Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1907-11-28

en- king remained AZ Mahanaim. And
IL In the hearts OF the people the mem
ory 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. n 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 and with.
or no had brought The ark OF the COW
enaut Of the Lord
When first he came upon the strong
hold years before while it was stu in
the hands Of the enemy the Inspiration
had come to him to conquer 1t for the
Lord What a glorious situation for
the city which should become In pc
I culiar sense the habitation Of the
I Lord he had thought And 50 in the
strength Of the Lord and at the peril
% his life he had assembled by almos,
superhuman effort the precipitous
walls and had after a fierce hand-to
I hand conflict subdued the city
And because OF what that city had
/ cost him. and because Of what Il had
! become In his thought and ambitions
he l0nged with an intense longing To
he back there once more IL was in
that city he had planned and purposed
TO build the Lord splendid temple.
hut God had said him nav. and had
given him the promise that his son
should build the Lord a house And
I this thought Of the future had made
I bright the late years % 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 ~ 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 10
Mahanaim from 1.-THE northern tribes.
bringing words OF good cheer to the
king and urging his return
While thou art absent. Sheha. 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 | return" David cried
10 his confidential advisers. after ne
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 to
David that no word had yet come to
him from Jerusalem. and those who
served near to the king discerning the
grief OF his heart over this thing. sent
messengers secretly to Zadok and Abi.
affair. the priests at Jerusalem. say
ing:
Speak unto the elders Of Judah.
saving. Why are We the last to bring
the king back to his house, Seeing
the speech Of all Israel is come 10 the
king. even TO his house We are his
brethren. We are his bones and his
flesh; wherefore then are We 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 50
forgotten and neglected their king
Why. they said. we had feared
his anger. and thought that be would
return but to punish rs for our dis
loyalty
Nay. but thou hast misiuiged our
king. for his heart is towards his PEG
pie and Jerusalem. continually"
Yea. and the tribes to the north
have been first 10 send word to the
king beseeching his return How
ever. II thou shalt send speedily and
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 and
our land is desolate without its king"
So they sent this word unto the
king:
Return thou and all thy servants"
And the king returned. and came
to Jordan And Judah came to GiIgal
to 90 to meet the king. to conduct the
king over Jordan.