The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-09-12
AmonE the pleasane fields of Holy wri. Third Quarter. Lesson xI. 9 Samuel
 Ii, l-10 September l.:.4... 4 13. 1QO3.
David Becomes King.


 The time of David's outlawry was the period of his tutelage for the throne. He may not have perceived in Advance the bearing of these bitter experiences upon his future ca reer. Hindsight 1s % much clearer than fore sight. His bearing in this fiery and. to him, inexplicable trial, however. commands our ad- niration. What courage. dexterity, persistence! Deeds of kindliness too. as we'll as valor!
 The psalms of the fugitive abound in plaint- I've suggestions of his sufferings. Like a bird, hs must needs fly to his mountain. He is hunted like partridge. His enemies bend their bows. making ready their arrows upon the string. Their teeth spears and ar BOWS, and their tongues a sharp sword. What peerless faith the young hero-king showed fin these pitiful extremities! He trusted where he could not trace Providence He shone as fustrously in the light of the furnace of the throne. Like his Kingly Descendant he was made perfect by what he suffered
 He was making spells of the heather during these years of exile among them. Nothing passed unnoted his keeniy observant mind. The arts of strategy. use of arms and imple- msnts military organization and tactics, he lsaTned them ali. and had immediate oppor- tunity flor practical experimentation. Well may Charles Kingsley exclain, "An Ideal king. with an ideal trainingr' After the six years curriculum, David graduated amid the smoke and ashes of Ziklag. He might have eaid as a noble Roman did when he saw his villa in flames. 'Ifit had not perished. would have perished." Heather soil and city held by heather sufferancs was no place for the Lords anointed to stay permanently. It was e rude shaking of the nest, but 1t threw the eagiet on his own pinions.
 David has offered his elegy. Noble. tender, true-a tribute to the kingly victims of Gilboa. Since now the house of Saul son and sire. has fallen. the way to the throne is open to the shepherd boy of Bethlehem. He is not precip- etake, however He recognizes the crucial char acter of that hour No doubt his mind. thor euehiy trained in diplomacy and strategy. had already elaborated plan of procedure But he Watl humbly submit it to Divine review and approval before he takes a step What a eight to be admired! That self-reliant hero. accustomed to instantaneous action. sees his crown trembling in the balance but holds himself in absolute composure, and reverently anquiroS of God how he shall act.
 With a celerity Napoleon never surpassed. David no sooner had his orders from the b ,ad- quarters of heaven than he on the march to Hebron. He had about him 8 small but thoroughly trained army. as ardently attached to his person and absolutely trustful in the star of his destiny as any that ever followed the Corsicap conqueror.
 For diplomatic and strategic purposes Hebron could not be surpassed. The ashes of the pa er1arohs lent their sanctity to the rising dy- nasty. It was the chief city of the chief tribe and c fortress city withal.
 The fruits of that discipline, which, while 1t was being endured was so grievous. now