The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-03-17

| lESM%&A were turning from
IS%S%NSSS him. and his pop
ularity seemingly
was waning. Then II was that lttai
came To him with cheer and encour-
agement.
ittai's Choice Of David.
In the first place IL was a proper
choice. for even though David was
driven out. he was still the rightful
! king. Then again. Il was very en-.
thusiastic choice. as we see from verse
81. lttai was in IL for life or death.
And IL was "a deliberate choice. lie
was aware OF the difficulties. the pri-
vations and the dangers he must share
with David. lie was not blind to tho
promise OF ease and safety and pos.
sible advantage To himself by making
another choice. And he had before
him the example and influence OF
some OF the leading men who were
I'd the cost and then deliberately and
with enthusiasm he threw himself on
| David's side. What picture this
presents OF what the Christians choice
should be i'm following the Lord.
/ Doubtless there are certain diiiicul-
ties and privations. certain promises
OF ease and advantage from the other
SIDE. And there is surely seen tho
example OF many who turn aside. But
! in spite OF this the proper choice for
| the Christian is "A deliberate and en-.
| thusiastic choice OF the Lord whatever
the cost may be.
Ittai's Conservation TO David.
His conservation is seen In his sep
aration To Davids person. Where the
king was he would be- and where the
king went he must go. But this In
volved confession OF David's pur-
pose Being found with David meant
that what David wanted to do, no want
ed TO do. IL would be plain to all,
! friend and foo alike, what Ittai want
! ed. And this in turn meant associa-
tion with Dayid's people. How strong
the church would be II all protesting
Christians were found among the peo-
| ple OF Christ. having the purpose OF
! Christ as their purpose and knowing
net only some OF the promises OF
Christ, but knowing too something
OF the person OF Christ. But so many
have their own purposes TO follow and
work out instead OF the Lords. SO
many there are whose associations
are more often formed among tho enc
mics rather than the friends OF Christ.
Little is seen OF true conservation
among them.
ittars Compensation From David.
To read this we must read Sam.
1871, 2, In this passage We are told
that lttai came TO "a place OF
responsibility for David's work. He
became leader among Dayids
friends. This put him into n place
OF honor before David's enemies. They
knew Ittai had been promoted and
henceforth they must reckon with
him I'm their warfare against David.
And this gave him place In sharing
In David's triumph when at last the
king came into his own. What an
incentive for all Christians 90 step out
and away from the world with a CON
secration 90 the Lord which would re-
suit in each one having such place
in the Lords service that would make
the enemy take note OF them. And
in the filling OF such a place there
will come al last the sharing OF our
Lords triumph when. his foes being
made his footstool, he IL seated and
reigning upon his throne.
lttafs Secret.
Each successful life has had at It's
foundation some secret spring which
has supplied the continuing energy
TO give that life success. In Ittais
case the secret was threefold. lie had
a personal attachment TO David which
never wavered when David came 20
troublous times. He was ready with
personal sacrifice for David when the
usUrper was on the throne and David
driven out. And finally there was per.
sOnal satisfaction with David even
when apparently David could give him
nothing but difficulties and dangers
while Dayids rival could hold out the
promise OF ease and safety. This
same threefold secret applied 20 the
life Of any Christian in relation 90
the Lord will bring success OF the
highest kind. There Is In this fol.
lowing the Lord. sacrifice and priva.
ton. difficulty and danger I'm the pres
ent time. but I'm the end II will be
glory and honor, delight and Joy IN
the presence Of tho Lord Jesus
Christ.