_The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David._ THE STORY OF A GREAT LOVE True Christianity consists in devotion to a Person, not in the acceptance of a series of doctrines or theories, nor even in the adoption of a certain line of conduct. Doctrines have their proper place, and conduct whi... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David._ DAVID INVESTED WITH ROYAL ROBES From the days of Homer and the Trojan wars downwards, this has been the method employed by Orientals to denote the bestowment of dignity and distinction. Not more eagerly coveted is... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Saul eyed David from that day and forward._ DAVID’S ENEMY-SAUL It is the enmity of Saul which we are to consider--its beginning, its rapid growth, its deadly purpose. The excitement of the war being over, the king has time to think of himself, and he is filled with thoughts of his dethronement... [ Continue Reading ]
_And David played with his hand as at other times, and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand._ HARP AND JAVELIN What a contrast! David with a harp and enraged Saul with a javelin. Who would not rather play the one than fling the other? But that was not the only time in the world’s history that harp an... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul._ DAVID’S JEOPARDY Saul was afraid of David. This is most remarkable, for was not Saul the king, and David but the servant? There must be some explanation of this remarkable fear. What is it? It is the mystery... [ Continue Reading ]
_And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways._ WISE CONDUCT I. The wisdom of days. The wisdom of David was shown by his conduct in extraordinary prosperity. Suddenly David found himself the popular idol; he was set above the king; but his head was not turned. 1. When Robert Burns was introduc... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fight the Lord’s battles._ AGGRESSIVE WORK The history of the human race is one of progress. Divine revelation has moved accordingly. The character of David is a sore problem to the narrow observer, because he who killed his tens of thousands drew his courage from a Divine fountain. The blame is t... [ Continue Reading ]
_What is my life?_ THE GRANDEUR OF LIFE “Who am I?” and “What is my life?” Am I only like some larger ephemera on the leaves of the green bay tree of existence, born in the morning and gone at evening? Is the inner world of memory, conscience, and hope, only some mocking dreamland of existence? Are... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Saul said, I will give him her that she may be a snare to him._ MARRIAGE AN INSTRUMENT OF INTRIGUE We are not without examples in profane history of royal parents employing matrimonial contracts as instruments of intrigue or revenge. Antiochus the Great wedded his daughter Cleopatra to Ptolem... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Saul became David’s enemy continually._ THE EVIL OF ENMITY 1. The possible doings of one sinful feeling. Jealousy was first awakened in the heart of Saul on that day when Hebrew females sung the praises of the young conqueror of Goliath. “Jealousy is cruel as the grave.” So it proved. At that... [ Continue Reading ]