Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1907-11-28

en- king remained at Mahanaim. Ana
II In the hearts Of the people the mem.
DRY OF David's greatness and goodness
and power came crowding, into his
heart. there came likewise the MEM.
DRY OF other days. Now that the first
poignant grief over the death Of Alb
salon was passed and he had time to
contemplate his state and think on
what the loss OF the nation and the
royal city meant to him, q deeper,
more crushing sorrow came upon him.
Jerusalem. the holy city OF God, the
place where with JOY he had set up
the tabernacle OF the Lord aud width
or he had brought the ark OF the GOV.
enant OF the Lord.
When first he came upon the strong
hold years before while II vas still In
the hands OF the enemy the inspiration
had come to him to conquer II for the
Lord. What a glorious situation for
the city which should become In a pc
culiar sense the habitation Of the
Lord, he had thought. And so in the
strength of tire Lord and at the peril
OF his life he had assembled by almost
superhuman effort the precipitous
walls and had after a fierce hand.to-
hand conflict subdued the city.
And because of what that city had
cost lin, and because Of what II had
become in his thought and ambitions
he longed with an intense longing TO
be back there once more. 1t was In
that city he had planned and %purposed
to build the Lord n splendid temple,
but God had said him nay, and had
given him the promise that his son
should build the Lord a house. And
this thought OF the future had made
bright the late years of his life as
he had set about gathering material
which would be used In the construc.
ton of such a temple as he longed to
see built.
But now he was an exile from his
beloved city. Were his dreams for
the future of the city never to be
realized? Was he never more to
dwell there? Thus In sorrow and
doubt he waited. But no word came
from his people looking to his re-
turn.
But one day a delegation came to
Mahanaim from the northern tribes,
bringing words of good cheer to the
king and urging his return.
while thou art absent, Sheba, the
son Of Bichri. and others are busy
striving to cause further trouble
they said. Come with us. and We
will establish thy kingdom"
But how can l return" David cried
to his confidential advisers, after he
had dismissed the delegation. while
the people of Judah, mine own breth,
rem, and while Jerusalem. the holy
city, speaks no word Of invitation"
So this proved a great sorrow ia
David that no word had yet come to
him from Jerusalem, and those who
served neal to the king discerning the
grief OF his heart over this thing, sent
messengers secretly to Zadok and Abb
affair, the priests at Jerusalem, say,
ing:
Speak unto the elders of Judah,
saying. why are we the last to bring
the king back to his house? Seeing
the speech OF all Israel is come to the
king, even to his house. Ye are his
brethren, ye are his bones and his
flesh: wherefore then are ye the last
to bring back the king?"
Now when this word was repeated
In the ears Of the elders by Zadok and
Abiathar, after they had summoned
them into their presence, deep sorrow
seized their hearts that they had SC
forgotten and neglected their king
why" they said, I'VE had feared
his anger, and thought that he would
return but to punish us for our dis
loyalty"
Nay. but thou hast misjudged oul
king, for his heart is towards his PEG
pie and Jerusalem, continually"
Yea, and the tribes to the north
have been first to send word to the
king b%eseeching his return. How
ever, II thou shalt send speedily anC
ask the king to return he will for
give thy neglect and return with joy
to his land" urged the priests.
Then we will send at once" they
all exclaimed. For our city ant
our land is desolate without its king
So they sent this word unto tn,
king:
And the king returned. and cam
to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilga
to go to meet the king, to conduct tn,
king owe Jordan.