Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1915-05-20

LESSON TEXT-II Samuel 2:l-7: Sis.
GOLDEN TEXT-Jehovah Is my
strength and my shield; my heart hath
trusted him, and l am helped.-Ps. 2S:7
R.N.
Saul ceased from pursuing David
Il Samuel 21:D when he fled into the
land of the Philistines for he feared
them greatly Il Sam. 2S:5, 81. David
fought with Saul's enemies but never
theless was not wanted t29:6.lD. His
wives being taken captive, he. with
400 men destroyed Ziklag, sending the
spoil TO his friends in Judah Il Sam
3O). Following the death of Saul and
Jonathan I'll Sam. chapter u we read
David's wonderful lament (ch. q.
J.. David, King Of Judah. ~
oavld's Kingdom. CHI. 2:13. 1t Is now
seven or eight years since Samuel
anointed the young shepherd to be
king in Sauls place. David was prob
ably twenty7nine years of age. He
had now a fourfold assurance of his
throne ca Gods decree Il Sam. 16:
lib: tbl The death of Saul Cch. /:
AZ; tc) Gods command ". II, and
I'D The choice OF the people ". A..
His every step seems to have been
led Of God. therefore he had made no
false moves (James 1851, see also Ps.
1913, 14). How God by means of the
stones in the priests breastplate made
known his will we are not told and II
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.
2S:6; Acts 5:32). 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 ". ~. took his family
with him and also brought his men
with their households. This is a sug-
gestion relative to household fellow
sup WIN 'Fou' llts ltil Io'IllIlS D0-
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 now to share in his
glory duke 22:2S, 90; II Tim. PIP:
Rom. SIT, 1877.
(2) David's Diplomacy, 2:5.7. It
was good politics for David to honor
these men of .Jabesh. yet he was hon.
est and sincere for he honored Saul
as his rightful and ~God.anointed SOW
ereign Il Sam. 24:4.S; 26:7-1I. These
men had shown kindness to Saul and
now Jehovah would show kindness to
them ". 81. As we SOW we reap
Matt. 81: 6:14, Is: II Tim. 1:16.1s).
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) Ish-bosheth's Kingdom, 2:e11.
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
fcl made war upon Gods elect *. II,
CHI. SD. He only reigned two years
and his kingdom in the northern part
of the land vas separated from that
Of David by that portion in the center
controlled by the Philistines. Abner's
untimely death at the hand of .Ioab
fch. - deprived ~Ish-bosheth Of a
leader. He was slain by his own serv.
ants and his kingdom became a part
of David's.
II. David, King Of Israel, sis.
David passed through seven and one.
half years Of delay In his progress
towards the throne. II was not long
after Tsh-bosheth's death that a great
assembly met at Hebron. It was a
truly national gathering. Every tribe
sent soldiers-2S0, 900 in all-and the
elders OF the people were the spokes-
men They proclaimed David bone
of their bone" ". II and that even
while Saul was king. David had been
their real shepherd ". 12). But better
still, they recognized David as Gods
chosen successor to Saul and pro-
claimed to all men that they had 10y
ally accepted his choice.
The story Of David's conquest OF
Jerusalem and the establishment Of
the seat OF his government at that
place Is interesting and suggestive and
should be studied before next Sun
days lesson Is considered.
After being anointed in Hebron
David began at once to subdue the land.
Thus we see the loose tribal gov
eminent nodded into a powerful. domi-
nant and respected kingdom. David
was % Patient, awaiting Gods time;
(2) Energetic; (3) Courageous: az
Tactful; (5) Trusting: (6) Loyal, to
friends and to God: (7) Patriotic: (S)
Obedient. and above all, (9) Religious.
for we read, the Lord is with him"
q Sam. 1919, and, David waxed
greater and greater; for the Lord, the
God Of hosts, was with him (II Sam.
5:10).
These principles, faithfully adhered
to will bring success in A. d. 1915 A.