Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-07-30
Sunday School Lesson and
Young Peoples Meetings
What the Church Folk are Thinking
About and Doing Religious News
From Everywhere.

Jesse's strapping big sons, likely king
prophet was puzzled. Clearly the world
had been that the new king was to
be n of Jesse's sons; yet the seven
had been reviewed, without the divine
sign being given. In wonderment, the
old man turned to the head of the
house. Were these all his sons?
Like the story of Cinderella runs the
narrative. Jesse replied, ooh, no;
there's one more, but he is only a
boy, and he is out tending the sheep.
These great handsome fellows are the
ones in whom l knew you would be
interested. 1t was not worth while to
call young David from his work.
Only a boy! So even fathers in
their blindness have reasoned. AS if
there We're in all the universe aught
more important than a boy! All the
coming kings in all the Kingdoms of
life are somewhere today only boys
and groWn-up folk pass them by, ne
glectly and even s%cornfully, in favor
of those who have inches or years or
good looks, or some of the external
trappings Of greatness. OF this ON
pany Of coming kings, not one in a
thousand can he pointed out of a GER
material, were passed by Samuel, at
the direction Of Jehovah. The old
tainity, for Jehovah seeth not as man
seeth.' If he were wise, we should
be c~onsiderate of these boys, from
very first-interest, for they are to give
the oncoming generation whatever i'm
| preston of us is to remain after we
have left this world. Also many a
boy has gone back to the shop or Off
ce where he was cuffed and sworn at
as the boy" to give orders to the
very men who once ~despised him.
One of the best signs of these times
is the interest that is being displayed
in boys.
The Coming Kings.
At Samuel's behest, Jesse sent for
David. The prophet would not let the
feast proceed until the boy had ar
rived; for the old man knew that it
was not meet to sit when the next
king of the nation was coming. By
what respect we show to youth we In
dictate to our reverence for tomorrow.
So David was brought from the field,
surprised and wondering. Auburn
haired, ruddy-faced, fair-eyed, he was
a comely youth to look upon. A
vigorous, healthfilled boy, of open
~countenance, Is as inspiring a sight as
a mountain or a waterfall. AS David
modestly presented himself, he was
in obedience to his fathers summons
he was not embarrassed; his life OF
self-reliance and clean conduct had
given him the seemly self-confidence
which enables one to stand before
| III rc d, ,nl III p1op a lyir u,c rNJa him,
self.
1t was a superb training for king
ship that David had enjoyed. He was
not SO smart as many a modern
youth, who is up-to-date on all the
latest wrinkles of an artificial city
life. But he knew the deep leisure O.
unhurried life out under the stars. He
knew how to take care of himself, and
to guard the trust committed to him
Self-sufficient out on the hills, he could
meet unexpected emergencies as
easily as he could cook his own meal
or make his own bed on the earth will
only the sky for a covering. Prudent
brave and self-reliant, he had, all I'm
knownly, fitted himself for great new
experiences. In the solitudes he hat
learned that true modesty which
comes to those who live with nature
and that simple faith in Jehovah
which is the best equipment for an.
station. To be pitied is every maj
called out into life's activities wh'
had not these quiet times of prepare
ton which determine future destiny
David learned his kingliness, e a
he learned his music and his skill witt
the sling, out on the hills of Beth
lehem with the sheep. God had f1tte'
him for a crown before Samuel anoint
led him.