The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1915-05-20


Strength and my shield; my heart hath
trusted him, and I am helped.-Ps 28:7
R.V. - 60"
Saul ceased from pursuing David
Il Samuel 27:4) when he fled into tho
land Of the Ph!listines for he feared
them greatly II Sam. 1856, g.. David
fought with Saul's enemies but never.
theless was not wanted (29:6.11). His
wives being taken captive, he. with
400 men destroyed Ziklag, sending the
spoil to his friends in Judah q Sam.
3O). Following the death of Saul and
Jonathan QI Sam. chapter u we read
David's wonderful lament (ch. q.
!. David, King Of Judah. (D
Davld's Kingdom, Oh. 2:1s. It ia now
seven or eight years since Samuel |
anointed the young shepherd to be |
king In Sauls place. David was prob. |
ably twenty-nine years of age. He
had now fourfold assurance of his |
throne (a) Gods decree q Sam. 16:
1l-l3; (b) The death of Saul (ch. /:
~; (c) Gods command (v. ~, and
(d The choice Of the people (v. ~.
His every step seems to have been
led Of God, therefore he had made no
false moves Games 1857, see also Ps.
1913, 14). How God by means Of the
stones In the priests breastplate made
known his will we are not told and II
Is idle to speculate. We have bet
ter way, the inspired word and the
living spirit through which we may
receive guidance. Such guidance Is
conditioned upon obedience Ct Sam.
1856; Acts $500. God directed David,
after Sauls death to "go up" to Heb
ron, which means fellowship" 1t
was here that Abraham, the man Of
faith, had lived. David thus began
his conquest Of the land in fellowship
with God. David implicitly obeyed
Gods decree ". q, took his family
with him and also brought his men
with their households. This Is sug-
gestion relative to household fellow
| ship with God. They left nothing be-
hind to lure them back as Lot was
lured when he left Sodom. These
men had been Davids partners in his
adversity and are now to share in his
glory Uuke 1928, 20; II Tim. 2:12;
Rom. SIT, 18).
(2) DavId's Diplomacy, 2:5.7. It
was good politics for David to honor
these men Of Jabesh, yet he was hon.
est and sincere for he honored Saul
as his rightful and God-anointed SOW
ereign q Sam 24:4-8; 26:7-11). These
mon had shown kindness to Saul and
now Jehovah would show kindness to
them ". g. AS we SOW we reap
(Matt 5:7; 6:14, .15; II Tim. 1:t6-18).
David took pains to inform them that
he had been chosen king but assures
them that he would strengthen them.
AS they had been faithful to Saul, let
them support the one who had been
anointed in his stead. To have adopt
ed any other policy would have alien.
ated their support.
(3) Ish-bosheth's Kingdom, 2:8-11.
AS contrasted with this God-directed
kingdom Of David's was the man direct
ed kingdom of Ish-bosheth. His name
means, name Of shame" He was
about forty years Of age, Sauls Oldest
son, but not his intended successor
Ish-bosheth was: (a) selected by man
". 81; (b) ruled by man (v. 81 and
(c) made war upon Gods elect *. H.,
CHI. 3:1). He only reigned two years
and his kingdom In the northern part
Of the land was separated from that
Of David by that portion in the center
controlled by the Philistines. Abner's
untimely death at the hand Of Joab
, (ch. 81 deprived Tsh-bosheth Of a
leader He was slain by his own serv.
ants and his kingdom became part
Of Davids.
, IL. David, King Of Israel, 5:1.5
, David passed through seven and one.
half years Of delay in his progress
towards the throne. 1t was not long
: after 1sh-bosheth's death that a great
s assembly met at Hebron. 1t was a
8 truly national gathering. Every tribe
' sent soldiers-280,000 In all--and the
elders Of the people were the spokes
t men. They proclaimed David "bone
Of their bone" ". ~ and that even
I while Saul was king, David had been
their real shepherd ". 12). But better
still, they recognized David as Gods
> chosen successor to Saul and pro-
claimed to all men that they had 10y
ally accepted his choice.
The story OF David's conquest of
f Jerusalem and the establishment of
the seat Of his government at that
, place is interesting and suggestive and
should be studied before next Sun.
days lesson Is considered.
, After being anointed in Hebron
David began at once to subdue theland
Thus we see the loose tribal gov
ernment nodded into n powerful, domi.
nant and respected kingdom. David
was Q) Patient, awaiting Gods time;
(2) Energetic; (3) Courageous; (D
Tactful; (5) Trusting; (6) Loyal to
friends and to God; (7) Patriotic; (8)
Obedient, and above all, (9) Religious,
for we read, "the Lord Is with him"
Il Sam. 1919, and, David waxed
greater and greater; for the Lord, the
, God Of hosts, was with him" III Sam
5:10O.
These principles, faithfully adhered
to will bring success in A. D. 1915 as
we'll as B. c. 1860.