The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1908-12-25

all diligence; for out OF II are the issues
OF nfe."-Prov. 4:23.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
This review should cover the whole
period of our six months study.
The main facts should be held in
the memory as a basis of the instruc-
ton the history is intended to teach.
The great value of history lies in
the light 1t sheds on the great princi-
pies of true living. History is phil
osophy teaching by examples" said
Dionysius of H~alicarnassus, and
Carlyle calls it PHILOSOPHY teaching
by experience" The Bible history Is
far more to us, for it Is a divinely
guided revelation of Gods principles
and plans of dealing with men. But
it is to be seen and studied in tho
light of its own times and circum-
stances.
A review Is a fitting lesson for the
closing sabbath Of the year, bidding
us look carefully at the trend and tide
OF our W lives, learning what to
avoid and what to cherish, what to
repent of and what to give thanks for.
Thus shall the past illumine the path
OF the future; evils repented of shall
be lighthouses on the hidden rocks;
and work well done and victories
gained shall be favoring gales toward
the port of eternal life.
Saul and Hix kingdom-B. c. 1885,
1855.
The first king with a great task be-
fore him.
A good general-lovable man. A
brave man.
Not sufficient ability to accomplish
his work.
Chief cause of his failures was
moral. He was selfish and disobedi-
ent to God, without depth of religious
life.
His kingdom was small. His death
tragic.
David and His kinsdom-B. c. 1885,
1915.
For his early life and training, and
for the discipline of his young man
hood, see review of last quarter.
David had many personal qualities
and natural advantages which made it
possible for him to become a great
king. Name them. But whether these
possibilities became realized depended
upon himself.
David was true to himself and to
God. From the beginning he did his
level best. He was faithful to every
duty. He learned his lessons from
everything that came to him. He was
deeply religious, and the fact gave
strength to his character, wisdom to
his actions, and defense against temp
tation.
He became a great statesman, gen.
eral, organizer, poet, musician.
Results.-David found the kingdom
divided, distracted, subdued by en-
emies, and in a very low religious con-
dition.
David left the kingdom great in
many ways:
/. A united people.
2. A greatly enlarged territory and
population.
3. Great progress in the religious life
Of the people.
4. Great progress in government.
The kingdom highly organized as a
state, as a military power, as a relig-
ious institution.
5. Great increase in wealth, prosper
ity, and the blessings of life.
6. Peace with all the surrounding
nations.
Z. He made great preparations for
building the temple.
8. He wrote Psalms which are a
blessing to all the ages.
His great sin married his career and
brought disastrous consequences.
But his repentance was most manly
and thorough. And his life, mellowed
and d%eepened, was a blessing to the
end.
His success vas founded on the prin.
ciples which bring true success to-day.
Solomon and His kingdom-B. C.. 1915
975.
Tell the story of his early life and
circumstances.
His most marked early experience
was his wise choice.
The Result. He raised Israel,
for a time, to the height of its ma
tional aspirations and showed the pos.
sibilities of splendor and authority to
which it might attain."-Farrar.
2. He stirred the intellectual life Of
the people In new directions"
3. He enshrined their worship in a
worthy and permanent temple" by
which he influenced their religious
life down to its latest days" This
temple was ~idealized. together with
the city, into a type Of the spiritual
temple and the New Jerusalem, the
city of God which came down from
heaven.
4. The peace which prevailed during
nearly all of his reign was a great
achievement and made many of the
other blessings possible.
s. His failure and weakness came
from the atmosphere of worldliness,
from yielding to temptation into which
he placed himself.
& Tor thic falling into cir ~ 80