Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-06-04

heart o God.-Psalm 51:10.
This is a lesson that demands great
care in its presentation and treatment,
which will differ widely according to
age. For the younger the briefest sort
Of statement that David fell in love
with Uriah's wife and to obtain her
had her husband killed will be suf11-
Gent. With such, throw the emphasis
upon the danger of harboring evil
thoughts and the need of heart purity
(see Golden Text.
With adults, however, some time
may be devoted to the social evil
which is such a menace to every ma
ton, care being taken lest the discus
sion become morbid, or that we neglect
to emphasize the fact that the cure
is not in regulation or reformation but
in the regeneration of the human
heart.
/. David's Many Good Deeds, ~
Samuel, 7 and 9. AS a background
for his most repulsive sin David had q
long list of excellent deeds. His de-
sire for a better abiding place for the
ark was not according to Gods will
for two reasons: first, that an ornate
house might easily corrupt, through
idolatry, the spirituality of the Hebrew
religion; second, David was a man of
war and therefore not qualified for
temple building. Though denied, David
did not despair. but at once provided
that his successor carry out his desire.
Again, David's treatment of Mephibor
sheth, Jonathan's son, in accordance
with the covenant made between those
two men, is an inspiring episode inc
one of great spiritual suggestiyenesss,
it has furnished material for countless
sermons.
II. David's One Great Sin, Il Sam
uei, 1875. David's victories over his
enemies are dismissed in a few
verses, yet his sin is set forth in de-
tail-another evidence of the divine
origin and inspiration of the Bible
David had followed the example OF
n~eighboring kings and taken to him
self many wives. evidently regarding
his fancy as supreme and himself as
above the law. David was "off guard"
in the matter of temptation, a.danger
GUS position for all, both soldier and
civilian. David had had too long and
too great a period of success and pros
perity after his long period of priva-
ton, and this led to carelessness and
pride. David was Foff duty" indulg-
ing in ease while Joab did his fighting
AS a result he became an adulterer
and a murderer, and the record in no
way seeks to palliate his guilt. From
all this the record brings to us many
important lessons. Outwardly pros
porous and his army successful, Da-
vid must have felt in his heart the
spiritual blight in the words, .'but the
thing was evil in the eyes OF the
Lord" ". q R. W; no psalm writ
ing then.
Ill. Nathan's Parable, II. Samuel
12:1-7. 1t is an evidence of Gods
grace that he sent his servant to re.
buke and restore this imam after his
own heart Such is his mercy, for
he does not will that any should per-
ish but that all might come to the
knowledge of forgiveness ezekiel
33.11; Matthew 23:37}. No parable
ever had its desired effect more quick
ly than this one. 1t brought conviction
and repentance ". 49, and led to the
writing of the ffty-irst psalm. 1t was
a delicate task set before Nathan thus
to rebuke the king, yet it reveals the
essential n%obleness of David in that
he did not become angry. Nathan's
task and his wisdom are revealed in
his approach and in the way he led
David to condemn, unwittingly. his
own course of action. This was bet
ter than to begin by upbraiding and
denunciation. Verse two suggests, in
ferentially, Gods great goodness to
David, which made the offense n Of
gross ingratitude. The picture of the
rich man selfishly sparing his own and
Selling the poor mans treasure-his
all, which lay On his bosom, drank
from his cup and was as a child, ex-
hibits the worst sort of s~coundrel.
No wonder David grew indignant
(Romans 2:1) and declared that such
a man sis worthy to die" ". 6 R. w.
Nv. Thou Art the NAM. Ia. Thus
far the story is one all too common.
then and now, of the strong crushing
the weak and glorying in their selfish
ness. What follows is the evidence
of Gods response to mans repentance,
the parallel to which has nowhere else
been found in the ancient world. The
glory of it is that David heard n
needed Gods messenger. The whole
sordid story with its resultant action
on David's part brings us many price
less lessons. % That man who had
lived a life of faith and communion
fell most miserably when he neglected
his duty and took his eyes off God
There is a grave danger ahead of the
man who begins to triie with sin Il
Cor. 1919. (2) Though a man fall
(the godly mani yet he is not utterly
cast down. There is pardon for the
vilest sinner and the most ab1ect
backslider. David's murderous hands
and s~in-stained soul found pardon
Cps. 80 and SD. 60 A mans sins.
though he may find pardon, will cloud
all of his future.
David felt it in his own life and fam
lily; both daughter and sons felt its
blight (see chapter 49,, and it brought
forth David's immortal lament over
Absalom.
David's trusted friend Joined the
sons rebellion and caused David great
sorrow (see 11:3; 1884; 1921 and
Ps. 55:12-14).
David's hypocrisy upon receiving
the news of Uriah's death deceived NO
one and put him into the power OF
Joab, who became a curse to him and
whom he constantly feared q Kings
2:19-22).
God sternly judges ~uncleanness and
a~dulterers (Heb. 14:4).
A human book would cover up, omii
or seek to palliate such an act by one
of the great of the earth (cf. the
story Of Napoleon and Josephine). yel
the Bible tells all the facts to serve