John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 9. And thou, Solomon my son , etc.] Who was present in this assembly, and presented to them by David as his successor, and their future king: and having addressed them, he turns himself to him, and exhorts him, saying, know thou the God of thy father ; who was his Father and covenant God, and whom he served and worshipped, and who had bestowed upon him many favours, both temporal and spiritual; and having had such an experience of his goodness, he exhorts his son to seek to know more and more of him, and to own and acknowledge him as his God, and to love and fear him: serve him with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind ; cordially and sincerely, cheerfully and freely, neither in an hypocritical manner, nor through force and constraint, nor with loathing and weariness: for the Lord searcheth all hearts ; the hearts of all men, even of kings, and knows from what principles and with what views and in what manor they serve him: and understandeth all the imaginations of the thought ; not only the thoughts of the heart, when regularly formed and ranged in order, hut even the very beginning of them, the first motions of the mind, and before they are well formed, (see Genesis 6:5 <19D902> Psalm 139:2) if thou seek him ; by prayer and supplication in his house and ordinances: he will be found of thee ; grant his presence and bestow his favours, (see Isaiah 4:6) but if thou forsake him : his word, his ways, his worship: he will cast thee off for ever ; from being king, or enjoying that peace, prosperity, and happiness, which otherwise would be enjoyed.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-10 - During David's last sickness, many chief priests and Levites were a Jerusalem. Finding himself able, David spoke of his purpose to build temple for God, and of God's disallowing that purpose. He opened to them God's gracious purposes concerning Solomon. David charged them to cleave stedfastly to God and their duty. We cannot do our work as we should, unless we put on resolution, and fetch in strength from Divin grace. Religion or piety has two distinct parts. The first is knowledg of God, the second is worship of God. David says, Know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and a willing mind. God is made known by his works and word. Revelation alone shows the whol character of God, in his providence, his holy law, his condemnation of sinners, his blessed gospel, and the ministration of the Spirit to all true believers. The natural man cannot receive this knowledge of God But thus we learn the value of the Saviour's atonement, and of the sanctification of the Holy Spirit, and are influenced to walk in all his commandments. It brings a sinner to his proper place at the foot of the cross, as a poor, guilty, helpless worm, deserving wrath, ye expecting every thing needful from the free mercy and grace of God ou Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Having been forgiven much, the pardoned sinner learns to love much.
Original Hebrew ואתה859 שׁלמה8010 בני1121 דע3045 את853 אלהי430 אביך1 ועבדהו5647 בלב3820 שׁלם8003 ובנפשׁ5315 חפצה2655 כי3588 כל3605 לבבות3824 דורשׁ1875 יהוה3068 וכל3605 יצר3336 מחשׁבות4284 מבין995 אם518 תדרשׁנו1875 ימצא4672 לך ואם518 תעזבנו5800 יזניחך2186 לעד׃5703
