The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1920-09-23
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
Especially Prepared for The Republic
can by DR.. u. S. Wright.

Cdu ny LII. u .. Wight
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26.
Review: Saul, David and Solomon.
and ii Samuel; Kings, Ill.
Man looketh on the outward appear
ance, but Jehovah looketh on the
heart Sam. 1877.
National Progress.
Israel was in the period of individu-
alism and loose government when
Samuel, the dominant leader of the re-
ligious element, called Saul to the
headship of the tribes. Strong, win
some, impulsive, rash, jealous, dis
eased and desperate are some of the
adjectives that may be applied to that
first ruler who took over the utterly
defeated tribes and so gained their CO.
operation that the east and south were
freed from fear and the Philistine
menace on the west frequently checked
tho it ultimately overthrow the dis
couraged monarch He taught Israel
the power of united action, gained such
authority that David's was the only
detection and so commended the king
ship that it was the permanent form
of government. David, poor, poetic,
puissant, pious, passionate, penitent
had all the advantages of cottage and
court honor and exit in the days be-
fore his coming to command the allie
gience of the tribe of Judah, while
Sauls son held an insignificant throne
east of the Jordan and all the territory
was nominally under the rule of Phil
istines. Uniting the two petty powers
David faced the strong over-lordship
to the west and had a hard struggle
to secure the mastery of his new en-
pire So great was his admiration for
the fighting qualities of these foes
that from them he recruited his body
guard until the day of his death. He
established a permanent capital that
has been one of the outstanding cities
of all history and his placing the Ark
in it was stroke of genius. His later
years were Swallowed by the drift to-
ward absolutism and the fruits of
parental laXness, yet in the words of
Prof Cornill: HE is the most lum-
nous figure and the most gifted per-
sonage in Israelitish history, surpassed
in ethical greatness and general his
torical Importance only by Moses"
, Solomon had not particle of democ-
facy IN his rule but was essentially the
"Grande Monarch" Show became the
symbol of the court and was reflected
IN the magnificence of the buildings
that adorned the city.
Territorial losses in Edom, Moab
and Syria reduced the royal exchequer.
increased taxation, introduced forced
labor, made the king trader and
defaulter of his debt to Hiram. The
empire was his personal possession.
to be used for personal profit. and
while its tinsel glory dazzled and the
wit of the court fascinated, there was
the inevitable reckoning at his death
with the outraged democratic ideals
that were fundamental in Israel's life.
These years of united Israel changed
the people from primitive settlers into
citizens of a strong nation related to
others, made their simple life over in
to class-cursed society ranging from
slave to aristocrat, transformed their
government by the will of the majority
into an absolutism, altered the plain
mud houses into splendid palaces, in
PRODUCED commercial prosperity until
peasants had become traders, gave
Jehovah house that was the pride of
every Hebrew. and settled Jerusalem
as the heart of history.
Primary: Stories About David.
Take in all the life of David and re-
tell stories from the Bethlehem boy
to the Jerusalem king. Make them
see the courage, kindness, devotion,
friendship and patience of this attrac-
tive man. Show how his love for Je-
hovah was at the bottom of all these
events in his life, making him the man
he was, and the same devotion will
bring into our own lives similar things.
Pictures may be used in the recalling
of what has been gone over If sand
table is used the life can be made
vivid.
Junior: Three Kings and how they
Ruled.
The history must be made clear and
events fixed in the minds so that a