Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-11-14
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER SEVENTEENTH.
DAvID's LAST wORDS.-II. SAM. XIII, II.

LESSON FOR NOVEMBER SEVENTEENTH.
DAvID'S LAST wORDS.-II. SAM. XIII, II.
NOTES.-The last aUords of Dacid.-
The last public utterances, perhaps spok-
en- while he gave his last instructions to
SOlomOn.-The slOeet psdLmist-David
ushered in new era of song and temple
worship. Many of his songs he set to
music and they were sung by the anti
phonal choir, in which were four thous-
and trained musicians. spirit of
the Lord spake By nle.-He gives his au-
thority in plain words This was the
source of his sinspiration.-He that rul-
eth Ooer men righteously.-Dav looked
forward prophetically to the ideal ruler.
David failed to be the righteous and per-
feet ruler he strove to become. Christ
alone fulfilled David's Verify my
house is not so Nth God. David realized
his failures Yet God blessed him, and
promised that in his house the prophecy
of perfection was finally to be fulfilled.
INsTRUCTION.-The test of life is oft
en- its end. David had lived enough with
God to die with song of trust and
hope. He dared even utter a prophecy
that the stormy future could not bring
to pass for thousand years. 1t is worth
while so to live that one can pass away in
serenity and peace. He shall be deliver
ed from the terror that lieth in wait at
death, whose soul is stayed upon the
Lord.
The historian and all the people reeog
nized plainly that it was God that raised
their king from the shepherds crook to
the scepter. This was Dayid's abiding
conviction. A "self-made man" is the
common phrase in modern parlance, and
the hardy man, who is thus dubbed, COM
mands our unfeigned respect. But
God-naade man is worthy of higher rev.
erence. There is great deal said about
giving the Devil his DUE The trouble is
we don't give God his due. Gods gift to
you is not only eternal life, but also the
little success of which you are so boast
full. Be bit more fair to your Maker
and give Him erAdit, that By hie favor,
though you deserve it not, you are God
made man.
1t is curious fact that some of the
readiest quoters of the Bible are harden
ed reprobates of lawyers who pretend a
spurious piety to influence a jury's vote.
To have the Word of God upon ones
tongue is always power. 1t has an in
tiuence that none can withstand But to
have that Word backed by holy life,
that is strength indeed. We are too apt
to be ashamed of quoting Scripture
When we do it reasonably and sincerely
we carry weapon that cannot be over
come.
But Scripture is not the only word of
God, otherwise Christians would be in a
hard strait for conversation. The thought
that underlies the Bible in its spiritual
trend is all-expansive. One can converse
about violet with such reverence for its
designs that it becomes the word of God.
At the political caucus, a fearless demand
for cleanliness and honesty may still be
the word of God. All truth whether in
its essence or concrete form is appropri-
ate for consideration and study, nor
should it be Stunned as perverse to the
spirit of God.
David felt the sadness and reproach of
failure. He realized that his highest sue
cess was achieved not by political great
ness but by being with God. 1t may have
been that his carelessness in cleaving to
the commands otGod deferred the coming
of Christ many hundreds of years. 1t
may be that our heedlessneSs may cause
not only our children to perish, but may
defer the reception of Christ in some
alien life we know not of. 1t is said that
a sinner became converted by only see
ing great and noble preacher walk the
street. If that is what our influence
might be, the responsibility in not attain
ing to it becomes fearful.
1t is Gods business to thrust away the
ungodly, if he will, not ours. Nor are we
to be armed with an iron prong and only
touch them at a distance. Christianity
is not to flee the wicked but wickedness.
You are not to rush past him who keeps
a saloon as if he had the yellow fever.
That your soul and you must grapple
it. If you go to his place no one will sus-
pect you of taking drink if your con-
victions are iron. Nol Let us close upon
the the sinful, the worse they are the
nearer let US approach, until they see
that we would save them not merely to
swell the annual report of the Church,
but because the throbbing soul of SYM
patty cannot bear to see manhood dis
honor herself.
As we leave David, let the conquering
man speak to us, not the mighty king
David has descended to history not as
sovereign but as character. Our stand
before God is not according to our posi-
ton in society, but according as to wheth-
er our convictions are noble or debasod.
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