Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-09-22

mentS These were OF HiS q "a
He had physical strength, peauty ua,ias of
Effectiveness. He had natural Ua was
a high order and great variety. re ~.
husiness man statesman, warrior nv
.,cian and poet. There was rare -
bjnation In him of all that eis 1900
tender and mild, with the mos. t;ors
enthusiasm, the most nopie a9p ~, ,rost
the most generous sentiments, the
manly department. the mos. .rovess
ing and the most inVincioie ~ for
Joined to invariable consldera.u ona
Others open-heartedness, NUM-,
entire absence of all pretensloii' ,r,nr
Early Training. David's early ,,as
was exactly the best for the WORK nH
to do in life-in a country hoine' tat,o,
and Intelligent with sufficient tenp'a s,'Iiv
but not overwhelming till he Was 1nad
grown amid daily duties that ueN ,,,id
him physically as well as meht ~ med
the influences of nature, OF nius'
itation. ,,,,,av
1rha ,,,o+ory over Goliath. in the vaIsg
of Elah. when 20 or q years old as
fruit of previous training ana cnoose
good and the means to larger autiee. -,
Scripture. ITO him that overcofie'n'
at will make a pillar in the temple Vi ny
God: 'and 1 will give him the me-
star" r,.,, In
Nine Years of Training and Triai III
David learned many lessons Oh n,d,i'
of saIf-restraint. of resistance TO "oli
moss of soldierly conduct ana Skin III of
use of arms. the blessing ana po"eA
true friendship. -, WAS
Then for seven years more ne W.
learning necessary lessons III eAhe -,
learned the character and needs VI Ia
people and their grievances. ne iea nns
men and how to govern men. his iessoA
In
tho dangers of his court life. lie eaipeu
a Knowledge of the country. He gatnereo
around him choice and heroic splr's III
preparation for his defense anu So
quests T., low
Illustration. The mahogany tree III low
and damp soils. is of very rapid sro
but the most valuable trees grow sioWis
amidst rocks and on sterile SOIL anu 80
to gather compactness and beauty OF gram
and texture from the very difficulties Win
which they have to struggle for existence,
inst as in human life affiiction and triai
develop the lovelieSt traits OF Huiia
character In the Bahama Islands, sprlhs
ing UP on rocky hillsides in places aiihos'
destitute of soil, and crowdlns hs coii-
torted roots into crevices among the roehs
Il speak now of a time long past - II
formed that much esteemed and curiousiy
veined variety of wood known and valued
so highly in Europe as Madeira WOOD.
David becomes king of Judah Tor sever
and half wears at Hebron. This was ms
preparation for the larger Kingdom.
Scripture. Well done, good and faithful
servant: thou hast been faithful over a
few things, 1 will make thee ruler over
many things Matt. 20: I'D.
David Becomes King Over All Israel
He became king as all men attain their
hest life work, -Q by the guiding provi-
dence of God, (2) by some kind of choice
of the people go by right heart ana
perseyerng will.
/. David enlarged the kingdom.
9, He subdued the enemies that at
tackled him.
8. He organized the government.
A. He organized the army.
s. He arranged the services of religion.
G. He enlarged commerce, business and
material prosperity.
David's sin marks a sad era in his life.
His repentance changed the very at
mosphere of his later life.
There were two streams flowing side by
side: one from his sin, eliminating in
Absalom's rebellion, but felt to the emu
of his life and beyond: the other from
his changed character, his penitence and
the new phase of his religious life. This
stream gradually widened as the evil
stream grew less. David spent much or
his later years in preparing materials Tor
the temple which his son was TO build.
Death and Burial of David. David died
at the age of seventy, full of days, riches
and honor" q Chron. 20: 2S). He was
buried at Jerusalem, in the tombs OF the
kings cut in the rocks under Mount Zion.
Review of David's Character. David
was a noble. brave, loving man, with
strong passions, a warm heart and
ready, generous hand; devoted friend,
attractive, bright. joyous, poetic, deeply
religious and devotional. strong in faith.
unselfish and sincerely good. He fell into
some of the vices of the age, he committed a
great crime; he was too easy in his fam
ily government; but his repentance and
public confession prove him to be at heart
a true and godly man, one OF the great
est and best men that ever lived. He was
a great general, a great statesman, a
great poet, a great organizer. great
man.
Time. Seventy years, the whole life of
David, b. c. 1885 to 1Ol5.
Place. The land of Palestine. - Beth
lehem, Valley of Elah. Gibeah where Saul
held his court. Hebron, Jerusalem.
Contemporaries. The prophet Samuel
lived till David was 20 years old or more.
Nathan and Cad were also prophets dur
ing his reign. Saul was king till David
was 80 years old.
Secular History. During David's reign
and Solomon's the great kingdoms OF
Egypt and of Assyria were suffering an
eclipse.