Evening star., 1915-05-22
Acknowledged, Approved, Amounted.

Israel's approval of David as their
first king was hastened by his prompt
actions that cleared him of all completely
in the dastardly crimes that were per-
petrated when Abner and Ishbosheth
we're assassinated, and showed also his
detestation of the men who committed
the murder that opened up the way for
him to become master of the whole
nation. The leaders of the nation ca me
and offered him the crown of the united
kingdom because he was their kins-
man. who had been their leader in
former times and whose success proved
that God had called him to be their
shepherd-leader when Samuel had an
oInted him as youth in Bethlehem.
David when he made the covenant
with the elders and set up consti-
tutional government that set forth the
duties of the king and the rights Of
the people did it in the sight of Je-
hovah. The Acknowledgement of the
nation meant nothing to David with
out the divine approval. He therefore
sought the blessing Of Jehovah upon the
reunited ktngdam and the government
sci up for the glory Of Jehovah and the
welfare OF the nation. II was at this
time. when the limited monarchy was
set up that David was anointed for the
third time king.
Myers has well suggested that 1t
was at this period that we must at
Z 'ilDule fSd!i: Nv H. winch undDubt
edly touches the high water mark of
rapiurous thankfulness and alteration.
Every precious name for God is laid
| under contributions, the figure of His
coming to rescue His servant in a
thunderstorm is unparalleled in sub
Hinity We can hear the rattle of the
| hailstones, see the forked lighting
flash and the CLEAN of the Goals of fire
but there is throughout an apprecia-
tiop of the tenderness and love of
+n.t'S Aa.H HtV,tT~ 81. LII.
might have been written by the apostle
whom Jesus loved.
Thou hast given the shield of Thy salvation;
And Thy right hand hoideth me up.
| And Thy gen'len"ss oath rnade me great
! The last verse congresses into a sin
| gle sentence the forty-year history of
| David as King of Judah and Israel.
| We will consider the results of his ad-
| ministration in our subsequent lessons
| We have already seen the elements of
! his power leader that had been
J developed In the bitter school of trial
| and experience.
| His trust In God that had grown in
! his communion with Jehovah enabled
| him to exercise. when others were ex-
! cited. a spirit of Watchful waiting SC
| that he could deal with deliberation and
! firmness with every problem presented
| to him. because God was his strength
| and shield. and through his trust and
| obedience to the divine viii David had
/
| of temper apd strength of character
| shown In his conciliatory consideration
of others. that fitted him to be king
over the united nation. They revealed
| their unity when they anointed David
! king over Judah and Israel In ancien,
Hebron with shouts of the multitude
and the prayers of the priests that his
reign might be long when he started
| to commence his rule in Jerusalem
| where he ruled for thirty-three years.
/ Let us in this crucial hour that tests
our national spirit put our trust botf
as individuals and as a nation, in Je.
hovah as our strength and shield.
II we trust Him sincerely with all o1
our hearts, He will guide and help us
as He did David, whom He made greai
through gentleness to all that opposed
him In the nation uniting the divided
tribes into a unity that made them ef
fective against their enemies Then will
America say, Jehovah IS my strength
and my shield; my heart hath trusted
IN Him and l am helped"