Evening star., 1924-03-15

1
tion marked a new epoch in the na-
tion's life. AS a king, warrior, poet
/ and religious reformer ne achieved
greatness because the dominant mo-
tive of his life was to do Gods will.
| We can trace the molding of his
character to the influence of his an
| cestors, the inspiration of IsraePs
| great leaders Of earlier days and the
traditions of his tribe, but the great
!: est factor was his fellowship with
Jehovah.
! During the hours Of solitude that
marked his early life as a shepherd
| David came to know God through his
| personal experience with the Lord in
hours Of communion and trouble. The
! germs of faith planted by his parents
! came into personal reality during
those shepherd days, when he was
learning through his observation the
F.! mysteries of the natural world and
! producing upon instruments of his
| own make the songs Of praise that he
| learned from the birds of the air. 1t
was due to his reputation as a must
| court to help remove the melancholia
l of King Saul. He was rewarded by
being given court appointment.
| He became early IN life national
hero by his victory over Goliah:
presence to be rewarded David had
developed to that extent that he was
| not recognized as the young musi-
| clan. During his attachment at the
| court David added 20 his reputation
| as a warrior until Saul became teal-
| Gus of him and sought to destroy him.
Although five different attempts were
made upon David's life. they failed be-
| cause he was protected by the invisible
L N al
| prophet Samuel anointed him while a
( shepherd boy to become Saups sue
| cessor. 1t was during his days at
| SauPs court that there developed be-
| tween David and Jonathan the friend
! the annals of men. The influence of
that friendship Influenced all OF Da-
| vid's career as king. During his dark
met David at least once. even when
| Saul was seeking the life of the one
| who had spared his life and saved his
/ kingdom. During all those days as
| try's enemies even when in afiiliation
| with the Philistines at Ziklag.
When Saul and three of his sons
| were found among the dead near
the battlefield Of Mount Gilboa, David
| was chosen King of Judah. He reign
| ed seven and half years at Hebron
over the leading tribe of the Hebrews,
\ upon the death OF Ish,bosheth, son
of Saul. who, under the influence Of
F.! Abner, captain of the host" had
1 been declared king IN succession to
! his father and ruled over the north :
| ern tribes. He was called to be their
| king. The death Of their king and
I other events in connection with the
| civil war that ensued with the selec-
| tion of the two kings. especially the
| secession Of Abner, who was the real
! ruler of the northern tribes. resulted
1 in David being requested By depu-
! tation from all the northern tribes to
| become king over the united king
dom.
| David determined to make Jerusa-
| lem the capital. Probably in deciding
! upon this bold move he was infu-
! enced by the intimation of the LORDS 8
will that II would be called by His
rarne He accomplished the rather dif-
; ton for making 1t the holy city,
! by seeking to centralize the religious
! and civil authorities Of the nations
| in Jerusalem. One Of his first steps
! toward unifying the nation vas the
jearmin to a location upon Mount
Zion. The spiritual earnestness OF
David and his devotion to Jehovah
| were manifest in the great desire OF
his heart to build a great temple Tor or
1 the new capital. His program for this
| temple was approved by Nathan, the
prophet. who was chosen by Jehovah
! to inform the king that his ambition
| to erect a temple was disapproved'
because David was a man OF war. al.
| though He had His prophet assure
him that his son would be man or
peace and that he would complete the
task for which David would gatnef
, the materials and plan for the tenn
pies building.
] Suecess Of Reign
=
I the greatest success came to DaVlo.
/ Under his leadership the ancient enc
mics of the Hebrews were subJugafed.
! Besides conquering the PnulstineS'
| Amalekites, Edcmites and Moapites,
| he succeeded in mastering syria mao
! tory, between Palestine and the Eu-
| uhrates, that God had promised to
! Abraham. Both Egypt and Assyria
were weak at this period. which mace e
| Davids success possible. The resuit
of his victories and the enlargement,
| NJ the kingdom's possessions added
| greatly to the wealth OF the united
! HIS record as an administrator was
free from any selfish aims. he sue
| ceeded in making the kingdom one OF
! the first powers of the east. He was
an efficiency engineer in the metnoos
/ ne used to develop the resources OF
! the nation. He intrusted to the LevlteS'
| whom he placed throughout the coun-
try. officiai duties and appointed them EN-
material resources of the country, ne
4 had storehouses in the fields, In the
! villages, and In the castles; tness
were vineyards and wine ceiiarS, aho no
apnointed officers:- In different val
iieys herds and fiocks gra1ed unoef
4 the care Of royal herdsmen ana shep-
! herds; and officers skilled IN agri.
culture, presided over the tiiiage OF
! the feids; the sycamore and olive
! trees were under the eye OF skiiiful
foresters;. nothing was wasted. notn-
ling done lazily: all was reguiarity
order and care. By frfendiy lnteI.
course with Hiram, King, KING OF a,ts 1yea va &
hroi1ioted among his people"
He carried his desire Tor syssem
! into the religious AFFAIRS OF the nation
| After he had transferred the ark to
/, Jerusalem and made 1t the hoiy
city" the king had the work OF the
each had a definite duty assigned ic
1 him and the time for performing tne
same fixed definitely. This was done
i BY dividing the priesthood into twen-
ifn turn. He assigned $4,000 to the
A service of the temple. He appointed
4 4. 600, Of the Levites as p0rterS. he
/! scattered 5000 as officials and judges
4 throughout tho land He had cnoil
| Of 4, 900 Levites, who were especially
I; trained and upon special occasions
/ sang, although their usual work wa
4 assiGned so that they took their regu
\ lar turns in the sefvtce.
/, It Is not certain whether the use OF
:! .fnstrumentaI music In connection
with the service OF Gods house was
/ irintroduced by David; or. not. he
! brought 1t to q high stage OF perfec-
!, .tion. IN connection with the use OF the
psslms. HIS contributions to the sa-
= Z cred hymns OF the Hebrews arc sc
numerous that the whole COLLECTION oi