Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-12-05
DAVID AS A RULER"
jrilIiant Sunday Sermon By Rev. DR..
Edward B. Thurber.
>cribing the Lie Of the Psalmist From
Sheepcote to Throne.

SIS e text was taken from | Chronicles
f 81, THUS saith the Lord of Hosts, L
a took thee from the sheepcote, even from
following the sheep, that thou shouldst be
ruler oyer My people Israeli" DR.. Thur
i Der said:
What great distance from the pastures
10 Bethlehem to the throne in Jerusalem.
The contrast between the shepherd boy
and the King of Israel is one of the mar
vels which human history presents lis. 1t
IS certain that no one is able to bridge
such distances without the intervention of
assisting conditions and forces. There
9 must be acting factors in the life if the
great results are secured. A man becomes
"a debtor to so much, to his environment,
TO favoring. conditions, TO friendly agencies,
Ind sometimes to seemingly adverse cir
Z cumstances. His own powers are stimuli
lated. directed and assisted toward the
gend that is to be reached.
The American Revolution had some
hing to do in advancing Washington to
5 position in history: mis- early educa-
ton- his ancestry, his religious feeling. the
people among whom his lot was cast. were
all factors in his career. The French Rev
oiution was the great opportunity which
the genius of Napoleon could seize and uti-
ize.. MANY man fails to come conspicu-
sously to the front because the times are
\ not ripe for dramatic career.
The wise man studies and understands
& how varying factors may be made to con-
tEtDulc III UtOSEeSS anu welfare. Tic
comes to know how much depends upon
the interest and services of one whom he
q may seek and serve, and who may seek
'*and serve him.
q David's omen soul called multitude of
/ agencies into service. for his career and
VI their employment made his history posi-
bic. and gave to it that peculiar color and
variety which charm lis.
The stars smoke to hir,. and through
l,,n they speak to us. as his thought and
feelings are renorted in the music of the
y salms. which have been such so'ace and
The fields. flowers and forests. the streams
q and scenes Of raturc. bird and beast. had
y their part in the noetry he feit and ex-
pressed in a literature that will last as
long rs language endures. His friendships.
that ideal ore with Jonathan. hi associa-
8 lions with all Classes and conditions of
Nmen: give us a unique and interesting per-
\anaiity.
von cannot understand David until you
info consideration the nature of the
cies within him. and measure the
g=.seeIee. of the influences which entered
] into the formation of his character and
3 career. Thcre is ]"rne mixture OF con-
frastinr and contradi"ting tendencies in
y him. These are manifested throIgh the
wears of his eventfri history. TIE was like
a citv that is being builded. The original
low. marshy n'aces must he drained and
filled uu. rough reths must give mace to
well na~ed streets. rude huts will be Sill
perseded bv well constructed houses. pal
aces and public buildings: the crude and
inartistic will be ren,aced bv the work of
architects and artists. baforn the city can
become beautiful and hoa 'thfnl.
!, THROUGH all the period of construction,
there will be present the contrasts and
! contradictions that r,ar and nnalifv the
glory of the city. There are two things
that would be arnarent to a candid critic:
q that haspr do hot fbo
Issue of endeayor> will be sure and salts
This contrast is presented through the
y course of David's life. If we look at some
features which come before lis consDicu-
ously we will judge him severely; if we
and at the same time we will perceive that
his way is onward from the sheepcote to
the throne. At times David is rs humble
as child that feels his weakness and
need, and yet stands before h., father. that
he may be taught and led. and again he is
his superior. He nnholds truth and RIGHT
& eopsness as essential to manhood. and then
under the influence of fear he deceives
King Achish. who has hefriepded him. He
shows wonderful spirit OF forbearance
and then he puts his friend Uriah to the
y peril of certain death. His love for .Jora-
than is wonderful and ideal. and then Re
# Yields himself to degrading loves He
needed to be taken out of these con6 tions
of selfishness, sensualitv, pride and the
! evil of a wrong life. if he was to become
&c man after Gods own heart"
We wonld miss all. however, unless we
knew about the SOVEREIGN influence which
rervaded. arranged. employed and directed
al factors and conditions which entered
into and contributed toward Davies ca.
reer. Without this dominating influence
Jerusalem would never have been related
4 with Bethlehem. We must also remember
that the frrition of great character would
Shave been imnossihle without the presence
of God. While all this is true we must
bear in mind even the divine mower did
not contradict The choice of David or force
rs voluntary action. God dealt with him
La. free and intelligent soul. He was
sEaf!ed to enter into partnership with God,
] with him. He cried out for the living God.
as the thirsty land cries out for the life.
giving water, that it may blossom as the
rose and rejoice in the beauty and bounty
I of fruitfulness.
It is with such an INTERPRETATION and
qualification that we listened TO- and un-
derstand. what is intended when God is
represented as saving. 81 took thee from
the sheepcote. even from following the
sheen. that thou shouldst be ruler over Nv
\ people Israel." God entered into and in.
rtarested Himself in David's life. even as
He would in our lives. God directed ard
utilized circumstances. made use Of envi-
-onrent. employed the stars that spoke to
ids soul. was in the blue sky of Pal
line. and amid the clouds that at times
6arkened the heavens and pcrvaded with
His purpose and power all the forms of
nature in Bethlehem that spoke so insnir-
;neiv to the soul of the young man. God
Utilized the strength of body and SOU, en-
Toying all tie powers and faculties and
opportunities in the interests OF his pro-
eess. He made use of discD,;nc, dsan-
ointments and apparent failures. of his
ms and errhrs; in no way condoning
lem, hnt with purpose to make them
rive Him and work for Davids promo
life takes on larger meaning. and that
in our life.
The little fountain up the slope of some
pine peak has its significance. but when
connect its cease,ess flow and contrihu- |
N with the Rhine. which gives a water
v to large country, it seems more inn
stant to US.
Then the Rhine flows onward. hearing
contribution of multitude of rivucts |
AuiFess through wide domain and
- its varied service % the wealth and
kelfare of an empire. we give the noble
river larger consideration. 1t means much
more to us. The coming of the King of
italy to France and Paris is something
more than a personal visit. The King
brings the good, will Of a kingdom. He
represents the desire of rapprochment of |
ship. The decoration of city, the splen-
dor of illumination, the march of soldiers.
he manifested good will of people. are
e,e emphatic expression of tie value of