Tracts for the Christian Seasons. SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. DAVID THE KING. IT is impossible to conceive a more ardent devotion to the cause of God than shines forth in the character of David. From the day when he visited the camp of Israel in the valley of Elah, and uttered before Saul the deep thought of his heart concerning that uncircumcised Philistine, who had "defied the armies of the living God," to the very latest words he is recorded to have spoken, there is one continuous stream as it were of affiance in God, only broken and interrupted by the one sad and shameful event of his life, when he gave himself up wholly to the influence of a sudden and violent temptation. Before he came to the kingdom, as also afterwards, we find him scrupulously referring every undertaking No. 55. THIRD SERIES. 3 H 1059 and enterprise to the will and counsel of God. Not only in regard to the greater issues of life, as for instance his acceptance of the crown, when he naturally felt that the welfare of many, even of all the chosen race, depended on his decision; but also during his flight from Saul's presence and his perilous sojourn among the Philistines, when it was a question of going hither or thither for personal safety, we always find David enquiring of the Lord. And this was known to be his practice and character, as is evident when the people, desiring that he would reign over them, reminded him at Hebron how the Lord his God had said unto him, "Thou shalt feed My people Israel, and thou shalt be ruler over My people." They knew him to be guided by the will of the Lord in all things. And no doubt they contrasted him in this respect with his wretched predecessor, of whom it is written", "So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord 1 Sam. xxiii. 1, 4, xxx. 8; 2 Sam. ii. 1, v. 19. |