The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-12
THE sUNDAY-sCHOOL LESSON
Sept. 13, 1-9O3-Samuel ii, 1-1O-David
BECOMES King.
FOUNDED 1S42

The time of David's outlawry was 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. Hind
sight is SO much clearer than foresight. His
bearing in this fiery and, to him, inexplicable
trial. however. commands our admiration. What
courage. d~exteri.y, persistence. Deeds of kindli-
ness, too, as well as valor!
The psalms of the fugitive abound in plaintive
suggestions of his sunerings. Like a bird, he
must needs fly 10 his mountain. He is hunted
like a partridge. His enemies bend their bows.
making ready their arrows upon the string.
Their teeth are spears and arrows, and their
tongues a sharp sword. What peerless faith
the young hero-king showed in these pitiful ex-
tremities, 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 perfect by what he
suffered.
He was making spoils of the heather during
these years of exile among them. Nothing passed
unnoted his keenly observant mind. The arts OF
strategy. use of arms and implements, military
organization and tactics. he learned them all,
and had immediate opportunity for practical ex-
perimentation.
Well may Charles Kingsley exclaim: IAN
ideal King, with an ideal taining," 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 1T had not persisted, I would have
rerished." Heather soil and a city held by
heather sufferance was no place for the Lords
anointed to stay permanently. 1t was a rude
shaking of the nest. but it threw the eaglet on
his own pinions.
David has offered his elegy. Noble. tender.
true-a tribute to the kingly victims Of Gilboa.
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fallen. the way to the throne is open to the shep-
herd boy of Bethlehem. He is not precipitate.
however. He recognizes the crucial character OF
that hour. No doubt his mind, thoroughly
trained in diplomacy and strategy, had already
elaborated a plan of procedure. But he will hum
bly, submit 1t to divine review and approval be-
fore he takes a step. What a sight TO be ad-
miredl That self-reliant hero. accustomed to
instantaneous action, sees his crown trembling
in the balance, but holds himself in absolute
composure and reverently inquiries of God how
he shall act.
With a celebrity Napoleon never surpassed,
David no sooner had his orders from the head
quarters Of heaven than he was on the march to
Hebron. He had about him a small but thor
oughly trained army. as ardently attached to his
person and as absolutely ~trustful I'm the star of
his destiny as any that ever followed the Cor
sican conqueror.
For diplomatic and strategic purposes Hebron
could not be surpassed. The ashes OF the pa
triarchs 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 II
was being endured. was so grievous. now began
to appear. The naturally fine qualities with
which David was endowed had been quickened
and brought to perfection in the school of adj
versity. His judgment was matured, his mind
disciplined, MS heart made right.
This is manifest in his first act. He did not
decline a tribal crown because he was bent upon
a national one. Had he done so he would have
alienatsd Judah from his standard. He took the
half loaf as a means of securing the whole.
Here was truest statesmanship before ever Rome
was dreamed of.
The next act was the last In a series Of trib-
utes to the memory of the unhappy but admired
King. all calculated to show that David was a
genuine admirer of Saul. and not an ungenerous
rival, scheming to %supplant him while ne lived
or secretly rejoicing over his pitiful death. He
sends a well-phrased message Of compliment to
the heroes who had rescued the exposed corpses
OF Saul and his sons. and had placed them be-
yond the possibility of additional dishonor.
There is a quasi-assumption Of royalty in this Of
fetal recognition Of a public service There is a
kingly pledge OF requital and protection. This
Is legitimate politics.
Now David patiently serves an apprenticeship:
he endures a long probation In which he proves
his capacity TO rule the whole kingdom by ruling
well a fraction Of IT, The tribes sit as a jury.
Every act passes In review before them.
THE TEACHERS LANTERN.
The accession Of David TO the throne was an
epoohal event in Hebrew history. Out OF a loose
confederacy OF petty principalities he evolved a
splendid and stable monarchy. He was the real
founder of an empire. which. with varying for
tunes, was destined TO endure for a millennium.
David was born to the purple. He had kinsly