The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-26
SUNDAY-SCHOOL LESSON
CALCULATION AND REVIEW OF IN
TERNATIONAL TOPIC, SEPT. 81.
Review of the Lessons of the Past
Three Months, Which Have Treat
ed of the Life of David.
By Rev. JAMES e. GILBERT.
Secretary of American Society of Religious
cation.

Secretary of American Society of Religious Edu-
cation.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. the three months
now closing millions of teachers and pupils In
the Sunday schools of this country and of foreign
lands have studied the life and conduct of one
mana king of Israel-separated from the pres
ent by nearly thirty centuries. This phenomenal
fact is notable illustration of the abiding in
terest, not only in the Bible, but in the great
characters of the Bible. Nothing could elevate
the story of any of the celebrities of secular his
tory into equal Importance. engaging the stimuli
taneous and protracted attention OF so many
minds. The quarters lessons have not covered
the entire career of David. A few detached
passages only have been presented, the records
of events wherein he was conspicuous Inquire.
These events, however were well suited to dis
play the many sides of his wonderful personality,
which it is the purpose of this review to consider
IL orderly way.
observation-disclosures and exhibited
David as a king, first over one tribe, then over
all the tribes. his first capital being Hebron, his
last capital Jerusalem. The manner of his eleva-
ton to this high office. and the spirit with which
he discharged its duties, are specially brought
out. He did not rise his place by intrigue or
by self-assertion Having been appointed by the
great prophet he might have grasped the reins of
government at the death of Saul, and in all prob
ability a distracted country would have focked
to his standard. But instead he waited on Provi-
dence and the people. Seven years elapsed,
during which, by his wisdom. he the ADMIR-
throne. rival disputing his authority, there
was double sense of responsibility. He felt
that he the servant of God, and that he had
been called to do good to Israel Oh sam. vii,
l2) This conviction remained with him and
dominated him throughout his reign.
SAINT.-The religious features OF King David's
Lessons and T. AS servant Of God and
the people he the necessity of royal recog
milton Of religion, and resolved TO bring TO Jeru-
salem the ark OF the divine presence This pious
of Uzzah, causing David to inquire more care
fully concerning the Lord VIII, but II was art
ting up of THIS sacred vessel restored
theocracy it's old time power. and made the
trast between the tabernacle in which the ark
was placed and his own costly palace prompted
pose he was not permitted to carry out. Having
been a man OF war ana blood ne was al,eetTa 70
ing King David, the Almighty made many
70 tbe narpetuai eiorv Of his KINGDOM through
solomon, who should sit on his throne and whose
reign should be under the divine guidance and
FRIEND-some men. on reaching exalted sta
ton, forget even me benefactors OF their earlier
years. Their selfshness and vanity leave no
place for gratitude. But David had nobler
nature. When seated on the throne in the midst
of wealth and spendor, honored by all, mem
CRY the DAYS oil s b ai ana the ter names
the beautiful Jonathan, who had risked his own
long covenant of holy friendship, to whom David
had made a vow yet unfulhlled. Jonathan was
QedC, Dul MS name anu uSeu llNeu III the HedFt
of the king. who inquired whether any of the
family survived, to whom kindness might be
found. lame in both feet, living then in OBJ
security a.esson 50 The poor cripple was
adopted into the family OF David, invested with
the possessions OF his grandfather ana made to
Gus act placed new jewel in the crown OF the
monarch re and won for him the affectonate re-
wARRIoR.-it generally occurs that the devel
opment of the religious nature deprives of
those sterner attributes that prepare for san
culinary conflicts. There have been few, how
and Stonewal jackson, who could fight and pray;
who. with great love for man, led armies into
warrior Lesson s tells of his victories which
war against the Ammonites and their confeder-
ates, conducted by Joab. The other was the war
which followed, in which David led in person the
hosts of Israel against the combined forces Of
the Syrians, who, after the former defeat, mad
engagements there was a splendid triumph
sulting in an enlargement of the empire to the
the true significance of all the wars of David.
He was captain of the armies of the Lord, COM
pleting the conquest begun under Joshua, but de-
layed during the centuries through unbelief.
poh mnds the I a Dagid
was faultless. king. a saint, friend a war
To make this mans career instructive it is
necessary to show the defects OF his character.
and SO to bring him to the level of common
those who go down into the evil led away by
ike brute in the lth and those Who are over
taken in an hour of temptation, but who rise
virtue. David was OF the latter class How
grievously he snned history records. How glori-
ously he repented, and how completely he
saved, seventh lesson shows. The history
written with due faithfulness in duh prose.
The recovery is related in poetry, that it might
be sung and celebrated in the temple and re-
peated by other penitents in after centuries
long frail man departs from God and seeks
and finds I'M pardon
lion and death lessons and 81, should be re-
viewed in the light OF Davd's sinfulness. here
NO repentance or pardon can reverse the law of
heredity. The virus in the blood will be trans
the father is made to behold and contemplate
the issues of his own life. The plea of David
for mercy toward Absalom, his immoderate grief
on learning that the young man had been slain,
oed ~ wiz t6 n upon bon ms
son also, like himself, might repent A SHINING
father who has felt the sweet peace of forgive
ness. well as the pangs of remorser may be
the stains of the dark record on his soul. How
tender, how responsible how holy is the fathers
son, and viii not give him up although I'M
worthy. Nowhere does David appear
OLD AGE.-The end of a mans life is. in
many respects its best measure. All through the
turning at times from the chosen way, as
He lives in a dead calm who has not been borne
by the storm against his will. 1t often occurs
and plan of another, often is he the victim of
forces beyond his control. But when life aD-
proacheS ITS close, When It's CONNECTS are past,
the real appears in a steadier adherence to
principle and a firmer pursuit of destiny. So
it with David. In tenth lesson find him
committing the kingdom and his unfinished work
to Solomon. The chief topic upon which he
dwells is the temple, to be buded at Jerusalem,
for which he had prepared abundant material
Still later Oesson ID, as he comes down to
the last hours, he pourS out his soul with graf
itude to God, acknowledging that all the bless
ngs of lifetime had been the free gift of
heaven. Beautiful picture of old agei A grateful
10 backward. A hopeful look forward
IONCLUSION.-Such llfe-monarch. friend
warrior, father, sinner saint-lived in any age
is a blessing to contemporaries and to posterity.
1t is no wonder that David. the of jesse
was taken into the councils of God and made a
factor in working out divine plans 1t is highly
proper that he should be regarded, as he was.
by all learned and pious children of Abraham
the central figure of their national history, and
that the throne of David should be the proud
symbol of Messiahs reign. duke l. 32.) And 50
let 1t be the youth of all tine that he is
the greatest man whose life is under the
control of God that righteousness adorns every
station and prepares for every duty, and that it
is tn, only sure guarantee of age of peace
a of INN honor.