of converted men”.  Primitive society followed the course of nature in condemning adultery as worthy of more severe punishment than murder itself.  And “no crime today involves more sudden and terrible consequences in the individual; no crime is capable of exerting as malign an influence upon the innocent family and later descendants of the culprit; no crime leaves in its wake as many physical and moral ills.”

The Bitter consequences of this sin soon became apparent.  Nathan brought to him a worthy rebuke and he showed himself different from other kings of his time by the bitter repentance with which he bewails his iniquity in the fifty-first Psalm.  God forgave his sin but its evil consequences in his family and nation could not be removed.  The nature of his chastisement is suggested in the following incidents:  (1) The death of his child born to Bath-sheba. (2) Ammon, his oldest son, one of the pitiable products of his oriental harem, shamefully treated his sister, Tamar, in the gratification of his brutal lusts. (3) Absalom treacherously murdered Ammon as a matter of revenge for the outrage upon his sister, Tamar. (4) The rebellion of Absalom, his son, which almost cost David the throne and led to the destruction of Absalom. (5) The rebellion of Shebna and following events, which almost destroyed the empire. (6) Many incidents in the family and kingdom of Solomon, his son.

While David must always be judged by the social standards of his age it must be remembered that his own generation did not hesitate to condemn his act and we must not excuse in the least this awful sin.  The message it has for us is supremely applicable to our present age in which social evil threatens to undermine our boasted Christian civilization.

The Inspiring Career of David.  The life of David is so varied and beautiful that one finds difficulty in outlining any study of him in the space allowed here.  There are several ways of studying his career.  Sometimes it may be profitable to consider him from two viewpoints, (1) His character, (2) His life after he became king.  For our purpose, however, it would be better to look at him somewhat as follows:  (1) As a shepherd lad, where he laid the foundations of his great career. (2) As a servant at the court of Saul, where he became the object of a bitter jealousy and suffered great indignities. (3) As a refugee from Saul, during which time he exhibited his unwillingness to do wrong even against one who was doing him great injustice. (4) As a friend, especially shown in his relation to Jonathan.  By it he was influenced throughout his whole career and was caused after becoming king to extend kindness to the house of Saul, his enemy. 2 Sam. ch. 9. (5) As a musician.  His accomplishments in this field are witnessed both by his ability in the use of the harp and in the great body of psalms which he left us. (6) As a loyal subject.  In no other place, perhaps, did