he show more fine qualities than in this.  To him Saul was God’s anointed, and, though wronged by Saul and though himself already anointed to be king in Saul’s stead, he remained perfectly loyal to Saul as king. (7) As a ruler.  He knew how to govern both his own people and those whom he had subdued.  He also succeeded in forming friendly alliances with other kings and changed the enfeebled and divided tribes into a mighty empire. (8) As a military leader.  Through his skill he organized a most successful army (1 Chron. 27:1-5; 2 Sam. 23:8-9), and defeated at least five surrounding nations and so impressed the great world powers beyond that they did not oppose the growth of his kingdom. (9) As a servant of God.  Though making his mistakes, he was a “man after God’s own heart.”  He made Jerusalem the great center of religion and organized the priests and Levites so that their work could be done effectively and with order.  The key-note of his life seems to have been expressed to Goliath (I Sam. 17:45). (10) As a type of Christ.  Of all the human types of Jesus in the Old Testament David is probably the most eminent.  This fact makes the study of his life and experiences of great interest and profit to the Christian.

His Last Days.  The last days of David are made sad because of his own weakness.  The memory of his guilt and disgrace had led him to withdraw more and more from the public life and, therefore, to neglect the duties of judge and ruler.  His court became the scene of plotting concerning his successor, whose name he had apparently not announced.  It was only by the valuable help of Nathan that he succeeded in having his wish in the matter.

The dying words of David have in them much that is prophetic of the Messiah and points out to Solomon, his beloved son, who was to reign in his stead, the way of all success and blessing.  It, however, contains what has been designated as “the greatest blot on David’s character"-His charge to Solomon to put to death Shimei and Joab.  Such vindictiveness does not seem to comport with his spirit manifested in the sparing of Saul in the days of his jealous hatred and in his kindness to the house of Saul (2 Sam.  Ch. 9).  Nor does it comport with this patience formerly shown to Shimei (2 Sam. 16:5-13).  We can not explain these charges of hatred upon any other grounds than that of an old man in his dotage.  He is “no longer his manful self.”

Psalms.  While the time covered by the collection of the Psalms is more than a thousand years, reaching from the time of Moses to the period of the exile, it is probably best to study them in this period.  The majority of them are ascribed to David and the whole collection early became known as the Psalms of David.  Reference should be made to “The Bible Book By Book” for an introduction to their study.

The Lessons of the Period. (1) Divine appointment to a great task does not guarantee one against falling into evil. (2) Luxury and the indulgence of the appetites tend to degradation. (3) The personal forgiveness of sin does not remove its evil consequences. (4) Our sins are often as harmful to others and even more so than to ourselves. (5) Righteousness exalteth a nation. (6) God controls the issues of wars.