The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-10-02
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
SERIOUS SUBJECTS CAREFULLY AND
ABLY CONSIDERED.


Thoughts Worthy of Calm Refec-
tion-HaIf AN Hours Study of the Scrip
tures-Timc Well Spent.
The lesson for Sunday. Oct. 6. may be
found In SAM 8: l. L..
INTRODUCTORY.
We have seen David as the shepherd bard
and the favored youth OF saurs royal court.
We have followed him through seven or
more troublous years as the exile prince.
Now we behold him as the reigning king.
There were three things which the people
u ged as David's kingly credentials. ~
He was a true Israelite. tbough his martial
exploits had been for so long a time on for
eign soil and for an alien power. knowing
the doughty David, already renowned
among nations, 10 be veritabe jew. they
are glad 10 hail him, the chiefest aud most
deserving among them, as king. CD He
was in Sauls early day the kings own
general-in-chief, and the disposition to
make the military chieftain the peoples king
thus early found voice. 3) Above all. the
call OF God was upon him. as was plain in
the days when Saul's anger burned against
him. but Samuel. the prophet. stood and
spoke, we know not how often. in his be-
half. At last David Is king. and Israers
golden days are begun. May these be also
golden days for Us.
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
Elders. The old men, as 10 Samuel. when
a king was first asked Il Sam. 3: A
league. Literally. cut a covenant. referring
10 the sacrifice that usually accompanied
the solemn act.-They anonted David.
God had already anointed him. Il Sam.
10: III Now the people at last ratify 1t. So
also with Saul Compare l Sam. III: / and
IL: Is.
Thirty years old. Hebrew idiom Son
OF thirty years. -Began to reign. He had
been seven or more years waiting for his
throne. before Judah came TO him.
At Hebron. Over seven more years OF
waiting here.-And I'm Jerusalem. An an
ticipation in the n arratiye.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
Then came all the tribes of Israel TO David.
Now David is ready for great things. He
has great people with him. All the tribes
OF Israel have resorted 10 him. When the
superintendent knows that be has all the
school with him how much he feels equal
unto! When the teacher feels that the class
have rs one man given him their confidence
and esteem. in what lordly fashion he can
lead them! When the pastor is assured that
loyal people, not one hating or hindering.
are within y, what conquests in Jehovah'S
name he sees before him! When young
Charles MADDEN Sturgeon went to Newing-
ton some one suggested TO one OF the war
dens OF the church, What If he should fall
We'll not let him fall" was the prompt and
earnest response. The campaign OF the fall
and winter is before US. Do the churches
and schools realize how much the success
/ or their leaders depends upon strong and
/ hearty following? Only as the pastor feels
/ his people 10 be his very bone and flesh.
has he the power God intended him to eK-
| perience.
King David made a league with them.
| That was the right sort OF confederacy.
! Covenant is the word. He bound the peo-
/ pie by pledge. There was something for
them TO agree to, and he would not UNDER
take TO lead them until they had sworn
featy TO him and 70 the cause. That Is
what every church does with its palHor. 1t
is the meaning of the reiterated covenant.
Loyalty to God and his appointed leader Of
the hosts. Here 10 we find the secret of
that success which has attended the
Christian Endeavor" movement. 1t is a
pledged fraternity. They have made a
league for the truths unfolding. Alas.
! how little OF the real covenant spirit in our
churches! show us a successful church.
| we will point you out pastor and people
who have given each other their hand in
reverent service OF the Master. Are we not
! right about it?
Thou shalt feed my people and thou shalt
be a captain. He who would lead must first
feed. til Gods plan. The She herd spirit
is the approved spirit. Those who feed hi5
1 people best are his truest princes-for such
is the woodland to them he gives laurel OF
victory and the throne Of rulership. Look
back in history. The great leaders have
| been great feeders as regards the people.
John Knox, what a dispenser of the Word
was he!
John Calvin. how mighty in his EXPOSE
tions-we sometimes doubt whether we
have ever found his equal Martin Luther.
He wrote the Table Talk as well as the
! Theses" He was teacher before he was
& warrior. All these from finding the peo-
pie aad through finding the people. came to
their captaincy. And nave we found any
better plan dayI
David cannot come in hither. 1t was. as
it were. "A challenges; and a contemptuous
one. This is probably the meaning of that
somewhat dark message, except thou take
away tho blind and the lame. That Is to
say. our crippies and invalids are a match
for you. Come up and take them, If you
can. David takes them at their word. and
names them all blind and lame." which.
indeed. they prove TO be before his prow-
ess. There is much Of this bold banter to-
day. The world has grown arrogant. con-
ceited in its strongholds of sin and unbe-
liof 1t assumes acontempt OF the church's
spiritual weapons. For women and chill
dren they say, right scornfully. Very
well. now, let us 60 against them. and, in
the name OF David's God. let US prove them
all TO be women and children. blind and
lame and weak in the face of the omnipo-
tence Of God. Remem er that "neverthe-
less" OF Holy Writ. Nevertheless David
took the stronghold" The heather rage.
the people imagine vain thing never
theless the Lord reigneth."
SO David dwelt in the fort. and called it
the city of David. Fort" was what the
Jebusites esteemed it TO be. a stronghold
safe and sure. But see. David takes IL and
lives in IL. What an answer TO the con-
temptuous filings of its former inhabitants.
When Saul fell. the Phllistines celebrated
their victory by coming and occupying
Israels cities in the valley OF the jordan
and Esdraelem. The Philistines came
and dwelt in them" Here David in turn
triumphs. and celebrates his victory by
changing the hostile fortress into place
OF righteousness and truth. to be hence-
forth called by his own name. as the Lords
anointed. They bore man TO his Chris
tian burial In Chicago the other day whose
name itself suggested his old life OF worldly
levity but his later career was one OF good
works for the Masters sake 1t was Tony
Delight There was n citadel of sin snatch
ed from the evil one and made over into a
temple OF the Holy Ghost God give US
many more such trophies.
And David went on and grew great. and
the Lord OF hosts went with him. Enough
that TO make him great TO have the Lord
OF greatness with him. He went right on
in the grace Of God. and he could not help
but grow. As the Revision says. he waxed
greater ana greater" Or as nearer the
Hebrew. He went on. going and growing.
Keep in the grace OF God day by day for
daily g owth.
Build little fence OF trust
Around to-day
Fill the space with loving work,
And therein stay.
Look not through the sheltering bars
OF to morrow;
God will helm thee bear what comes