Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-05-14
DAVID RECEIVED
VALUABLE TRAINING
King Saul Is His Teacher in Won
6erful University; Enemies
of Some Value
DEVELOPED RESPONSIVENESS
International S. S. Lesson For
May 10 Is David Spares Saul;
Sam, Oh. 70
RESPONSIVENESS
(By William T. Ellis)

(By william T. Ellis)
"a certain number of fleas are
good for a dog they keep him from
thinking too much about being a
dog" says David Harum. Another
putting of the same principle is Mrs.
Whitney's famous sentence: THE
best cuN for little worries is a real
trouble" Still another aspect of the
case is in the old epigram, Our enc
mics show us what we ought to be;
our friends. what we may be-"
Evidently there is a proper place
in the development of character for
enemies, else there would not be so
many of them provided. One is de-
livered from morbid self-complacency
and introspection by a few vigorous
enemies. They are an educational
force in life. Woe unto you when
all men speak well of YOU" Our les
son to-day has to be with the training
given David by his enemies, King
Saul being the chief.
1t was a wonderful university into
which David entered when he was
driven out from home and friends
and position. In the stern school of
outlawry, he learned lessons that fitted
him for the throne. BY having
to guard his own head. he was dis
ciplined for the protection of his peo-
pie. The qualities of leadership, re-
sourcefulness and GOODNESS in danger
were acquired amidst the alarms of
a fugitive's life.
Perhaps if more of our young men
had to fend for themselves amid
primitive physical perils, if they
were freed for a time from the all
enfolding and enervating care of our
paternal civilization, we should have
a sturdier type of manhood. People
who prevail over pioneer ~privations
always prove sturdy characters. Our
steam-heated, Observation-Disclosures,
law-girt and fully-policed name of
takes hard circumstances to develop
hardy souls.
Old Israel's Robin Hood
Whoever loves a tale of adventure
should know this narrative of David's
experiences While a fugitive from
King Saul. Many of the illusions of
the New Testament and of general
literature are incomprehensible with
out familiarity with this romantic
chapter Of David's life. It was then,
when hungry. that he ate of the sacred
shew-bread from the tabernacle: and
obtained from the priest the sword of
Goliath. 1t was then that his brill
liant leader of men pretended to be
crazy, in order to escape from the
court of Achish, king of Gath. 1t was
then that a host rallied to him in the
cave of Adullam. an episode fire.
%quently used as a figure of speech, for
every n that was in distress, and
every n that was in debt. and every
one that was disconnected, gathered
themselves unto him"
Crowded with vivid episodes were
these years of flight, when the madly
Jealous Saul, growing more petulent
and suspicious n unstable every
day, pursued David constantly. Even
the family of Jesse were not safe in
Bethlehem and David provided for
grandmother Ruth. We recall how
he and his six hundred saved the town
of Keilah, only to have it's ungratefu
people willing to surrender him to
the pursuing king. Verify. David
learned in sorrow what he taught In
song"
There were brighter incidents. of
course; as when Jonathan sought
him out in the wood of Ziph. and re-
newed their covenant of friendship.
1t was in these days thai the LOYALTY
of his two followers risked death to
bring him a drink from the well at
Bethlehem. And beautiful Abigail.
who afterward became David's wife.
showed hat woman is the natural
mistress of the art of diplomacy, by
placating David and his. band when
her fool husband, Nabal, had offered
them a deadly affront. There was
the loyalty Of Abishai. who dared
penetrate with David into the very
center of Sauls sleeping camp. and
who, for his chiefs honor, would
have made an end of the ROYAL pur-
suer. Hard times had David. but in
them all he proved himself more of
q man than King Saul. That. after
all, is the real success, so that sin
cere spirits shun ease, and ever cry,
with the poet: