The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-05-21
INTERNATIONAL
SUN|[IlAY.S|TII(l((L
LESSON
s(By E. o. SELLERS, Acting Director Of
Sunday School Course, The Moody Bible
L Institute, Chicago, IIl.) &
LESSON FoR NAN 2a
DAVID KING OVER JUDAH AND
IsRAEL.

Z
LESSON TEETH Samuel 2:1-7: 5:1-s.
GOLDEN THxT-Jehovah is my
strength and my shield; my heart hath
trusted him. and am heiped.-Ps. 2S:7
nv.
Saul ceased from pursuing David
II Samuel 27:4) when he fed into the
land Of the Philistines for he feared
them greatly Il Sam. 1855. 81. 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 Il SAM
30). Following the death Of Saul and
Jonethan I'll Sam. chapter u we read /;
Davf4s wonderful lament (ch. 81.
!. David, King Of Judah. az
Davld's Kingdom, CHI. 2:1s. It 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 II Sam. 16:
44~4OJS alptl hS AGEtL4k OLT A9hdL kEAs 1
~: (c) Gods command w. y, and
td) The choice of the people ". AZ
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 It
r.. a. "a ~ 1Ant.
ter way. the inspired word and the
living spirit through which we may;
receive guidance. Such guidance Isl
conditioned upon obedience Il SAM
1856; Acts $500. God directed David,
after Saul's death to "go up" to Heb
ron, which means fellowship" It
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 now to share in his
glory tLuke 22:28, 80; II Tim. 2:12;
Rom. S:17, 18).
(2) DavId's Diplomacy, 1857. It
was good politics for David to honor
these men Of Tabesh, yet he was hon-
est and sincere for he honored Saul
as his rightful and God.anointed SOW
ereign Il Sam. 24:4-s; 26:7-11). These
men had shown kindness to Saul and
now Jehovah would show kindness to
them ". 81. AS we SOW we reap
(Matt. ST; e:14. is; II Tim. 1:1e-1s).
David took pains to inform them that
he had been chic en- 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) lsF.boshett1's Kingdom, 2:s-1f.
AS contrasted with this God.dtrected
kingdom OF Dayid's was the man.direct
ed kingdom Of 1sh.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 *. II.
oh. 3:1). 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 PhilistineB. Abner's
untimely death at the hand OF Joab
(ch. 81 deprived Acknowledgment
leader He was slain II hN 7own serv-
ants and his Kingdom became . part
Of David's.y 4
u. David, King Aot Israel, Sis.
David passed through seven and one
half years OF delay In his progress
towards the throne, It was not long
after Ish.bosheth's death that great
assembly met at Hebron. It was q
truly national gathering. Every tribe
sent soldiers=2so, 900 In all-Sand the,
elders OF the people were the spokes-f
men. They proclaimed David bone
of their, bone ". ~ and that. even
while Saul was king, David had been
their real shepherd tv12). 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 theland.
Thus we see the loose tribal gov
eminent nodded into powerful domi-
nant and respected kingdom. David
was (1) Patient, awaiting Gods time;
.t2) Energetic; (s) Courageous: ~
Tactful: (5) Trusting: (sl Loyal, to
friends and to God; Cd Patriotic: ~
Obedient, and above all, (9) Religious,