The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-09-11
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
SERIOUS SUBJECTS CAREFULLY AND
ABLY CONSIDERED.
A Scholarly Exposition of the Lesson
Thoughts Worthy OF Calm kehec-
tton-Haif an Hours study of the scrip
tures-Time Well Spent.

be found In sam. "a; Ill.
INTRODUCTORY.
We have here moving scene from the
period of the exile. The career OF David as
banished prince extended from ID. c. 1902
TO 1855. about seven years. And they were
years OF trial. The picture OF the hunt
and prosecuted David is a moving one.
From Mob 10 Gath. from Gath 70 Adullam.
from Adullam 10 the forest OF Hareth his
parents in the meantime being IN the care
OF the king OF Moab. from Hareth 10 Kei-
lab. from Keilab 20 the wilderness OF Iiph,
from the wilderness OF Ziph to the wilder
ness OF Maon. from the wilderness of Maon
TO the strongholds at Engedi. where our
lesson finds him. and his experiences as
fugitive are not yet ended. A less God
persuaded soul would long ere this have
either given up in despair or have driven
into some act OF treason or OF desperation.
But we see David. through all his viclssi-
tudes, holding true 10 Israel and 10 Is aels
God. For he knew in his heart that he was
Israel's true king. There under the trees
OF the forest was the real royal court. And
that il had its high compensation his les
son indicates. We are reminded OF those
brave words OF Shakspeare's exile-duke in
the forest of Arden:
"Now, my co-mates and brothers in exile,
Hath not old custom made this life more sweet
Than that OF painted pompp Are not these
More free from peril than the envious corrtP
Sweet are the uses OF adversely
Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears yet precious jewel in his head
And this our life, exempt from public haunt,
Finds tongues in trees, books in tho running
brooks,
Sermons in stones. and good in everything
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
The men Of Ddrld. they were no I'M
common men, greatness seems TO be, in
some degree, gregarious. Might provokes
might. 1t was wonderful day in lsraefs
history. "a day of exceptional physical as
well as moral development. and the men
with whom David surrounded himself there
in his palace OF the forests were only less
valorous and notable than David himself.
Read the account OF those who came to
him. in the twel tn chapter OF First Chron-
icles. There is not usually much inspira-
ton in catalogues OF names, but you can
scarcely peruse this catalogue without feel
ing your blood tinge. One of the leading
convention speakers OF the West has made
il the theme OF one OF his most stirring dis
courses. They came with vigorous pur-
pose armed with bows" they could use
both the right hand and the left" in hurting
and shooting. faces like the faces of
! lions" swift AS the roes upon the noun
tains." There in the hold" ut that time,
| day by day" such men came 10 David TO
| help him" until, as we read. 1t was ut last
great host. like the host Of God" The
| Lord has prepared help for his anointed.
! Ii we are in his cause enlisted. though we
be as apparently unhappily situated as Da-
! viz III bttulSuutHls yet, De uSSuTtus lHS
! Lord will send US mighty men. helpers Of
| the war"
Dauids heart smote him. The shepherd
| king had. rs part of his heritage of the
! herd. good conscience. one of his
marked characteristics was his tender
heartedness. 1t appears all through his
wonderful songs, making them the tit
vehicles Tor the conveyance of Christian
| sentiment We have been peIusing again
| that SOULFUL Fiity-hrst Psalm. The sin
! npr'S nSnlm. IL has hppn pallpl fhA nSalm
! OF penitence. Have mercy upon me, .
God, blot out my transgressions -
! wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity"-
cleanse me from my sns"--I acknowl-
edge my transgressions sin is ever
! before me.---Against thee. thee only. have
/ sinned and done this evil in thy sightl-
What "A burst OF true confession and OF real
repentancel Thank God for that shifting
! heart Of David 1t has taught us the vocab-
ulary of penitence and the way Of access
! 70 the throne Of grace.
! Wherefore nearest thou mems trOrds?
! Doubtless there we're men who envied
! David. There are many intimations that
he was basely illuminated and slandeled
at court. He needed friend like Jonathan
there, because he had so many enemies.
Beginning with the Fiity-lfth lsalm there
are a group OF poetic laments that especial
| " emphasize this situation OF affairs in
Davd's life. Psalm Iifty-tiith we have
reached in our study Bible. The E1iLes
Psalm" "Oh that l had wings like dove.
for then would fly away and be at rest
David cries, and his complaint is OF one who
has proven traitor and back bitter. IA man
mine equal my guide and mine acquaint-
ance." Psalm Fitty-siXth we term The
Martyrs Psdlm."-"Be merciful unto me. .
God. for man would swallow me up" Psalm
Fifty "The Refugees Psalm. In
the shadow OF thy wings will make.my ref
uge.- Psalm Fiity-eighth. The Defend
ants Psalm" DO you indeed speak right
eousness. o congregation? do We Judge up
II. I'll. a. Of A.fN.~
ninth. The Fuoitiue's Psalm. Deliver me
from mine enemies. o my God" Certainly
| David was "a man who knew the cruel lash
ing of mems tongues. And yet David pre-
vailed.
But mine hand shall not De upon thee. We
see here David's wise policy OF waiting.
| He trusted TO Gods judgment and bided
Gods time. How hopefully rings out his
voice in that martyr Psalm: When l cry
unto thee. then shall mine enemies turn
back; this know. for God as for me| 1t
/ did not mean non-resistance. That was
far from the policy OF David's campaign of
the wilderness. II simply meant calm hope
| and trust in God. He waited patiently Tor
the Lord. He submitted his case to God.
In fact. as v. 10 intimates. his whole judica-
ture was with ACKNOWLEDGMENT, bar. and
final appeal He could say, as in the words
OF Isaiah (33: 29, For the Lord IL our
judge, the Lord is our law giver. tho Lord
is our King" Certainly then one might
add with confidence. He will save usl" A
faint prefgurement here of Him. who.
when he was reviled, reviled not again:
when he suffered. he threatened not: but
committed himself to Him that judgeth
righteously." This then the lesson for us:
BE patient therefore. brethren. unto the
coming Of the Lord"
Is this thu UOice. qny son Ddutd? Or drop
ping the interpolated word: This thy
voice. my son David2 This sounds like thee.
David; this is what at heart really thought
thou wastl" So, is sense. Saul res ponds. 1t
Is David's voice reproving mems words
Above the clamorous SANDERS Of Sauls
courtiers sounds now this clear note from
David's lips. and, for the time. at least. il is
very sweet TO Saul's ear. 1t gives him back
for happy momenthis old friend. the she p
herd son Of Jesse. the Bethlehe mite: and
he weeps. O. there Is nothing like gentle
mes to bring sears IL IS mercy that breaks
the hard heart. We build our stately cathe-
drals. We organize religious cam pagns. we
preach. sing. pray. The world is not much
moved. Father Damien gives his simple
life In sheer compassion: and all the world
pauses in Difference and respect. Far better
than David's victories over Saul with
sword and spear was that triumph of mercy
at Engedi.
Next Lesson-"Death Of Saul and His
Sons J. Sam. 81; lib.
THE power to hate truly what is evil