Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-09-10
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTs FOR SEPTEMBER IS.

INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTs FOR SEPTEMBER IS.
Subject: David Made King Over Ju-
dah and Israel, 2 Sam. 2:1-7;
5;1.5-Golden Text, 2 Sam.5:10
Commit 2 Sam. B:4, 3.
TINIE.-1055-104S B. c. PLACE.
Hebron.
ExPOsITION.-I. David. Anointed
King Over Judah in Hebron, Liza.
David at this period of his life seems
to have taken every step In simple de-
pendence upon the guidance Of the
Lord (cf. ch. 5:19-23; / Sam. 1882,
4, 8, ~; 80: Z, 81, and thus he made
no false steps. He obtained Gods
guidance by asking for it (cf. Jas.
$50. He trusted in the Lord with
all his heart, and leaned not to his
own understanding, in all his ways he
acknowledged the Lord, and He di-
rected his paths (cf. Prov. 3:5, g..
Doubtless the mind of the Lord was
ascertained by consulting the Urim
(cf. Nu. 27-21; Elk. $3.50, r. V.
marg.;1 Sam. 1924, 9-12). No one
knows just how the stones In tho
breastplate made known the mind of
God, and 1t Is useless to speculate
about it. We have in these days a
better way to find the mind Of God,
by the written Word and by the
guidance Of the living Spirit of God
lisa. 500; Ps. 1f9: 105-130; Acts
1923; 1876, y. The name OF the
city to which God bade him go up Is
significant, for Hebron means fellow
ship, and David began his conquest
of the land in fellowship with God.
That Is where we must all first 60,
II we wish to enter upon life of con-
stant victory. Many of us are not
conquerors as David was simply be-
cause we have never gone up to
Hebron. 1t was in this city that
David was first anointed king Of Ju-
dah ". ~. and afterwards king of all
Israel. The one who would enter
upon life of kingly authority and
power must go up to Hebron (Jno.
15:4-16). David did Just as the Lord
directed him. He did not go alone.
but took his wives with him. They
had been partners in his rejection and
prosecutions. and now were to be
partners in his glory. Just so those
who have shared with Jesus Christ In
His reflections and sufferings shall
share with Him in His glory (cf. Lu.
22:2S, 30; Tim. 2:!2; Ro. 8:17.
1S). or course, 1t was not right for
David to have two wives, not accord
irg to Gods original ordinance con-
cerning marriage (Gen. 2:24; Matt.
19:4-9), but wo must in justice to
David remember that there was not
the clear light in his day upon this
subject that there Is in our day. Men
must be judged by the light that they
possess. At this point in his career
David was seeking to serve God with
a whole heart All types are neces-
sarily imperfect. especially types
where men are types of Christ, yet
the wives of David are types of the
church, the bride of Christ (cf. Eph.
5:25-32), to at least this extent that
the church will share with Christ in
His reign just as she has shared with
Christ in His rejection (cf. Rev. 1876
81. These who now came into power
With David had been in sore distress
before they came to David, "in dis
tress," "in debt" and bitterness of
soul" Il Sam. 22:2, r. ". marg.).
Those who now rally around Christ,
and who will hereafter enter into
glory with Him, are largely of the
same class. These men dwelt close
to David (cf. Jno. 1913; l Thess.
4:17).
ii. David and the Men of Jabesh-
gilead, 4b-7. The action Of David
might seem a piece of shrewd STRAIT
egy, but everything points to absolute
sincerity in the matter on David's
part (cf. ch. 1:13-16. 1927; 4:5-12).
David in the greatness of his soul
really honored Saul as his rightful
sovereign (cf. Sam. 24:4S; 26:7-
~. His nobility of heart led him to
do the very thing that was the most
polite. There is no policy SO wise as
that to which a generous heart
prompts a man. David wishes for
the men of Jabesh-gilead the high
est form Of prosperity, blessedness
from the Lord. They had shown
kindness unto Saul, and now Jehovah
would show kindness and truth"
unto them. What we SOW we also
reap. God treats us as we treat our
fellow-men Matt. h:7: s:14. 15;-7:1,
&; 2 Tim. 1:16-18). David did no.
CouIeuI hlhoCI with WlpHluS Iudt
Jehovah might reward their kind
ness, but he undertook to reward 1t
also. There are many whose generos-
ity towards others exhausts itself in
pious wishes. AS they had been
strong and valiant for-Saul while he
lived, David expected them to be val
liant for him now that Saul was dead
and he had been anointed in Saul's
stead.
- III. David Anointed King Over
Israel in Hebron, ch. 5:1-5. After
seven years and half of waiting, at
last the whole nation recognized
David as the divinely chosen king.
They ought to have seen 1t long be-
fore. After doing all they could to
thwart Gods plan and to destroy
David, they now recognized him as
their bone and flesh ". ~, and the
one who had led them out and
brought them in to victory. Better
yet, they recognized him as the one
whom Jehovah had appointed to feed
His people Israel, and to be captain
over them. Israel Is rejecting the
real David to-day, but the time is
coming when all Israel will recognize
Hin Czech. 1873, 10; 1871; Rom.
/11:25, 26). The league they made
with David was before the Lord. The
only covenant that Is of any real value
Is the one that Is made In the Lord
presence and for His glory.