The Dolores star., 1924-03-14
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
St1qadaySchool .
' Lesson '
(By REV. p. n. FITZwATER. DID,.
Dean of the Evening School. Moody
Bible Institute OF ChicagoJ
60 1874. Western Newspaper Union.)
Lesson for March 16
THE REIGN OF DAVID

LESSON TEXT = II Sam. 7:lS-26;
s:l4. Is. (Read Sam. I6 to II Sam. 24.)
GOLDEN TENT delight to do Thy
will. o my God.-Ps. 4o:s
PRIMARY ToPIC-A Shepherd Boy
Becomes King.
JUNIOR ToPIC-David and Goliath.
1NTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
1C-David a Character Study.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
1C-what David Achieved for Israel.
!. Chosen King While a Shepherd
Boy Il Sam. GLIB.
l. Samuel Sent to bethlehem wv.
1-5). Samuel was directed to go to
Bethlehem and from among the sons
of Jesse choose successor. God in
structed him to avoid publicity by the
concealment of his real purpose. Sam
uel was not under obligation to tell nil
that he knew. especially since the
parties had no moral right to know.
?. Samuel Anointed David ". 13).
Though the Lord has refused to choose
one of the eldest sons of Jesse. when
this stripping Of a boy came before
Samuel. the Lord indicated His choice.
This amounting typifled the enduement
of the Holy Spirit which Is essential
for any and all service for God
u. David's Training.
l. In the Open Fields Il Sam. 16:11-
13; II 1880. As young man, his
business was to keep his fathers
sheep. The prevailing tendency OF
such an occupation would be to take
things easily, but David did not fall
into life of Incidence. He became
such a skilled musician that he was
called to play his harp before the king.
He was also an expert marksman, so
that he could throw stone with such
precision as to need only one throw
to down the Philistine giant Then,
too, he was physically fitted for he
had been educated in the school of
the lion and the bear"
2. In the Kings Court U Sam. 49,
2l :9). Here was formed that tie of
friendship with Jonathan which not
only was bright spot in David's life,
but lives In history as n unique af-
fair
3. In the Camp of the Outlaw U
Sam. q 10; 81 :13). The king had
given commandment to kill David
When the truth of this was realized
David fled to the king of Gath. where
he feigned madness Though David
did some foolish and unbecoming
things during this time, he is to be
commended for his self-mastery in
that he would not touch the Lords
anointed
III. David Made King Of Judah QI
Sam. 2:1-1.
Trusting God, David went to Hebron
where the men of Judah anointed him
king over them. Thus, part of the
nation recognized him as king and
ratified the work which Samuel did
years before.
l. The Dual Kingdom (II Sam. rs; :;
4:12). Most Of the tribes of Israel
held to Ishbosheth, SauIs son, whom
Abner had proclaimed king of Ma
haniam. Feuds continued between the
rival factions. Davids power in
creased. while that of Ishbosheth
waned. This period of civil war last
ed seven and half years.
2. David Crowned King Of United
Israel (II Sam. 5:1-0. Abner's death
and Ishbosheth's assassination put an
end to David's opposition. Besides,
David's behavior during this time
gradually won for him the confidence
of the tribes, SO that they all came to
him at Hebron and anoInted him as
their king. They assigned as their
reasons for amounting him their king !:
G) He was their brother ". ~.
(2) He was their true leader In war,
even in Saul's time ". y.
(3) He was the Lords choice ". 2).
~. David's Worship and Prayer GI
Sam. 7:1S-26).
!. For Gods Goodness to Him wv.
1922. This was shown in promising
to build him house. The content of
this covenant is set forth in verses
SIG. 1t contains the following ele-
ments:
"a A house, or posterity ". 13).
(2) A throne-a royal authority ".
13).
(3) A kingdom ". 13).
(G Perpetuity, that Is, forever ".
13).
This was an absolute promise. Dis
obedience on the part Of David's seed
would entail chastisement. but not an
abrogation of the covenant.
2. For Gods Goodness to the Nation
(vv. 23-2G. No other nation in all
the world had been accorded such
treatment. The central thought is
Gods goodness centered in his redemp-
ton of the nation from Egyptian
bondage.
v. God Preserved David Wherever
He Went U1 Sam. s:14, 15).
God will do the same for all those
who trust Him.