Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-08-29
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON FOR SUNDAY SEPT 4.
Subject "DavId and GolIath."I Sam
xviii, 32-51-Golden Text: Rom.
will. 81 Commentary.l

, upon David, as welearned in last weeks les
SON, the spirit Of the Lord departed from
Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled
him lchap xvi, IA; and that evil spirit is
mentioned five times in the closing verses of
the chapter, as well as in chaps. xviii, 10;
XIX, o. Saul, having refused to obey God
and follow Him, is simply left by God to the
guidance OF the one whom he preferred.
David after his amounting returned to the
care OF his fathers sheep: Saul, having
learned that he was a skillful player on the
harp, sent for him that he might thus quiet
him when troubled with the evil spirit, and
so he became Saurs armor bearer, but seems
to have at times returned to feed his fathers
! sheep at Bethlehem xvii, 49,
32. "And David said to SAUL Let no mans
heart fail because of him." The armies of
Israel and Of the Phiistines were in battle
array upon two mountains facing each other,
and between them lay valley; for forty
days morning and evening, Goliath, the
giant the champion of the Philistines, stood
and cried for some man of Israel to come and
fight with him, saying, If he kill me we viii
be your servants, and If kill him you will
be our servants. Thus he defed or reproached
the armies of Israel and inasmuch as he was
man over nine feet high, his coat of mail
weighing over 150 pounds, and the head Of
his spear about twenty pounds, no man in
Israel was willing to try battle with him.
W,
among all the thousands of Israel there was
no one, from the King down, who had faith
enough in God to contend with this proud, de-
fiant and wicked adversary. At this time
David arrives in camp, bringing from home
some food for his brethren and present for
the captain of their thousand, and, seeing
how matters stood, expressed surprise that
the armies of the living God should be defied
by man, and he an uncircumcised Philis-
tiTa Ho vs. h,.r, = haf, c., 30
him the words of this verse;
80. And Saul said to David, Thou art
hot able" Saul, like all his soldiers, saw only
with his natural eyes, and looking upon
Dav1d's youth and apparent inexperience in
matters of war; said: Thou art but youth,
while this Philistine is man of war from his
youth, and therefore thou art not able to go
against him to fight with him. In Saul's
eyes it was simply question of man against
Israel. and the God of Israel, the Lord God
Of Hosts, was not thought Of, much less relied
upon. How could people whose history
from their very beginning was so full of the
mighty power of God on their behalf ever
forget Him or fail to trust in Him?
1885, HE hath deied the armies of the
Living God" The Living God was to David
far greater reality than this mass Of defiant
and disappearing flesh and blood. If David
was buta youth and unskilled in the art of
war, he knew the Living God and had per-
sonal dealings with Him.
81. '"The Lord that delivered me, = " y
will deliver me-" This sounds like the great
apostle to the Gentiles when he said: Il was
| delivered out of the mouth Of the lion; and
| the Lord shall deliver me from every evil
work, and will preserve me unto His heavenly
kingdom" II Tim. iv., II, IS. What simple
confidence in God, what grand assurance;
and yet SO many Christians cannot get be-
yond II hope it is well with me-" II trust
am child of God"
3S, SO. "And David said, I cannot go with
these; for have not proved them" When
Saul saw the grand confidence of David in
the Living God, he said, 'Go, and the Lord
be with thee" then he armed David with his
armor and David assayed to go, but he was
glad to put it off, for he was not accustomed
to rely upon such helps. He had no armor
but the presence of God when he slew the
lion and the bear, and he would go now with
| the same.
40. sand he drew near to the Philistine. /"
| Putting Off the armor which he had not
proved, he took his staff, and with his sling
in his hand, which he had proved, he chose
| five smooth stones out Of the brook, and put
| ting them into his shepherds bag he went
forth. We can only use in the service of
| God the truths which we have proved in our
own daily life; what we have not eaten for
| our own benefit we cannot well give to
| others. The Bible brooks are full of stones,
| each of which, told forth in the power of the
| Spirit, is capable of killing any giant of un-
belief or fear or proud defiance. How many
in your Bible have you already marked
''tried and proved.
444. 'sWhen the Philistine looked about
and saw David he disdained him" So the
flesh always despises the Spirit, just as Ish-
maei Knocked Isaac, but the flesh shall be con-
quered and the Spirit will prevail.
45. Thou comest with sword, spear and
shield; but / come in the name of the Lord
| of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel,
whom thou hast defed." Goliath repre-
sented simply himself and his own power
and skill; but David thought nothing Of him
self; he represented the Lord of Hosts the
God of Israel, and the question was not what
could David do, but what could he do in
whose name David went forth.
46. ''That all the earth may know that
there is God in Israel" David SAYS what
God will do, and that through him as the in
strument, but the object will be to honor
God and not David. Had there been in
David's heart any desire for his own fame he
could not have gone forward so confidently.
Al. '.All this assembly shall know that the
Lord saveth not with sword and spesr; for
the battle is the Lords and He will give you
into our hands," See how David is nothing
and God is everything; it is Paups cry, "Not
I, but Christ" mot 1, but the Grace Of God;
(Gal ill.,, 20; Cor. xv., 10y.
46, 40. David hasted, and ran toward the
army to meet the Philistine." What q
moment of intensest interest it is as David
now runs to meet his enemy and as he does
so sends with deadly aim, and. more than
human power, stone from his well tried
sling. In an instant the giant falls upon his
| n nqrth n N j1Nfn
bis forehead. Where is now his strength OF
the power Of his gods In whose name he had
cursed David? HIS has ceased to reproach the
| God of Israel, his tongue is silent in death
God could have done it as easily without
Davids help, but He chose thus to honor Hi:
servant who delighted to honor Him.
so. $50 David prevailed over the Philis
tine with sling and with stone." The
giants great stature, helmet Of brass, coat Of
mail, greaves, and spear and sword were il
moment rendered worthless by the God di
rected stone from the shepherds sling
sCursed be the man that trusteth in man
and maketh flesh his arm, and whose hear
departeth from the Lord" "An flesh i
grass, and all the goodness thereof is as tn,
flower Of the field; but the word Of our Goo
shall stand forever"
81. David ran, and stood upon the Philis
tine, and took his sword (the giant's) i II !
and cut off his head Herewith" Thus the grea
defer of God lost his head by his own sword
Death seems to be Satan's mightiest weapon
but our David has through death destroyed
nlm unat had the power or death, that is th'
devil Heb H., 14); thus Staying him with hi
own weapon; and although he is still roar
ing lion going about seeking whom he MAJ
devour, he isa conquered lion; and the Got
of Peace will most effectually and forever
bIuise him under our feet shortly. As faithful
fc11oxuar.c oft rho lord TneI1c Christ 1At seal