Story 92: Je-ru'sa-lem Made The Center Of Worship IV

   The final triumphant removal of the Ark to Je-ru'sa-lem was not, however, without an unhappy incident. Da'vid's wife Mi'chal, who should have led the women in their part in the celebration, looked out from a window of the palace with unfriendly eyes. To her, the joy of Da'vid was like the excitement of a madman, and his demonstrations of deep feeling were foolish and degrading. She reproved him sharply for taking off his royal robes and wearing the white garments of those who were celebrating, and his dancing in the streets of the capital. Da'vid answered these reproaches by the statement that he was dancing to the LORD, and that he would continue to return thanks for the distinction and blessings given through GOD'S favor.
   The inaugural service held in the tent prepared for the Ark was one of the grandest of its kind in the history of Is'ra-el. Burnt offerings were made for the sins of the people, peace offerings were given in thanks for GOD'S favors, and the Le-vit'i-cal service of song was introduced. Da'vid pronounced a special benediction upon the people, and generous amounts of bread, meat, and wine were given to them. A song of thanksgiving composed by Da'vid especially for this occasion was sung by all the people.
   This Psalm represented a form of service to be rendered in the restoration of tabernacle worship, celebrated the redemption which had been unfolded in the history of Is'ra-el, called for wholehearted praises to the LORD, and presented the love of GOD as the foundation for all true worship. This code of worship was embodied, with slight variations, in several of the Psalms which were later composed for use in the worship of GOD. The LORD'S majesty and power over all the nations of the earth was gloriously set forth, and the ultimate conquest of the world by the SAV'IOR was beautifully foretold.
               "The truth that Da'vid learned to sing,
                  Its deep fulfillment here attains,
               'Tell all the earth the LORD is king!
                  Lo, from the cross a King HE reigns!"
              

Story 92: Je-ru'sa-lem Made The Center Of Worship III

   A procession made up of a military force of thirty thousand men and representatives of all the tribes, led by Da'vid himself, marched off to attend the removal of the Ark to Je-ru'sa-lem. Da'vid had a new cart made to carry the Ark; this was against the LORD'S command, but was probably done in a thoughtless, impulsive moment. The entire procedure was moved by love to the LORD, a sincere desire to restore the appointed worship of GOD, and reverence for the symbol of GOD'S presence among HIS people, but we shall find that the performance of a worthy deed in a manner contrary to the expressed will of GOD resulted in a great calamity.
   Upon reaching the home of A-bin'a-dab, Da'vid had the Ark placed on the new cart, and the procession started on the journey back to Je-ru'sa-lem with the priests in charge of the Ark leading the way. As the procession moved along the highway there was great rejoicing, with music from various instruments, joyful singing, and religious dancing. The entire company was filled with unrestrained happiness. Suddenly the joy of the festival was turnt into great sorrow and superstitious fear.
   The LORD was not pleased with the substitution of cattle for the priestly hands which should have carried the Ark; there were no sacrificial offerings, and the worship which did take place was more selfish than spiritual. The breaking of one law led to another violation which was more serious; as the cart passed over the rough road the Ark was so tossed about that it seemed likely to fall, and one of the company tried to steady it. This man, whose name was Uz'zah, suddenly dropped dead, and panic spread through the entire procession.
   Da'vid was greatly alarmed by the death of Uz'zah, and dreaded the further displeasure of GOD if the march was continued. He may have remembered that the ARK was to be carried only by appointed Le'vites, that no unconsecrated hands were to touch it, and that all acts in service of the LORD must be performed according to HIS own directions.
   As a result of this tragic judgment upon the sin of Da'vid and his servant, the Ark was placed in the home of a priestly family by the name of O-bed-e'dom, where it was left for three months. Then Da'vid assembled another company, but this time he had the Ark carried by the priests who were specially appointed for this duty. The procession played upon musical instruments, sang hymns of joy, and danced as they had done at the beginning of the previous march. Da'vid himself laid aside his royal robes and took an active part in the celebration. The Ark was joyfully carried into the city of Je-ru'sa-lem and placed in a tent which Da'vid had made ready as a place of worship. Sacrifices were offered to the LORD at certain intervals on the march to Je-ru'sa-lem, and prolonged ceremonies were observed after the Ark had been placed in its new stronghold.

Story 92: Je-ru'sa-lem Made The Center Of Worship II

   In planning to make Je-ru'sa-lem the religious center of the nation, Da'vid did not stubbornly insist on having his own way. He called together representatives of all the tribes of Is'ra-el, consulted with them, and acted only after their enthusiastic agreement. Before establishing a central place of worship he asked "if it seemed good to them," and did not carry out this plan until assured that "it was of the LORD."
   The people did more than merely agree to Da'vid's suggestions; they joined wholeheartedly in the movement, determined to restore the religious life which had been neglected during the reign of Saul, and resolved to establish one great center of worship as formerly commanded by the LORD. Da'vid arranged the priests and Le'vites in regular order for the services of the LORD'S house, reorganized the worship of the nation, and gave an important place to music in Divine services.
   It was then decided that the Ark of the Cov'e-nant, which had been Divinely appointed as the symbol of GOD'S presence among HIS people, should be set up in the house of the LORD in the royal city. The sacred chest had been completely ignored by Saul, and was probably almost forgotten by thousands of the Is'ra-el-ites. It had rested in the house of A-bin'a-dab in the town of Kir-jath-Je'a-rim, on the border between Ju'dah and Ben'ja-min eight miles west of Je-ru'sa-lem, for about seventy years.
   As we learnt in previous chapters, the Ark had been captured by the Phi-lis'tines in the days of Sam'u-el, then returnt to the Is'ra-el-ites because of the terrible calamities which it brought to its heathen captors. Since the Tabernacle at Shi'loh had fallen into disuse, the Ark was placed for safe keeping in the home of A-bin'a-dab. There it had remaint during the twenty years which elapsed before Saul became king, for the forty years of his reign, and from the time of Saul's death until Da'vid made this change.

Story 92: Je-ru'sa-lem Made The Center Of Worship I

   In setting up the new kingdom of Is'ra-el under Da'vid, strong efforts were made by both king and people to model the government after the pattern which GOD had revealed to Mo'ses, and the position of the king as head of the religious life of the nation was fully recognized. The relationship of the king to the people was given a new development by the thought that his chief duties were those of a shepherd to his flock. Henceforth the king was not to make use of his office and his people for the accomplishment of selfish purposes, but his life was to be consecrated to the civil, moral, and spiritual welfare of his subjects.
   It was GOD'S will to make Is'ra-el a great nation without letting the people forget that HE was still their chief ruler. For this reason the head of the civil government was also to be the representative of GOD in the religious life of the people. The chief reason for Saul's miserable failure had been his rejection of GOD'S will and the ideal which should prevail in all true worship.
   Da'vid had been faithful to this ideal in his limited authority by setting up a center of worship at He'bron, and in maintaining the High Priest A-bi'a-thar as an officer in his government. When the twelve tribes were united in a central government with headquarters at Je-ru'sa-lem, he planned at once to make this city the center of He'brew worship. One of the first steps taken in carrying out this purpose was the removal of the Ark of the Cov'e-nant to Je-ru'sa-lem. This was a strong testimony of Da'vid's faith in GOD, and a call to Is'ra-el to restore the GOD of their fathers to HIS rightful place in their national life, thus providing a secure foundation upon which to build their future national unity.

Story 91: Da'vid Captures Je-ru'sa-lem And Makes It His Capital ll

   The coronation of Da'vid as king over all the tribes of Is'ra-el and the capture of the fort of Je'bus served as the occasion for new invasions by the Phi-lis'tines. During Ish-bo'sheth's seven years of rule over the eleven tribes the Phi-lis'tines had set up garrisons in various cities of the land, and, when it appeared that Da'vid would lead a united nation against them, they immediately took the offensive. Not knowing whether it would be the wiser course for him to allow the Phi-lis'tines to attack the newly won fortress at Je-ru'sa-lem, or to go out and meet them in battle in some other part of the land, Da'vid turnt to the LORD for guidance. He obeyed the LORD'S command to meet them in open battle, and won two great victories. The Phi-lis'tines were driven from the land all the way from Gib'e-ah in Ben'ja-min to Ge'zer, which was at the extreme north of the Phi-lis'tine country.
   It was probably during the first engagement with the Phi-lis'tines that three of Da'vid's valiant men crept through the enemy lines in order to bring their king water from the famous well of his home town. Grown weary with the strain of this new campaign, and filled with longing for the happy days when he was a shepherd lad among the hills of Beth'le-hem, Da'vid thought of the old well by the gate where he had often rested, listening to the stories of warriors and shepherds. In the stress and strain of the moment he sighed:
         "Oh that one would give me a drink of the water of the well of Beth'le-hem!"
   Three of his men cautiously made their way through the territory filled with the strong and cunning Phi-lis'tines and brought Da'vid the water for which he had longed. Touched more by the courage of his men than by having the water he had requested, Da'vid performed a symbolic act of worship by pouring the water on the ground and dedicating it to the LORD.
   Looking upon the bottle of water for which he had so deeply yearned, Da'vid said, "Is not this the blood of men who went in jeopardy of their lives?" Stimulated by the loyalty and courage of his men, and regretting any selfishness he might have shown during his moments of homesickness, Da'vid took new courage for the battles against his enemies. The Phi-lis'tines were so completely routed that they left on the battlefield the image of their gods which they carried as a superstitious means of protection.
   There followed a season of peace, with Da'vid growing in favor with the people as he established his rule in Je-ru'sa-lem. Other children were born in his family, and a royal palace was built for his home. Friendly relations were established with Hi'ram, King of Tyre, who sent valuable materials and skilled workmen to help in erecting government buildings in the capital.

Story 91: Da'vid Captures Je-ru'sa-lem And Makes It His Capital l

   The first task of Da'vid after becoming the ruler of all Is'ra-el was to decide which city should be his capital. For seven years the seat of his government had been He'bron, sacred to all the people of the nation for many reasons, but he did not wish it to appear that the eleven tribes were being annexed to the little government of Ju'dah. He felt that to keep his capital at He'bron would cause undue pride among the people of Ju'dah, and make the other tribes jealous. He also wished to avoid the mistake of Saul, who made his home town of Gib'e-ah capital in spite of the fact that it was a place of little national importance, and was scorned by the people as the scene of one of the worst outrages in his history of the nation.
   For personal reasons, Da'vid preferred his native city of Beth'le-hem for the capital, but its situation would not permit the building of proper defenses. His problem was to choose a capital which was not then held by any of the twelve tribes; otherwise, there would be jealousy among the tribes; and to find a city which might be taken by the combined efforts of all the tribes, thereby giving them a sense of unity as a nation.
   For all these reasons, therefore, Da'vid set his heart on taking Je-ru'sa-lem, a strongly fortified city, situated between the land of Ju'dah and Ben'ja-min, and thus belonging to neither. It was then held by the Jeb'u-sites, a strong Ca'naan-it-ish tribe which had occupied the mountainous section of Ju'dah when the Is'ra-el-ites first entered the land. Neither Josh'u-a, who conquered them after a great struggle, nor the children of Ju'dah, who seized the lower part of the city, nor the Ben'ja-mites, to whom the city had been assigned, were able to take the strong citadel of Je'bus on Mt. Zi'on.
   The Jeb'u-sites were so strongly fortified on the eastern hill of the city that they looked with scorn upon any who dared to attack them, and cried from the walls of their citadel that even the blind and the lame could defend it. It was shut in by deep valleys on three sides, and was not easily approached from the other. Through the centuries it had defied all attempts to scale its heights and break down its fortifications; to capture the fort of Je'bus was regarded as an impossible feat.
   Da'vid, however, had relied upon the strength of the LORD to do what had seemed impossible in days gone by, so he believed that he could take this powerful fortress. He led his armies in the attack, and was successful; not by strength of arms or skill in warfare, but by the unseen forces of the GOD of Is'ra-el. The city was given to Da'vid as a servant of the LORD GOD of Hosts, and as a blessing to all the world, for the stronghold of Je'bus was thereby made the fortress of Zi'on, and Je-ru'sa-lem became a city unequaled in importance by any other in the history of the world.
   Greater wisdom was never displayed in the selection of the capital of any nation. Je-ru'sa-lem was, indeed, a "mountain throne" for the kings of Is'ra-el, and a "mountain sanctuary" for the people of GOD. High above Jer'i-cho in the Jor'dan valley, the Phi-lis'tine strongholds on the plains of the Med'i-ter-ra'ne-an, the Phoe-ni'ci-an cities of Tyre and Si'don, and Da-mas'cus of Syr'i-a, it stood in defiance of all enemies for hundreds of years. Situated in a mountain fastness on the edge of one of the highest table-lands of Ca'naan, in the most prominent part of the mountain range which extended from the desert country on the south to the plains of Es-dra-e'lon on the north, the Holy City of Je-ru'sa-lem was the pride and glory of GOD'S chosen people throughout their history. Not until the Mes-si'ah set up His worldwide dominion did it lose its importance, and long after the Advent it held a position of Honor.

Story 90: Da'vid Is Crowned King Of All Is'ra-el

   After the shrewd generalship and crafty efforts of Ab'ner had failed to make Ish-bo'sheth  king over all Is'ra-el, but had brought death to both general and king, there was left only one member of the house of Saul to contest Da'vid's claims to the throne. The one heir was the lame Me-phib'o-sheth, who was only twelve years old. The leaders of the eleven revolting tribes therefore went to He'bron and asked that Da'vid be made king of the entire nation.
   Among the reasons given for this request were the following: the suspicions aroused by Da'vid's enforced alliance with the king of Gath had been fully removed by his active interest in the welfare of all Is'ra-el; his splendid record as a soldier fitted him to lead Is'ra-el against their enemies; and the LORD had clearly indicated His choice of Da'vid for the office of king.
   In the coronation ceremonies at He'bron the qualifications and duties of the king were placed on a much higher plane than before. For the first time he was placed over Is'ra-el as a pastor; the duty of love and humility and proper respect for the liberty, property, and life of the people was stressed, and the king was charged with the responsibility of watching over his people as a shepherd watches his flocks.
   The whole procedure was carried out in a deeply religious spirit. The religious unity of the nation, which had been established by Sam'u-el and then weakened by Saul, was fully restored. Da'vid "made a league with Is'ra-el before the LORD," and the representatives of all the tribes of Is'ra-el pledged their loyalty and obedience to him as "the anointed of the LORD." It was the beginning of a new era for Is'ra-el and for her Divinely chosen king.
   Da'vid was now thirty years old, and the hopes which he had humbly cherished in his heart for fifteen years were now at last fully accomplished. The sufferings and discipline and training of these long years had often tested his faith in GOD and man, but he had come out of the fires of trial and temptation fully prepared to be a great ruler.
   His confidence in GOD had been strengthened by the Divine grace which had been granted him in manifold trials, and he was well qualified for the great honor to which he had been consecrated by the prophet Sam'u-el fifteen years before.

Story 89: Da'vid's Seven Years Of Reign Over Ju'dah lll

   After bitterly denouncing Da'vid for being deceived by a cunning plotter, Jo'ab sent messengers to Ab'ner with the request that he return for a conference. This invitation may have been sent in the name of the king, for it aroused no suspicion in the mind of Ab'ner. He promptly came back to the capital, where Jo'ab took him aside under the pretense of a private conversation, and thereupon assassinated him. Jo'ab tried to justify this cruel deed as an act of revenge for the death of his brother As'a-hel, and by the claim that Ab'ner was a traitor to Da'vid and an enemy of GOD, but few believed that this was his real motive.
   Da'vid's sense of justice was outraged by the treachery of Jo'ab, and he felt that the proposed alliance of the rebellious tribes with his kingdom would be greatly hampered by this cruel deed. He disclaimed all responsibility for the act of his general, pronouncing a curse upon Jo'ab and his family. As a token of honor for the slain Ab'ner he proclaimed a season of mourning, and himself took part in the lamentations. In his funeral dirge he declared:
         "Ab'ner died, not as a worthless man, nor as one guilty of any crime worthy of death; he was    overpowered without suspecting evil, and was murdered as a defenseless hero. A prince and a great man has fallen this day in Is'ra-el."
   Da'vid's lament at the grave of Ab'ner and his fair-minded praise won him the increased support of all Is'ra-el, and the union of all the tribes was quickened rather than delayed by the tragedy.
   When the news of Ab'ner's death reached Ish-bo'sheth, this weak king lost all courage to keep on as a rival of Da'vid, and his followers lost hope of maintaining their separate government. The military group which had been the chief support of the puppet king became disorganized, and treason broke out among the officers.
   Two of the rebellious officers treacherously murdered Ish-bo'sheth while he was quietly resting on his bed. With the hope of gaining a reward they cut off the head of their master and brought it to Da'vid. Like the Am'a-lek-ite who claimed to have slain Saul at his own request, these men failed to grasp the nobility of Da'vid, and were denounced for their wicked deed. Da'vid ordered their immediate execution, and gave instructions for an honorable burial of the head of Ish-bo'sheth.
   Even though these men had paid for their treachery with their lives, the death of the puppet king removed the last barrier to a united nation. The princes of all the tribes of Is'ra-el which had previously rejected the rule of Da'vid, and had allied with Ab'ner in his effort to establish the weak Ish-bo'sheth firmly on the throne of Is'ra-el, now came to He'bron to offer Da'vid the homage of all the nation. After seven years of civil war, during which he had been acknowledged as king only by the tribe of Ju'dah, Da'vid was now the ruler of all the twelve tribes, and Is'ra-el entered upon a period of great prosperity.

Story 89: Da'vid's Seven Years Of Reign Over Ju'dah ll

Three of Da'vid's nephews, Ab'i-shai, As'a-hel, and Jo'ab, were brave officers in Da'vid's army; Jo'ab being the commander. They led a small company of men to meet Ab'ner at Gib'e-on, and it was agreed that twelve men from each side should engage in single combat. After all these men had been mortally wounded, there came a battle in which twenty of Da'vid's men and three hundred and sixty of Ab'ner's followers were slain. As'a-hel pursued Ab'ner from the field of battle, but was killed by the crafty general.
   Darkness fell before Da'vid's men could complete their victory, and Ab'ner led his scattered forces to the top of a high hill, with Jo'ab and his army in close pursuit. The next morning a truce was proposed by Ab'ner, and both armies returnt to their homes. A state of war continued, however, and there were frequent conflicts between the followers of Da'vid and those who were loyal to the house of Saul. As time went on, the cause of Da'vid steadily gaint in power, while the followers of Ish-bo'sheth grew weaker.
   Ab'ner was an ambitious politician who made use of Ish-bo'sheth in setting up a rival kingdom to that of Da'vid, but who had no real love for the son of the lamented Saul. When he saw that he was taking part in a losing cause he began to seek some excuse for deserting Ish-bo'sheth, hoping to ally himself with Da'vid. A violent quarrel with his master finally gave Ab'ner his opportunity, and it was then that he admitted his knowledge of GOD'S decree that Da'vid should be king over Is'ra-el, and that he declared his intention of turning the hearts of the people to their rightful king.
   When Da'vid learnt of Ab'ner's wish to join him, he demanded as one of the conditions the immediate return of his wife Mi'chal, who had been taken from him by Saul and given to another man. Although this request no doubt was prompted by a spirit of love for Mi'chal, Da'vid may also have considered the political advantages of his remarriage to the daughter of Saul. Ish-bo'sheth yielded to this demand, and permitted Ab'ner to return Mi'chal to Da'vid, even though the man to whom she had been unlawfully married made a bitter protest.
   Ab'ner then set out to win the princes of the tribes of Is'ra-el to the support of Da'vid, reminding them of their former wish to have him as their king, and of GOD'S decree in this matter. He also pointed out their need of Da'vid's help in resisting the continual raids of the Phi-lis'tines. Their consent was readily obtained, for it was only through Ab'ner's persistent efforts that Ish-bo'sheth's authority over them had been secured and maintained. The results of this appeal to the leaders of the rebellious tribes were carried to Da'vid in his court at He'bron, and plans were made for an immediate public treaty uniting the two factions. After a covenant feast at which Ab'ner and twenty of his friends were guests of honor, Da'vid sent Ab'ner home to complete the arrangements for the treaty.
   While all this was taking place, Jo'ab was away on official duty; when he returnt and heard of Ab'ner's proposal, he protested vigorously against a league of peace with the former leader of a rebellion against Da'vid. He gave as reason for his views a complete lack of faith in Ab'ner, but seems to have been prompted chiefly by the fear that this older, more renowned general might be given his place at the head of Da'vid's armies.

Story 89: Da'vid's Seven Years Of Reign Over Ju'dah l

   Although Da'vid had known for many years that he was eventually to become king of Is'ra-el, and though it appeared that the death of Saul had opened the way for his immediate rise to the throne, he made no move until directed by the LORD. Eight years before the death of Saul he had been anointed by Sam'u-el as the future king of the nation; for several years after that momentous occasion he had faithfully served as harpist in the royal court and as a captain in the army; for the past two years or more he had been persecuted as an outlaw and an exile; and, now that the king was dead, one would expect Da'vid to press his demand for a prompt enthronement. Both Saul and Jon'a-than had admitted that the house of Saul had been rejected by the LORD, and had told Da'vid more than once that he would be the next king. True to his usual course at critical times, however, Da'vid sought the LORD'S guidance for his next step.
   The LORD not only told him to return to his native land at once, but directed him to go to the city of He'bron in the mountains of Ju'dah, which was twenty miles south of Jer-ru'sa-lem and about the same distance north of Be'er-She'ba. Taking along all his men and their families, that those who had shared his hardships might also enjoy his prosperity, Da'vid went directly to the city appointed by the LORD. Here, in that most ancient city of the world, made sacred in the days of A'bra-ham, famous as the burying place of the great patriarch, given to Ca'leb for his bravery, and situated in the heart of Ju'dah, which was the royal and Mes-si'an-ic tribe, Da'vid was made king by the people of his own tribe.
   The first official act of Da'vid was to send messengers to Ja-besh-Gil'e-ad to thank the princes and nobility for their kindness in providing an honorable burial for the ashes of Saul and Jon'a-than.
   It would seem to us that all Is'ra-el would have rallied to the banner of Da'vid, and that he should have been recognized at once as the rightful king of the entire land. The people must have known of GOD'S will in this matter, and the crushing defeat suffered at Gil'bo-a should have convinced them that the time had come for the Divinely appointed ruler to take his place at the head of the nation.
    Some of the tribes to the north and on the east side of the Jor'dan, however, were opposed to the rule of Da'vid. Under the leadership of Ab'ner, who had commanded Saul's armies for a number of years, they refused to accept Da'vid's coronation at He'bron, choosing as their king Ish-bo'sheth, a surviving son of Saul. Thus still greater trials were brought to Da'vid, for civil war prevailed in Is'ra-el over a period of seven years. For three or four years Da'vid had refused to lead a revolt against Saul, but now that he was king he had to face the rebellion of an ambitious army captain.
   Ab'ner had known Da'vid for a number of years, and seems to have felt kindly toward him at the time of his triumph over Go'li-ath. During the days of Da'vid's service as captain in Saul's armies he must have had many occasions to observe the bravery of the young hero. Even while Da'vid was in exile, and was being constantly hunted down by Saul's armies, Ab'ner had been forced to recognize the loyalty which twice led him to spare the life of the king. He well knew the nobility of Da'vid's character, and he was familiar with the Divine command that the kingdom be transferred from the house of Saul to that of Da'vid; yet he was responsible for the raising up of Ish-bo'sheth as a rival to Da'vid and for the civil war which followed.
   The first open clash between the rebels led by Ab'ner and Da'vid's men took place at Gib'e-on, in the western part of Ben'ja-min about six miles north of Je-ru'sa-lem. Ab'ner brought over from Ish-bo'sheth's capital on the east side of the Jor'dan a great force of men, and was apparently bent on subduing Ju'dah to the rule of Ish-bo'sheth.

  

Story 88: Da'vid's Lament Over Saul And Jon'a-than ll

   "Thy glory, O Is'ra-el is slain upon the high places!
      How are the mighty fallen!
   Tell it not in Gath,
      Publish it not in the streets of As'ke-lon;
   Lest the daughters of the Phi-lis'tines rejoice.
      Ye mountains of Gil-bo'a,
   Let there be no dew nor rain upon you, neither fields of offerings:
      For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away,
   The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.
      From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty,
   The bow of Jon'a-than turnt not back,
      And the sword of Saul returnt not empty.
   Saul and Jon'a-than were lovely and pleasant in their lives,
      And in their death they were not divided:
   They were swifter than eagles,
      They were stronger than lions.
   Ye daughters of Is'ra-el, weep over Saul,
      Who clothed you in scarlet delicately,
   Who put ornaments of  gold upon your apparel.
   How are the mighty fallen in the midst of battle!
      Jon'a-than is slain upon thy high places.
   I am distressed for thee, my brother Jon'a-than:
      Very pleasant hast thou been unto me:
   Thy love to me was wonderful,
      Passing the love of women.
   How are the mighty fallen,
      And the weapons of war perished!
   What a remarkable insight into the heart of Da'vid is provided in the words of this beautiful ode! He sang high praises in memory of the man who had made his youth and early manhood a time of constant danger and worry. Is'ra-el had lost a king who, with all his faults, had certain qualities of greatness; and in his tribute to the dead, Da'vid forgot and forgave his faults, while magnifying his virtues. Instead of being gratified by the end of an enemy and rejoicing that his persecutions were over, Da'vid bowed in genuine grief. To his heart, Is'ra-el's shame and the insult to GOD in the triumph of the Phi-lis'tines were more important than the prospects of a safe return to his native land and the probability of immediate advancement to the throne of Is'ra-el. Such nobility is rare in the history of mankind; and is possible only because one makes GOD, and not himself, the center of the universe. This nobility was Da'vid's safeguard against the baneful influences of both adversity and prosperity.


  

Story 88: Da'vid's Lament Over Saul And Jon'a-than l

   The news of the defeat of the Is'ra-el-ites by the Phi-lis'tines and of the death of Saul and his sons was brought to Da'vid three days after he and his men had returnt to the ruins of Zik'lag. There rushed into the camp a man in tattered clothes and with the appearance of having gone through a terrific struggle. Thinking that Da'vid would be pleased to hear the unhappy end of the one who had persecuted him for so many years, the stranger told Da'vid of the tragic death of Saul. No doubt seeking a reward from Da'vid, he pretended that he had taken an important part in the tragedy, saying:
   " I happened by chance to come upon Saul as he leant upon his spear, hard pressed by the chariots and horsemen of the enemy; and at his own request, because he did not wish to undergo the shame of being slain by the Phi-lis'tines, I slew him with my own hands. I have brought you the metal cap which he wore to protect his temples and as an emblem of power; and his armlet, the mark of his royal dignity."
   This man, who said that he was an Am'a-lek-ite, misjudged the nobility of Da'vid. The story which he told was only partially true, and the claims which he made for himself were wholly false. Instead of bringing praise and reward, his scheme brought down upon his head the anger of the man he sought to please and the punishment of death.
   Da'vid's heart was filled with sorrow at the news of the death of Saul and his bosom friend Jon'a-than. His feelings broke forth in overwhelming grief and in violent anger toward the man who claimt to have slain the king. He proclaimt a season of deep mourning among his men for Saul and Jon'a-than and for all the Is'ra-el-ites who had fallen by the sword of the Phi-lis'tines.
   He then called for the man who had brought the news of the death of Saul and his sons, and asked him who he was. The man replied that he was an Am'a-lek-ite who had moved into the land of Is'ra-el. Then the one who had never been disloyal to his king, and who had twice spared his life, said to the stranger, "Thou art condemned by the words of thine own mouth, for the penalty of death must be inflicted upon any man who slays the LORD'S anointed." He then directed one of his valiant men to execute the self-confessed criminal, and the sentence was immediately carried out.
   Da'vid then uttered a lament over the death of Saul and Jon'a-than which holds an honored place among ancient writings of this kind. It is arranged in three strophes, gradually diminishing in power and scope:

Story 87: Saul Visits The Witch Of En'dor; His Tragic Death lll

   On the next day the Phi-lis'tines attacked the Is'ra-el-ites with great force. The battle was waged fiercely by both sides, but its tide was against Is'ra-el. Three of Saul's sons-Jon'a-than, A-bin'a-dab and Mal-chi-shu'a-were slain, and Saul himself was severely wounded by the archers. In his pain and despair he said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and thrust it through my body, lest the heathen Phi-lis'tines slay me." When the armor-bearer refused to do it, Saul placed the point of his sword against his body and threw himself upon it with all his weight. He died instantly, and was soon followed in death by the devoted armor-bearer, who took his life in the same way.
   When news of the shameful manner in which the bodies of Saul and his three sons had been left hanging on the walls of Beth-she'an reached the ears of the people of Ja'besh-Gil'e-ad, which was far across the Jor'dan to the northeast, some of their valiant men resolved to put an end to such treatment. Traveling all night in order to reach Beth-she'an as soon as possible, They took down the bodies of their dead king and his sons, and had them cremated. Then they carried the ashes to Ja'besh for burial, and declared seven days of fast and mourning.
   These Gil'e-ad-ites showed a fine spirit of gratitude and courage in their noble deed. In the early days of his reign, many years before his tragic death, Saul had gone to the defense of the city of Ja'besh-Gil'e-ad when it was attacked by the Am'mon-ites. The great victory which he had won for them in the name of GOD had not been forgotten.

Story 87: Saul Visits The Witch Of En'dor; His Tragic Death ll

   The entire interview was a fraud, based upon the superstitious, false belief that departed spirits may be called back to speak with the living. It is plainly taught in GOD'S revealed Truth that a return of the spirits of the dead to this world is impossible. All through the Bible the practice of witchcraft or sorcery is closely connected with spirits of evil, and is severely denounced by the LORD. There are a number of incidents recorded in which miraculous deeds of a certain kind are attributed to the servants of sa'tan. It is clearly said in the Scriptures that "sa'tan fashioneth himself into an angel of light," and certain forms of his works are said to be "with all power and signs and lying wonders." The story of Saul's visit to the witch of En'dor and of his conversation with the dead prophet must be understood in the light of the LORD'S plain teaching on this subject.
   It is directly stated in connection with this story that "GOD answered Saul no more," and it was for this reason that he turnt to a sorceress for help. It is therefore obviously true that nothing which was said during the visit with the witch of En'dor came from GOD. It was sa'tan himself, or one of the evil spirits at his command, who led the witch to say what she did to Saul. All that was said was true, and all that was predicted came to pass, but sa'tan was merely taunting the man whose evil deeds had brought him wholly within his power. sa'tan ruins men, and then laughs at them in their misery.
   For more than twenty-four hours Saul had been in such anguish of mind and spirit that he had not taken any food; in this weakened condition he was overcome by the shock of apparently receiving a message from the spirit of Sam'u-el, and suddenly fell to the ground. The witch was terrified by the thought that the king might be found dead or injured in her home, which would mean certain death for her. She therefore begged him to take some food in order to revive his weakened body. Saul refused at first, but was finally persuaded by the witch and his own servants to eat a full meal. Presently he rose up and went back to the camps of his soldiers while it was still night.
  

Story 87: Saul Visits The Witch Of En'dor; His Tragic Death l

   The stage was now set for a tragic ending to the career of Saul. Violent warfare was raging between the Phi-lis'tines and the Is'ra-el-ites, and preparations were made for a decisive battle on the plains of Jez're-el at the foot of Mount Gil-bo'a. Saul appears to have had strange warnings of the disaster soon to come. His efforts to secure Divine aid through prayer and by an appeal to the priests of the land had met with an appalling silence from God. No help came to him through revealing dreams, the advice of a priest, or the words of a prophet. He should have known at once that the LORD had left him to his own evil ways, but it was a long time before this knowledge filled him with terror.
   With the armies of Is'ra-el assembled in the foothills of Mount Gil-bo'a, and with the forces of the Phi-lis'tines massed on the plains of Jez're-el, Saul was overcome by fright. He remembered the timely messages of the prophet Sam'u-el during the earlier days of his reign, and now, even though the man of God was dead and buried, Saul felt that he must find some way of communicating with him. There were people in those days, just as there are now, who pretended to be able to speak with people long dead. Women who practiced this art were known as "witches," and God had told Is'ra-el through the Mo'sa-ic Laws that all such deceivers were dominated by evil spirits and should be slain. This law against witches had been strictly enforced by Saul, but one woman who lived in a secluded spot in the Little Her'mon mountain had escaped the executioners of the king. In his troubled spirit Saul decided to ask her aid in communicating with the spirit of Sam'u-el.
   Saul disguised himself in the clothing worn by common people, took two servants with him, and sought a secret meeting with the witch of En'dor. The place where she was hiding was located beyond the camps of the Phi-lis'tines, so it was necessary for Saul to pass around his bitter foes in his secret mission. It was a dark and perilous night for the despairing king as he kept to the east of the plains of Jez're-el, crossed the valley to the adjoining Little Her'mon, and climbed the rigged path to En'dor.
   The witch of En'dor did not recognize Saul at first, and thought that her visitor, whoever he might be, had come merely to entrap her. She reminded the unknown visitor that Saul had driven from his land all people who claimed to speak with the dead, and accused him of laying a snare for her. Saul then took oath that no harm should befall her of anything which she might do to help him, so the woman said, "Whom among the dead shall I summon for you?" Saul replied, "Bring me up Sam'u-el." This request convinced the woman that her visitor was none other than the king of Is'ra-el, and she cried out in anger, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul." The king then admitted his identity, but told her once again that she need fear no harm if she granted his request.
   The woman evidently knew of Sam'u-el's frequent warnings to Saul during his life, of Saul's rejection by the LORD, and of his constant fear of losing the throne to Da'vid. She was acquainted with all that had taken place in the life of the king, and knew that his mind was now filled with many fears. She remembered the appearance of Sam'u-el during his earthly life, and was able to duplicate it well enough to make Saul think that the prophet himself was called up from death to speak with him.

Story 86: Ab'i-gail Conquers Da'vid's Anger ll

   One of the shepherds urged her to act before it was too late, and spoke of Na'bal as " such a son of the devil that no one could advise him." Ab'i-gail hastened to provide gifts which might appease Da'vid. Gathering two hundred loaves of bread, two bottles of wine, five dressed sheep, five clusters of parched corn, one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, she had them loaded on beasts of burden and rushed off to meet Da'vid.
   Her arrival was just in time, for she and the servants who went with her had not traveled far before they met Da'vid at the head of his four hundred men. He was in an angry mood, and was muttering in his heart, "I guarded all that this prosperous man had in the wilderness, so that nothing was lost; and for this goodness he has requited me evil. I shall surely be avenged by slaying him and every man in his company."
   Ab'i-gail quickly dismounted, fell on her face before Da'vid, and cried, "Upon me, my lord, let this iniquity rest; and permit me, I beg you, to have audience with you." She then freely admitted that she had been badly treated by her husband, but pointed out the fact that Na'bal's very name means "fool" in the Hebrew language. She also explained that she knew nothing of the request of the young men until they had gone, and that they would have received generous aid, had they applied to her. She then appealed to the deepest emotions of Da'vid's heart, expressing herself in words to this effect: "I am happy to deal with a man who, though sometimes at fault in word or deed, is a true servant of the LORD, and who will not deliberately break His law." She went on to assure Da'vid of her sympathy in the persecutions suffered from Saul's hatred, saying that she was confident that he would be raised to the throne of Is'ra-el, and adding this beautiful prophecy: "Your soul shall be found in the bundle of life with God, and the souls of your enemies shall be flung out in the cup of the sling."
   Ab'i-gail then made a very touching appeal in which she reminded Da'vid that it would bring him great unhappiness, after he was king, if he had to look back upon any act in which he had shed blood without a cause. She then begged him to accept the provisions which she had brought to make up for the discourtesy shown by Na'bal, and earnestly sought forgiveness.
   Da'vid was completely overcome by the appeal of this noble woman, and was deeply impressed with her personal charm and worth. In reply to Ab'i-gail he said, May the LORD God of Is'ra-el be blessed, who sent you to me! Blessed be your counsel, and blessed may you be, because you have kept me this day from shedding blood and from avenging a personal grievance with my own hand. Had you not hurried and come to me, then certainly by tomorrow morning there would not have been left a single one of Na'bal's men."He then accepted the gifts which she had brought and sent her home in peace.
   When Ab'i-gail returnt to her husband she found him drunkenly enjoying the festivities of the sheep-shearing season, wholly unmindful of the peril from which his noble wife had saved him. She waited until the next morning, when he had sufficiently recovered from his drunkenness to understand what she said, to tell him how she had appeased the anger of Da'vid, and of the certain death from which she had saved her unworthy husband. Na'bal was so shocked by the news that he fell into a state of paralysis, and ten days later he died.
   When news was brought to Da'vid of Na'bal's death, he sang once again a song of praise to God for the deliverance from evil which had been brought to him through the wise counsel and prudent acts of Ab'i-gail. His admiration for her noble character and deep piety soon grew into a strong affection, and Ab'igail became a faithful and devoted wife of the young hero.

Story 86: Ab'i-gail Conquers Da'vid's Anger l

   Da'vid seems to have realized that Saul's more friendly attitude would be short-lived, and that it was not safe for him to dismiss his followers and return to normal life again. He therefore removed to the wilderness of Pa'ran, which was an extended tract of country along the southern border of Ca'naan adjoining the Si'na-it'ic desert. There were two reasons which probably led him to choose this outlying district. One was the recent death of Sam'u-el, whose influence in Is'ra-el had done much to support the cause of Da'vid; the other, because it was becoming difficult to provide for his six hundred followers in the wilderness of Ju'dah.
   Living not far from the place where Da'vid had taken his new refuge was a wealthy man by the name of Na'bal. He owned large herds of sheep and goats, and employed many shepherds. Da'vid and his men had given aid to these shepherds in protecting their flocks from the roving tribes of the desert, and for this reason felt justified in calling upon Na'bal when they were greatly in need of food.
   Da'vid sent ten of his most courteous men to Car'mel, which was the home of Na'bal, with instructions to greet him in the name of the LORD, tell him of their friendly aid to the shepherds, and to explain the dire need of Da'vid's men for food. They were to ask Na'bal to send any food which he might spare from the feast which had been prepared for his shepherds and sheep-shearers, or from that which had been provided for the festivities of the seasons. All the circumstances justified Da'vid in making this request, and he had every reason to expect a generous response.
   Da'vid was soon to be disappointed, however, for Na'bal had the heart of a miser, taking no thought for those who were less fortunate than himself. He had been blessed by the LORD with an abundance of earthly goods, but instead of thinking of what he owed to the LORD and all around him who were in need, he used his wealth only for his own enjoyment. He spoke of his possessions as "my bread, my meat, my water, and my shearers." He was also most ungrateful, for had Da'vid's men not protected his flocks both day and night, he would have had fewer sheep to shear and less wealth of which to boast.
   Na'bal heard the request of Da'vid's men without the slightest feeling of obligation or generosity. He denied the request, speaking of Da'vid as a run-away slave who was in need because of misconduct.
   When Da'vid's men reported Na'bal's unfriendliness and insults, their leader became very angry. He ordered four hundred of his men to gird on their swords and follow him, planning to swoop down upon Na'bal's farm with vengeance and deadly destruction. He was wrong in allowing his temper to rule for the moment, but Divine Providence kept him from carrying out his intentions against Na'bal and his household.
   Na'bal's wife, whose name was Ab'i-gail, was an intelligent, kindly and deeply religious woman. She knew of Da'vid's excellent character and of his exile under the persecutions of Saul, and had been informed of the kindness of Da'vid's men to Na'bal's shepherds when they were in peril from bandits while out in the desert. When she learnt of her husband's boorish treatment of Da'vid's young men in refusing their request, she felt that Da'vid would be justified in causing trouble for Na'bal. She decided to take steps at once to save her husband from possible slaughter, and to prevent Da'vid from any rash deeds.

My Testimony: Mike Mulcahy

   When I was a kid, I grew up Catholic, but had my reservations? But I knew GOD was always there for me.
   When I was a teenager, I sold drugs, the police were walking into the bar room to search me, someone told me to get rid of what I had, Divine Intervention (1st save.) GOD'S Amazing!
   I was breaking & entering into establishments while drunk, night time (felony.) got arrested. Thank GOD & Governor Michael Dukakis for my pardon (2nd save.) GOD'S Forgiving!
   Too young when I enlisted in the army @ 17 to go to Vietnam, my unit & childhood friends went, friends never returnt, there's no one else to run with anymore. I was stationed @ Fort Hood for my tour of duty (3rd save.) GOD'S Powerful!
   In 2008 I went looking for GOD, found HIM in Brownwood, Texas, I was Baptized in 2012, in a horse trough, Born Again Christian (4th save.) GOD is Great!
   Beginning of this year I left South Carolina because I didn't like it there. The VA diagnosed me with stage III lung cancer, stopped chemo therapy, but still doing radiation therapy. Thank GOD & the VA (5th save.) GOD loves us all!
   I'm eternally grateful to GOD, HE'S Beautiful!
   I've devoted my life to GOD, helping people, & the VA. AMEN!

 Every morning I read this aloud:
    I want to thank You LORD, for this day. I am absolutely dependent upon YOU to enable me today
to live the life YOU want me to live and to do the work You've called me to do. I choose to abide in
YOU today. I ask YOU to make salvation the foremost thought in my mind, Your righteousness the 
 foremost impulse of my heart, YOUR truth the foremost motivation and desire behind all I do,
YOUR peace and wholeness the goal of all I want to accomplish. I ask YOU to help me walk in faith
against all forms of evil. I ask YOU to quicken YOUR WORD in my mind and in my mouth so that all I think and say will be in complete alignment with YOUR WORD. I choose right now to rely upon YOUR HOLY SPIRIT to give me the direction and guidance I need every minute of this day. I trust YOU to do this and I believe YOU are going to do this.

I SCREEN, YOU SCREEN...ll By Judith Hurley

LUNG CANCER: An annual low-dose CT scan of the chest is recommended for adults 55 to 80 who have a 30-pack-year smoking history and either currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years. A pack-year is the number of packs per day multiplied by the number of years the person has smoked. For example, smoking one pack a day for 30 years or two packs a day for 15 years both represent a 30-pack-year history.
   Annual prostate cancer screening using a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test was once recommended, but is no longer. The test does a poor job of identifying prostate cancer and can lead to unnecessary treatment. The American Cancer Society recommends that black men and men with a family history of prostate cancer talk with their doctors about the pros and cons of testing beginning at 45. Other men should do so starting at 50.
PREVENTION: While cancer screenings are important for detecting cancer early-when it is most treatable-there is a lot you can do to prevent cancer in the first place. Not smoking is a critical step, but so are other lifestyle behaviors. The World Cancer Fund estimates that 20 percent of cancers diagnosed in the United States could be prevented by adopting a healthy diet, avoiding excessive alcohol intake, getting regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight. All are habits worth taking up and keeping.

I SCREEN, YOU SCREEN...l By Judith Hurley

When it comes to fighting cancer, nothing beats early detection.
   The latest statistics on cancer are out, and the news is mostly good. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. death rate from cancer has dropped 25 percent since 1991. That translates to 2.1 million fewer cancer deaths a year. The decrease can be attributed to early detection efforts (such as colon cancer screenings and mammograms) and a drop in smoking rates.
   Yet cancer remains the second-leading cause of death among Americans, so if you haven't thought about undergoing recommended cancer screenings, you should. In the United States, 41 out of every 100 men and 38 out of every 100 women will develop cancer in their lifetimes, and the risk for cancer increases with age. The top three cancers in men are prostate, lung and colorectal. In women, they are breast, lung and colorectal.
   Accurate early-detection exams aren't available for all cancers, but they are for several of the biggies: colorectal, cervical, breast and lung. Nationally, however, screening rates lag behind their targets. In 2013, for example, only 58 percent of adults ages 50 to 75 were up to date on colorectal cancer screenings. The rates for cervical and breast cancer screenings were somewhat better
- 81 and 73 percent, respectively
-but still not optimal.
   While many cancer screening trends are positive, Blacks, Latinos and low-income Americans are less likely to be screened. Not surprisingly, they are also more likely to have cancer diagnosed at a later, less treatable stage and to die of it. Fear of the procedure, busy schedules, lack of health insurance and a high co-pay for expensive procedures such as colonoscopies are all barriers to screening.
Types Of Screenings:
   Depending on your age and risk factors, the guidelines for cancer screenings vary. Here is a roundup of the early cancer detection exams recommended by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force, an independent panel of experts that advises the medical community:
BREAST CANCER: Women 50-74 should get a mammogram every two years. For women 40-49, mammogram decisions should be individualized.
CERVICAL CANCER: Woman 21 to 65 who have not had a hysterectomy should have a Pap test every three years.
COLORECTAL CANCER: Men and women 50-75 should have either a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) annually, a sigmoidoscopy every five years plus an FOBT every three years, or a colonoscopy every 10 years. An FOBT detects cancer that is already present. A sigmoidoscopy examines the rectum and lower portion of the colon, while a colonoscopy examines the entire colon. In both procedures, polyps can be detected and removed before they become cancerous.