The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-09-11
STUDIES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.
,UBJECT David Becomes King III sam.ii. lilo.

INTRODUCT1OE .-The defeat and
death Of Sail In the battle Of Gilboa,
studied last week. ended the first reign
In the Hebrew monarchy, and the cffsen
people were Mt the mercy OF the victorious
Thillstines.g Thcre was need Of q dellvcrer.
and. fortunately, ono had been in train
Ing. David came forward. tho man for
the hour. Although he had been annolnted
by the prophet. Il SAM, xvi:12). and was.
therefore entitled to the throne. he did
not Immediately prefer his claims. NJ
stead he Joined IN the public precision
OF sorrow for the death OF the King, ex-
,hibiting those generous dispositions that
had been 10 siEnally displayed all through
his career, q snm.. i:17). He 4wroteSSa
poem tof singular beauty, paying aihigh
tribute to Jonathan, his friend, and to
Saul, his prosecutor. All this was we'll
calculated to gain for him tho good will
OF his countrymen who felt that good
heart alone could prompt such deds and
words. II liz impossible to say how much
time wis consumed In these appropriate
expressions Of grief. jt
III 1NQUIRY.-Now. that tho throne Is va
cant, how shall the successor be indicted
to once Although properly indicted into
office. David did not attempt BY any sud-
den military movement to secure what
was Arightfuly his. He resolved to walt
on Providence psalm xxxvl:23). But he
did not sit down In idleness and indif +
ference, but resorted to prayer, the priyl-
5lege and duty OF all who could find the
right way. (Acts, ix:e). He first inquired
whether he should 80 up to reside IN one
Of the cities Of Judah, to which he be-
longed. Receiving favorable reply, no
prayed again and was directed to He-
bron, situated among the mountains TWEEN
ty Roman miles south Of Jerusalem. He
=. ~ ndff n
OF the world, we'll known town IN the
time OF Abraham. built sevensyears before
zoan IN Egypt. Numb. xili:22.) Although
In tho midst Of q fertile valley, 1t is
probable that few ambitious men OF our
day would select It as the home OF a
prospective king. But 1t was the place
selected by the Almighty and, as events
fafterward showed proved n to be the
strategic point in the achievement to
sovereignty and honor {6 l8i5 ig
#I REMOVAL.-Obe dlent to the voice OF
God David established himself in Hebron.
He had resided for q q year and 81 four
months, Il SAM. xxvii:6-D in ziklag 8,
city In the country OF the Philistines
which had been given to him by Achlsh.
the king OF Gath,&as an asylum IN the
time OF trouble. The situation Of the
town cannot be deteruined, built was
probably southwest and not Tar distant
Z from Hebron. David 8 family had begun
to take on that form con trhry 70 the law
and nature which was common among
Oriental kings the chief cause Of his
troubles in later years. Besides his first
wife saul's daughter not then with him,
he had two wives, Abineam and Abigail,
the latter the widow Of Nabal and doubt;
less numerous household. There went up
with David also d zoodly company Of
those who had espoused his cause and de-
sired to promote his welfare. q Chron,
x:ii17, 1917 Brave men they were, skllleo IN
war, and the number is stated to nave
been at one time "a great host like the
ifo.t Of Cod Having served him faith
fully IN the time Of adversely, they were
not forgotten when prosperity came,
sDayid stationed these followers IN the
small villages round about Hebron, con-
stitutlng them his defenders and helpers.
and forming q kind Of camp on civil
basis. which suhght be quickly prepared
for active service in the field. ;3
ANOINTING-Intell OF this move
sn,ent rapidly spread from city to city
throughout the entire tribe OF J ,l!al T.
And shortly there was spontaneous up
irIs,nr OF the people who assembled at
Hebron to make David king, In one
sense this was hardly necessary. because
ho had been dlvinely selected and l SET
anart for that high Office But that was
done years before. and done IN private
in the home of his youth. public recos-
milton by the choice OF the people was
needed to put him securely on the throne.
Thus early we're the elementary Pr.neiI
n,ea OF popular oversignty recognized
nav,a was anointed king the second time
40. 1856, but king only oyer his own
tribe. II was beautiful tribute to his
worth that those among whom ne mao
lived should honor him, and 1t was
nronhecy Of Judah's strength. In tine
diatra cted condition of the country they
were not willing to walt Tor otner t1l tN,s
to5untte with them. ProDaply the splr!t
OF jealousy on the part OF me nor.ie ,1,
ftr,fe. was we'll known. jealousy Whlch
s;sr,a yed Itself on the death OF Solomon,
a KINGS, xii:1s.) When David TOOK me
scantra Jacobs vision began 70 pc tu ll-
filled. (Gen,. xlix:8.) -,
Northumberland the assembly Wnen
David was anointed3it was repottea e tItit
re men Of Jabesh-G lead ourleu suul;
This Kindness to the BODY o. ..,e ae ~.
king was proof Of atfecton. le 49, r a..
the service rendered py saul ~ W. NJ i' tbe
Nc of Jabesh when bese!gea ~ W.
~ ns :, on,tes. 1, Il sam, xiI-H') On re-
oa su. information, King DaYld On ex'
,.,h,.ad both generosity and wisdom, ae
n.pt.ea = letter TO be written andGcarr1ea
.sa Giiendites, whose home was on
tha i east OF Jordan, many m'.es a t,en
Tho letter was a marvellous =! 49, ~,
:, pronounced a blessing upon tnose y, ~
Ma = dore this deed showing tha =, DaS W.,
r charisfed no ill-will towara ms ~, o,u
a SmsI Il also invoked Gods favor upon
enemy am ~ neople OF that section ana upg $,
nam ~ 1T, to be strong and valiant t7sases e,o'
Tha enistle closed with a brlet rete rs -
oc Ms only single sentence y L, t,s
e seot th ho judah had ano'nted q King
h 1Mt Aid not ask Jabesh-d tlaad % aeknoW ,.
o oIs ~ mat king, There can be 10 I, DOUBT
t es the the messengers were eotaia ,,. re-
e easved that the letter was read WIN w
u r,ost satisfa It Is always sraulylng
h,o1 n,en When their conduct ls approved
w. nna in high station. This act OF David
~ w = sD we'll calculated to gain nm irlenaS
Wang Wno those who were liable TO- De DC es-
'ran RTmR EVERY man Is the center q
! little world into which he projects hls
Inf M in which he seeks 70 realize !, q
t h;s homes ana plane, Having EXPENDED
MNi;s s force and run his career ms WoFN
n t,ls to to augment or diminish the total O
hnman endeavor. a. part q the grea
straam Of life, or an EDDY 70 DO passee
S S,.sa and forgotten, The commander,ln
eobief OF sauls army was his cousin, AZ
Anl