The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-09-18
DAVID sPARINo SAUL.
International Sunday school Lesson TO
ia September Is, 1889.
Especially arranged from S. S. Quarterly.l

FL September Is, 1889.
Especially arranged from S. s. Quarterly.1
LESSON TEXT Sam. A:+l7.
GOLDEN TExT-Be not overcome OF evil,
but overcome evil with good.-Rom. 1874.
CENTRAL Truth The only way to over
come evil is with good. 1893
TIME-B. c. 1000, two or three years after
the last lesson
Wilderness of Engcdi, "fountain
of the kid" on the cliffs fifteen hundred or
two thousand feet high on the west side of
the Dead sea. 1t is very difficult of access,
but charming spot when reached Many
caves are in the vicinity. -,.a.
SAMUEL-Ded about this time at Ramah,
aged eighty-slx. ER
DAvID-About twenty-five years old, an
exile.
SEVEN YEARS OF ExILE-From b. G 1869
to 1865. ~ To Mob, close to Jerusalem,
only few hours (chs. 81, %; Ps. 52). ~
To Gath, brief stay (21 :lO-15; Ps. 3d. (0
In the cave of Adullam, five or six miles
southwest of Bethlehem lch. %; Ps. 81 and
1872 () The wilderness of Judah, includ-
ing Ziph, Maon, Adullam Ca2:5; 23:1-39; Ps.
3D. 81 Experience at Engedi (ch. "a, to-
days lesson. 6) Experience at Carmel In
the south of Judah, with Nabal (ch. 25}. ~
At Hachilah, IN the wilderness OF Judah
David spares Saul second time, unless
this is another version OF to-day's lesson
(ch. 26). (S) At Gath, sixteen miles among
the fhiiistines tch. q; Ps. So. -f ts.--t ~
DAvID's BAND-Assembled at Adullam;
four hundred at first (22:2), afterward six
hundred (27:2l Among them were the
prophet Cad; Abiathar, the son of the high
priest; Abishai, David's nephew, after
wards great general; thirty-four valiant
men of war, "whose faces were as lions,
and were as swift as roes upon the mount
aims" Il Chron. 12:1-1A. The Others were
disconnected men, many OF them fleeing
from the expressions Of Saul.
VALUE OF DAvID's EXILE EXPERIENCE
az 1t kept him from the dangers of sudden
prosperity. t2) 1t taught him to put trust
In God (3) 1t made him acquainted with
the needs of the people, ~ 1t gave him
practice in dealing with men. o. Itpre-
pared large number of persons to hail him
as King. (6) 1t gave him skill in war. "a
1t gave strength to his character.
HELPS OVER HARD PLACEs-Saul, with
three thousand chosen men, was pursuing
after David. He came into the entrance OF
the cave of Engedi, where David was hidden
with his men; while he was asleep, David,
refusing to kill him, merely cut off a part OF
his royal robe. 4. Shirt 1.-THE hem, perhaps the
golden fringe. 5. Darid'S heart Smote him: for
treating with indgnity his King. Z. Stayed
his servants: who wished to kill Saul. This
opportunity was great temptation to
David. By killing Saul he would save his
own life, escape persecution, become King.
He had to resist not only his own feelings,
but the persuasions Of his companions. s.
Bo,Dcd himself: in reverence to his King. 10.
Thine eyes haze seen: David sparlng Saul re-
futed the ISLANDERS spoken against him by
such as Doeg (22:91l,, and Cush. (See title
| to Ps. ~ ID. WiekednesS proceedcth from the
,Uicked: as bad fruit from bad tree. From
David came good to Saul; therefore Saul
could see that he was not wicked.
| INTRoDUCToRY-Call the attention of the
class to the fact that we have had concrete
illustrations Of opposite principles working
out their legitimate fruitage in two differ.
ent men. In Saul we had envy, culminat
ing IN practical murder. In Jonathan we
had love, ending in self-sacritice. To-day
we have another virtue exemplified in &C.
tual life. In order rightly to understand it,
we need to remember that for two or three
| years David had been hunted exile. Saul
had driven him from post to pillar, leaving
| his soul no rest. LAS a mirror Of his feel
lngs at this time, read Psalm 81 In his
wanderings David had gathered around
him q band Of discontinued and somewhat
lawless men, 600 IN number. Saul, who fol
some time had been busy with the Philis
tines, now gathered 5000 men, and put al
his energies into hunting down his enemy
With David his falling into Sauls hands
was sure death. Under these circumstances
the events of the lesson took place.
CoMMENrs-The golden text this week is
well chosen. Here we have its practica
exemplifcation in the life of David. In
order fully to understand the grandeur Of
David's conduct, let US look at it carefully
: 1t is said that to return evil for good is
devilish; to return good for good is human
but to return good for evil is divine. If So
David's conducG showed that he was guided
by the Divine Spirit. For Saul was seeking
his life without any cause. Nay, David had
been Sauls benefactor, and yet he had Ia
fee from before his face. 1t was rank In.
justice and wanton bloodthrstiness that led
Saul to act as he was dong. Yet David was
ready to forgive him, and bore him NO
malice. But notice that 1t was not for lack
Of opportunity that DAVID did his foe no
harm. Never had man better chance, for
both at this time and subsequently with
Abishai he had free scope to act as he
pleased. Saul was absolutely in David's
power. Note again that it was not because
others dissuaded him that he spared
SAIL N, both occo ciopo Tho attanl,o, .
urged David to take vengeance on his foe. On
both occasions David had to stem the tide
Of public opinion and stand alone on the
right side. Compare this with Sau's con-
duct as given in Sam. 15:24) Observe
| finally that it was not because he could Of
fer no plausible excuse that David spared
Saul He might easily have argued that
| Samuel had anointed him as well as Saul,
aud that by his disobedience Saul had for
| feited the Divine favor and had been reject
ed by Col, and that under the circumstances
| it was only acting in self-defense for him to
be avenged of his adversary. Many poorer
| arguments than this have suficed to lead
Gods children into paths of sin. All the
above considerations may well exalt the
character Of David's actions in our eyes.
1t was most magnificent piece of large
hearted forgiveness on David's part II
Jonathan, in our last weeks lesson, shone
as an evening star, David, in this lesson,
arises upon our vision as an equally brilliant
morning star.-Rev. A. F. Schauffler.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
!. Our early life is school to train Us for
life's work.
2. Our whole life is school to prepare us
for the Heavenly Kingdom.