The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-07-23
LESSON FOR JULY rs
DAVID SUCCEEDS SAUL AS KING.

| DAVID SUCCEEDS SAUL AS KING.
| LESSON TEXT--u Sam. 2:l-7: 6:l-5
| GOLDEN TEXT-Trust in the Lord with
| all INV heart and lean not upon thine I'M
! derstanding.-ProV. SO.
Z ADDITIONAL WATERFALL Sam. 81:
| l-13; II Sam III 2:S-4:l2
| PRIMARY TOPIC-The Shepherd Boy
Becomes a King
| JUNIOR TOPIC-How David Became
| King. ,>,,o, ,,o,l,
| rhe secret of David's Success.
| YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
| True Success and How to Win It,
The death of Saul lay open to David
the path to the throne. This would
have rciOiced the heart of many. but
David was sad. Instead of reward be
ing ojyen to the slayer of Saul, quick
vengeance was executed upon him.
j., David Made King Over Judah
(2:1-D.
He knew full we'll that the Lord by
tho hand of Samuel had anointed him
+, no the successor of Saul. He had
learned the essential lesson which the
school Of Providence was designed to
teach. namely, that the position now
TO MN "uS llp easy oiiC " M
His exile and sufrerinGs gave him self
control. He had the good sense to
know that promotion to the throne did
hut bring "harder duties and multi
nlird pprpIeXiteS" He threw himself
,uou cod and asked for guidance. He
rendered instant obedience to the
Lords answer If we are to enjoy
Gods fellowship and blessing we must
render quick obedience. He made a
right beginning, therefore God pros
Dercd him. When he reached Hebron
,he men of Judah came and anointed
him king over them. Thus a part of
the nation recognized him as king and
ratified the work which Samuel did
many years before. When David went
up he took with him all who had been
with him in exile and suffering. They
,re now sharers with him in the king
dom. When David'S great son, Christ,
shall enter upon his glorious reign,
those who have been faithful to him
in his reicr,on shah reign with him.
IF we suffer we shall also reign with
him." Gil Tim. 2:12) ITO him that
p,rrcOmeth Will | grant to sit with me
in nv throne even as | also Overcalne,
and am set down with my father in his
throne" (Rev. 8 :2D.
H. David's Behavior Toward the
Men of Jabesh-Gilead (2:1-O.
The men of Jabesh owed much to
Saul q Sam. ~, and they showed
this recognition Of debt by making
daring dash to. rescue his body from
the ignOminiouS exposure at Bethle-
hem. Davd's act of eSending men to
Jabesh with Il message of good will
for their affectiOnate remembrance Of
Saul is an exhibition of his noble gen
crosby. His love for the unfortunate
king survived all the injuries which
he suffered at his hands. He forgave
and forgot them all. This was an act
Of political shrewlness as we'll as
generous one. In fact the only policy
which proves effective is that which
proceeds from a generous heart. He
deity follows this generous com
mendatiOn with a SOlicitude for the
men Of JabeSh to transfer their loyal
~ to himself, since he is now their
legal king. Since Saul is now dead,
he urges them to be valiant for him. In
view of the civil war which was to
follow he knew it would require vail
ant men to stand by Gods king. This
appeal to be valiant is needed now, for
we are oil called upon to take sides
between Gods appointed king, Jesus
Christ and Satan, the pretender to the
throne. May ChriSt's appeal result in
making us faithful and valiant for
him.
III. The Dual kingdom-War Be-
tween the House of Saul and the House
of David G. :S-4 :12).
This period of civil war lasted seven
and a half years. Most of the tribes
of Israel chung to IShbOSheth, SaUls
son. whom Abner had proclaimed King
at Mahanaim. FeudS continued he'U
tween the rival generals. DavidEH
power increased while that Of IshbOsH
hrthS Wancd.
". David Crowned King Ove,a
United Israel {5:l-5).
Though the struggle for supremacIa
lasted long and was a bitter one, Alb
n"r'S death and IShbOsheth'S asSassinag
ton put an end to David's oppositi"nE
bavid's behavior during this time grad d
un!ly won for him the confidence ota
the tribes so that they all came to hims
at Hebron and anOintcd him as thcilN
King. They accepted his divine rishE
to rule ". -. The reasons for anOint-E
ing him their king we're:
l. He is their brother ". ~. This iSE
true Of Christ our King. Through the
he has become one with US. Il
>. He was their true leader in warS
even in Saul's time ". p.
). He was the Lords choice w. p. h
Demonstration.