The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1903-12-03

STRUGGLE FOR A r o
"Davids Charge to Solomon"
BY WILLIAM II ELLIS.

III
------
"Davids Charge to Solomon"
BY WILLiaasMEl 7, ELLIS.
Tho crcwning of two kings aud the
thwarting of one usurper's designs have
already been studied by Sunday schools
within the past five months. The present
lesson includes another princety rebellion
and the browning of ~lsrael's third king,
together with the valedictory of King
David.
David had grown old and somewhat
broken in spirit. The death OF Absalom
had so affected him that Joab, voicing a
sentiment, complained that the
+ king grieved more for the death OF his
migrate son than he would have grieved
over the defeat of his own army. AT this
time there Mas Hanger of disaffection in
the Kingdom, but Dayid's return to the
capital caused the tribe to rally about
him once more, after the ringleader of
another incipient rebellion had been pun
ished by death.
TIL king gave himself. heart and soul,
= to the project of the new temple. neglect
ing lesser duties because of his interest
in the greater. His oversight of the tenn
poral affairs of the kingdom was not as
keen and careful as it should lave been,
and the same was true also of his family
affairs. So before he knew 1t he had an
other rebellion brewing beneath his un-
seeing eyes. Absalom's next younger
brother was Adonijah, and both had many
traits in common-they were da,sdies, fond
OF display, loving adulation, and SO filled
with the spirit of Self-Seeking that they
disregarded all claims of dlial and pa
triotic duty. The death of Absalom left
Adonijah the Oldest son of the king. He
wanted to succeed to the throne. but
knew that the succession inah Seen prom
Used 20 young Solomon.
A SECOND RE6EL PRINCE.
So, undeterred by his. eide brothers.
fate, he began to foment 8 rebellion, win
ming to himself the three classes of fol-
lowers who everywhere can generally be
counted upon to be against the established
order. First were the unsettled. unstable
crowds who We're ever seeking something
new, and ready to follow any leader who
promised them excitement. Second, were
those with grievances against the admin
istration; and, thirdly. the men whose
private ambitions would be furthered by
a change. Among the latter were those
sly old faces, Joab and Abiathar, strong,
brilliant and constituencies men. These
encouraged Prince Adonijah, and when
they We're gathered together. including all
the kings sons except Solomon, drinking
Adonijah's wine and eating his food and
painting rosy pictures of success to him,
he thought that the kingdom surely was
with him. Nor was he the first man to be
deceived into thinking that noise was
power, and that what he wanted to have
happen was to happen.
To his sorrow he learned tina these
feasting, flattering friends would flee be-
fore the first storm. There were many
men,. strong men. whom this DETECTION
could not nudge from avid. Then, as in
every community now, there was q pow
fllEatln,a .-{,fo haJsn1,alH - 49, - 49, 49, =
order and established procedure; and who
were altogether unwilling to cast aside a
tried. sovereign for this handsome young
upstart.
GROWN soLoMoN.p
Bathsheba, mother of. Solomon. and the
prophet Nathan, carried to the king the
news of the plot: the first, from desire to
make sure of the throne for her son, and
the second from zeal for Gods way.
David's action was prompt. Without Civ
ing the conspiracy time to grow further,
he summoned the national assembly and
presented Solomon as king. Prompt, de-.
termined action was required by the cir
hcumstances. and the old warrior-king,
once arousef sd himself equal to the
emergency wins most battles.
Many a m n swept to death by
an on-rushi because he hesitated
on the track, - whether to go forward
or backward. David quickly went ahead,
and gave the people a new reason to sup
port him and to be interested in the king
dom. BY crowning Solomon he more eff
fectuaily defeated Adonijah thar by Tx
Ing an army out against him. In this HI
Illustrated a divine law the of
the coed overcomes the evil. Temptations
are best met by becoming intensely en-
gagged in noble pursuits. The way for each
life to overwhelnn ts&Adonijahs is simply
to crown Solomon.
Before David's wise stratagem the con-
spiracy disappeared like a burst bubble.
Ea~chsconspirator sought cover for his own
guilty head, and Adonijah found sanctu-
airy at the horns of the altar.
sTATESMAN'S SPEECH.
The address Of David to the leaders of.
Israel, which is the text Of the present
study, showed marked sagacfty and.
craftsmanship. File gave to the occasion
as official and important a character as
possible. He stood up to speak, signify
Ling the unusual nature of his message.
IN tones that were paternal and inswords
that were patriotic he delivered bis mas
cage, taking his people right into his con-
tatag..ee
sentiments.
He made much Of the new temple.
which great project had -been8constartly
fin8the peoples thought for years. Their
nasionaI pride and religious spirit. were
81 botii touched as the king dwelt upon his
desire To build a suitable house for Je-
hovah.
Then he reverted to his oHnscaii TO the
throne. He had been made king by 9di-
rect appointment of Jehovah: he was NOT
eyenso the royal family. he was the
assyoanegess1t2 his fathers sons sRut Je-
IlUvaIf aIf1sdi7 fftiTt; ss@.l,
2 named hisson, Solomon, to SIT on
4 IsraeIs hrbne to build the great
II Lemple..849T d~D@8anytlling else than u