The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1889-11-14
r3Avlp'S LAST WORDS.

S-OND"-N ADAA-AAO Hotu Iudu0 WIFI Iuo hI
everlasting covenant, ordered in all things
and sure.--2 Sam. 23:5.
CENTRAL TRUrH--The blessed influence Of
the reign Of Christ
TrME-B. G. 1918. At the close of David'l
reign; eight years after the last lesson.
PLACE Jerusalem.
DAvID--Seventy years old, having reigned
forty years.
CLOSING YEARS - Generally peaceful
spent In pcrfecting his kingdom and prepa
ration for the temple. There was QD Q
famine e Sam. ely; C2) census or enroll
ment, either for taxation or military serv
ice, followed by a pestilence e Sam. "a;
Chron. Ply; (3 David seems to have spent
much Of his time during the later years Of
his life In gathering materials and workmen
and treasure for the temple which Solomon
was to build q Chron. 22), and in perfect
ing the organization Of the army, the re
ligious services and the kingdom general.
Is; 4) the attempt of Adonijah upon the
throne, and the appointment Of Solomon as
David's successor.
LAST WoRDs-Q) To the Princes, in prep.
aration for the temple Il Chron. %, 29); G)
to Solomon Il Kings 21-9; (3) to the
world, our lesson for to-day.
HELPS OVER HARD PLACEs-The lesson
should be read in the poetic form given in
tho Revised Version. 1. Rated up on htoh:
from shepherd boy to one of the greatest
kings that ever lived. Anotnted: set apart
for his work by God. 8. The rock Of Israel:
God is so called q because He is everlast-
ing and immovable; e., He is the defense,
the stronghold Of His people; (3) u shadow
and shelter for the weary. He that rulcth:
David sees, as in a vision, zone who rules
over men, just" This is the ideal for all
his successors, but realized perfectly in
Christ, the holy and perfect King. 4. As
the tight OF the morntng' such is the eject
sought by cvery good ruler. But the figure
illustrates perfectly the influence of Jesus
upon the sinful heart, and upon an
ignorant, sinful world He brings light,
life, joy, beauty, comfort wherever He
shines. As The tender grass. His influence
upon men is like that Of the spring sun
shine and rain upon the wintry earth,
bringing forth fruits and flowers. 5. A.
though my h,usc: although David was con-
scious of imperfections, yet God had made
promise, and all these blessings were to
come forth from his house, through Christ
Jesus His Son, and the wider kingdom,
which He brought in, every believer being
an heir Of the promise to Abraham. But
probably this verse should be read inter-
negatively. Is not my house so with Godi
for He hath made with me an everlasting
covenant, ordered in all things perfectly
arranged) and sure; for all my salvation
and all my desire, shall He not make it to
growa g. Sons of Beliat: of worthlessness,
lawlessness. As thorns: and, therefore,
having no part in the garden Of the Lord.
Z. Fenced ,Dith iron: armed with iron,
fastened on long staff. The wicked who
refuse to repent are not only useless, but
injurious to others. There is nothing to be
done with them but burn them as with fire.
REVIEW OF DAvIDs LIFE.-1. His charac-
ter. David was noble, brave, loving man,
with strong passions, o warm heart, and
ready, generous hand; devoted friend, at
tractive, bright, joyous, poetic, deeply re-
ligious and devotional, strong In faith, un-
selfish, and since ely good. He fell into
some Of the vices Of the age; he committed
q great crime; but his repentance and pub
lie confession prove him to have been at
heart true and godly man. 2. A States
man. 1t is hard to realize how great o
change David made In his kingdom. He
the government; he extended its
he developed the resources Of
tho nation he promoted the arts; he opened
up commerce.; no distributed the Levites,
the religious teachers, over the land; he
unified the people. g. A General. He was
q wise and victorious military leader; he
the enemies who during the
previous reign had continually overrun and
the nation; he organized the
army in O most skillful manner. 4. A Re-
Iigious Organizer. David made Jerusalem
the religious capital of the nation. He Or
ganized twenty four thousand Levites in
courses for service in the
house Of God four thousand were trained
musicians. David introduced many musical
into the service Of the sanct.
uary. "Ther combined performances
must have been sublime" 8. An Author.
''David was undoubtedly the most distin-
guished writer Of the sacred songs Of the
Hebrews" Many Of his hymns were set to
music and sung by his choirs. He brought
in new era Of worship in song.
CoMMENTs-Last words suggest the end
Of life. With rare exceptions, the last
words Of q mans life correspond with that
which has gone before. The case Of the
thief on the cross Is an exceptional one, SO
that it does not contradict what has just
been said. As David came toward his life's
end, 80 that last words and last deeds had
10 be done, and he realized that he must
soon leave this world, doubt not that he
often reviewed his life. In that review there
must have been many things that had once
appeared to him very valuable, that now no
longer seemed SO. Other things that had
not seemed so desirable, must now have been
seen to be very precious.
Much that at the present moment seems
80 valuable to us will seem to be of no value
ut all when we come to the "last things" Of
life. Also that what we now consider as
very desirable may not after all be SO good
for US. Many man has longed for wealth,
either for his own sake or for the sake
Of his children. When he has gained
the wealth, it has been a source of tempta-
ton to him or OF ruin to his children. This
Is one reason why SO often the children Of
the rich turn out 80 shockingly. That which
ought to have helped has hindered them,
and they have fallen far behind In the race
Of life. Sons OF rich men and sons of great
men are too often very poor and small. It
were better for them to have been born poor
and obscure. Their advantages have ruined
them. The moral of all this is: "Seekest thou
great things for thyselfl Seek them not"
Obscurity and trouble are less dangerous
than popularity and prosperity, and il they