The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1889-11-15

sam. xiii, documentary by tho 1Sov.
ID. NJ. Stearns.
Compiled from Lesson Helper Quarterly by per-
mission of II. S. Hoffman, publisher, Philadel-
phia.l
Our last lesson left David an exile on the
east OF Jordan because Of the rebellion Of his
own son Absalom, and yet mourning deeply
for that son who had just been slain in battle.
David was soon restored to his throne and
the rest OF his reign was comparatively
peaceful and victorious over all enemies. His
last days were devoted to gathering materials
for, and instructing Solomon concerning, the
great temple to be built for the Lord at Je-
rusalem, the plans for which David received
from the Lord Himself, even as Moses re-
ceived instruction concerning the tabernacle.
/. "Eow these be the last words Of David. u
Things ara apt to look very different when
one comes to the last hours of life in the NOR
tai body; earthly things fade their import
ance vanishes, trials seem no longer great,
and eternal things become intensely real;
there Is nothing worth considering but the
King Of Righteousness and His righteous
kingdom.
"David. the son of jesse" At least ten
times is he thus described in Sam, and ten
times more In the rest of Scripture.
''The man who was raised up on high.n
Hannah sang, "He raiseth up the poor out of
the dust to make them inherit the
throne Of glory" Sam. ii, 2s) David,
realizing something of his nothingness, said:
"Who am I, O Lord Coda and what is my
house, that thou hast brought me hithertoan
Chap. VII, 1877
1.-THE anointed of the God of Jacob" The
same God who chose Jacob instead of Esau.
and called his name Israel, making of him a
great nation, and doing for them great and
terrible things in the eyes of all nations, had
chosen and anointed David to be king of Is
rael; and Notwithstanding the sins of David,
had graciously done great things for him.
sThe sweet psalmist Of Israel" He is not
here praising his own singing or composition;
but as the previous phrases describe the rock
whence he was hewn, and the hole of tho pit
whence he was digged Qsa Ii, y and the
high place to which he was exalted, so this
indicates his gratitude to God which found
expression in song; and surely our singing
would be much sweeter in Gods ears if it
always came from greatful hearts, because
of His unmerited love-
2. The Spirit Of the Lord spake by me,
and His word was in my tongue" Here is q
definition of inspiration. The Spirit speaks,
the words are His, but He uses David's
tongue; 30 Jesus testified that David himself
said by the Holy Ghost Mark xii, 36, and
Peter testified that the Holy Ghost by the
mouth Of David spake.
=. 1.-The God of Israel said, the Rock of Is
rael spake to me-" In the first verse it was
the God Of Jacob, perhaps with the thought
OF the Great Creator and Restorer Elohim),
who could make something out of and use
for His glory such crooked ones as Jacob and
IN 1ov,1 Il oil 80
the God and Rock Of Israel, the same Great
Ing and restoring and covenant keeping
Elohim, but now In reference to the broken.
helpless, clinging, earnestly seeking one who
had power with God and man. and received
the new name of Israel Gen xxi, $685.
Both Moses and David loved to speak of God
as their Rock Deut. xxi, q, Is, IS, 81; Ps.
xviii. 2, 81, 46, etc.,, but it is from the mar
gin of lisa. XVI, 4, that we get the title
"Rock Of Ages"
4. "And He shall be as the light of the
morning when the sun riseth, oven a morn
ing without clouds'' One of His last names
In Scripture is in Rev. xxi, 16, 'sThe root
and the offspring Of David, the bright and
morning star;" and in NAL iv, 9, ''The sun of
Righteousness The time of His appearing
in glory to build up Zion Cps. eli, 16) is pre-
eminently called ''the morning." as in Ps.
XVI, s Gnargin), where the whole subject is
the safety Of Israel when He Judges the ma
lions and makes wars to cease, and where it
is written "God shall help her when tho
morning appeareth," or R. w sat the dawn
of tho morning. and again in Ps xix, IA,
1.-The upright shall have dominion over them
in the morning." The condition of His en-
emies at that time is also described in Isa.
viii, 20, R. ", by the words, "Surely there is
no morning for them"
5. HE hath made with me an everlasting
covenant, ordered in all things and sure.n
This isiour golden text, and it is in some re-
spects the center of the lesson, for it brings
before US God and His faithful covenant and
assurance of complete fulfllment, inasmuch
as there can be no failure on His part. The
two "althoughs" which begin and end this
verse point to possible failure on the part of
David and his house, for man is only and al
ways when left to himself failure; but the
terms of the covenant indicated that while
iniquity might have to be chastened David's
house and kingdom should be established for
ever CHAP. vii, 1910; so that it might truly
be called ian everlasting covenant, ordered
Tor furnished) i'll all things and slre;;n or, as
it is in Isa lv, 3-5, "The sure mercies of
David" pointing to the time when other ma
tions shall run to Israel because of their
glorious king.
With such a kingdom before him, and, like
Abraham, believing what God has promised
He is also able to perform, David is able to
say: This is all my salvation and all my de-
sire" If we have the same spirit we shall
say: 81 know that in me, that is in my
flesh, dwelleth no good thingn Rom. vii,
lS), but am in Christ Jesus, my Rock and
my Salvation, and though health, friends,
riches, plans of mine, earthly expectations,
all may fail, know that He who is my life
ever liveth, and whatever may be the present
outcome when Christ, who is our life, shall
appear, then shall VIC also appear with Him