Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-10-28
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.

Fopic For the week BEGINNING Nov
1-Comment by Rev. :. Ii. Doyle.
Topic.-Great men CT the Bible What
David teaches us.--l san. xvi. u-l3; rs.
xix; John VII, A.
David was the youngest of the eight
sons of Jesse Of the tribe Of Judah.
Ills name means beloved lie was
born about 1883 u. c. in Bethiehem oil
Judea, which was also the bir.hglacc
of our Saviour, who was the Son OF
David" according to tie G2sh. and
Through whom the kingdom of David
mas become an everlasting kingdom.
David in appearance was a prepos-
sesslng youth. lie was ruddy and
withal of a beautiful eoantenanee ana
goodly to look at" His early life was
spent in loyal, loviag seTs-iee at home.
where he faithfully tended his fathers
sheep. In this period eff his life he
teaches US an important lesson on
youthful faith in God. fer undoubtedly
1T was at this time that h. coIgpo ed
the immortal poem called the Nine
Aeenth Psalm. in which he sets for h
the glory OF God as testified by the
heavens and expresses his need OF God
and his desire that his meditations and
words might lie acceptable unso Ged.
I'm this period also God had him
lenointed 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 tho ,Na,-;nI of hfc EEo his
,anointment as king and his ascendency
of the throne David had a most eXcit-
ing and varied career. Saul called him
10 court that he might relieve his
Aroubled mind with music. Released
for a time, he returns TO his fathers
dock and next appears in connection
with the war with the Fhilistines.
when God gave him the great victory
ever the great champion. Goliath.
crowned with honor. he returned to
,Dourt, received a command and was
successful and beloved Then followed
the vicissitudes which resulted from
ME Jealousy OF Saul. Frightened only
~ the mutual love of David and JON
iafhan. His magnanimity toward Saul
during this trying period should i'm
,press us. Though he often had the
hing in his power. he would not raise
hds hand against him, and at last God
Dewarded him by opening up the way
10 the throne through the deaths Of
both Saul and Jonathan.
David at once entered upon his kingly
lEnreeF. For seven years he reigned
over Judah alone at Hebron. and then
Cor 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
bis Kingdom He conveyed the ark of
LGod to the Holy City. The ordinances
Iof worship were remodeled and faith
fully observed He extended the bound
aries of the kingdom and provided
abundant materials for the magnificent
kemple which Solomon afterward built.
David, being human, did not live with
out blemish. His temptations We're
many and strong, but he stood out in
marked contrast to his contemporaries
and in sackcloth and ashes repented
sof his most grievous sin and received
Gods pardon for ii. David's kingdom
is spiritually continued in Christ,
l'1King David's greater Son" and we
should all become members of that
spiritual kingdom by faith in Christ.
a. BIBLE READINGS.
1 Sam. xvi, 1923; xvii, 1851; xviii,
IA; Xxx, 1923; xxi, 1-6; ii Sam. i. 1927;
v. II; vi, lis; Ps. xxiii; Ps. Ii; Ps.
Hxii.