Mexico Missouri message., 1908-09-10
DAVID MADE KING
OVER ISRAEL
AND JUDAH
Susasy Sehssl Lsssss fer Sept. -, 1898
Specially Arranged for This Papsr

Memory verses, sam Sc. s.
GOLDEN TEXT.-"DavId went on and
grew great. and the Lord God OF Hosts
was with hing sam. 5:lO
THE COUNTRY.-The cleavage which
became permanent after Solomon had
long existed In tendency. Apparently
united under Saul the tribes showed their
divergence In the early years OF David
a northern and southern kingdom.
PLACE.-Dayid'a hrst capital was at
Hebron. Later he made Jerusalem his
capital al more central, and more easi-
ly defended.
TIME.-David was king over Judah
seven and one-half years. II. c. l0S5-i0t8
tUssher). or as revised by the Assyrian
Eponym Canon. about 20 years later.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
David had fitted himself for the
hingship He had almost ideal quail
tiles. But he needed training by less
er and easier tasks for the great. en-
during. glorious kingdom he was TO
create and rule. Hence. for seven
years he was faithful over a few
things in order that he might rule
we'll over many things.
David was now 30 years old. He
had had a checkered life for the last
ten years; but every hour Of II was
q part Of his preparation.
II takes a great variety OF expert
ences to make us complete and fitted
10 do the greatest good. David's life
was filled with the strangest vicissi'
tudes swinging trough an arc that EN-.
braced much II not all OF human ex'
perience. Edward Irving finely says
OF him. Every angel OF Joy and OF
sorrow swept, as he passed, over the
chords of David's harp. and the hearts
of hundred men strove and struggled
together within the narrow continent
Of his single heart. Professor
Moorehead.
Hebron, the Capital. was one Of the
most ancient cities in the world, sit
uated in a high. mountainous region.
$500 feet above the sea. II was easi-
~ defended. II was far enough from
the Phillstines and from the northern
tribes to be safe. II was In a region
familiar to David in his exile. and
where he himself was we'll known.
Hebron had been the home OF his an.
cestor Abraham. In the side OF a
neIghboTing "ravIne was the cave Of
Machpelah, where the fathers OF the
nation slept in God" Isaac and Re
bekah had lived here. Near by was
the the brook Eschol where grew the
luxuriant vine from which the spies,
more than four centuries before. had
cut down the famous clusters. Says
Professor Blaikie. ITO live in Hebron.
and not feel faith quickened to new
life, would have indicated a soul dead
TO every impulse of patriotism and
piety."
V. 4. THE men of Judah
anointed David king" This was the
public ceremony OF coronation. The
kingdom came to him, not only by
divine appointment, but by choice OF
the people themselves ". I'll Chron
I1:1-3) The two colncided.
David Reigned at Hebron seven and
one.half years e Sam. 5:5), In a quiet
and peaceful manner, growing in IA
vor with God and man, and laying the
foundations for his great work OF con
solidating and reconstructing the na
ton.
David Became King in the Best Pos
sible Way. (1) He did not seek the
ONCE. but the once sought him. v
/. Then came all the tribes Of Is
rael 70 David" They came by theil
elders ". -. representing. according
to Chron. 12:23-40. 339, 600 warriors
They gave good reasons.
, CD He was Saurt natural successor
, being his son-in.law; and to make thii
more evident. he insisted that his wifi
Michal who hal been taken away from
him by Saul. should be returned 4
him. They said I'VE are thy bon'
and thy fiesh." both by race and b!
alliance with their royal house.
(3) He had proved himself a stronI
and worthy leader. both as warrio
and statesman. They recalled hi
splendid feats OF arms when ali III
), tribes were one kingdom. v. 2. "Thol
vast he that leddest out" etc. Al
through his past life. since the cor
filct with Goliath. David had show
generalship. wisdom. skill, forbeaI
ance. courage. knowledge OF men. an
a trust in God.
(4) He was divinely appointed. th
{ one whom God saw to be the best on
Z TO be their king-"the Lord said :
l. thee" The man whom God choose
Z for an once is the man the peopl
Q need.
(5) He had the right ideas coneerI
J. ing the duties Of a king. Thou shaI
feed" Literally, Thou shalt shol
n herd" q natural metaphor to expires
" the rulers care for h'l people. II
II used by Greek poets, Q. g., Home
d whose regular title for Agamemnon
)" shepherd OF the peoples.
a bridge Bible. The true king. ever tru
o ruler. seeks not to obtain all he CO
from the people, but to do all he ca
n for them; not to plunder the shee
but to shepherd them. David We
,F knew what was meant.
T. (e David's was constitutional moi
" archy. not a despotism.