The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-09-10
David Becomes King


the period of his tutelage for the
throne. He may not have perceived
in advance the bearing of these bitter
experiences upon his future career.
Hindsight is so much clearer than
foresight. His bearing in this fiery
and, to him, inexplicible trial, how
ever, commands our admiration.
What courage, dexterity, persistence.
Deeds of kindliness, too, as well as va
lori
The psalms of the fugitive abound
in plaintive suggestions of his suffer
ings. Like bird, he must needs fly
to his mountain. He is hunted like a
partridge. His enemies bend their
bows. making ready their arrows up
on the string. Their teeth are spears
and arrows, and their tongues sharp
sword. What peerless faith the
young hero-king showed in these
pitiful extremities. He trusted where
he could not trace Providence He
shone as lustrously in the light of the
furnace as of the throne. Like his
Kingly Descendant, he was made per-
feet by what he suffered.
He was making spoils of the heath
en- during these years of exile among
them. Nothing passed unnoted by his
keenly obserYant mind. The arts of
strategy, use of arms and implements,
military organization and tactics he
learned them all, and had immediate
opportunity for practical experiment
tation.
Well may Charles Kingsley exclaim,
IAN ideal king, with an ideal train
ing!" After the six years curriculum,
David graduated amid the smoke and
ashes of Ziklag. He might have said,
as a noble Roman did when he saw
his villa in flames, "If it had not per-
ished, | would have persisted"
Heather soil and city held by
heather sufferance was no place for
the Lords anointed to stay perman-
emily. 1t was rude shaking of the
nest, but it threw the eaglet on his
OWL 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 precipitate however. He recogni-
yes the crucial character of that hour.
No doubt his mind, thoroughly train
ed in diplomacy and strategy, had
already elaborated a plan of proceed
ure. But he will humbly submit it to
Divine review and approval before he
takes a step. What a sight to be ad-
mired! That self-rellant hero, accus-
toned to instantaneous action, sees his
crown trembling in the balance, but
helps himself in absolute composure,
and reverently inquiries of God how
he shall act
With celebrity Napoleon meyer sur
passed, David no sooner had his Or
ders from the headquarters of heaven
than he was on the march to Hebron.
He had about him small but thor
oughly trained army, as ardently at
tached to his person and as absolutely
trustful in the star of his destiny as
any that ever followed the Corsican
conqueror.
For diplomatic and strategic pur-
poses Hebron could not be surpassed.
The ashes of the patriarchs lent their
sanctity to the rising dynasty. 1t
was the chief city of the chief tribe,
and a fortress city withal.
The fruits of that discipline, which,
while it was being endured, was so
grieyous, now began to appear. The
naturally fine qualities with which
David was endowed had been quick
ened and brought to perfection in the
school of adyersity His Judgment
was matured, his mind disciplined,
his heart made right.
This is manifest in his first act. He
did not decline tribal crown because
he was bent upon national one. Had
he done so, he would have ailenated
Judah from his standard. He took