The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-12-02
"DAVID AS A RULER"
Brilliant Sunday Sermon By Rev. Dr..
Edward D. Thurber.
Describing the Life Of the PsalmIst From
Sheepcote to Throne.

PARrs.-The Rev. DR.. Edward B. Thur.
ber preached a sermon in the American
church here which has attracted consider
able attention. His subject was David as
Ruler or, From Sheepcote to Throne"
The text was taken from l Chronicles
xvii:7: "Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, Il
took thee from the shcepeote, even from
following the sheep. that thou shouldst be
ruler oyer My people Israeli" DR.. Thur
ber said:
What great distance from the pastures
in 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 us. II
is certain that no one is able to bridge
such distances without the intervention oil
assisting conditions and forces. There
must be acting factors in the life if the
great results are secured. A man becomes
debtor to so much, to his environment,
to favoring conditions to friendly agencies,
and sometimes to seemingly adverse cir
cumstances. His own powers are stimu.
lated, directed and assisted toward the
good that is to be reached.
The American Revolution had some.
thing to do in advancing Washington to
his position in history: his early educa.
tion. his ancestry, his religious feeling, the
people among whom his lot was cast, were
all factors in his career. The French Rev.
oution was the great opportunity which
the genius OF Napoleon could seize and util.
ize. MANY a man fails to come conspicu-
ously 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.
tribute to his progress and welfare. He
comes to know how much depends upon
the interest and services of one whom he
NAV seek and serve, and who may seek
and serve him.
David's open soul called n multitude of
agencies into service, for his career and
| their employment made his history posi-.
bic. and gave to it that peculiar co.or and
variety which charm us.
The stars smoke to him. and through
tim. they speak to us. as his thought and
feelings are reported in the music of the
,a,ms. which have been such solace and
| Inspiration to multitudes since his time.
| The fields. flowers and forests. the streams
and scenes Of nature, bird and beast, had
their part in the poetry he felt and ex-
| pressed in literature that will last as
long as language endures. His friendships,
that ideal one with Jonathan. his associa.
tons with all classes and conditions of
men; Give us unique and interesting per-
sonality.
Yon cannot understand David until you
take into consideration the nature of the
tendencies within him, and measure the
degree of the influences which entered
into the formation of his character and
career There is a lerge mixture of con-
| trasting and contradctinq tendencies in
him. These are manifested through the
years of his eventful history. He was like
citv that is heing builded. The original
low. marshy n'aces must he drained and
filed up. rough raths must give mace to
well naved streets. rude huts will be
| perseded bv well constructed houses. pa.
aces and public buildinqs: the crude and
| inartstic will be replaced bv the work of
| architects and artists. before the city can
become beautiful and hea 'thfu.
THROUGH all the period of construction
there viii be rresent the contrasts a-d
contradictions that war and uualifv the
that would be aroarent to a candid critic:
. that progress is bcinr made and that the
issue OF endeavor will be sure and salts.
factory.
This contrast is presented through the
course of David's life. If we look at some
ously we will judge him severely; il we
| |, ok at Others we will say how admrablel
and at I'll e same time we will perceive that
his way is onward from the sheepcote TO
the throne. At times David is as humble
as child that feels his weakness and
need. and vet stands before his father. that
he may he taught and led. and again he is
as naughty as man who counts no one
his superior He unholds truth and right
eousness as essential to manhood, a"d then
| unuer thp inHuence OF 1Par ne UecelNPs
| King Achish. who has hefriended him. He
shows wonderful spirit OF forbearance
and forgiveness toward his enemy. Saul,
and then he nuts his friend Ufiah to the
peril of certain death. His love for iona.
than is wonderful ard ideal. and then he
Yields himself to degrading loves, He
needed to be taken out of these conditions
of selfshness. sensualitv pride and the
evil of wrong life. il he was to become
20 man after Gods own heart"
We would miss all. however, unless We
knew about the sovereign influence which
rarvaded. arranged. employed and directed
all factors and conditions which entered
into ard contributed toward David's ca-
reer. Without this 5orinating influence
Jerusalem would never have been related
with Bethlehem. We must also remember
that the frnition Of great character would
have been in,nossh'e 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
his voluntary action. God dea with him
as free and intelligent soul. He was
called to enter into partnership with God,
and he in turn nraved that God would he
with him. He cried out for the living God,
as the thirsty land cries out for the life
giving water. that IL may blossom as the
rose ard rejoice in the beauty and bounty
OF fruitfulness
II is with such an Interpretation and
Qualification that we listened to. AND un-
derstand. what is intended when God is
represented MS saving 81 took thee from
the sheepcote. even from following the
sheen. that thou shorldst be ruler over Ny
neople ts-ael" God entered into and in
terested Himself in Davd's life. even "a
he wonld in our lives. God directed and
utilized circumstances, made use of envi.
ronment. ernploved the stars that spoke to
David's soul, was in the blue sky of Pal
estine, and amid the clouds that at times
darkened the heavens and pervaded with
His purpose and power all the forms of
nature in Bethlehem that spoke insnir-
inglv to the soul OF the young man. God
utilized the strength of BODY aud soul, en-
ployng all tie powers and faculties and
opportunities in the interests of his pro-
gress. He made use OF discipline, disaD-
polntments and apparent failures, OF his
SINS and errors; in no way condoning
them, hut with a purpose to v>aie them
serve Him and work for David's promo.
ton
Life takes on larger meaning. and that
meaning is better understood when God
Is IN our life.
The little fountain mp the slope of some
Alpine peak has its significance. hut when
we connect its cease.ess flow and eontribu.
ton with the Rhine. which gives a water
way to large country, it seems more i'm
pnr'ant to us.
!, When the Rhine flows onward. bearing
The contribution OF a multitude of rivulets
and rivers through wide domain. and
gives its varied service % the wealth and
welfare OF an empire. we give the noble
river larger consideration. 1t means much
more to us. The coming of the King OF
10. II ID. "a att linz