Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1903-12-31
Comments BY William T. Ellis.
.N..N -, .. "A. "a. -. ~. ~. =. ~. ~. -. -. ~. 80. -, 70
FATHER AND THREE SONS.
4 Review Of Psalm hos.

FATHER AND THREE SONS.
A Review Of Psalm 100.
A bit of family history should serve
as a satisfactory review of the quar-
ter's Sunday school lessons, for they all
nave to do with David and his family.
In an investigation of this particular
family of long ago there are to be found
the extremes that most family histories
reveal. A certain conspicuous Amer
tcan family illustrates this. One mem
Oer OF the family Is perhaps the most
unselfish and useful philanthropist in
land; another Is Il silly follower of
FASHION. welded to q foreign rake: an
Other is a high-gradc business man of
brains and integrity. and. shortly re-
moved from these immensely wealthy
members of the family are others who
are barely above want.
David was king IN character before
ne ever wore a crown. He was a Cod
made man. taken from the sheepfold to
prepare himself for a throne. The ro-
nance OF this youth and early manhood
1t not to be told here; 1t bore fruit.
however. In a nobility OF nature which
seems strangely at variance with the
nature Of his sons. David was father
OF an i~ncestuous brute and OF the wisest
man that ever lived. 'H%eredity'' is
not the master key to human nature.
At BED ROCK.
TO understand David, or these les
sons. 1t Is necessary TO recall the prin-
ciple which underley all of his life. This
was his fundamental righteousness
From the days when as a lad he read
Gods providence in the grass of the
be.niehem fields. or in the steadfast
Mills. or In h commonplace life of a
Judean shepherd lad, until In old e
ne passed away praying Gods favor
upon the son who succeeded him. he
was q dcvout believer in jehovah. All
his life was lived with respect to Je-
h0vah. His relation to the Most High
wal ever the first thought in his mind.
Religion meant more to him than
anything else. He might suffer lapses
from f~atthfulness. but he has never lost
the deep religious impulse which was
the secret of his greatness. This re-
lIigtous impulse revealed itself in the
bringing up of the ark to Jerustlem,
which was the subject of the first lesson
Of the quarter.
A MAN AND GOD.
The subltmest moment OF life is when
n soul bears itself to Its Creator: when
u enters into that sacred chamber of
communion In which 1t is alone with
God. One-third of all the Sunday
school lessons for the past three months
have dealt with David's personal rela-
ti0iis with Jehovah. At first blush this
might seem to be an undue proportion
% devote to purely spiritual experience.
who does not know that these are
most important of oil? The unseen.
u~nsuspected thoughts Of the henrt are
the determining events In every mans
destiny; circumstances and history are
but creatures of the spiritual expert
enfes OF e
The covenant that God made with
David concerning his family and the
q0epterS OF Israel. and the building of
tne temple was the second OF the quar-
oer's purely spiritual ex-
perience. 1t stands for the eternal
truth. never over-emphasized. thai the
Individual may enter into direct rela-
lions with The Infinite; that God will
covenant with the single soul, even as
ne c0venanted with Abraham and
Aoses. Akin to this lesson was the lat
ter one, "David's trust in God" where
laEhe poured forth his confidence in
Jehovah under the figure of the shep-
4 SLoT ON THee FAMILY RECORD.
Tbs blacklist deed in ancient Israers
nletory-blnckest because done by the
nobelst OF its kings and heroes-was
the eln or David with Bnthsheba. What
= fAll wal there! No good man can feel
nimsele beyond the power OF tempta-
ton. stncet the great David, the man af-
ter Gods own heart, sunk to the level
ct murder and adultery. Out OF this sin
nprang two OF the deep spiritual ex-
per1enceB OF the Knights confession
ana his JOY over forgiveness lessons 3
2 q. His picture OF the gnawing.
totterin4 presence. OF a consciousness OF
Sulls has been made the vehicle OF the
penleence Of millions Of contrite hearts.
+TRA hInQnMQnQ0Q nj mAlP.0Anon&nssu .fs%
elth0ugh all the masters. Of literature
2ave attempted to portray It, has never
In at down % graphically and viz.
tqly - IN the nfty-frst psalm.
! Equally powerful IL the contrite
E!tgss expression of Joy over his for
Glveneee a. rectted In the thirty-second
ealm. followed BY penitence and par
4pn. and IN him was exerapiiiied the
1eQcound truth. highest ~eveidence OF
- mercy Of G0d-for there IL hope for
man who has slnned, and that God
z J. way 0t escape for all who
Ill 9tttotF 1T fSUm the blight and suf-
AAN9 ehoRTcoMINos
g NJ y ~ ~ at0dy Id I family
"a Az .eEaee must not be devoted to
3SaAzl9 cannot spAaa on to the sons,
ee6lelllty ar their 1hcrtcomiaes. He
24as1slgyenfs but 9 too induleent par
= AK not ~ ne rod enough.
SDt1le6y11nt ot Tor correc~
9XsF 49, Mn Were allowed TO
4NtyN ~ hiS o1I6prinR,'
LIZ Mgpysa man allows HIM
sl(oNl6 h6vs Eept 4
ASMiel q AdositssI