, 1876-02-19
suNDAY.ScHoOL LESSON.

AAF40 hlA1 VE ALL AAt AAAoA1*
David was living at Ziklas, attoaled by hiH
trusty GOO men, when he heard Of the death Of
Saul and his Sous. This diaasser to tho Israel
ties put new face upon Ills future, aud inclined
him 10 consider Ills possibilities. 1allboalaeth
WAS not strong or popular mau. David deeply
and sincerely moutned tho death OF Jonathan,
md said, "Tho beauty Of Israot Ia slain upon
thy high pthces-how arc the mighty fallen u
In q few days q man camo from Baus camp
lts clothes rent and aatos upon bis head, md
said. ~ happoneu by chance upon Mount Gil.
boa aud saw Saul. 1Io called me- and requested
me to slay linn. So did. took his crown md
llts bracelets aud haya brought thom to you"
David replied, "Woro you not Af1sid to alay tho
Lords auointed?" This Amalekise hoped TO
obtain somo reward. David did reward him by
ordering him to DO slnin At once.
David inquired what he ought to do. his
eyos wero upon tho throne OF Israel. Judah WAS
his own tribs to which, also lis faithful friends
belonged. with thom were his love and his hopes.
At Gods direction, he wont TO Hebron. ono OF tic
moat ancient cities OF tho world aud situated in q
barrow !alley. oucirced by rocky hills, and NOM
strong csts IT. and aud very friendly to parid. So the
! official men Of judah assembled and anontod
him il, HebFon-his second anointing-and tn-
formed lin, that tho grateful men Of Jaboat
bad delivered tho mortal remains Of tho royal
| sl1tn from tie ilt-uaRgo Of tic Philistines
David. full Of gratitude for thoir kind and ton
der services, a once oppressed his aincore thanks
| to tho mon Of Jaboah and said, F" God bisaa you
for your blindness to tho royal family In having.
at 40 groat risk Of lifo, seized their romsins
aud SO dispoacd Of tllem that they can rovor again
be abused. Ma7 God bo kind to you.
May Ho confirm and strengthen you IN oil good.
nosa: Be hopefnl Tor tho future. Saul u dead:
and tho men Of Judah havo nnointed me- ling Of
Judah" David is now nearly 80 yeare Of age.
tbs only son Of Saul, Jet living. was Iehbosheth.
10 yoars of .se: g Abner cousin I, Ct sanl. was
al al M Tue sribss. Ho uphed tho HOUSE ' Of Saul. @
now represented by tho only surviving aon.
| Mahaua!m, nheEe Jacob saw sho angola Of God.
and inAugurated him King OF al lstao!. He
reiCned only two years.
A severe battle occurred between David and
brother OF Jacob and nophow Of David, cole
brated for bis nwiftnsas Of foot,- ran directly
to Atnes, eaul's cousin, who hastily said
"AsAhel, do not follow me, "-and still Asabel
persisted In following him. Abner again cried
out "AsAhal. do you wish me to elay you I"
! Abner could not resist pursuing his oncmy.
Abuo1 turned and forsod his spear through his
heart. Joab and Abisl,ai, brothers Of tho sloin.
rapidly until sundoNn, WHOM the fight ceased.
But II wAs continued between tho families Of
Saul aud David. The latter constantly gained In
strength. As sno 1cW, David grow. Abner,
TO his royal nAstot. Ono day, however, Ish-
| bosheth con8urod him very severely for gross lm-
morality, and brought on, unMttstneiy: quarrel
fatal to bis own prospects Us King OF Israel. 1lo
Was u weak Prince and worry iudiscrent In his
harah talk 1lth Abner. Lovo and kindness wtlI
moro readily convert bad msn than severe cam
anro. AZ any rate, tho commander Of the 1sraof-
itish army shortly sent commiaa'on 70 the King
OF Judah at Hebron, offering to make IN as-
| ranRenent by which all tho tribes should be
| brought under one government.
David was worry willing and even very oafneas
to accept the proposal and 30 advised Abner that
ho should be happy to comply On Que condition,
namely, that he shonld aond to him Mtchal.
tho loving vlio Of bis youth. Saul roaiiy eso!e
hor from him md gavo hes to another: David
eSnd not ttnfgot h9 Esy I%p1sssops are
yoarB and ten has fresh In mind tho Joys Of his
early da7s whilst those OF middle lifo forgot
ten. A mothers kind words are heard when old
age hssngH on denfnoBH. 50 Michal WIS brought
Abner addressed tho people Of Israel and said
"You once wished David To bo your King. Now
is your tin.o to acoept him. Jehovah, the King
OF Kings, says, Il will sayo my pooplo out OF
the hands OF all their onernies by tny servant,
Dnvid.' Accspe him and your fond hopoa will
bo more than rehlizod. A glorious futuIo ia bo-
foro you. Obey God aud honor David, ns Hing
OF all Israol. May God bless aud keep you from
injure .you." Tho people said "Amen.'
Abner wont into all tho larger towna, addressed
aud persuaded the influential mon: that David
was tho mHn whom God had chosen, whom be
was lut { youth souding his fathers sheop or
the beautiful bills and rich plains Of Uethlchom,
and at night, singing and harplnE 30 awcot1J
that angots atoppcd to listen NJ they wore on
their way with somo sTco. mesbago OF loyo aid
peace.
David had ruled ut Hebron seven yeara .nf
hslk largo coucourss from al the tribot
went up to aea lin aud To ofr0r hin, tho crown
Thoy niado = covenant with David, md formed +
now government. They ipatftutet llmitot
mounrchy. Thoy chose to rota!a ccrtaln right
At tllclr OWN disposal. Il Was q constitutions
monarchy. Thu King bad tights aud powo.e
aud 20 Ind tim pooplo. David was now 8:
ycars Of age, In tile yiEor Of manhood. God hat
trained Linn ftom bis youth for this very pur
pose. Inauguration day dawncd upon hn I'm
iueuso muititude-3Bo, 900 men. Tho crown wa
, presented, sud tho people could not utter thet
, great ioy; words were inadequate. The YER
llchycns reloicea. Tho promise OF the Grea
Jahoyah. sl'okcn 5earB before, was now fulfilled
When Joab heard what kind and Welcome ro
| copsion The King Of Judah had given hbuer. b.
. was very much provoked. aud aaid to tho King
. "Abner IL spy aud traitor" Without Adsid
. once. .Abuef hurtisd homs to Hebron. Joa
t mot him At tho city cato In guiet. wny
r but plunged a weapon through his heart
: lIe fe!l dosd. AUD Was buried q llebrou
David fastad Ill day. llis sincere Kriof pIeaso.
. tho people. for they all loved Abner, aud fel
. uuro that tue Klug had no hand In hls death
! They said to each other, IA grcat man lsu
fallen tina day in Israel. sfay tho Lord rswar
i those w,cked men Who hhyo Hlaln our boloyo
9 | Abner.h
y Some sons Of Remnou came at midday to til
house OF 1saEosheth. who lay on his bad au
i stabbed him through tho heart CUT OF III
head, aud brought 1t to Hebron aud presented
i, to DAVID, WHO SAID. "Then that Anlalaktto sol
. mo that ho kllcd s.ul atew him. You M.cke
, .nen have slain righteous pesson in hs ov
; Young men, slsy these murdeiers." Tho youn
i lnan alew them 2ad hung them I'D in Hebron
but they buried tbs head Of lshbosheth iu At
: ner's tomb 1t Hebron.
The arss entsrprlso In which David WAS on
gagged. after his coronation, VIVA his succosatu
. o1urt In taking Zion from tho JebuBisss. Zlol
: moans sunny. The mount was iu tho southwest
t ert, part OF The high thnu Oh which Jerusalem
nas built. and was tho hEghest Of tho many hiilt
0 Tue Jcbualtea deemed II to 10 no strongly forti
8 lied BY nature aud art, shAt = weak forco wa
j. sufficient 10 rapoi any attack. Even this teebl
forca shouted inautlngly, "D*vld canuot tax
| ,rt, ksd fail pnd trvi II 49,