The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1889-08-29
DAVID AND ooLiATH.
Intsrnatss.al susday- School Lssssa a
September, 4, 1850.

LESSON Tsxr-1 Sam. 17:80-H
GOLDEN THxr--If God be for 40 who can
be against us.-- Rom. s:8l. III
CsNrRAi. Truth - Victory over evil
through faith in God BY the wise use Of
TMr-About BIC. 1854 Two or three
years after the last lesson.
PIAcs-Near Shochoh, In the valley Of
Elsh, fourteen miles southwest Of Jeru-
salem, The valley Of Elah runs northwest
toward Gasa. The 1sraelites were en-
camped on the northeastern slope, and the
Philisptines on the southwestern, with .
level place between them, through which
ran ravine separating the two armies.
GoLIArH-A giant Of the Anakim race,
about nine and one.half feet high. He was
BY . brazen coat Of mail weighing
8 900 shekels, or 167 pounds avoirdupois.
His spear head weighed about nineteen
pounds. He was accompanied BY shield
bearer to defend him while his own hands
were free.
DAvID-The son Of Jesse, skilled In
music, and especially in the use Of the
sling, which he used Is Q defence against
beasts and robbers, the enemies Of his
flock. He had been called to the court two
or three years previous TO this to charm
away the evil spirit from Saul. In the
meantime he had developed in every direc-
ton, and probably had changed much In
appearance by the growth Of his beard, %
that Saul did not recognize him.
HELPS OVER HARD PLAcEs--32. And Ddutd
sdtd: led on by the Spirit Of God, and BY the
spirit Of devotion to Gods cause. he was
OF course aware Of his skill with the sling.
"a. And lhere came q lion: lions and bears
were not uncommon In Palestine. 81. The
Lord that delivered me. the help God had
given him in the hrst was the proof that he
would help in the present emergency. 30.
He had not proved u. he was unaccustomed
to such ermor. Had he kept on 6aups
4O A scrip: small leather bag. HE sltng:
with this David was very skillful, and could
attack the giant from distance. The Ben
iamites could sling stone at Q hair breadth
and not miss Judges 20:16). 4a Am I a dog:
the giant did not seem to see the sling,
but thought David was going to try and kill
him with his stick, as he would Q dog. a.
And the Phtlisttnes said: they could be heard
across the ravine between them, but had 70
70 o distance on opposite sides before they
could meet 40. The stons sunk into hts fore.
head. this stunned the giant, but David
took Goliath's own sword and beheaded
him.
LESSON FAcrs-The Philistines, though
previously defeated by Saul, seem to have
gathered courage from the fact that they
had with them an invincible champion,
named Goliath, warrior not far from ten
feet in height. In those days Of single!com-
bat this was no mean advantage. For full
forty days after the hostile armies had ar
rayed themselves against each other, this
Goliath paraded himself before the trembling
Israelites, challenging someone to come out
and meet him in single combat But no one
took up the challenge, all seemed paralyzed
by fear. This was the state Of affairs when
David came from his fathers house to see
how his brothers were prospering. Here
he leared for the first time how things
stood, and heard Of Saul's offer to the man
who would vanquish the dreaded champion.
Full Of faith and zeal and full Of indignation
at the insult thus offered to the God Of
Israel, David volunteered his services.
COMMENTS the great skill Of
David in the use Of his sling (apparently
the only weapon against which Goliath was
powerless), we still must seek for the 90.
cret Of his success in another direction.
This we may easily find in the spirit which
evidently animated him. In his dialogue
with Saul with regard to his ability to meet
this foe, while he modestly speaks Of his ex.
periences with the bear and the lion, he even
then ascribes the glory to God, saying
''The Lord that delivered me out Of the paw
Of the lion and out Of the paw OF the bear,
he will deliver me out Of the hand Of this
Philistine." In David's mind the conflict
was not one between himself and the Phills.
tine champion, but between God and His ad'
versaries. The spiritual side Of the matter
was to David the real side. And here his
faith came bravely to bis aid The apostle
IN speaking Of the heroes Of faith In He.
brews II, fails not to mention David among
them, and he doubtless had this battle In
mind when he made mention Of him. The
hidden spring of David's courage and sue
cess lay not In his sling and stones, but In
his prevailing faith In God. How often We
have seen this In the history Of Gods peo
pie from the days Of Abel down even to ouI
times. In many senses 1t remains true that
''this 10 the victory that overcometh the
world, even our faith"
How did David overcome Goliath Sure
ly not by parleying with with him, and de
| ferring the day of combat. No sooner did b.
hear the challenge, than he accepted 1t. HI
hasted; he ran to the conflict, feeling tina
the sooner he joined issue with the Philistine
the sooner would he gain the victory. "H'
who fights and runs away, may live to fgh
another day." may be good advice In earth
ly battle, but 10 the worst possible advice II
things spiritual. "Resist the devil, and b,
will fee from you," is the only bugle-cal
for the Christian soldier. Half Of the ad
vorsaries Of our souls would fee at onc
were we to take q bold stand, trusting II
God. Since we are HIS as much as Davi'
was His, He win help US as well as HI
helped David. May not the Christian win
who gives up sinful pleasures feel that CO.
will give him the courage to do so, and will
besides, give him ample reward in spiritua
joysi May not the prodigal believe tina
when he gives up his life OF sin and return
to his fathers house he will there b
abundantly provided fors Are not all thos
timorous tremblings and hesitations to TAX
stand, the result Of pure unbelief in God
II God gave His Son for our salvation, vii
He withhold His Spirit for our sanctifca
tionl The great lesson from our story o
to-day Is o simple but very precious one
namely, "Believe in God, and go straigh
ahead along the line Of duty, though yo
meet q Goliath at every step along you
pathway."-Rev. A. F. Schauffier.
PRACTICAL sUGoEsTIONs