The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-05-21

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. 1876, g.. David
fought with Saul's enemies but never.
theless was not wanted (29:6-11. His
wives being taken captive, he, with
400 men destroyed ziklag, sending the
spoil to his friends In Judah q Sam.
SU. Following the death of Saul and
Jonathan CI Sam. chapter y we read
David's wonderful lament (ch. q.
!. David, King Of Judah. %
David's Kingdom, Oh. 2:13. 1t is now
seven or eight years since Samuel
anointed the young shepherd to be
king in Saul's place. David was prob.
ably Twenty-Five years of age. He
had now a fourfold assurance of his
throne (a) Gods decree q Sam. 16:
lib; (b) The death of Saul (ch. /:
~; (c) Gods command ". y, and
(d) The choice of the people ". ~.
His every step seems to have been
led Of God, therefore he had made no
false moves DANES 1:5-7, see also Ps.
1913, 14). How God by means of the
stones in the priests br~eastplate 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 Il Sam.
1856; Acts $500. God directed David,
after Saul's death to "go up" to Heb
ron, which means Fellowship" 1t
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 ~. p, took his family
with him and also brought his men
with their households. This is a sug-
gestion 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 o to share in his
glory duke 22:28, 20; II Tim. 2:12;
Rom. SIT, 1S).
(2) David's Diplomacy, 2:5-7. It
was good politics for David to honor
these men of Jabesh, yet he vas hon.
est and sincere for he honored Saul
as his rightful and God-anointed SOY.
ereign q Sam. 24:4-S: 26:7-11). These
men had shown kindness to Saul and
now Jehovah would show Kindness to
them ". g.. AS we SOW we reap
(Matt, 81; 6:14, Is; II Tim. 1:16.18).
David took pains to inform them that
he had been chosen king but assures
them that he would strengthen them.
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, 2:e-f1.
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, Saul's oldest
son, but not his intended successor.
Ish-bosheth was: (a) selected by man
". 81; {b) ruled by man ". 81 and
(c) made war upon Gods elect tx. II,
oh. SD. He only reigned two years
and his kingdom in the northern part
of the land was 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 Ish-bosheth of a
He was slain by his own serv.
ants and his kingdom became a part
Of David's.
u. David, King Of Israel, 5:1.5.
passed through seven and one
half years of delay In his progress
the throne. It was not long
after Ish.bosheth's death that q great
assembly met at Hebron. 1t was a
truly national gathering. Every tribe
sent soldiers-2S0,0 900 in all-and the
Of the people were the spokes-
men. They proclaimed David bone
Of their bone" ". y and that even
while Saul was king, David had been
their real shepherd ". 12). But better
still, they recognized David as Gods
successor to Saul and pro-
to all men that they had 10y
ally accepted his choice.
The story Of David's conquest Of
and the establishment of
the seat of his government at that
place Is interesting and suggestive and
be studied before next Sum
days lesson is considered,
After being anointed in Hebron
David began at once to subdue theland.
Thus we see the loose tribal gov
eminent nodded into a powerful, domi-
nant and respected kingdom. David
was (1) Patient, awaiting Gods time;
(2) Energetic; (3) Courageous; az
ractful; (5) Trusting: (6) Loyal, to
and to God; (7) Patriotic; (S)
obedient, and above all, (9) Religious,
Tor we read, "the Lord Is with him"
II Sam. 16:1S}, and, David waxed
and greater; for the Lord, the
God of hosts, was with him. Oh Sam