The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-03-19


We read OF David that he "desplsed
the word OF the Lord to do that which
was evil in His sight So the Bible
plainly states in Samuel 1873. 10. r.
lY. THE thing that David had done
displeased the Lord e Samuel ii.20.
land the Almighty sets him forth be.
fore the whole world o. an ADuLTER.
ER AND MURDER G. Samuel 1891.
! am glad that this most dastardly
and horrible cirmes OF history Is re-
corded in the Bible. For the record OF
it and It's consequences has held many
man back from contemplated sin
lie who turns away from the holy sin.
hating God is liable to fall into un-
speakable evil. Indeed any man who
trusts IN his own heart is fool David
was one of the noblest men Of his
times He was brave, he was gener-
Gus, he had a slngle-hearted purpose
to do the viii of God but he allowed
himself to trife with temptation, and
the consequence was hs went down 70
the deepest depths of yileness, base
nessJand dishonor
But the query may be further press
ed; How can one account for such
enormous iniquity in such a man as
we have seen that David was? The
answer needs to be emphasized. Il
may be explained by the absence for
the time being Of that restraining H.
auenee which his better nature was
wont to exercise over his life.
PASSION had dethroned CON.
SCIENCE. and then owing to the in
tensity Of his character, and the gen
eral greatness of the man, his sins be.
came as much blacker than those of
others as his good qualities were
greater than theirs.
In every good ma nthere are still |
two natures striving for the mastery
The Scripture method of expressing il
is In these words "The flesh lusteth
against the spirit, and the spirit
against the flesh" The new nature is
in the ascendant, but somc-
times the old evil nature. which still
exists in every child of God, will re-
assert its supremacy, and the effect of
this temporary revolution will be de-
termined by the temperament and
character of the individual. Dayid's
nature was of the intense type. There |,
are some men in whom everything is
ON q large scale. When the good in
their nature is uppermost. they over
top al lothers in goodness and right
but if. unhappily. they
should be thrown on their guard, and
the evil nature in them gain the as
then some dreadful wicked
ness may be expected Such men do
not do things by half. And so it was
with David. In every respect he was
above ordinary men; and SO when, for
the time. the fleshly nature was the
stronger in him. the sins which he
were as much greater than
those of common men, as in other cir
his excellencies were
nobler than theirs
Is 1t not true that We often make
great mistakes in Judging characters K
of others, because we ignore these
considerations? And do not many
persons among us get
great credit for their good moral char
acters. while Nthe truth is that they |
are blameless not so much because
hey have higher-toned principles than
others. as because they have feeble,
.imid natures. that are too cautious or
100 weak to let them go very far either
N holiness or sin?
David was not one Of these. As Dr. Is
raylor would say: Everything about
aim was intense and when he sinned,
ne did it in such way as to make
the most hardened sinner to
ihudder"
do not for moment extenuate
David's guilt, but am simply seeking
o show the difference in tempera-
nents in men. and the different logical
results that flow forth from such ma
.Wes, The worst feature connected
Sith David's character was his lack
# conscience on account Of his sin.
But guilty conscience viii seek to |,
hide or to cover up, and will try in
rarious ways to hush its voice. as for
Instance by various activities. pre- Il
etc, But that is what a
nan under the burden of guilt will j
10. He Will seek to escape from him II
ELI, as did David when he essayed
he siege of Rabbah. as related in
Samued 18th chapter Yet he found in
le could not outrun guilty con f
ioience. His attitudeso vindictive- I