Connecticut western news., 1876-01-28
DATE-B. c. lUO6. DAVID & JONATHAN-I SAM: XX

stlcketh closer than brother. Prov. xviii
 DATE-B. c. 1O62.
 DAVID & JONATHAN-I SAM. xxx, S5-4
 CoNNECTIoN.-Saul, fearing David be cause of bis popularity, tried to get hlu into trouble by offering him his daughter Merab for his wife, and then on the ap pointed wedding day giving her to anoth CT man. Davlds quiet submisslOn tt wrong brought the plot to naught. Micha another of SauFs daughters. loved David and Saul offered her to David if he would kill one hundred Philistines hoping Da vid would be himself slain. David soor brought him proof that he had killed two hundred. and he re ,eived the hand of Mi chal in marriage. David became more anC more popular, aud Saul hated hlm more and more. Saul commanded Jonathan and opportunity but Jonathan warned hlm ts hide himself, and then lnterceded with Saul until he was persuaded to revoke hii command. After another battle with the PhllIstlnes, in which David again distin; Ruished himself, Saul tried agaln to kill hlm with his own hand and David esca- ping and going to his home. men were sent to watch his door and kill him in tbe morning. His wife. Saul's daughter, ,sav ed hlm by letting him down from a window David fled to Samuel at Ramah. and told nim what had happened. When Saul sent messengers to Ramah to kill David, which he did three times. and when he followed them himself, God saved David by 8 direct
 interpretation of His Holy Spirit
 Read the first 34 verses of the 2Oth chap ter of Sam. It needs very little, if any explanation, and is beautiful story, Re. member as you read it. that Jonathan was the natural heir to the throne. Saul hated David because Le thought David was try only do this by supplanting Jonathan Jonathan understood this and knew that DaN id would be king. See Sam. xxlii, IF ] So we see not only his great love for Da- vid, but his nobility of character and hum- ble. earnest submission to Gods will. The American people are called brother Jona- than,' and they may well be proud of the title. Few such handsome, brave, gener- ous and good mon have lived as Jona athan.
 LEssoN.-lS5l At the time agreed upon (see V. 19) Jonathan went out into tho field where Davld was hidden, as if he went to practice with his bow and arrows, He took 8 little boy with him. Children are often very much more useful than they think. This boy had no idea that he was to help save Dav1d's life.
 l36-3s1 It is the custom still in that part of the world for kings and princes to prac. tice with the bow. The strongest and most skillful hand can best draw the bow and shoot the arrow furthest. They are agreement, what Jonathan said was said more to David, hidden. than to the lad. It let David know that there was no hope of reconciliation with Saul. He must fly for bis lite.
 [S9-4Ol The boy did not understand, And we scarcely ever dol How mary people have influenced your life without Knowing It Many things that we do have results tbat we did not expect or desire and many have results of which we know nothing. the writer to give hls heart to his Saviour, dld not intend or expect any such results. Only the judgment day will reveal what our lives have accomplished.
 Before the invention of cannon, all weapons of war were called 'artiliery. Jo, atban sent the boy back to the city, .
 All The arrangement had been made, and the lad brought, because other people might have been In sight, so that it would not be safe for David to come out of his ana David came forth. He bowed him self to the ground three times, for Jona- than was his prince, and such was the proper salute. Then their mutual love was too much for etiquette. The two trends. men as they, were. kissed one an- of the bravest, best men the world ever saw, and they truly loved one another. Jonathan had already risked hls life for David (verse 33l, and was ready to glve up Gods will (xxiii, ID, but at the parting Davld's sorrow exceeded his, for Davld was leaving not only hls friend, but every thing. and because his heart was as tender as Jonathan's.
 l42] Jonathan comforted David, renind- ing him of the sacred agreement (cove- nanN they had made. to be true friends to each other and to each others children. And they parted, never to meet but once more, for few moments, in the woods. (xxiii, 16-1S).
 Do you know that Jesus, the Son of the King of Heaven, has made a sacred agree ment with you He ehas-covenanted that If you will be His true friend you shall be Kept safe and at last received into the Kings home in heaven. And His Father IS not like King Saul, but is glad that Ills Son loves you, and has promised to receive you for Ills Sons sake.