The Morris County chronicle., 1903-10-30
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvOR.
Topic For the Week Beginning No
1-Cnnrne nv Rev s H DOYLE.

Topic For the Week Beginning Nov.
1-COmment by Rev. S. III. Doyle.
Topic.-Great men of the Bible. What
David teaches us.-I Sam xvi 11-19; Ps
xix; John vii, AZ.
David was the youngest of the eight
sons of Jesse of the tribe of Judah
His name means beloved. He was
,yOrn about 1885 B. C. in Bethlehem of
Judea, which was also the birthplace
of our Saviour, who was the "Son of.
David" according to the flesh, and
through whom the kingdom of David
has become an everlasting Kingdom.
David in appearance was a prepos-
sessing youth. "He was ruddy and
withal of a beautiful countenance and
goodly to look at" His early life was
spent in loyal, loving service at home
where he faithfully tended his fathers
sheep. In this period of his life he
teaches us an important lesson on
youthful faith in God, for undoubtedly
it was at this time that he composed
the immortal poem called the Nine
teenth Psalm, in which he sets forth
the glory of God as testified by the
heavens and expresses his need of God
and his desire that his meditations and
words might be acceptable unto God.
In this period also God had him
anointed to become the future king of
Israel, Illustrating that God calls to
higher positions in life those who
| faithfully serve him in the more hum
BILE ones.
In the period of his life between his
anointment as king and his ascendency
of the throne David had most eXcit-
ing and varied career Saul called him
to court that he might relieve his
troubled mind with music. Released
for a time, he returns to his fathers
flock and next appears in connection
with the war with the Philistines,
when God gave him the great victory
over the great champion, Goliath.
Crowned with honor, he returned to
court, received a command and was
successful and beloved. Then followed
the vicissitudes which resulted from
the jealousy of SAUL frightened only
by the mutual love of David and JON
athan. His magnanimity toward Saul
during this trying period should i'm
press us. Though he often had the
king in his power, he would not raise
his hand against him, and at last God
rewarded him by opening up the way
to the throne through the deaths of
both Saul and Jonathan.
David at once entered upon his kingly
career. For seven years he reigned
over Judah alone at Hebron, and then
for thirty-three years over judah and
Israel united, making his reign forty
years in all. David was a great and
progressive king, loyal to God and to
his kingdom He conveyed the ark of
God to the Holy City The ordinances
of worship were remodeled and faith
fully observed. He extended the bound
aries of the kingdom and provided
abundant materials for the magnificent
temple which Solomon afterward built.
David, being human, did not live with
out blemish. His temptations were
many and strong, but he stood out in
marked contrast to his contemporaries
and in sackcloth and ashes repented
of his most grievous sin and received
Gods pardon for it. David's kingdom
is spiritually continued in Christ,
"King David's greater Son." and we
should all become members of that
spiritual kingdom by faith in Christ.
BIBLE READINGS.
Sam. xvi, 1923; xvii, 1851; xviii,
IA; Xxx, 1923; xxi, 1-6; II Sam. i, 1927;
V, II; vi, lis; Ps. xiii; Ps. Ii; Ps.
lxxii.