The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-12-16
will see that the expansion Of Christianity

lS connected WIN Ine SneePco','
It was this fact and sense OF the Divine
Presence that brought to David inspiration
and strength: We take our inspiration
partly from ideals, but also from co-opera'
tive agencies that help US to translate
ideals into life. God took David from
humble beginnings and led him away, little
by little, from the sheepcote toward the
throne. The boy was to come into posses.
SION of thoughts, ideals ard purposes that
would force him onward from point to
point; 50 many things are to be expected tea
from the company man keeps, the
friends he chooses, the great souls he per;
mits to influence and help him. David
chose God, God chose hi: and fellowship
was formed. that determined career.
How much is to be expected from such an
This was real presence. 1t 1s rea!
presence which God desires us to know and
realize. One says of great statesman:
"He habitually practices the presence OF
God and lives under Him to Christ, fhe
doctrine concerning the Holy Spirit ls a
teaching about the real presence of God
with man. The words of our Lord in the
parable of the vine and the branches rep
resents the relation between Him and His
followers. It is more than any earthly
love. fellowship or friendly relation. How
much these contribute to make our lives
purer, better and longer. You and ever
more think we could have been, because
we have had those who loved us, and gave
to us the ministry of their love. How
much it means when the soul is related
with God by His abiding presence How
of this union! Mr.. Hurley is quoted as
saying of Mr.. Gladstone in his remarkable
biography: "Iife is great and noble call.
ing; not mean and groveling thing that
". are to shuttle through as we can, but an
elevated. and lofty destiny" The man be.
GINS more fully to understand himself and
the good he should strive to reach when he
admits to his mind and heart a stream OF
new perceptions, feelings and influences
which must come, when he allows God to
take him out of the crude. the sinful and
lead him forward. This God shapes hfe
and destiny.
The great poet represents Hamlet as
taking in this thought and saying: Let
r3 know, our indisoretions sometimes serve
us well, when our deep plots do pail; and
that should teach us.
There's divinity that shapes our endsr
Rough hew them how we will"
Were it not for the intervention of the
divine wisdom and will how all of our plans
and purposes would fail, just for the lack
of the wisdom, goodness and power which
they require!
David was only rich and sure OF the best,
as God was with him; this presence in
volved glory, blessedness and fruition be-
yond the measure of mans mind. The
shepherd boy, with. all his limitations, IS
so reinforced by God that he comes to
royal position and power. .,,.
This divine presence is not only vita
David at. the sheepcotee, but continue.
through the long way Of his aoo5 sntTe bc
in Gods thought. The Heavenly Father
never left or forsook him. There were
great difficulties to face, sueL as belong
to every strenuous, religious life, and they
needed to be eurmounted. Many 1nun
may stand before q mountain, but one
must climb the steep ascent and make use
of the means that are to be taken if be
reaches the height and the other side.
The difficulties which David must meet
and master are great: There were episodes
view seemed to say: "Give. up expectation
and endeavor, for you cannot win the
crown" 1t is true that he HAD been called
Of God and anonted by the nrophet Sam:
uel when he was a lad, but hs afterward
left the sheepcote, 30 that he became o
tried and successful soldier; the plaudits
of the multitude had rung in his ears, but
his apparent success excited the anger ana
envy Of Saul. David became an outlaw, a
hunted fugitive, and his life was in direct
peril. How could he become king! Yet
God was with him; this was his assurance
of success. God was with him in his dark
est night. in his deepest distress, in his
most difficult and dangerous experiences,
when friends were hopeless and no words
of assurance and cheer came from any hu.
man source, but amid all this he was max
ing progress. amid the labryinth of mys.
terious providence, toward the throne he
was to occupy.
This, then. is the word, for us to-day.
The God OF David will be with every one
who consents and covenants with Him. In
His wisdom we shall be WISE; in His
strength we shall be strong. In His love
we shall find our love will live and grow.
When He is our life we will know how
much life means. In the outlook which
Jesus Christ presents to us we will know
that we are going forward to a wisdom,
love and life that are immortal.
God waits to make Himself known in all
ni the relations OF life where His presence
can be of service. That of which He de-
sires of every one of us is a more unre-.
stricted yielding to His presence and
power.