Middletown transcript., 1915-05-22
LESSON FOR MAY 23
DAVID KING OVER JUDAH AND
ISRAEL.

LESSON TEXT-II Samuel 2:1-7; 6:l-A.
GOLDEN TEXT-Jehovah is my
strength and my shield; my heart hath
trusted him, and am helped.-Ps- GS;7
R,V
Saul ceased from pursuing David
Il Samuel 27:4), when he fed into the
land of the Philistines for he feared
them greatly Il Sam. 1856, g.. David
fought with Sauls enemies but never
theless was not wanted (29:6-1D. His
wives being taken captive, he. with
400 men destroyed Ziklag, sending the
spoil to his friends in Judah Il Sam
30). Following the death of Saul and
Jonathan III Sam. chapter II we read
David's wonderful lament (ch. ~.
I. David, King Of judah. ~
DaVld's Kingdom, eh. 2:13. It Is now
seven or eight years since Samuel
anointed the young shepherd to be
king in Saul's place. David was prob
ably twenty-nine years Of age. He
had now a fourfold assurance Of his
throne (a) Gods decree II Sam te:
11-13); (b) The death Of Saul (ch. L:
~; (c) Gods command " u, and
td) The choice Of the people ". q.
His every step seems to have been
led of God, therefore he had made ne
false moves (James 1857, see also Ps.
1918, 1D. How God by means Of the
stones in the priests breastpIate made
known his will we are not told and It
Is idle to speculate. We have a bet
ter way. the inspired word and the
living spirit through which we may
receive guidance. Such guidance is
conditioned upon obedience IT Sam.
2S:6; Acts 5:32). God directed David,
after Saul's death to "go up" to Heb
ron, which means Fellowship" Il
was here that Abraham. the man Of
faith. had lived David thus began
his conquest Of the land in fellowship
with God David implicitly Obeved
Gods decree ". ~, took his family
with him and alsO BROUGHT his men
with their households This is a aug-
gestion relative to household fellow
ship with God. They left nothing be-
hind to lure them back as Lot was
men had been David's partners in his
diversity and are now to share in his
plorv Tnke 1928. 20: II Tim. a:12;
Rom. SIT, 1877. All types are Of ne
cessitv imperfect, and we cannot but
condemn Davld's plurality cf wives,
remembering. however. the lock OF q
full revelation Of God at this time.
navid was seeking to know and to
serve God with his whole heart tcom-
mare. Gen. 1924 and Matt. 1s:4-9)
David Is nevertheless type Of Christ,
and his wives illustrate the church
which. having shared in his rejection
will also share In his glorious reign
fPev 1859 Those who accom-
psDied David were a strange comDany
II Sam 1922 R. w. Those who to.
dav rallv about Christ who will here
after enter into glory with him (see
John 1873: I Thess. 4:17l. Now q
mart Of the Inheritance 's sbort TO
'"n into David's hands. His anoirting
at the hands Of the men Of Judah II
but the acknowledgment Of Gods
previous selection. II Sam. J6:1-t3).
(2) DaVld's DipIomacN< 2:5-7. Il
was good politics for David to honor
these men Of Jabesh. yet he was hon
est and sincere for he honOred Saul
AZ his rlghtful and God.ancinted aov-
ere'gn II Sam. 24:4-S: 26:7-11l. These
men had shown kindness to Saul and
now Jehovah would show kindness to
them ". 81. AS we SOW we reap
f""tt K:7; 6:14. 15: II Tim I:16-tsl.
David took pains to inform them that
no had been chosen king but assures
them thar he would strengthen them.
As thew had been faithful to Saul. let
them supnort the one who had heen
anointed in his stead. To have adopt
ed anv other policy would have allen
ated their support.
(3l lsh-bosheth'a KINGDOM, 2:S-11.
As contrasted with this God-d'rected
KINGDOM Of David's was the man-dIrect-
ed kingdom Of Ish-bosheth. H's name
means. name of shame" He was
about forty years Of age, Saurs oldest
son. brt not his intended successor.
IOhbosheth was: (a) selected bv man
". 81: fbl ruled bv man " AZ and
icy made war upon Gods elect *. n.
rh 9:0. He only reigned two years
end his kingdom in the northern mart
OF the land was separated from that
Of David bv that portion in the center
controlled bv the Philistines AbUer's
rnt'malv death at the hand Of Joab
tch ~ deurived Ish-boeheth Of .
leader He was slain bv his own serV-
ants and his kingdom became a part
Of David's.
". David. klnq of israel, SITS.
n'v'd psssed through seven and one
half vePrs Of delay in his nrosregs
towards the throne. It was not long
after Ish-bosheth's death that q great
aeser"blv met at Hebron. II was a
truly national gathering Everv tribe
sent soldiers-2S0 OO0 in all-and the
elders Of the people were the spokes-
men. They proclaimed David bone
OF their bone" w. u and that even
while Saul WIS king, David had been
their real shepherd " 12) Put hotter
stu. they recognized David as Gods
cnosPn successor to Seul and PRO
claimed to all men that thev had 10y
""N accented his choice This seems
to have been some sort OF a limited
mona~"hv " Sam 1O:25) for Ieter we
road that the peonle demanded some
limitations Of the rights Of the king II
Wings i2:3l. The Israel Of today is
rejecting her "chief Shenherd' but a
time will come when they will recog-
n'ze him, shall behold A:m whom they