The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-05-19
SUNDAY SCHOOL NOTES
Side Lights on Next Sundays
Lesson for Teachers and Pupils
Edited by Charles x. Meyers.
May 23-David King over Judah and

May 23-David King over Judah and
Israel.-Sam. 2. IL; 5, 1-5.
AS the title OF the lesson shows, we
shall study this week as to the coming
of David into the kingship over all
Israel. There has been much history
to be recorded since ourtlast lesson,
but this will be spoken OF very briefly
here. At the time of our lesson Saul
and Jonathan are dead. Both fell in
battle fighting against the Philistines
as told in the last chapter OF FIRST
Samuel. ADner, Sauls chief soldier,
tried to make a son OF Saul named
lshbosheth king, and he ruled in a
weak way for a time, finally beng
murdered On his bed. The tribes then
naturally turned to David and he was
in time made king over all Israel.
David had a most sacred reverence
for Gods Amounted king" He never
tried to have Saul hurt in any way,
and when certain tribesmeh rescued
Saul's body from the Philistines they
were rewarded. When one came say
ing that he had a hand in the death OF
Saul, expecting a reward. David
promptly took his life, and when two
brothers came bringing the head OF
lshbosheth to David they We're killed.
David would not give sanction to tax
ing the life Of Saul or his sons after
him. In the first chapter OF Second
Samuel, David paid high eulogy to
Saul and Jonathan. His words are
magnificent and we'll worth reading.
David had been out OF the land OF
the Hebrews for some time seeking
safety from Saul, but when the king
was dead there came the wish to re,
turn to the land of his own people
Feeling that his ways were guided by
God, David made direct appeal to Him
for guidance as to what he should do
The prayer was made, Shall go up
into the cities OF. Judah The an
swer came "Go up and to Hebrob.'
This was city not far from what at
forwards came 10 be known as Jerusa'
lem. The tribes of Judah and Benja-
min came to David asking him to be-
come their king and this he consented
to Go. He was Amounted king as told
in verse four OF the lesson.
On the death of the son of Saul, rep
resentatives from the other ten tribes
came to David, reminding him that lie
was one OF them, and had led the en-
tire nation against it's enemies in
times past, and asking him to be king
over a united people. This he con-
scented to do, and so came into pos
session of the kingdom as was foretold
when he was picked out for the place
by Samuel when yet boy tending his
fathers sheep. God knew what would
happen in due course of time, yet as
far as the people were concerned they
made the choice OF king themselves.
This point can we'll be remembered
We oft hear it said that God overrides
to compel His plans to come to pass
The Jews who made David their king
did not feel as III they had been driv
en- into the choice. David was the tit
ted person they knew of for the place
and his choice was but the natural
thing.
In looking for the best thoughts in
the lesson for us there first comes tc
view that David had fairly won his
crown by preparation for it during
many years. AS lad he was valient
in caring for his fathers sheep, at
lacking the wild beasts which came
to take the lambs. His success then
gave confidence when it came time tc
meet the big giant. His proficiency
lin the use of the harp did not come
by chance, showing his patience ir
practice and this is a good quality. He
had faith in God, such faith that when
Jehovah was defed he felt that even
a boy could defeat His enemies; he
gained the friendship of Jonathan by
his manly bearing. Thus we can learn