The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-02-02

of Davids way to the peaceful possession OF
the throne. If he had been spared, no
doubt Jonathan would generously have yield
ed all claim to the kingdom; but 50 noble a
prince, despite his own purpose, would have
had party in favor of his succeeding his
father.
Verse 3. Saul is Wouaded-The battle
went against Saul, and he himself 6 was sore
wounded, by arrows shot from distance,
lie could now neither fight nor flee, but as
the enemy who had wounded him were not
at hand with sword or spear to dispatch him,
he had time to make an appeal to his armOr-
bearer.
vs.. 40. TOo Suicides.-Fe Fearing the
Philistines might maltreat him, as they had
done Samson, and was custom of the day
with royal captives, Joshua viii: %. and K:
"A. he asked his armor-bearer to thrust him
through with his sword. But fear and rev.
erence restrained this officer; he could not
life his hand against his master the king
Saul had strength left to take sword and
fall upon it; and thus ne ended his life by
bis own hand. He feared him that could
kill the body, more than Him that had power
to destroy both soul and body in hell forever.
His death by his own hand formed lamen.
table, and yet fitting end to such life.
His armOr-bearer followed the example of
his master, and died also a suicide. Jew
ish tradition says this armor, bearer was Doeg.
Thus ended the reign of one who by his
rebellion against God brought trouble upon
the people and destruction upon himself, Il
gave thee king in mine anger and took
him away in my wrath" (HOs. xiii H.
Saul died for his transgressions which he
committed against the Lord" Il Chron.
x;139
Yet there were some to show him honor.
The men of Jabesh Gilead imperiled their
lives to give respectful burial to the bodies
of the king and his sons, But the highest
honor shown him was by him upon whom he
had the least claim, the prosecuted David.
He uttered, and taught the nation that elegy
on Saul and Jonathan, called the "Song of
the Bow" so inimitable in its beauty and
pathos. III. Sam. i: 1920 Saul appears
there as in early life, choice young man, a
fit companion in life and death of his noble
son Jonathan. But it is when David comes
to speak of his loved aud loving friend, that
the tender fountains of weeping affection
gush forth in the sweet flowing words, Il
am distressed for thee my brother Jonathan:
very pleasant hast thou been unto me thy
love for me vas wonderful, passing the love
of women"
Davids tribute Co Saaifs a pOnGuOont to
his own generous heart. There is not the
first slur upon his character, nor single al
fusion to fault or a foible, When we have
read his eulogy, and entered into its tender
spirit, We feel unnerved for the lessons of
warning found in his life and death. But
David was his son-in.lQB and his successor,
and it was not becoming in him, in his
funeral song, to hold up to eviidOers the
warnings of this wrecked life. They how
ever stand forth upon the inspired page, and
we must look st some of these lessons.
SOME LESSONS.
l. Let bitterness be buried in the grave.
,. There may be much to praise even in
the wicked.
3. Eulogies of the dead, if true, are hon
orable to the living
1. Saul and Jonathan fell in the same bat
tie. There is one event to the righteous
and to the wicked" Feel tx: 2 But the
calamity that carries the wicked {" to his own
place, usheEs the righteous into heavenly
mansions.
5. One promising in early life, if he go
astray from God, nay reach the deepest
degradation.
6. Disobedience to God is the beginning
of every course of ruin.
7. Not all at once, but step by step the
sinner reaches the lowest stages of wicked
ness.
8. Ulbeievers are sometimes the most
superstitions Of men. Saul in his prosperity |
discarded the counsel of God, but in his ex-
tremity resorted to a witch.
9. Some men are doomed before DEATH
Saul heard his doom at Endor.
10. TIE wicked may call and God not
answer; (P,ov.i: 28) but only because,
ike Saul, they call with an impenitent heart.
II. Despair sometimes seiges upon the
sinner, a foretaste of the miseries of the lost.
y. The snicide, when rational, commits
the last siu man can commit in this life, and
leaves no room for repentance.
Is A5 the father may uso the rod to
ohasti5e his child, and then cast it into the
ERE, so God used Saul to chastise Israel and
then cast him OF The wicked is driven
away in his wickedness."
Il "He that being often reproved har-
deneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed,
and that without remedy" Prov. xxx: l } |
10. Let every young man go live that
halo shall hang about his memory, aG about
that of Jonathan, of whom we know no evil
Is Let true friendships be cherished till
Death and then be sWeetly embalmed In the