Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-06-25
MILLIONS STUDYING
OF OBSCURE KINGDOM
Incidents While World War RACES,
Characters and Petty Battles
Engaging Attention
SAUL IS UNFIT FOR THRONE
The International Sunday School
Lesson For June II Is Review
David the Shepherd of Israel
SAUL is UNFIT FOR THRONE
BY William 7. Ellis

BY William T.. Ellis
When we pause to think of 1t, the
fact Is remarkable that more than
twenty-five millions of persons in the
/ Sunday schools of the world have for
the past three months been studying
a series of lessons that have to do with
men and women who lived three thou
sand years ago. Even while a world
war RACES, the Incidents. the charac-
ters, and the petty battles of little
nation off in an obscure corner of the
earth have been engaging the atten-
ton of group of people who are
practically conterminous with civil
| ization. Not only thrones and crowns
ana empires are now tottering in the
| balance, but also an entire order of
social life. Nevertheless, we find time
to think about the primitive struggle
for the crown of the loosely organized
kingdom of Israel. Saul and David
have been figures of contemporaneous
interest around the whole world.
Saul had been proved unfit for his
throne. He had not developed a kingly
character in his kindly office. Egotism
and jealousy had uncrowned him, as
they have uncrowned many another
man since.
Mr.. Fleming H. Revell told me
| story, few weeks ago, of how Moody
| dealt with the temptation to jealousy.
| or the accusation of It, When the
great evangelist was conducting a
series of meetings in Chicago. the Rev.
| Sam Jones was preaching in Cincin-
natl, and attracting much attention.
One day Mr.. Moody, asked Mr.. Sam
| Jones for week or two of sermons
at the Moody meetings. After four
| days of effort Mr.. Revell succeeded,
| and Sam Jones preached in Moody's
| place for about ten days, Moody sit
ting by and listening, and giving the
visitor nnqSiha al
ut was months later" Mr.. Revell
told me. that I learned from Moody
the reason for his invitation to Jones.
There had been a popular desire on
the part of Chicago folk to hear the
brilliant and unconventional Southern
preacher, and even a whisper that
Moody was unwilling to let him ap-
pear. One day, perhaps six months
after Jones had been in Chicago,
Moody said to me. I heard that folks
were saying that was jealous of Sam
Jones' and so would not invite him to
my meetings. Now 1 don't think that
was so. But l decided to take no
chances. Perhaps I did not know my
self Anyway, l said, "Old devil, Til
spike that gun for you" and so I sent
you down to Cincinnati to invite Sam
Jones to preach from my pulpit" Is
1t any wonder that Henry Drummond
called Moody the biggest human l
have ever met?
That is the way to deal with poten-
tial jealousy: stifle It by magnanimity
Saul harbored his mean passion until
1t came to have dominion over him.
Had he treated David with royal
friendliness and generosity his own life
would have been saved from misery
and disaster. -.. ,-. e, ..r .--r.-..
Wearing the Crown and Deserving It
This old picture OF an unfit man on
the throne. and fit man in exile, is
true to life. Merit does not always
win The prizes of life do not in
variaply go to deserving, else all the
mighty of earth would be men of
noble character Frequently the scepter
IS in the hands of Saul That is one
of the factors which makes our pres
ent social order so far from the ideal.
Still, the old story has a present
message. in that David, prosecuted
and exiled. still played the part of
king. He could be royal off a throne,
even as Saul could be ignoble and
mean on a throne. Kingliness is in
character and conduct, and not in po-
sition. Any of us may have a royal
regal to be David in flight than a
Saul in fury
Since the wheel of life is ever turn
ing. Saul and David came to their
rightful destiny. We cannot determine
success or failure until the last act of
life Is overland it may even be neces-
sary TO go behind the stage. in the
great anteroom of eternity. to know
who have greatly played their parts
Man Among Men
Like Barrie's Sentimental Tommy"
this David had a way" with him.
Men were drawn to him. He won the
friendship of the noblest. In a pro-
found sense, man is known by his
friends We scarcely need to know
more about David than that he was
Jorathan's bosom companion. That
means more than the Staying of
Goliath.
AS we witness the procession of
characters through this quarters les
sons we perceive that nearly all of
them were friends of David, the per-
sonality. He had an allegiance which |
was denied to Saul. and which mere
position never brings. There was old
Samuel, who anointed and loved him.
To have won the favor of such a good
and great man was in itself success.
Even the Prophet Nathan was David's
friend-so true a friend that he dared
rebuke the kings sin
These soldiers who fearlessly pierced
tee Philistine lines and drew David q
drink from the we'll at Bethlehem
throw a flood of light on our hero. /
Aofshai. who went with him into dan
ger. is another witness to the true
heartedness of David. Michel, Abigail |
woman's love for this man.
A Nation Finding Itself
Precarious and fugitive was the |
central shrine and capital of Israel |
until David came to the throne for
which his hard and bitter experiences
had fitted him. David captured Jeru- |
salem which. from that day to this, |