Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-11
David, the Shepherd of
Israel.
sermon By
REV. FLOYD w. TOMKINS.
Text; Psalm l1xvlii. 85-72.

pies a very important position in the
Old Testament, and he seems to he a
kind OF center about which the history
Of the Jews gathers He was typical
man. with his faults and his excel
!encies. The more we study him the
more we are impressed. nrst, by his
normal humanness; and. second, by his
childlike trust in God. The Bible does
not hold him up as perfect example.
but his life is given TO us for our ad-
monition and encouragement When
We read of his faults we must pray
Cod TO keep us from falling: when we
read of his faith we must ask God to
increase our faith. We must appre-
ciate the whole message which David's
ne brings to us, and while we enjoy
reading his story we must apply the
principles so clearly enunciated to our
modern life and TO our own personal
struggle
GOD CHOSE SIMPLE
SHEPHERD LAD FOR KING
] think our FIRST lesson is found In
the way in which God chose a simple
shepherd lad to be one Of the greatest
kings of the ages. There is more than
one instance in the Bible Of Gods se-
Letting comparatively unknown people
10 do some great work for Him. But
the history OF David illustrates some
thing more; IT shows how God goes to
those whose lives have been simple and
natural to those who have been free
from the contamination OF false teach
ing and association, to those who are
In close touch with nature and who
love those things which are pure and
true. and calls them to do some great
work for Him Their very simplicity
opens the door TO His wisdom 10 enter
in and f1nd welcome; their very con-
hdence gives God the opportunity TO
reveal His will; their unrestrained en-
thusiasm affords the dear God power
through which His own might may
work. and their -hcartedncss brings
them into fellowship with God in such
fashion as 10 make His Will theirs.
They are handicapped in this world
who have behind them and clinginE TO
them traditions or ancestral posses
hions. They alone are free who come
from a simple life and with simple
ideas TO do Gods will.
GIFT OF POETRY IN
DANID'S NATURE
One cannot but notice the poetical in
Davd's nature. 1t may have been a
natural gift. or il may have come from
his simple life under the sky and after
ward with his people. He evidently
dreamed dreams even a. did his ances-
tor, Joseph, and saw visions Of great
things TO come Sometimes in these
modern days men criticize idealism and
would fain replace IL with what they
call practical effort. There is in our
literature to-day a rebellion against
supernatural ceptions and noble en-
thusiasms. Even children are not al
lowed TO read fairy stories or TO draw
from flowers and birds the beautiful
parab which used TO be so common
in tn. education OF little people. II is
fault OF our day and generation.
which viii doubtless pass away in
time, but which must be recognized.
We want TO have the ideal the perfect
the beautiful. the supernatural con-
staNtly brought before us: only go can
We come down 10 the prosatc everyday
NE and fll our part wish courage and
success The man who does not read
poetry, or love music. read par
able spoken by the trees or the waves
or the wind or the stars. is not likely
10 be chosen for an important work in
Gods world
SINNED PREVIOUSLY.
But REPENTED
David sinned gricvously and he was
pardoned because he rcpentcd Alas.
that in our human experience there is
this weak yielding 10 temptation. Alas.
that our humanity is so readily swept
OF its feet May II not be- however,
that through this very experience OF
sins forgiven we come TO higher
knowledge OF Gods love? May IL not
be that we understand better the mercy
OF our Saviour through this very dis
committing which Satan forces upon us?
There is much meaning not easily
graspe&, in our Lords words TO the
renitent woman who washed His feet
with her tears: Her sins are forgiven.
is forgiven, the same loveth little"
tSt. Luke vii. 40
We must never dare 10 sin in order
that the JOY of forgiveness may come.
but conscious as we always must be OF
our weakness and of our failures We
can look with confidence to Him who
IS otr Redeemer and find the peace of
Sins forgiven And we grow into the
reli.gi,n OF love and fellowship and into
strength of sympathy for those who
fol he ut
love for us and through our love for
Him because Of His mercy.
LOYALTY TO GOD
AND TO HIS PEOPLE
Let us note one thing more about
David: his loyalty 10 God and TO his
people. No matter what happened to
him, whether ne was pursued by Saul
or applauded by his subjects or weep
ing over Absalom's detection or meet
ing the prophet Nathan, David never
seemed to lose his consciousness Of
Gods presence or his desire to serve
Him; and his loyalty to his Kingdom
resulted from his loyalty to his heay-
emily King. David loved his people az
few rulers have ever loved, and the
people responded. And ii is doubtf
whether any nation has ever been so
hound 10 their ruler as the Jews were
to their shepherd king. Here is a les
son for us certainly. If We love God
We Will love our work. If we are loval
10 Him we will be loyal in the life He
has given us to live. AS Il nation be-
Iieves in God II will fulnn it's duty AS
a nation. and brotherhood between
man and man can only come when there
is Il realization and acceptance of Gods
truth. In other words, Christianity I'm
its full meanng-loyalty to C'hrist ard
ooadiehce to His will-alone can bring
he good things for which we pr,v
('eace can only come when men are
Christians. Justice between man and
man can only come when Christianity
prevails.
IMPORTANCE OF
PREACHING GOSPEL
The evils which beset us-intem-
pecance. impurity and 1ishonesty-can
be conquered only when the heart
is loyal to Jesus Christ Hence tho
Importance of preaching the Gosnel