Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-09-10
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Commons for
September Is.
Subject David Becomes King, Sam. H., Ito
Golden Text: Pisa. 1851 Memory
Verses, I.3-Commentary
on the Days Lesson.

III. q. After this" After the death Of
Saul and his SONS Inquired of the Lord"
BY means of Abiathar the priest. who was
with David during his fugitive life. AZ
that decisive turning point IN ms Ire,
David wished to know the vii! of the Lord,
He saw that the promise of the kingdom,
was now to be fulfilled to him. As he conld
no longer remain in tie land OF the rims
tines, but must return to his own country,
and az the northern part of the land was
held by the Phiistines, the return to the
territory of his own tribe was most nat
ural; for there, where he had long time
found refuge Il Sam 22:5) he might count
out large following. and firm support and
protection against the remains OF Saul )
army under Abner." Cities of Judah;
1t would be useless to think OF undertake
ing to assume control of the country in the
in the hands of the Philistines, and David
was in no position to. drive them cut.
60 up "Going up meant assuming
royal authority. Gods answer was lmme,
date and clear Davd's decision, guided
by God, was to establish himself as the
king at once. "Unto Hebron" One of the
most ancient cities of the world. The
central position of Hebron i'll the tribe OF
Judah, its mountainous and detenslble
Element and an ancient royal city. the
patriarchal associations connected with IT.,
combined to render it the most suitable
capital for the new kingdom. In its neigh
borhood, moreover. David had spent con.
siderable part of his fugitive life and
gained many supporters. See Sam. 30,
81" =,
,. 80 David went up" 1t may be well
to note some Of the leading elements which
~, 1),,,,I', hfo and oh a.
he enters upon his new life. "I1e had, J..
A vivid sense of Gods presence. 2, Per
sonal proves. 3. Promptitude in all his
movements. 4. A patience that was sub.
lime. An aifcctionatc heart. 6. A cool
head and a steady nerve. 7, Wide expert
cnce A heart loyal to God. This 10y.
atty was so intense that his cause and
Gods cause became identical. and he could
not readily distinguish between Gods enc.
sins and blundcrs, this mast impress every
impartial reader as the leading character
irtic of King David. "Thither.' We arc
to think of this journey rs march OF an
army. or. rather, the migration of large
comranv of euer!las There were few
household effects and few women and
children in the company; it was made up
of hronzcd youths Injured to hardship.
among whom rank and fame were secured
comparable to modern military skill.
9. 4. "His men, The six hundred men
of hi, chosen hand with his household
There was to be no more roaming IN exile.
but each one was to settle down to the
duties OF ucareful and quiet life. Cities
of Hebron The small towns which sur
rounded Hebron. "Men Of JUDAH The
elders Of Judah the official representatives
OF the tribe "Anonted." He had been
! ,,,.i,,t,t Lac. Samuel la, which
ne acquired rinht to the kingdom. The
other parts Of the kingdom were, as yet.
attached to the family of Saul.
8. David sent me'scngcr..' This was
Dayids first act as king, and it was worthy
of han. He had hccH Informed OF the
manner in which the Phihstinc& had car
ricd away the bodies Of Saul and his sons
after the bate. He had also been told
that the inhabitants OF .Iaheshgiead had
sent forth party by night and had taken
the bodies from the wall and carried them
safely to their own town and buried them.
Blessed he yc.' David r. -uccted Saul as
his once legitimate .ovcreign; he loved
Jonathan as his most intimate friend.
Saul had greatly injured David, but that
did not cancel his respect for him, as the
anontcd OF God, and as the king of Israel.
No mean spirit OF revenge found place IN
his breast. lie showed also that he had
no wish or intention TO punish Saups ad.
hcreuts, but was kindly disposed toward
them.
6, :. "WiN rcnute you VIII show
Won this Kindness: that is, the attention
and honor shown in the blessings | give
you through these messengers. "Be ye
valiant BE of good courage; be strong
aud show yourselves brave men. saul
is dead, Aud therefore We are without a
KING unless We acknowledge me, as the
house of Judah has done.
III. Ish-hosActh king over Israel Tvs. S-lnl.
s. Ish boshcth" Souls fourth and only
surviving son. l4c was a mere tool IN the
hands o. Ahner. Abncr was a great gen
eral, and ii Ish boshcth, who was a weak
man, could be made king, Abncr would be
almost supreme "Mahanaim." Abncr
chose this town because 1t was on the
eastern side Of the lory an, and 50 beyond
tho range of the PhiliNtincs, who never
seemed TO have crossed the river.
establishment OF rival kingdom, which
| probably would have had no existence
| but for Abner. He was cousin to Saul.
Loyalty to the house of his late master
was mixed up with opposition to David
| and views OF personal ambition In hls
originating this factions movement. He
too. was alive to the Importance o., seour
| ing the eastern tribes. "t'llead.' The Iand
beyond jordan. "Ashuritcs,' The tribe
| OF Ashur in the extreme north. "Jezreel.
| The extensive valley bordering on the cen,
| trail tribes. "Ephraim Benjamin.
| These tribes which had not yet been con
| Quercd by the Philstines, holding no doubt
| to the house of Saul. Over all Israel.
| The majority of Israel not OF Judah.
| 10. "Rcigned two years Five years
and more had passed since the death OF
! Saul, and Ahner now proc aimed lsh
| bosheth king OF Israel, and thought him
self powerful enough to reduce Judah to
! obedience. David seems TO have hee'l
auointtd very soon after Saul'S death, bat
| it must have taken Abner some time tc
| gather up the scattered army and recover
! from the defeat and losses of Gllhoa, where
Saul and his three sons died. sufficiently
to attend to the inauguration of lsh
| bosheth,
III. David king over all Israel Is: ll0)
| After Abner and Isi-bosheth were assas
| sinated the tribes of Israel came to David
| through their elders. and urged him to be
conc king over all Israel They gave good
reasons for this: L. David was one of thcll
race. , He had shown himself worthy
3 lie was divinc,y appointed. T. He I'M
Gerstood the duties of a king. David was
then anointcd king over all Israel, This
was his third amounting The king then
went TO Jerusalem to reign.