The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-05-21

Saul ceased from pursuing DAVID
Il Samuel 27:4) when he lied into the
land OF the Philistines for he feared
them greatly Il Sam. 1856. s.. David
Fought with Saul's enemies but never
theless was not wanted (2e:6-1l). His
wives being taken captive. he. with
400 men destroyed Ziklag. sending the
spoil to his friends In Judah q Sam.
SOD. Following the death OF Saul and
Jonathan (u Sam. chapter ~ we read
Davfd's wonderful lament (ch. -.
I David, King % judah. ~
0avld's Kingdom, en-. 2:fS. II IN now
or eight years since Samuel
anointed the young shepherd to b
king In Saul's place. David was prob
ably twenty-nine years Of age. He
had now fourfold assurance Of his
throne (a) Gods decree q Sam. Is:
11-lS): (b) The death Of Saul (ch. 1:
y; (c) Gods command ". ~. 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 flames 1:6-7. see also Ps.
1918. 14). How God by means of the
stones In the priests breastplate made
known his will we are not told and Il
Is idle to speculate. We have a bot
ter way. the inspired word and the
living spirit through which We may
receive guidance. Such, guidance II
conditioned upon obedience Il Sam.
1855: 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 obeyed
Gods decree ". y, took his family
with him and also brought his men
with their households. This Is q sug-
gestfon 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 David's partners in his
adversely and are now to share in his
glory duke 22:28, 20; II Tim. 2:12:
Rom. SIT. 49,. All types are OF ne
cessity imperfect. and We cannot but
condemn David's plurality Of wives.
remembering. however. the lack of q
full revelation Of God at this time.
David was seeking to know and to
serve God with his whole heart (com-
pare. Gen. 2:24 and Matt. 19:4!9)
David Is nevertheless q type Of Christ,
and his wives illustrate the church
which. having shared In his rejection
will also share In his glorious reign
(Rev. 1860. Those who accom-
panied David were a strange company
Il Sam. 1922 r. w. Those who to-
day rally about Christ who will here
after enter into glory with him (seO
John 14:3: I Thess. 4:17). Now q
part of the Inheritance is about to
fall into David's hands. His amounting
but the acknowledgment Of Gods
previous selection. Il Sam. 16:1.13).
(2) David's Diplomacy, 2:5-7. It
wal good politics for David 10 honor
these men Of Jabesh. yet he was hon.
est and sincere for he honored Saul
as his rightful and God-anointed SOY.
ereign Il Sam. 24:4-s; 26:7-11). These
men had shown kindness to Saul and
now Jehovah would show kindness to
them ". 81. AS we SOW we reap
Matt. 81: STA, Is: II Tim. 1:16-1S).
David took pains to inform them that
he had been chosen king but assures
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) lsh-bosheth's Kingdom, asst.
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.
1sh-bosheth was: (a) selected by man
". 81; (b) ruled by man ". 81 and
(c) made war upon Gods elect &. II.
ch. 3:1). He only reigned W years
and his kingdom in the northern part
Of the land wa 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 1sh.bosheth Of q
leader. He was slain by his W serv-
ants and his kingdom became q part
Of David's.
II. David, King Of israel, s:1-S.
David passed through seven and one
half years OF delay in his progress
towards the throne. 1t was not long
after Ish-bosheth's death that q great
assembly met at Hebron. It was a
truly national gathering. Every tribe
sent ecldiers-2S0, 900 In all-and the
elders Of the people were the spokes-