The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-12-10
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, Describes the Life ofthe Psalm
ist From Sheepcote to Throne.
PAR1s.-The Rev. DR.. Edward B. Thur
ber preached a sermon IN the American
church here which has attracted consider
able attention. His subject was "Dav1d as as
a Ruler; or, From Sheepcote to Throne.
The text was taken from I Chronicles
xviii: "Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, 1
took thee from the sheepcote, even from
following the sheep. that thou shouldst be
ruler over Ny people Israeli" DR.. Thur
ber said:
What a 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. 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 educa-
tion. his ancestry. his religious feeling, the
people among whom his lot was cast, We're
all factors in his career. The French Key
olution was the great opportunity which
the genius of Napoleon could seize and util-
ize. Many 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. lie
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 a 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 SPOKE to him. and through
him they speak to US. as his thought and
feelings are reported in the music of the
salrs. which have been such solace and
The fields, flowers and forests. the streams
and scenes of nature, bird and beast. had
their part in the poetry he felt and e'I-
pressed in literature that will last as
long as language endnres. His friendships,
that ideal one with Jonathan, his assocla-
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 a large mixture OF con:
trasting and contradict :ng tendencies IN
him. These are manifested through the
years Of his eventful history. He was like
a eitv that is heing builded. The original
low, marshy places must be drained and
filed up, rough paths must give place to
well raved streets. rude huts will be s,l-
perseded by well 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 healthful.
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
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
lsok at others We viii say how admirable!
and at the same time we will perceive that
his way is onward from the sheepcote to
the throne. At times David is as humble
as a child that feels his weakness and
need, and yet stands before his father, that
he may be taught and led, and again he IS
as naughty as man who counts no one
his superior. He upholds truth and right
eousness as essential to manhood, and then
under the influence of fear he deceives
King Achish, who has befriended him. He
shows a 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 be
Yields himself to degrading loves. He
needed to be taken out of these conditions
of sel6shness. sensualitv, pride and the
evil of a wrong life. if he was to become
ga man after Gods own heart.''
We would miss all. however, unless: we
knew about the sovereign influence which
pervaded. arranged. employed and directed
all factors and conditions which entered
INTO and contributed toward DaVl0 Ca
reer. Without this dominating influence
Jerusalem would never have been related
with Bethlehem. We must also remember
that the fruitior 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 David or force
his voluntary action. God dealt with him
as free and intelligent soul. BE was
called to enter into partnership with God,
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 fruitfulness.
1t is with such an Interpretation and
Qualification that we listened to, and un-
derstand. what is intended when God is
renresentea as savino nI took thee from