The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-12
Sunday SCHOOL LESSON
CALCULATION AND REVIEW OF IN
TERNATIoNAL TOPIC, SEPT. Is.
David's Gratitude to God, Second
Samuel xii, Verses 40-51-The
Flower of Holy Attainment.
Bv Rev. JAMES z. GILBERT,

By Rev JAMES E. GILBERT.
| Secretary of American Society of Religious Edu-
| cation-
| INTRODUCTION.-The lesson for Aug. 80 was
| in II Samuel that for Sept. in 1 Chronicles
| To-day study again in II Samuel. The COM
| position of these two books was doubtless sep
| arated by five centuries. The authorship of the
earlier book is generally ascribed to God and
Nathan. disciples of the great prophet whose
name it bears, while it is believed that Ezra
wrote the latter, after the Babylonan captivity.
/ The one was a contemporaneous record of pass
! ing events, the other historical review of
times long passed. 1t is worthy of comment that
| David's address to Solomon, studied last week.
| is omitted from Samuel. and that this Psalm is
omitted from Chronicles AS the writers were
under divine guidance, both as to the selection
and the arrangement of material, these omissions
nay be explained in the light of the purpose of
/ the two books and that may be best determined
by their careful study. AS there is not space for
a statement the readers attention is directed in
the belief that the suggested investigation will
| bring a valuable return.
| OCCASIONAL what time and under what
| circumstances David wrote the song, few
verses of which to be studied, cannot be
| positively affirmed. Verse L says it when
| the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of
| all his enemies Inas1nuch Saul is mentioned
| in the same connection, some have inferred that
| it relates to his establishment over the whole
| kingdom the death of his predecessor. I'll
| Sam. vii II But, since afterwards he had many
| enemies greater number of expositors hold that
| it toward the end of his life If this view
prevails it appropriately follows our last lesson
AS such the song is important. 1t marks
| the temper of David as he approaches the end
/ of his career when as do, he may
| have been supposed to take retrospect. The
needle may be temporarily jostled from it's po-
| siton, but it always returns and points toward
/ the pole. So David whose occasional wickedness
| is we'll known as life nears it's close, looking
| both ways, expresses the dominant sentiment of
/ his heart in inspired verse and leaves it, not
! merely biographical exhibit, but in
| structive to after generations.
! ANALYSIS. = Our passage, comprising only
| eleven verses, may be divided into two great
parts, each part admitting a subdivision. In
verses 4O-46. David rehearses the blessings which
| mad peen conferred upon him. He had been de-
llNered from enemies, preserved in the confidence
| of his own people and exalted among strangers
| these three classes representing all with whom
| ne mad come IN contact as a king. In verses A
| ton of the same ideas in the former section,
| which repetition, for the sake of emphasis, is
| not uncommon in Oriental poetry. More careful
| examination will show that in this second part
David is seeking to call special attention to the
| in the first part. This he does by open and
| hearty thanksgiving. This last forms the con-
| clusion and climax, the fitting purpose of the
| be able to read the mind and heart of David and
to feel somewhat some as he felt in writing:
| deliverance from enemies. Expressions to that
! effect appear in almost every verse. from begin
ming to end. Most men, especially those who
| rise to distinction and engage in great
prises, are subjected to fierce opposition. The
| more conspicuous one is the resolute in his
| purpose. the more surely man arouses enmity.
Hence David all his life contended with those
| that arrayed themselves against him. In verses
~ to 4S he shows how he gained victory of them.
II was not ny ms superior virtues or strengt hhe
glory to GOD. BY Him he had been girded with
supernatural power in him. When so strength
| ened moreover, he had perceived the presence
| them that rose up to do him harm psalm Xiv,
81 and given Yen him the mastery lyer them. Gen.
Xix, 81 His enemies had even invoked the help
OF Gcd against him but in vain Dob xvii 80
| him, and been utterly destroyed. Dan. ill., 35)
SUBJECTs-Every nation is liable to internal
disorders The people may be divided into par
ties, and the connections arising out of the con-
| ficting interests may involve the ruler, who at
| the beginning had no enemies among them. In
the midst of such agitations resulting possibly in
revolution, the very throne might be shaken, and
new king might be demanded to serve the DOM
| nant party History affords many iilustra lions
under this head Now David declares that dur
ing his reign of forty years he had been pre-
served from such misfortune, and assigns
in full harmony With the spirit Of the entire
song. He had been kept as sovereign during ali
heather, the mightiest monarch the globe. In
this way the prediction made to Moses had been
righteous king appeared TO the people prov. xiv,
STRANGERS.-Dav next directed attention
to what might be called the foreign relations of
Victories achieved in his many wars giving him
rank among the great generals of the ancient
stood as boasting. But he reflects on the result
of such victories yet future. People then I'M
known to him shall serve him; as they
hear of his fame they shall submit and become
obedient. They shall be frightened of their
close places where they have taken refuge. This
kingdom shall increase and absorb other king
d do There is evidently two-fold reference
by the eye of faith, and second to the spiritual
His Son that last to be kingdom of king
doms, spreading more and more, and ultimately
SAME he raises sf the king the s Me
singer to the highest place in sacred song.
zon of his life, regarding in succession enemies,
subjects and foreigners, with a far-away look
mighty. the author of these BLESSINGS 81 VeTse
Lord liveth. He is the self-e1istent, indepen-
honored, above all other beings. 1t IS He who
has avenged the king, and brought the people
given him place among rulers. that he shall
become the ruler of strangers. In making this
his thought. anxious that should pass from
the recital of what had occurred to the conter-
plation of the being and attributes of Him who
is behind and within all human history. working
would honor his Maker rather than feiicitate
himself His object is that OF all the inspired
writers who saw Gods hand in all things.
THANKsG1vING.-Ther are three possible
cause of the blessing, satisfaction in knowing the
person who bestowed it. grateful response of
the heart as its highest and best return. In our
lesson David passed through the first and the
second state and entered the third. Il viii give
thanks" he cried. present and future
purpose combined. 1t is. and will be and remain
the settled attitude of his soul habit of life
He viii do this not merely home among
friends, but among the heather. those who know
not God. that they may learn of His goodness.
G2om. KY, - He even announces the substance
of his THANKSGIVING song-that God is his tower
into which he fees for safety psalm cxv. 101
bold figure. well understood in that time of
fenced cities. borrowed possibly from his expe-
riences at Mahanaim and elsewhere: that God
shows mercy to His anointed psalm lxxxix 20)
and Is therefore faithful to His promises-a fact
worthy to be proclaimed in joyful notes and held
in perpetual memory.
CONCIUSION.-Grat is the noblest afTec-
ton of finite minds the flower and crown of all
holy attainment. All good souls stop there
When they have reached that excellence they are
perfected. Seraph saint render nothin--
more acceptable to God As he looks down upol
His creatures. whether they be gathered in His
immediate presence or tabernacle in flesh He
sees nowhere virtue pleasing to Him
Gratitude is the end which He seeks in all efforts
10 develop fallen humanity. He strews His gifts