1 Chronicles 29:26-30 Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel.… Our book ends with David's death. He had reigned forty years, viz. seven years and a half in Hebron (1 Kings 2:11), and thirty-three in Jerusalem. And the Spirit of God writes his obituary: "He died in a good old age." Many an age is "old," but not "good. But David had set God before him through life, and God sets the crown upon it in these words. The Bible obituaries of good men are short. There is no parade, no lengthened record on marble monument or polished stone. They need none. Their record is in heaven. In this they form a striking contrast to the fulsome epitaphs of this world. The greatest of men in Bible history have short records. So Moses died, and the Lord buried him." Is that all, and of such a man! Yes; for it is the life that should speak and not the death; and that life is the character of the man, whatever the world may say of his death. "Full of days, riches, and honour," all worthy of a record because consecrated to God. Our days are only "full" when thus used. What empty days fill up the lives of most around us - days of which an unseen hand has written "vanity," but for which the soul must give an account to God! It is said here that a record is given of" the times that went over him." There were "times" of sorrow and "times" of joy, times of trouble and times of rest, times of weakness and times of strength; but when God is in them there are no empty days. They were full because God was in them. In the midst of all the changes and chances of this mortal life may such be our days! - W. Parallel Verses KJV: Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. |
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