The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-19
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became Saul the Jealous. He lost his
crown Of kinSly character long before
he lost the crown of Israel In the
sense of the modern colIoqutaIisT1, he
lost his head" years before Philis'-
tine sword touched his neck
A Mean Sire's Noble Son.
AS uppeiRed seIfishness and vanity
always are a sorry sight, so Saul pre-
sented a pftfabte spectacle IN his
vengefuI pursuit Of young David, of
whom he was envious. He neglected
the business of the kingdom while ne
broCded over his personal srudSe
against Jesse's son. Peace ard power
both fled frozn him, as they can never
dwen in the heart that harbors hate.
Even while he sat OIL the throne of
his people in regal state, but IN the
loneliness of a selfish man, Saul was
z magnificent failure.
Happily the proverp Like father,
like SON Is 10 more true than most
proverbs. This Unfortunately self-cen-
tered and puffed-Up king had son
who was model of upselfish and
COURAGEOUS patriotism. Brave and
daring Jonathan stands high among
heroes; but his claim to Immortality
is his capacity for self-spending friend
ship He had a genius for loving. To
his loyal heart II was small matter
to surrender even. a throne Tor the
sake of his friend. In the atmosphere
Of SauFs court. poisoned by suspicion,
and treachery and jealousy, grew this
fair flower Of manhood to afford the
ages a name Synonymous with the
highest type of friendship.
The Next Man For the Job.
On the walls Of a large business
house the other day I saw the motto:
eff you don't like your lob don't
worry; some other fellow will have
it soon." There il always a man walt
to take the unfit mans place. When
Sauls fail, God has ready his Davids-
His work is going to be done in the
world, If not by one agent, then by
another. He is King Of kings, even
when the lesser king Is such
rebelliouS and seli-vaunting and heaV-
en-defying creature as Saul David
was called from the hillside where he
tended the sheep to have the holy oil
Of amounting poured upon his mead. He
was not his fathers choice, nor sam
tters choice, for the latter. who judged
as men judge, thought that one of
the strapping big sons of Jesse was
built on the lines of king. Young
David was chosen by God because ne
represented possibility. He was not the
first nor the last of the long line OF
boys called from the country to fill
the places of power in the city. out
under the stars. and with Gods liv-
ing creatures, he had learned some
of the great lessons of life. Chief
of these was his simple faith in a
benign and over-ruling Jehovah.
The heat which melts lead temperS
steel. The court life that destroyed
Saul made a man Of David. Circum-
stances quite similar produced utterly
different effects upon the two char
acters. Trouble. largely of SauFs
making, overlook both the king on the
throne and the slayer of Goliath,
whom that king drove into exile.
Somebody has said that Trouble is
chariot in which one may ride, or by
which one may be over-ridden." David
rode in the chariot. Out of all the
bitter, lonely years of persecution he
developed royal qualities, so tnat
eventually. when his day came, as
it always comes to the man who knows
how to wait, and who improves his
waiting time, David found himself
qualified to reign over the kingdom
for which Saul had proved himself I'M
fit. In like fashion, men go to the
thrones of character.