The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-12-02
"DAvID AS A RULER"
Brilliant Sunday Sermon By Rev. DR..
Edward o. Thurber.
Describing the Life Of the Pselmlst From
Sheepcote to Throne.

PARIs.-The Rev. DR.. Edward B. Thur.
ber preached a sermon in the American
church here which has attracted consider.
able attention. His subject was David as
Ruler; or, From Sheepcote to Throne"
The text was taken from l Chronicles
xvii:7: Thus saith the Lord OF Hosts, i
took thee from the shcepcote, even from
following the sheep. that thou shouldst be
ruler oyer My people Israeli" DR.. Thur
ber said:
What 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.
wells which human history presents us. II
is certain that no one is able to bridge
such distances without the intervention ol
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 stimu.
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: his early educa.
ton. his ancestry, his religious feeling, the
people among whom his lot was cast. were
all factors in his career. The French Rev.
the genius of Napoleon could seize and util-
ize. MANY man fails to come conspcu-
ousy 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. He
comes to know how much depends upon
the interest and services Of one whom he
may seek and serve, and who may seek
and serve him.
David's open sonl called a multitude of
agencies into service, for his career and
their employment made his history posi-
bic. and gave to 1t that peculiar color and
variety which charm us.
The stars spoke to him. and through
hr they speak to us. as his thought and
feelings are reported in the music of the
,alms. which have been such soace and
Inspiration to multtudes since his time.
The fields. flowers and forests the streams
4 and scenes of nature, bird and beast. had
their part in the poetry he felt and ex-
pressed in literature that will last as
long rs language endures. His friendships
that ideal one with Jonathan. his assocn.
tlons 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 large mixture of con-
trasting and contradictinq tendencies in
him. Those are manifested through the
years Of his eventful history. He was like
citv that is heing builded. The original
low. marshy nlaces must he drained and
filled up. rough raths must give mace to
we'll naved streets. rude huts will be sr-
perseded bv well constructed houses. pal
aces and public buildings: the crude and
inartistic will be renlaced bv the work of
arohifootc and hofora tbo oil
become beautiful and hea 'thful.
Through all the period of constructio,
there viii be nresent the contrasts aid
contradictions that war and qualify the
glory of the city. There are two things
that would be anparent to a candid critic:
that progress is heinz made. and that the
issne Of endeavor will be sure and salts
factory.
This contrast is presented through the
course of David's life. If we look at some
features which come before us conspcu
ously We will judge him severely; ii we
and at IL e same time we will perceive that
his way is onward from the sheepcote TO
the throne. At times David is as humble
as 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 unholds truth and right
eousness as essential to ma1hood, ard then
under the influence of fear he deceives
King Achish. who has hefrended him. He
shows a wonderful spirit OF forbearance
and forgiveness toward his enemy. Saul
and then he nuts his friend Ufieh to the
peril Of certain death. His love for iona.
than is wonderful ard ideal and then he
Yields himself to degrading loves: He
needed to be taken out of these conditions
. of selfshness. sensualitv, pride and the
evil of wrong life if he was to become
20 man after Gods own heart" ="
We would miss all, however, unless we
knew about the sovereign influence which
rervaded. arranged employed and directed
all factors and conditions which entered
reer. Without this ior'inating influence
Jerusalem would never have been related
with Bethlehem. We must also remember
that the frnition Of great character would
have been imnossib'e without the presence
Of God. While all this is true we must
not contradict the choice of David or force
his voluntary action. God dealt with him
as. a. free and intelligent soul. We was
called to enter into partnership with God,
and he in turn nraved 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 il may blossom as the
rose and rejoice in the beauty and bounty
OF frutfulress.
II is with such an INTERPRETATION and
tNdf we IisIeUeQ TO. uNQ un-
derstand. what is intended when God is
represented as saving. 81 took thee from
the sheepcote, even from following the
sheen. that thou shonldst be ruler over My
neople ts-ael" God entered into and in
fsrested Himself in David's life. even az
He wonld in our lives. God directed and
utilized circumstances. made Use of envi-
ronment. employed the stars that spoke to
David's soul, was in the blue sky of Pal
estine. and amid the clouds that at times
adarkened the heavens and pervaded with
HIS purpose and power all the forms of
nature in Bethlehem that spoke so insnir-
inglv to the soul OF the young man. God
utilized the strength OF body and soul, en-
ploying al tie powers and faculties and
gress. He made use of discipline, disap-
pointments and apparent failures OF his
SINS and errors; in no way condoning
serve Him and work for David's promo
ton.
Life takes on larger meaning. and that
meaning is better understood when God
Is in our life
The little fountain mp the slope of some
Alpine peak has its significance. hut when
we connect its ceaseless flow and contrhu.
ton with the Rhine. which gives a water.
way to large country, it seems more i'm
por'ant to us.
!, When the Rhine flows onward bearing
the contribution OF multitude of rivulets
and rivers through a wide domain. and
gives its varied service % the wealth and
welfare OF an empire. we give the noble
river larger consideration. II means much
more To us The coming of the King of