Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-05-21

strength and my shleld; my heart hath
trusted him. and I am heiped.-Ps. 2S:T
R.V.
Saul ceased from pursuing David
q Samuel 27:4) when he fed into the
land of the Philistines for he feared
them greatly q Sam. 2S:5, 81. David
fought with Sauls enemies but never
theless was not wanted ~f29:6-11). His
wives being taken captive. he, with
400 men destroyed Ziklag, sending the
spoil to his friends in Judah q Sam
BOZ. Following the death of Saul and
Jonathan (I Sam. chapter u we read
David's wonderful lament (ch. ~.
!. David, King Of judah. %
David's Kingdom, ch. 2:13. 1t is now
seven or eight years since Samuel
anointed the young shepherd to be
king in Saurs place. David was prob
ably Twenty-Five years of g He
had now a fourfold assurance of his
throne "a Gods decree q Sam. 16:
ll-13li 1b) The death of Saul (ch. /;
y; (c) Gods command ". y. and
"a The choice Of the people ". ~.
His every step seems to have. been
led Of God, therefore he had made no
false moves (James 1857, 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
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 q Sam.
28:6; 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
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 (Luke 1928, 20; II Tim. 2:12;
Rom. SIT, 49,. All types are Of ne.
cessity imperfect. and we cannot but
condemn David's plurality Of wives.
remembering, however, the lack Of a
full revelation of God at this time
David was seeking to know and to
serve God with his whole heart (com'
pare. Gen. 2:24 and Matt. 19:4-9)
David is nevertheless a type of Christ
and his wives Illustrate the church
which, having shared in his rejection
will also share in his glorious reigr
Grew. 1869. Those who accom-
panied David were a strange company
q Sam. 1922 r. w. Those who to
day rally about Christ who will here
after enter into glory with him (set
John 1873; I Thess. 4:17). Now
part OF the Inheritance is about Il
fall into David's hands. His anointin.
at the hands of the men of Judah II
but the acknowledgment Of Cod
previous selection, q Sam. 16:1-13).
(2) David's Diplomacy, 2:5-7. ]
was good politics for David to homo
these men Of Jabesh. yet he was hon
est and sincere for he honored Sau
as his rightful and God-anointed SOY
ereign q Sam. 24:4-S; 26:7-11). Thes'
men had shown kindness to Saul AM
now Jehovah would show kindness t
them ". g.. AS we SOW we reaI
Matt. ST; 6:14, Is; II Tim. 1:16-1S)
David took pains to inform them tina
he had been chosen king but assure
them that he would strengthen them
AS they had been faithful to Saul, lie
them support the n who had bee
anointed in his stead. To have adopt
ed any other policy would have alien
ated their support.
(3) ~Ish-bosheth's Kingdom, 2:S-11
AS c~ontrasted with this God-directe
kingdom of David's was the man-direc'
ed kingdom of Ish-bosheth. His nam
means, name of shame" He wa
about forty years of age, Saul's oldes
son but not his intended successor
I%sh-bosheth was: (a) selected by ma
". 81; (b) ruled by man ". 81 an
(c) made war upon Gods elect tx. Il
CHI. 3:1). He only reigned two year
and his kingdom in the northern par
of the land was separated from tina
of David by that portion in the cente
controlled by the Philistines. Abner'
untimely death at the hand of Joa
(ch. 81 deprived Ish-bosheth OF
leader. He was slain by his own ser'
ants and his kingdom became a par
of David's.
u. David, King Of israel, 5:fls
David passed through and one
half years Of delay in his progress
towards the throne. 1t was not lon
after Ish-bosheth's death that a grea
assembly met at Hebron. 1t was
truly national gathering. Every trib
sent soldiers-2S0.0 900 in all-and tn
elders of the people were the spokes
men. They proclaimed David bon
of their bone ". y and that eve
while Saul was king, David had bee
their real shepherd ". 12). But bette
still, they recognized David as o
chosen successor to Saul n prt
claimed to all men that they had 10!
ally accepted his choice. b seem
to have been some sort of a Unite
monarchy q Sam. 10:25) for later "
read that the people demanded som
limitations Of the rights of the king
Kings 1879. The Israel of today
rejecting her chief Shepherd" but
time will come when they will reco,
nize him, shall behold him whom the
have pierced, " Czech. 1879, 10; 1871
Rom. 11:25, 26).
The story of David's conquest
Jerusalem and the establishment
the seal of his government at thu
place is interesting and suggestive an
should be studied before next Su1
DAYS lesson is considered.
After being anointed in Hebro
David began at once to subdue theta
Thus we see the loose tribal go
eminent nodded into a powerful, dom
nant and respected kingdom. Davi
was ID Patient, awaiting Gods time
(2) Energetic; (3) Courageous; a
Tactful; 80 Trusting; (6) Loyal.
r