The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1896-09-17

i - Chron. 2: l6).
Natural Endow.
ments These were of high order
Tic had physical strength, beauty ana a',
,roctivonocs He had natural abilities OF
n hiyb order and great variety. He was
husinoss man statesman, warrior, mu-
srcion and mot ''There was rare com
bination in him of all that was sen.le,
tender and mild. with the most exal'eo
enthusiasm, the most noble asplria'loa >.
| tho most generous sentiments, the Hlos'
manly department, the most heroic ia.
ing and the most invincible pro"ess'
ioincd to invariable consideration 10,
others, open hcartedness. humpie"e''
entire absence of all pretensloh.
| Early Training. David's early training
was exactly the best for the WORK ne w."
to do in life.-in a country NOME ,.at,or
and intelligent, with sufhclen' 'e fuIlv
but not overwhelming till ne o,onod
grown, amid daily duties that u..e. mid
| him physically as well as lneh,"s Nod.
! tho Influences of nature of music, OF meo'
| itation.
| The victory over Goliath, in the va me-,
! of Elah. when 20 or q years old. Inc
fruit Of nrevio,,s training and choosing OF
good. ard the means to larger duties.
Scripture. "ro him that overcometh'
81 will make a pillar in the temple OF my
Cod; land will give him the morn''s
star" =,
Nine Years of Training and Trial. In
the court of Saul for about two years
David learned many lessons OF cuiture'
of self-restraint, of resistance 10 WI W. W.
ness, of soldierly conduct and skill IN 'he
true friendship. ,
Then for seven years more he was
learning necessary lessons IN exile. TIC
learned the character and needs OIL 'ls
people. and their grievances. He learned
men and how to govern men. HIS iessoi's
in privation and humility counteracteu
the dangers of his court life. lie gaineu
a knowledge of the country. He gathereo
around him choice and heroic spirits III
preparation for his defense and COLI
quests.
Illustration The mahogany tree, in low
and damp soils, is of very rapid grown
but the most valuable trees grow slowly
amidst rocks and on sterile soil, and seem
to gather compactness and beauty OF grain
and texture from the very difficulties win
which they have to struggle for existence:
just AS III HuIlAH IIle dlISNAoAA s~A'N ~-'~--
develop the loveliest traits Of human
character. In the Bahama Islands. spring
ing up on rocky hillsides in places almost
destitute of soil, and crowding its con-
torted roots into crevices among the rocks
II speak now of time long past 1T
formed that much esteemed and curiously
veined variety of wood known and valued
SO highly in Europe as Madeira wood"
David becomes king Of Judah for seven |
and half years at Hebron. This was his |
for the larger kingdom.
Scripture. Well done, good and faithful |
servant: thou hast been faithful over
few things, will make thee ruler over
many things Matt. %: 81.
David Becomes King Over All Israel.
He became king as all men attain their
best life work,-W by the guiding provi-
dence of God, CO by some kind of choice
of the people, (O by a right heart and
will.
!. David enlarged the kingdom.
2. He subdued the enemies that at
tackled him.
3. He organized the government.
4. He organized the army.
s. He arranged the services Of religion.
6. He enlarged commerce, business and
prosperity.
David's sin marks 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 end
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 of
his later years in preparing materials for
The temple which his son was to build.
Death and Burial Of David. David died
1t the age of seventy, full of days, riches
Ind honor" Il Chron. 20: 2S). He was
buried at Jerusalem, in the tombs of the
Sings cut in the rocks under Mount Zion.
Review of David's Character. David
vas q noble, brave, loving man, with
strong passions, warm heart and a
'eady, generous hand; devoted friend,
bright, joyous, poetic, deeply
elig.ous and devotional, strong in faith.
lnselfish and sincerely good. He fell into
ONE of the vfces of the age; he committed q r.
treat crime; he was too easy III his fam
~ government; but his repentance and
public confession prove him to be at heart
true and godly man, one Of the great
st and best men that ever lived. He was
great general, great statesman, a
,reat poet, great organizer. great
nan.
Time. Seventy years. the whole life OF
David, B. c. 1855 to lOl5.
Place. The land Of Palestine, = Beth
chem, Valley of Elah, Gibeah, where Saul
eld his court, Hebron, Jerusalem.
Contemporaries. The prophet Samuel
wed till David was 20 years old or more.
Nathan and Cad were also prophets dur
ne his reign. Saul was king TIL David
vas 30 years old.
Secular History. During Davids reign
nd Solomons the great Kingdoms Of :
Egypt and Of Assyria were suffering an
clipse.