The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1903-09-10

over AL Israel
20 lshbCsEeth Sau.s son was % years old
WAen Re began to rt .gu over lsr-a., An.
Er.gned Two ears. But the house OF J .Cal
io..oHed David.
NOTES AND COMMENTS
GOLDEN TENT-Behoid, how good
and how pleasant IL is for brethren
{" dwell together in unity!-Ps. IlsI.
OUTLINE OF SCRIPTCRE SECTION.
a lar rs"arce'!. ....,.......-2 Sam u "a
DaElG mourning .-............- sam. i..1-s1
David anolrted king ..........- sam :. -.
CpmmendLng the Jabesh- g!.ead-
Ishhosheth anoiu,st k.as.....-- sam 80.
TIMk.-About lun r e
FLACE-Zlk. q Fl shron and Mahanaim
We have seen how David. though
he had come to know why Samuel
had anointed him, would do nothing
against Saul After Sauls death he
acted just as nobIy az he had done
while bis enemy was living. He
would not remember the evil that Saul
had done, but only the good. He
mourned Saul as be was at his best
the afable king, the brave warrior, the
generous friend.
From the fateful battlefield at Gil
boa a messenger hasteued southwark
to Ziklag, to announce 10 David the
defeat and death OF his rival, King
Saul. II David had been less mag
nanimous he would have welcomet
tho news with rejoicing and reward
ed the messenger. This was what tie
Gan expected, but he was doomed 10
disappointment. He misiudged David ]
character. Instead OF rejoicing, David
mourned for Saul and Jonathan. His
lamentatiou, called The Song OF the
Bow" Is one OF the most beautiful per-
sonal tributes in all literature. The
Amalekite who brought the news pre-
sented David with Saul's crown and
bracelet, claiming to have slain tho
king with his own hand, though at
SauFs request. This was undoubted-
ly lie, invented for anticipated re-
ward. We learned in our last lesson
that Saul committed suicide. David
believed the lie, but rewarded the liar
very Unexpectedly by ordering him to
be executed for Staying Jehovah )
anointed"
David, at the age Of 30 years, after
many bitter experiences and hardshiUs.
dnally attains the kingship, promised
him years before, when Samuel anoinr-
ed him. He has proved his powers Of
leadership and his great military
prowessi also his ability to win and
keep friends. David enquired Of Io-
hovah:' Probably through his h!gh
priest, Abiathar, with the historic
ephod and the Trim and Thummin"
(see Elk. $500. Unto Hebron" The
natural capital of southern judah. the
home OF his ancestors Abraham anu
Isaac. The surrounding country was
thoroughly familiar to David. and the
inhabitants had become much attached
10 him. He had just increased his
personal hold upon their Leading men
by giving them valuable presents see
/ Sam. 80: 26-5D. Abigail. the VIE
Of Nabal:" Rather. his widow And
his men:" Probably most OF David
renowned 500 came from this disrric,.
so that now they merely returned 20
their former homes. hoping TO dwell
in peace. The men OF Judah
anointed David king This was his
public inauguration, making him tina
peoples choice as we'll as SamueHs.
David shows himself at this crisis
to be wise conciliatUr He had heart.
Of the gallant act OF the men OF Jabesh
in crossing the Jordan to rescue Saul's
body, anu it touched his own generous
heart. But mis- message OF thanks 10
them was not devoid OF shrewd politics.
The only surviving son OF Saul was a
weak character, entirely unfit for the
kingship. Yet to retain his own posi-
ton as head Of the army Abner made
lshbosheth king and succeeded for
some time in holding together the north
ern tribes under his leadership. Ish-
bosheth was. however, i mere puppet.
Abner was virtually king. TO Ma
hanaim:' Abner was forced to move
his capital from Gibeah 10 a place of
safety across the Jordan. The Phills-
tine victory at Gilboa was uverwhelm-
ing and they probably kept that dis
trict under subiection. They left David
unmolested at Hebron. for Ae was still
nomlnally yassal of Achish of Gath.
spear Points.