The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-09-04
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOE
SEPTEMBER 8. S
Lesson Text: david and iona
than," I Sam.-xx., 1-13-Gofden
Text: Prov. xviii, Z4-
Commentary.

xviii, 10; xix, 10y, but David escaped cut Of
his hand, for the Lord was with him, and
he and Samuel went and dwelt In NatotH.
IF we are true children Of God the presence
Of the Lord Is ever with us as q
wall Of fire round about us, and moth
ing can reach US without His permission;
and whatever He may permit to reach Iis,
nothing can by any means harm us, for our
life Is hid with Christ in God Enemies may
seem to prosper, but God will make even tho
wrath Of man to praise Him. As to David
and Jonathan, we read that their souls were
knit together, and that Jonathan loved
David as his own soul (chap. xviii, 1-S and
In David's lament for Jonathan we hear him
saying: 'Thy love for me was wonderful,
+ 28.) The lesson to-day gives an illustration
Of the wondrcus love Of these two men, but
the golden text reminds us Of the greater
love of . greater Kings Son, who has Knit
I his soul to ours and stripped Himself Of all
BIS glory that He might save US from wrath
ard exalt Us to His throne. i;.g.f
Q. Thou shalt not dien David inquiries Of
Jonathan why Saul, his father, should TINS
persistently seek his life, and what he had
done to merit such Ill treatment at the hands
| Of Saul Jonathan assures him that be shall
not die, and that inasmuch as his father win
do nothing without telling him, and dhas given
| him no hint Of such a purpose. therefore II
cannot be; but the sequel proved that IN this
case the mind of Saul was hidden from Jona-
than, and that he was really determined to
kill David Tvs. 3C-39, because, as he said,
while David lived Jonathan his own son,
could not be established In his kingdom.
! 8. There is but step between me and
! death" This was, humanity speaking, true
Of David and is true of every one OF Us. In
Gods hand Is our breath and by His kinder
we live and move and have our being day by
day, and whether ON land or sea It Is equally
true that the next step may usher us into
eternity. This may well cause the unsayed;
to tremble, but it should give no anxiety to
one who is redeemed by the precious blood OF
| Christ and is therefore seeking day by day. 70
''do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with
God" - 5,.s
4. ssWhatsoever thy soul desreth, i will
even do it for thee" Thus said Jonathan to
David in his great love for him
There were many things which Jonathan
was not able to do for David, however will
| ing he might be, but Jesus, our Savior and
King, will without fail do for us all that our
willing, but able having all power IN heaven
and on earth. Matt. xviii, Is; John xiv,
5!7. ssH he say thus: 1t is:well; thy SER,
| vent shall have peace; but By thus abb
senting himself from his accustomed place
for three days David would certainly learn
| the mind Of Saul toward him, and Jonathan
would see It and then know for himself his
! fathers thoughts toward David. II any
think that they see deception here on the
part Of David In his speaking OF going TO
Bethlehem, let them remember rthat God
cannot possibly In any way tolerate an, and
never does he excuse It; and II David sinned
in this matter 1t must have brought him
chastening. he certainly was not manifest
ing the faith and courage which he displayed
when he went against Goliath; but as to- his
practicing deception, who knows that he did
not 60 to Bethlehem to the sacrificed
Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with
thy servant, for thou has brought thy SER
want into covenant Of the Lord with theeH
David had already the love Of Jonathan, and
the love of all Israel and Judah xviii, ], ,16l,
but his one great enemy caused him TO fear,
and Jonathan was now to be the mediator
standing between David and his enemy on
behalf Of David, and there was COVENANT
between them which David calls covenant
Of the Lord. Jesus Is our true Jonathan He
Jonathan almost lost his Life at this time ON
behalf Of David w., S8), but Jesus actually
laid down His life on our behalf, and has
sealed with His own blood the covenant
which he has entered into for us. W.
8 ssWould not I tell 1t theer, David had
asked Jonathan to hll him, II he was guilty,
rather than let him be brought to Saul JON
athans reply is that II he knew evil was De.
termined against David he would surely tell
him. .s.si.
10. "Who shall tell mep Now David wants
to know how he shall find out the result OF
the interview between Jonathan and hts
father. He surely does not honor helove OF
his friend, nor seem to esteem his friend, or
his friends word very highly by these cues
lions, BE seems 10 be greatly moved, he does
not now sing: twill not fear, though the
earth be removed Ps. XVI, p; he does not
talk like valiant David. q man after Gods
own heart but rather like the spies who. saw
the giants and walled cities instead OF seelns
| Cod Let us learn from him that nothing
must ever be allowed to come betweenu and
God lest we too be filed with fears and dis
honor Christ. sd
II. "Come and Let us 90 out into the Held.n
s.Come apart" said Jesus to the disciples;
sBid the servant pass on, but stand thou stin
| awhile" said Samuel to Saul. It Is wise.
I when we would have fellowship with God, 70
oet alone with Him and shut out all else. It
Is wise, also. when you would deal personally
| with soul in His name, to take them alone,
With not even third party near, and thua
you will have more power with them; nsYs
always found 1t so.
i2. Is. THAT thou mayet 60 in peace,
| and the Lord be with thee." Jonathan now
solemnly calls the Lord God to witness that
whether the tidings from his father be good
or evil. he will surely let David know; and IN
the following. verses in most remarkable
words he speaksof time when all the enc.
mics Of David shall have been cut OF from
fine face of the earth, and as II anticipating
his own and his fathers fall and David,s eI-
altatiou. he causes David to promise kind.
ness to his house forever. Then follows the
account Of the interview between saul AND
his SON. and the way In which Jonathan nc.
| ouainted David with the result. But even
II the tidings were to be evil ana
| Saul should seek the Life OF Dsvid,
Jonathan says heis to 60 in peace Tor tne
Lord will be with him. Perhaps DAVID re.
| membered this when he sang: He shall no!
| be afraid Of evil tidfngs, his heart is tLeo
tT,,sting in the Lorda Ps. cIii., ~ The
heart that rests IN the love Of Him who stack
eth closer than brother, who has shown dn
love by diving for His enemies and VINO nav
ine given Himself has given all things with
Hfmself, should be able to say truthfully at
| all times: ssBehold, God is my Saviour, ]
will trust and not be afraid; for His Thoughts
to me are peace and not evil; and he him
| self is nv everlasting ife."-Lesson Helper.
| TEMPERANCE NEWS AND NOTES.
| OF the English bench of bishops twelve are
pledged abstaincrs. ,..-.-l... !.
calls Sold Here" is suggested as an honest
sign for saloon-keepers. ...t..,
| New Zealand spent for drink last year
slO,65O, 900, the lowest amount for eighteen