Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1889-09-12
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.


Il NO nave mere a moving SCENE from tuo
| period Of the exile. The career OF David as
banished prince extended from b. @. 1909
| TO 1855. about seven years. And they were
| years OF trial. The picture OF tho hunt d
| and prosecuted David Is moving one.
From Mob 10 Gath. from Gath 60 Aduilam.
| from Adullam to 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 to the wilderness of Zph.
| from the Wilderness OF Ziph to the Wilder
ness OF Macn. from the wilderness OF Maon
| to the stron9holds at Engedi. where our
lesson finds him, and his experiences as a
| fugitive are not yet ended. less Col
| 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 vlclss-
| tudes. holding true to Israel and to Israers
| 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,
Than that of painted pompP Are not these
woods
More free from peril than the envious court9
Sweet are the uses Of adversity
Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears yet precious jewel In hts head
Finds tongues In trees, books in the running
brooks,
Sermons in stones. and good in everything"
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS
The men Of DaUid. There was now quite
an army OF Davld's adherents though not
all OF them. perhaps. with him In this cave.
Four hundred came to him at Adullam alone
(22:2). Saul had Just returned from a mo-
mentary brush with the pestilent Philis-
tines. resuming his pur, uit Of David with
! Ia ii. n
cave was doubtless large with hidden re-
sources allowing such whispered confer
ence. The cliffs OF Engedi were 1900 feet
above the Dead sea. in the far south of
Judea.-Behoidt the dap. Probably point
ing at the same time toward the sleeping
Saul visible at the mouth Of the cave. them
selves being in the dark interior.--I tciU
detiuer thine enemy. Probably the subject
OF repeated conversations and based upon
the condo mnation of Saul in Sam. 1923
That thou nadyest. rather. and thou shalt.
the simple conviction noc being used
PriUilv. Secretly or stealthily. An indica-
ton OF Davids prowess.
AJterseard. When he had crept back after
the initial reconnoiter.- heart
punish fui1sb x sensitive heart. Such as David
had. is Itself u monitor.--Because he had
cut of SduPs skirt. Or. as the margin in
Inmates. the skirt which was sauls." The
emphasis is on the fact that il belonged to
Saul. the Lords anointed.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES
The men Of Darid They were no un-
common men. greatness seems to be. in
some degree. gregarious. Might provokes
might 1t was wonderful day in Israels
history, 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
yalorous 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 Jingle. One of the leading
convention speakers OF the West has made
1t the theme OF one of his most stirring dis
courses. They camo 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 rces upon the noun
tains." There in the hold" at that time,
day by day such men came TO David ito
help him" until. as we read, 1T was at last
a great host. like the host of Cod" The
Lord has prepared help for his anointed
III we are In his cause enlisted. though VIC
be as apparently unhappily situated as Da-
vid in Punishment, yet. be assured the
Lord Will send us mighty men. helpers of
the war;"
Daeid's heart smote him. The shepherd
king had, as 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 fit
vehicles for the conveyance OF Christian
sentiment. We have been perusing again
that SOULFUL Fifty-flrst Psalm. The sim
ner's psalm, it has been called. the psalm
OF penitence. Have mercy upon me. o
God, blot out my transgressions" =
wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity"-
cleanse me from my slns"-"I acknowl-
edge my transgressions" sin is ever
before me. Against thee. thee only, have
sinned and done this evil In thy sight"
What a burst OF truo confession and OF real
repentancel Thank God for that shifting
heart OF Davidl 1t has taught us the vocab-
ulary of penitence and the way OF access
to the throne of grace.
W1ns-efore dearest tAoli--sns,.,,S ,o0r-ossf
Doubtless there were men who envied
David. There are many intimations that
he was basely illuminated and slandeied
at court He needed a friend like Jonathan
there. because he had so many enemies.
Beginning with the Fiity-flfth Psalm there
are group OF poetic laments that es especial
ly emphasize this situation OF affai in
Davld's life. Psalm Fifty-flfth VIC have
reached in our study Bible. The E1ile's
Psalm" "Oh that had wings like a dove.
for then would l fly away and be at rest"
David cries, and his complaint Is OF one who
has proven traitor and back-biter, "a man
mine equal. my guide and mine acquaint-
ance. Psalm Fiity-sixth we term The
Martyrs Psalm. "-"Bc merciful unto me. o |
God, for man would swallow me up" Psalm
Fifty-seventh. The Refugees Psalm. I'm |
the shadow Of thy wings will make.my ref
uge." Psalm Fifty-eighth. The Defend
ants Psalm" DO you indeed speak right
eousness. o congregation? do We Judge up |,
rightly. 0 ye sons of men2" Psalm Fifty |
ninth. The FU0itipe'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 be 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 / cry |
unto thee. then shall mine enemies turn /
back; this know. for God IS for meT 1t |
did not mean non re sistance That was |
far from the policy OF Davids campaign of |
the wilderness. It simply meant calm hope
and trust in God. He waited patiently for
the Lord. He submitted his case to God.
In fact, as v. 10 intimates, his whole judica-
turo was with Jchovah-bench, bar. and
final appeal. He could say, as in the words |
OF Isaiah (33: 22), For the Lord is our
judge. the Lord is our law-River. tho Lord
Is our King" Certainly then one might
faint prehgurement here OF Him, who,
when no was rcviled, reviled not again:
when he suffered, no threatened not: but
committed himself to Him that jud yeth
righteously." This then the lesson for us:
BE patient therefore. brethren, unto the
coming OF the Lord"
Is this thv uoice, MP son Ddufd?r 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 wastT So. is sense. Saul responds. It