The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1908-09-11
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
The Senior 6erear Lesson for Sun
day. September 10.
DAVID MADE KING OVER JUDAH


and greater -. ami the Lord God OF
hosts C'lor jehovah the God OF
hosts , was with him sam. 3. 10.
4 And IL came TO pass after this,
that David inquired OF the Lord, say
ing, Shall go mp into any OF the cities
Of Judah1 And the Lord said unto
him. Go up. And David Said. Whittier
shall 20 up And he said. Unto He
bron.
So David went up thither. and
his two wives also. Ahinoam the Jez
reelitess and Abigail Nahal wife the
Carmellte
3 And his men that were with him
did David bring up. every man with
his household: and they dwet in the
cities OF Hebron.
1. And the men OF Judah came. and
there they anOinted David king over
the house OF Judah. And they told
David. saying. That the men OF Jabesh-
gilead We're they that buried Saul
;. And David sent messengers unto
the men OF Jabeshgilead. and said unto
them. Blessed be We of the Lord, that
We have showed this kindness unto
your lord. even unto Saul. and have
buried him.
q. And now the Lord show kind
ness and truth unto you: and also
will reQuite you this kindness, because
ye have done this thing
:. Therefore now let your hands be
strengthened. and be We valiant: for
your master Saul Is dead. and also the
house OF Judah have anOinted me king
over them.
Then came all the tribes Of Israel to.
David unto Hebron. and spake. saying.
Behold we are thy bone and thy flesh
>. Also in time past. when Saul was
king over us thou vast he that led
dest out and broughtest in Israel: and
the Lord said 90 thee Thou shalt feed
my people Israel. and thou shalt be a
captain over Israel
3. So all the elders OF Israel came
20 the king 20 Hebron aud king David
made a league with them in Hebron
before the Lord and they anointed
David king over Israel
g. David was thirty years old when
he began TO reign. and he reigned
forty years.
3 In Hebron he reigned over Ju-
dab seven years and six months: and
in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and
three years over all Israel and Judah
l. David Amounted King over Judah
= -
for David 70 move toward the king
ship. But he did not presume to take
any step without divine direction. He
was still vassal OF King Achish at
Ziklag So he consulted the divine
Oracles 70 know whether he should re.
turn to his native land Of Judah He
received a positive answer 20 40 10
Hebron This city was centrally To-
Gated in the tribe Of Judah. It's noun
famous position. the fact that IL was
priestly settlement. and also that IL
was one OF the Oldest cities with sa-
cred associations. made Il very desir-
able and suitable as a capital for the
new kingdom David had also won the
good will OF its inhabitants during his
period of wandering He now had
quite a large following and great pos
sessions II was quite a procession
which left the territory Of the Philis-
tines 10 establish themselves In the
neighhorhoOd Of Hebron His mar
riages with Ahinoam and Abigail had
won the support 81 the southern
tribes IL was advisable that he should
remain in thar section Of the country
where the sentiment was most favor
able 10 him IL was not long after his
settlement in tint towns and villages
around Hebron that representatives Of
the tribe ~ Judah voluntarily offered
him the rule over them and anointed
him their king. He had been anointed
By Samuel al the age OF seventeen.
This action Of the prophet was doubt
less we'll known by this time. and the
purpose Of 1t would have been under
stood BY the course OF events. This
public ceremony was the inauguration
OF his reign over a limited territory.
Not much is recorded OF his activity
during the first five wears OF his king
ship But Il is clear that he was busy
getting ready for further develop
ments
lI David Extending his Influence
Vers. So He could not strike for the
kingdom Of Israel al this time but he
could strengthen himself SO as 70 win
the kingdom at the proper time His
intercourse with his neighboFs was
cOnciliatory. An Illustration Of his
policy is seen in his message TO the in
habitants Of Jabesh- gilead They were
commended for their honorable treat
ment OF the body OF Saul He prayed
that Cod may bless them for this act
OF kindness and gratitude. He also
volunteered his services 10 them.
WAFA NV ANFtAfh lAWAFNAlOna nc I'll
cOuraged them with words OF cheer to
be strong and valiant in this time OF
pressure tie then announced 10 them
the fact that he had been anointed
king Of Judah. practically implying
and aTtfully suggesting that they
should look 70 him for help, as the
successor OF Saul By making friends
with the friends Of Saul. BY giving no
occasion for enmity. he was gradually
building up a strong constituency.
III David Anointed King over all
Israel Sam. 5. rs. After the battle
OF Gilboa the Philistines took posses
sion Of Northern Palestine. Judah
and the southern clans had accepted
the rule OF David Little remained for
the house Of Saul besides the trans
Jordan provinces n was not till after
Abner had renulsed the Philistines
and reorganized the northern tribes,
with lsh bosheth as king that the
North and South came into collision
with each other. civil war was car