Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1915-05-21
INTERNATIONAL,
SUNIl,lI'I,S(Ilul,
LESSON
(By E. Q. SELLERS, Acting Director of
Sunday School Course, The Moody Bible
Institute, Chicago, ND
LESSON FOR MAY e
DAVID KING OVER JUDAH AND
ISRAEL.


LESSON TEET-II Samuel Git; Sis.
GOLDEN TEXT-Jehovah is my
strength and my shield; my heart hath
trusted him, and 7 am heiped.-Ps. 1871
nv.
Saul ceased from pursuing David
q Samuel 27:D when he fed into the
land Of the Philistines for he feared
them greatly q Sam. 28:5, 81. David
fought with Saul's enemies but never
theless was not wanted (29:6-1D. His
wives being taken captive, he, with
400 men destroyed Ziklag, sending the
spoil to his friends in Judah Il Sam
800. Following the death Of Saul and
Jonathan (II Sam. chapter y We read
David's wonderful lament (ch. p.
l.. David, King of Judah. ~
pavid's Kingdom, oh. 2:13. 1t is now
seven or eight years since Samuel
anointed the young shepherd to be
king in SauPs place. David was prob
ably twenty-nine years Of age. He
had now a fourfold assurance of his
throne (a) Gods decree G Sam. 1G:
l1-13); (b) The death Of Saul Och. !:
A.: (c) Gods command ", u, and
(d) The choice Of the people ". y.
HIS every step seems to have hocn
led of God, therefore he had made no
false moves Games 1877, see also Ps.
1918, 14). How God by means OF the
stones in the priests breastplate made
known his will we are not told and il
is idle to speculate. We have q bet
ter way, the inspired word and the
living spirit through which we may
receive guidance. Such guidance is
conditioned upon obedience Il Sam.
,28:6; Acts $500. God directed David,
after SauI's death to $50 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 slg-
gestion relative to household fellow
ship with Cod. They left nothing be-
hind to lure them back IS Lot was
lured when he left Sodom. These
men had been David's partners in his
adversely and are now to share in bis
Slory duke 1928, 30; II Tim. 2:l2;
Rom. SIT. 1S). ..
(2) David's Diplomacy, 2:57. II
was good politics for David to honor
these men of Jabesh, yet he was hon
est and since1bs~ he honored Saul
as his rightfu~ and God-anointed SOY.
ereign Il Sam. 24:4-S; 26:7-1D. These
men had shown kindness to Saul and
now Jehovah would show kindness tc
them ". s.. AS We SOW We reap
-, Matt. ST; 6:14, Is; II Tim. 1888,
David took pains to inform them that
be had been chosen king but assures
hem 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 adop1-
ed any other policy would have alien
ated their support.
(3) Ish-bosheth's Kingdom, 2:8-fi,
AS contrasted with this God-directed
kingdom Of David's was the man-direot-
ed kingdom of Ish-bosheth. His name
means. name of shame" He was
about forty years of age, SauPs oldest
son. but not his intended successor.
Ish-bosheth was: (a) selected by man
". 81; (b) ruled by man ". 81 and
Co made war upon Gods elect &. II,
CHI 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 PhiIistines. Abner's
untimely death at the hand Of Joab
tch. 81 deprived Ish-bosheth Of a
- leader. He was slain by his own serv-
Snts and his kingdom became a part
&Spfs.
David, King of Israel, Sis.
passed through seven and one
years of delay in his progress
Yards the throne. Il was not long
tier Tsh-bosheth's death that a great
ksembly met at Hebron. 1t was a.
Nv national gathering Every tribe
soldiers-2SO.000 in alI-and the
Is of the people were the srokes"
They proclaimed David bone
eeir bone" ". il and that even
Saul was king, David had been
eal shepherd ". 12) But better
icy recognized David as Gods
successor to Saul and pro-
DO all men that they had 10y
&pted his choice.
= story OF David's conquest Of
Rlem and the establishment Of
bat of his government at that
interesting and suggestive and
be studied before next Sun
lesson is considered.
being anointed in Hebron
y Sbegan at once to subdue theland
IDS we see the loose tribal gov
snt nodded into powerful, domi-
and respected kingdom. David
" Patient. awaiting Gods time;
Akse=gatic; 90 Courageous; az
SsctfuI; C5j Trusting; (6) Loyal, to
friends and to Cod: % Patriotic; IS)
Incident. and above all, 49, Religious,
we read, the Lord is with him
Sam 1919. and, David waXed
greG Ter and greater; for the Lord, the
IL L. Co m