The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-12-16
A SERMON FOR SUNDAY
AN ELOQUENT DISCOURSE ENTITLED
DAVID AS 4 RULER"

The Rev. DR.. Edward B. Thurber, Pastor
of the American Church in Paris,
France, Des, ribes the Life Of the Psalm
ist .n Shcepcoto to Throne.
PAR1s.-The Rev. DR.. Edward B. Thur
ber preached sermon in the American
church here which has attracted e consider
able attention His subject was David as
a Ruler; or, From Sheepcote to Throne"
The text was taken from Chronicles
XVIII: "Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, l
took thee from the sheepcote, even from
following the sheep, that thou shouldst be
ruler over My people Israeli" DR.. Thur
ber said:
in Bethlehem to the throne in Jerusalem.
The contrast between, the shepherd BOY
and the King of Israel is one OF the mar.
wells which human history presents us. 1t
is certain that no one is able to bridge
such distances without the Intervention OF
assisting conditions and forces. There
must be acting factors in the life If the
great results are secured. A man becomes
a debtor to so much, to his environment,
to favoring conditions, to friendly agencies,
and sometimes to seemingly adverse CIR
cumstances. His own powers are stlmu'
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. mis- early eduea-
tion, his ancestry, his religious feeling, the
people among whom his lot was cast. were
all factors in his career. The French Rev
olution was the great opportunity Whlch
the genius of Napoleon could seize and utli-
ize Many man fails to come conspicu-
ously. to the front because The tlmes are
f.. I,o, Ho
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 ne
may seek and serve, and who may seek
and serve him. :.
David's open soul called a multitude OF
agencies into service, for his career ana
their employment made his history possl;,
BILE. and gave to it that peculiar color and
variety which charm us.
The stars spoke to him. and through
him they speak to us. as his thought and
feelings are reported in the music Of the
salms, which have been such solace and
inspiration to multitndes 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..
tions 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 large mixture of con-
trastinr and contradicting tendencies IN
him. These are manifested through the
years of his eventful history. He was like
a city that is being builded. The original
low, marshy places must be drained and
filed up, rough paths must give. place to
well paved streets, rude huts will be su-
perseded by we'll constructed houses, pal.
aces and public buildings; the crude. and
inartistic will be replaced by the work of
architects and artists. before the city can
become beautiful and healthfni.
Through all the period Of construction,
there will be present the contrasts and
contradictions that mar and qualify the
glory of the city. There are two things
that would be apparent to candid critic:
that progress is being made, and that the
issue of endcavor will be sure and satls-
factory.
This contrast is presented through the
course of David's life. If we look at some
features which come before us .conspicu-
ously we will judge him severely; if we
l.ok at others we will cay how admirable!
and at the same time we will perceive that
the throne. At times David is as humble
as a child that feels his weakness and
need, and vet stands before his father, that
be may be taught and led, and again, ne is
as naughty as a man who counts no one
his superior. He uDholds truth and right
eousness as essential to manhood, and then
under the influence of fear he deceiyes
King Achish, who has befriended him. he
shows wonderful spirit OF forbearance
and forgiveness toward his enemy, Saul,
and then he puts his friend Uriah to the
! peril of certain death His love for Jona-
than is wonderful and ideal, and then he
Yields himself to degrading loves: He
needed to be taken out Of these conditions
of selfshness, sensuality, pride and the
evil Of. wrong life, if he was to become
"a man after Gods own heart"
We would miss all, however, unless we
knew about the sovereign influence whicl!
pervaded, arranged, employed and directed
all factors and conditions which entered
,, into and contributed toward David's ca
reer. Without this dominating influence
Jerusalem would never have been related
with Bethlehem. We must alse remember
that,the fruition of great character would
have been impossible without the presence
of God. While all this is true we must
bear in mind even the divine power. did
not contradict the choice Of Da:id or force
his voluntary action. God dealt with him
as a free and intelligent soul. He was
called to enter into partnership with Goo, .
and he in turn prayed that God would be
with him. He cried out for the living God.
as the thirsty land cries out for the life
giving water, that it may blossom as the
rose and rejoice in the beauty and bounty
of fruitfulnesG.
It is with such an Interpretation and
qualification that we listened to, and un-
derstand, what is intended when God is
represented as saying, Il took thee from
the sheepcote, even from following the
sheen, that thou shouldst be ruler over My
terested Himself. in David's life, even as
He would in our lives God directed and
utilized circumstances, made use Of envi-
ronnent, employed 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 so inspir.
ingly to the sor! OF the young man. God
utilized the strength of body and sobi, en-,
ployins all tie powers and faculties and
opportunities IN the lnteTeSIs OF HIS pFo'
gress. He made use of discipline, disan-
pointments and apparent failures, of his
sins and errors; in no way condonng
them, Int with a purpose to make them
serve Him and work for David's promo
tion.
Life takes on larger meaning. and that
meaning is better understood when God
is in our life.
The little fountain up the slvpe Of some
| Alpine peak has its significance. but when
we connect it's ceaseiess flow and contrihu-
tion with the Rhine. which gives water
way to|a larre countIy il seems more i'm