The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-06-25
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
A Study Of the International Sunday
a.
School Lesson Appointed for July
5, 1896.
Subject: David Made King of Judah. 9 Sam.
2:I.t1

| y. lOSO.
Subject: David Made King of Judah. 2 Sam.
| 2:1.t1.
Zone reading these notel should first carefully
| e,udy the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
| Indicated above.i sr
INTRODUCTION.
We now come back to the Old Testament,
resuming our study of the history of the jew
| ish people. TIE lessons for this next quarter
will relate to David. Moses first led the Israel
ties. Joshua followed him. Then came
long line of Judges. After time the people
| became impatient of such system or lack of
| system, of ruling. The heathen nations around
them had Kings and they. also, were very de-
| srous to have a similar method of Govern
! ment At length they would listen to no
suggestions versus a King, and absolutely de-
manded such ruler. Before they had been
under a Theocracy. God supposed to
| govern them, and the Judges were regarded as
men specially raised mp and appointed by God
10 declare and execute his will. The demand
I for King was interpreted by God DISPOSE
| ton to substitute n mere human power for
| divine personality. King seems ruler in
! himself in some sense independent of any ex-
| ternal regulation. But the people in
sistent that finally King was chosen. Saul
BECAME the first King of the entire Israelitish
natiou-the whole II tribes He was, indeed.
| independent of divine suggestion and direc-
| ton. He was offensive TO Jehovah. it WAS
plain no could not much longer be King, and
| preliminary steps were taken for a successor.
David was chosen. His very selection in
the line of Gods direction. Tie critoria we're
quite different from those in the case of Saul.
David was not of great stature and impressive
appearance These Saul possessed but they
failed To make him AL acceptable King. 1t is
interesting to compare the respective qualifca-
| tions of the first two Kings of the Isrselites,
and thus to gain some idea of the traits of per-
son, character, and mind of one whom We
would choose to be the leader of a people.
This is an interesting study in land,
where we are called on so often to choose our
rulers We should select meu noted rather
for mind than muscle; for honesty rather
than GINNING; for goodness rather than bru-
tRlty; for their reverence OF Diety rather
than their great opinion of self; for their
influence witt, God rather than their success
full harapguing of the mob. There things
to crticise in David. and that from the fact
that he was man and not "A Deity. A study
Of his life will prove suggestive even in its
warnings. The selection OF National Ruler
ought To DO undertaken by at least the Chris
tian portion Of the community, with effort for
divine direction aud blessing. God is the gen.
erai ruler, and they rule we'll who fall into
line with the purposes Of that Mind which
never errs and with That power which never
makes a mistake. aud with that Heart which
seeks the greatest gDcd on the long run of all
creatures. We should make Rulers murc the
subjects Of prayer. Some Christian ministers
make il rule 10 priay every Sunday morning
for OWL rulers. The Episcopal Church has a
special prayer prescribed in behalf of rulers.
specifying in particular fhe President Of the
United States aud the Governors of the re-
spectvs States. "i
1t is folly to let sip by the warnings, sug-
gestions. encourageHlsnts to be gotten from a
study OF history. Every student of politics
should famliarizs hitnsef with the history of
the Jews in their civil affairs from Moses to
Solomon, and through the Kingly lines Of
the two kingdoms into which the Israelites
were divided at the death of Solomon. IL is
VOL our Supday-scTiool lessons give so much
attention TO this subject, for it must BIO horne
in mind we are, in our religious schools, prepar-
ing the boys in paTticalarito become politicians
in good sense, rulers in the various depart
ments Of our Government. 1t should be part
OF the effort of education to furnish our youths
with right ideas of CDR National status with a
fairly-good knowledge Of our cnuutry's his
tory with correct idezs As 10 qualifications for
civil office; with patri6tic conceptions OF our
National greatness; with thorough sympathy
of feeling in all that our flag is intended to
mean with considerably full sense of what
our liberty Inns cost US.
Data
IS a,2:I-11. The Second Book Of Samuel
is one of the historic books of the Old Tesla
ment. II used to be known as tho Second
Book Of the Kings. The Book of First Samuel
was the First Book Of Kings. Then our First
Kings was called the Third Book Of the Kings.
aud our Second Kings the Fourth Book of the
Kings.
Time and Place.
~ q
years ago. The scene of the lesson was Hebron,
place full of interest in Jewish history. Abra- |
ham and Sarah were buried there IL is in the !
southern part of Judea, about Is miles from |
Jerusalem in south westerly direction. 1t is 7
place much visited 10y travellers. The cave of
Machpelah is pointed out, and many traditions |
told about it. 1t lay in the caravan route from |
Damascus TO Egypt and was, in very early |
times. city OF importance. Among other Bible |
incidents connected with Hebron and suggested |
by it Is the residence there for time of David,
as related in this lesson. The association of /
events with the geographic locations is great |
help to memory. Hence, in studying Incl |
dent, we should firmly attach it to its geo. |
graphical and typographical environments. |
And "place often is itself q great aid in the |
inter pretatiop of event. So. IN teaching a |
lesson it is always well 10 dwell at some length |
on location, and that specially when location |
at all affects explanation.
1t rs well III this lesson to inquire how we |
happen 10 find David in place 80 unusual and |
out OF place for n King of the 12 Tribes. |
The capital and proper Headquarters was Jeru-
salem. But verse Ii shows that David made /
Hebron his first capital. and that for seven and |
One-half years.
SauPs Successor.
1t was usual in monarchies to have the King
ship self-propagative. The oldest son of the |
King first of all heir to his fathers throne. |
We see this idea asserting itself in the attempt |
to make the of Saul--Ish bosteth-King in
place OF his deceased father. This was very |
natural, and was in fact according TO the very
plan we would expect 10 see realized. But it |
was evidently the purpose of God To have a new
dynasty. The reign of Saul was so bad that tho |
better plan was to exterminate the line in toto
leaving nothing suggestive of the wretcbed
following, and was recognized for two years as
King in part OF Canaan, or over portion of the |
Israelites. Ishbusheth WAS 40 years of age when |
his father died. For a long time the sympathi-
zers of Sani's family made the position of David
very unpleasant, and sonic times dangerous.
The time came, however. when Ishbosheth lost
all power-wss murdered David became /
King of the whole of Israel. Then the capital |
was moved from Hebron to Jerusalem. 5:5
We SEQ the office-wo Of patience. David |
abided his time in an humble city, away of on
the borders. II was humiliating. 1t would
have taken the heart out of some men. The
power to wait is often the very secret of sue
cess. Impetuosity and inmaturity are ele-
Af t..1. r.