significant something done by a person is from the point of view of our world, the lighter and more weightless it is in God's eyes. What appears most significant to us in our life and history is, in God's view, lighter than a feather: it disappears from the slightest breath, whether the breath of nature or of history. But what seems secondary and not at all important to us takes root in God's eternity and remains in it. And David, as a prophet, as a man of God, understands this perfectly. He knows who he is, what he is doing, and whose will he is carrying out. He is not mistaken either about himself or about his successes. And he becomes a great ruler who founded a state for the people of God.
29 David exhorts them to contribute toward building and furnishing the temple, Ch1 29:1-5.
They do contribute accordingly, Ch1 29:6-9.
He offers up solemn prayers, praises and sacrifices to God, Ch1 29:10-21.
Solomon is enthroned, Ch1 29:22-25.
David finishes his course, Ch1 29:26-30.
29:15 Strangers - For the land which we possess is thine, not ours; we are not the proprietors but only thy tenants: and as our fathersonce were mere strangers in it, even before men, so we at this day areno better before thee, having no absolute right in it, but only to travelthrough it, and sojourn in it for the short time that we live in the world.None abiding - We only give thee what we must shortly leave, and what wecannot keep to ourselves: and therefore it is a great favour that thouwilt accept such offerings. David's days had as much of substance inthem as most men: for he was upon the whole a good man, an useful man,and now an old man. And yet he puts himself in the front of those whomust acknowledge, that their days on the earth are as a shadow: whichspeaks of our life as a vain life, a dark life, a transient life, and alife that will have its period, either in perfect light or perfect darkness.