Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-05-08
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
For May 18th
BY DR.. MARION McH, HULL

ed by the time that he was thirty
VIII give us some idea of the ability
and the versatility of the man.
AS king he was pre-eminent. No
king of Israel or Judah could COM
pare favorably with David. He ex-
tended the borders of his kingdom
in every direction; he included in
his domain almost. but all the terri
tory that God had given to Abra-
ham. He developed a wonderful
army. He chose men of great abil-
ity to have charge of the various
parts of the work. His nephew Joab
was his commanding general;
Amasa, Asahel, Abishai were strong
leaders. A great general selects
great leaders, and much of David's
later success was due to this quail
ity of leadership.
Ahithophel and Hushai were his
councillors and were noted for thie1
great wisdom. Abiathan and Zodok
were his priests. Samuel, in his
earlier years, had had great influ
ing his kingship, Nathan, the
fluences in his life whose value
the historian of his memoirs, and
leaders of the choruses and lead
ers of the orchestra. Every man
was given place of responsibility
and was held to accountability.
Paul, in speaking to the Jews at
Antioch Of Pesidia, said David served
Gods purpose in his generation. He
showed not only marked personal
ability, but marked executive abil
ity, and because he delighted to dc
Gods will, God nightly used him
Perhaps the greatest service that
David ever rendered was in the
prophetic office. He was a man
ever after Gods heart, who de-
lighted ever to do his will-that is
what made him a man after God s
heart; not his heinous sin, not his
duplicity, not his repentance even
but the fact that he delighted tC
do Gods will. Frequently he fail
ed, but his heart always turned to
wards God when the force defect
ing it was released. To such a mar
God revealed His secrets. To DaviG
He gave thoughts and expression:
in his psalms that were projected
far into the future. David, not
knowing the full truth that he
spoke, foretold in his psalms the sui
fering, the death, the resurrection
and the victory of the Christ-muct
of it was in very minute detail (wit
ness. for example, the % Psalm
David was great in other lines; he
was the greatest as a prophet.
His domestic life was not such as
any would choose. Michal loved
him, but was taken from him and
given to another man. She was
restored, but was never afterward in
full accord with his plans, and rid
1culed him when he was leading
the choir in celebrating the safe re
turn of the ark. Abigail and Amino
am gave birth to sons and daugh
tiers that were a source of bitter.
ness to his soul. Maacak, the moth
er of Absalom, was the daughter OF
a captured king, and her marriag &c
was without doubt a political al
lance merely. 1t brought him un
told agony in his latter years
Bathsheba was the innocent 81 cause
of his great crimes, and her first
born sons death was one of his
darkest moments. His second son
was his chosen successor; but that
only provoked jealousies and family
quarrels to mar his declining years
David never had a quiet day after
he became marked man. Saul
Abner, Joab, Anon, Absalom, Adoni
1ah-these were some only of the
persons who made his roses full OF
thorns.
He was wonderful friend. Jon
athan found that out and his SOU
was Emit TO the soul o David
Mephlsbosheth proved it every day
others learned it by the way that
ne treated them in a. manner that
they i'll deserved.
HE was a magnanimous fellow
Saul found that out in David's ear
ly years, and Sinner could bear ties
tlmony to it in his latter years. He
had a high regard for honor. HI
would not have dared drink of the
water of Bethlehem when he knew
that 1t meant that some of his mer
had risked their lives for it, Ht
liked a little fun occasionally-heal
him chide Abner across the field
Tor his carelessness in not protecting
Saul.
What made him such q man tina
he was? Not any of his opportuni
ties or his experiences-other mer
have had similar ones. 1t was his
sense of his personal RELATIONSHIP
to God. Listen as he speaks of Goo
as my God, my Rock, my Fortress
my strong tower, my deliverer, my
strength, and the litter up of m,
head, my light and my salvation
my shield and my glory, my king
my help, my hope, my trust from
my youth, my refuge, my shepherd
Find for yourself in the Psalm,
these and other references to demon
strate to your own mind the grea1
appreciation he had of the persona
relationship that he had toward God
ana you Will at the same time dis
cover that this grew out of hi.
tlxed determination to do the will
of God.
Even this would not have giver
David the place that he has in tn,
history had it not been for on,
other fact. These contributed to it
they explain to our pragmatic mind,
why God may have chosen to Civ,
David the promises which are 9Th,
sure mercies of David OF course
II rested finally>in Gods choice tina
ne made with David a covenant t.
establish his kingdom as an ever
lasting kingdom. 1t was a part o
the working of the divine plan o
redemption for lost world that H,
nad CHOSEN David to be the typ,
and the progenitor of the Grea
King whose throne should never b,
moved, of whose kingdom Their,
should be no end. When He cam,
who was proven to be not only tn,
son OF David, but the Son of Coz
as well, to sit on the throne of Hi.
tather, David, His own received hin
not; but to as many as received Hin
gave He the right to be the sons o
God even to them that believe OF
his name. And now our citizenshi,
Is In hP4Unn fra,1o