The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-06-25

this is we'll. But when one seeks the will Of
God and aseertains it, he had better not revise
it at all. God told David where to 20. and
thither David went. It must have seemed
strange TO him to be sent away of to Hebron.
But David makes no question. We are not to
analyze Gods commands. We are not to
amend them. The only thing to DO with an
order from God is to execute it. Compare the
case of Abraham. Heb. II: 8. He Abra-
ham went out not knowing whittier no went"
IL was matter of faith. II wo were omuiseent
it would be different We cannot foresce all
the consequences When God orders, we have
guarantee of The reasonableness and practical
bility of the plans duties indicated in the
command. Obedience means sure success.
,. We mnst admire the beautiful spirit of
David. Saul had been his bittor enemy-had
even tried 10 kill him. God himself had shown
great displeasure with Saul. Tho character OF
Saul was not commendable. He did not deserve
respect. Many good mon would say that he
ought to have been despised-denied decent
-burial-deprived Of any honorable memorial.
When David was informed that certain persons
had buried Saul, to save his corpse from yuI-
lures and his bones from dissertation, David
was delighted. He took pains 10 compliment
those who had paid such respect To the body of
Saul-called the act n kindness-and promised
to reward the men who thus buried the body
and even beSought Gods blessing act so
much above the ordinary liitlcuess and mean
ness OF the common run of mortals. David was
8 man too great 10 be small-too generous to be
revengeful-too magnanimons to be reseutiul-
too manly to be at all demonish.
A. The setting apart men TO civil positions
by some suitable religious service--the in n
sense, amounting them-is TO he commended.
Some degree Of formality is beftting an occa.
sion important and interesting In the
lsroeltish mind, amounting had a religious sig
nifeance. 1t was supposed that, with the
amounting, was impaired divine blessing on
the person and degree of fitness for the posi-
ton. Scmblances of amounting exist in all
Christian lands to a greater or less extent. A.
the Inauguration of the President Of the United
States in the Induction Of persons into vari-
Gus civil Offices, and in other ways, the element
OF religious conservation enters considerably
a factor. All of this has a Theocrstic side. 1t
is implied that God still rules. and men are
simply his servants. This is as it ought to be.
Our Ruler after all, is God.
5. We should be loyal to our rulers. 1.-THE
house of Judah followed David" V. 10. When
God auoints ruler there is an implied obIiga-
ton Of loyalty aud obedience on the part OF
subjects. There is for Ishbesheth
when David is countenauoed by God as the
King. There is quite as much call for loyal
subjects rs there is for worthy rulers. There
is reason in country TO criticize lack
of respect for the powers that be-to denounce
spirit OF irreverence for civil officers. Excep-
tionslly bad rulers must be criticized, but there
IL spirit OF regard, respect reverence, which
we should mt least Try to cultivate. This lesson
oilers some opportunity to teachers To suggest
to holsrs the wrong OF speaking lightly, sneer-
iBgy, abnsively Of civil officers.
This lesson has also some points fitting 10 very
suitably to be the lesson for the day next to
July the Fourth.