The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-09-16
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR SEPTEMBER Is.


Subject: David Becomes King, SAM nf
1-10-Golden Text, Psa. 133-1-Men1
ory Verses, 1-3-Commentary on TIE
Day's Lesson.
I. David anointed king at Hebron Tvs.
Saul and his sons. Inquired of the Lord =
By means of Abiathar the priest who was
with David during his fugitive life. At
that decisive turning point in his HE,
David wished to know the will of the Lord.
He saw that the promise of the kingdom
was now to be fulfilled to him. As he could
no longer remain in the land of the Phlhs-
tines, but must return to his own country
and as the northern part of the land was
held by the Philistines, the return to the
territory Of his own tribe was most nat
found refuge Il Sam 22:5) he might count
out a large following, and firm support and
protection against the remains of Saura
army under Abner." "Cties of Judah.1
1t would be useless to think of undertak.
ing to'assume control of the country IN the
northern part of the kingdom, as that was
in the hands of the Philistines, and David
was in no position to, drive them out
Go upa aGoipg pp" mean meant "a assuming ;In1,s1
diate and clear. David's decision. guided
by God, was to establish himself as the
king at once. Unto Hebron" One Of the
most ancient cities of the world. The.
central position o., Hebron in theitribe OF
Judah, it's mountainous and defensible
situation, its Importance as prieStly set.
tlement and an ancient royal city, the
patriarchal associations connected with 1t,
combined to render it the most suitable
capital for the new kingdom. In it's neigh
siderable part of his fugitive life and
gained many supporters. See Sam. 80,
2. $50 David went up." It may beswelI
to note some of the leading elements which
we discern in David's life and character az
he enters upon his new life. "He had, !.
A vivid sense of Gods presence. 2. Per-
sonal prowess. 3. Promptitude in all his
movements. 4. A patience; that was sub.
lime. 5. An affectionate heart. Q. A cool
ence. 8. A heart loyal to God. This loy-
atty was so intense that his cause and
Gods cause became identical, and he could
not readily distinguish between Gods enc.
mics and his own; and in spite Of ALI ShiF
sins and blunders, this must impress every
impartial reader as the leading character
istic of King David. "Thither. We are
to think of this Journey as q march OF an
army, or, rather, che migration OF a large
company of guerillas.. There were few
household effects and few women and
of bronzed youths Injured to hardship,
among whom rank and fame were secured
by daring deeds rather than by anything
comparable to modern military skill. G
g.. "His men," The six hundred men
of his chosen band. with his household
There was to be no more roaming IN exile
but each one was to settle down to the
duties of peaceful and quiet life: Cities
of Hebron" The small towns which SUE.
rounded Hebron. Men of Judah Tho
elders of Judah; the official Representatives.
privately anointed, by Samuel, by which
ne acquired right to the kingdom. The
other parts of the kingdom were, as yet,
attached to the family Of Saul.
5. David sent messengers This was
David's first act as king, and it was worthy
of him. He had been informed of the
manner in which the Philistmes had carr
ried away the bodies of Saul and his scne
after the battle. He had also been told
that the inhabitants Of Jabesh-giiead had
sent forth apartv by night and had taken
safely to their own town and buried them.
BLESSED be ye." David respected Saul as
his once legitimate sovereign; he loved
Jonathan as his most intimate friend.t
Saul had greatly injured David, but that
did not cancel his respect for him as the
anointed of God, and as the king of Israel
No mean spirit of revenge found place In
his breast. He showed also that he had
no wish or intention to punish SauPs adj.
herents, but. was kindly disposed towart
them.
6, 7. "Will renuite you.D Will show
you this kindness; that is. the attention
and honor shown in the blessings I give
you through these messengers. BE ye
valiant" Be of good courage; be strong
and show yourselves brave men. Saul
is dead" And therefore We are without
king unless We acknowledge me, as the
house of Judah has done. u
8. Ish.bosheth" Saul's fourth and only
surviving son. He was mere tool IN the
hands of Abner Abner was great gem
eral, and if Ish-bosheih, who was weak
man, could be made king, Abner would be.
almost supreme. "Mahanaim." Abner
chose this town because it was on the
eastern side Of the yoroan1, and % beyond
the range Of the Phlistines, who never
seemed to have crossed the river.
9. Made him king" Here was the
establishment of a rival kingdom, which
probably would have had no existence
but for, Abper. He was eoucln to-: Saul.
was mixed up with opposition to David,
and views Of personal ambition in his
originating this factious movement. He,
too was alive to the importance of secur-
ing the eastern tribes. "Giiead" The land Z
beyond Jordan. "Ashurites." The tribe
of Ashur in the extreme north. "Jezreel."
The extensive valley bordering on the cen.
trail tribes. "Ephraim Benjamin
These tribes, which had not yet been con-
ouered by the PhiliStines. holding no doubt !
to the house of Saul. "'Over. all Israel. =,
The majority of Israel, not Of Judah:
10. "Reigned two years." Five years
and more had passed since the death of
Saul, and Abner now proclaimed Ish- {
bosheth king of Israel. and thought him Z
self powerful enough to reduce Judah to Z
obedience. David seems to. have been
anointed very soon after Saul's death, but
it must have taken Abner some time to !.
gather up the scattered army and recover-
from the defeat and losses of Gilhoa, where
Saul and his three sons died. sufficiently
to attend to the Inauguration of 1sh-
bosheth.
III. David king over all Israei (5: 1.l0). e
After Abner and Isl, -boSheth were assas- {,
sinated, the tribes of Israel came to David,
through their elders. and urged him to be-
come king over all Israel. They gave good
reasons for this: |. David was one of their
race. 2. He had shown himself worthy.
3. He was divinely appointed. 4. He un.
derstood the duties of king. David was
then anointed king over all Israel. This
was his third anointing The king then
went to Jerusalem TO reign.
NJ