Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-08-30
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
AN INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE
LESSON CONSIDERED.

Reflections of nn Elevatinr Character
Wholesome Food for Thought Study
ing the scriptural Lessons Intelligentlv
and Probably.
The lesson for Sunday, Sent, 1, NAV he
found III Sam II: 32-5I
INTRODUCTORY.
we cone to the story OF one of the most
notan!e PERSONAL encounters of all history.
Homer. IN his generous periods descriptive
OF the meeting OF heroes and demi-gois in
the Trojan battle plain. never touched the
high marx Of either literary or moral sub
Unity 10 which this narrative carries us.
mere was real dignity in this contest. We
eXecrate the French duel. we abominate
anu ; aonoI inc English prize ring. because
OF either the total absence of ADEQUATE pur-
pose. or else the utter falseness of the APP
Pllcation. But where, as here. great issues
are at stake. and a great cause is to be
served, the matching OF strength with
strength 81 and the acceptance of a
sore .t =, Mcarious test and ordeal has
sometnlng IN it near akin to divinity. The
homan youth who for Rome's veal leaped
lnto tue yaWning chasm, John MAYNARD
VINO. 10 save the passengers of his burning
vessel clhng in sef-immolaton to his
n iloS pox' awakens in us an admiration
reverence at last and alone. when on q
Tree OUTSIDE the walls a Kingly Head drops,
anu he VINO Was wounded for our transgres-
slohs-tne Just for the unjust-meets and
conquers the giant Death.
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS
And David said. David had come on
merely civilian GRAND to the battle field
| w. lD, which was ut u point on the troub-
5ousl borders OF the land not far east of
Bethlehem. His bold words about the in
Saul, who. at his wits ends to break the
dead-locK' now forty days in duration,
sent at once to him.-Fou because of him.
The Douay version says, BE discouraged
in him" !See MarginD We prefer. how
the original (ouer hinD .-This Philistine.
He =, may have been a mercenary of the
Philistines. and one of the relics OF the
old Anakim. 50 frightful always to
Israel Deut. g: p. He was about
ten feet high. and belonged to family Of
gigantic men. all Of whom were slain by
David and his servants e Sam. 81: 22).
Saut said to Darid. Saul had already met
David, but knew him up to this time only
us poet and musician ~: 10. How
strange. then, this new development! So
strange. indeed. that he does not seem to
| recognize him in his new character, or if he
does. the startling events OF the day make
a revision of his conception of the young
man necessary See vs. 55-5S), 1t must be
remembered that several years had prob
ably passed since David was for season in
/ siiO Ivy uA ls--4)Ut u VOulH. Inc WOrO,
according to the lexicon. could be applied
toa bearded young man of twenty. We
know from Sam 16: IL. that David had, be-
fore this. shown himself to be a remarka-
bly, strong and well-deyeloped young man.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
Thy servant WiW 90 and fght auith this
ph'hsttne. The voice of the champion of
the truth. The church is waiting for such
proffer. Every age has its insolent Goliath
OF Philistinism; shall it not have also its
courageous David. full of trust in God?
Tetzel was the Goliath OF work righteous
live by faith" was the David who smote
him to the earth and put the whole of Phil
istia to CONSERVATION. Bunyan and Wes-
ley and Knox and Edwards were young Da-
yids in their day; May me mention in their
Lincoln. Judson. Moody, Drummond? The
Davidic spirit is needed ever; contempt OF
Satan. hope in God. God keep it large
and strong in the church and for the
church!
But I 81 me TO nee IN the name of the Lord
of hosts. That was holy boldness. 1t detied
the sword because a greater sword was
held; "tAe sword OF the p1rit. which is the
word of God" 1t despised the spear be-
cause around about were the invisible We
invincible spearsmen of the Almighty. 1
omnpotent God it might say: He is oul
help and shield" His truth shall be my
SHE'D and buckler." 10 those who 90 forth
in the name OF God there is safety anG
strength. "There"-that is. to those dwell.
ing in the Zion of full faith-"there brake he
sword and the battle" 1t is the secret o.
Hudson Taylor's success in China and Of
Bishop Taylor's success in Africa. 1t is the
power that worketh in every true child o
faith Trust God.
For the battle is the Lords. Net mans
| Int Gods and bnnpo ca call in nil the
enginery of heaven. The servant Of Goo
should not trouble himself about the weak.
ness Of his own human arrangement. He
can rightly plead the promises of God in
his truths behalf and call down all the
might OF the skies. for the devout in,
trepidity Of an Elijah on Carmel! o fol
faith to believe that the battle is the Lords
and to call upon the divine resources! Once
in Il while pious courage startles us with
it's appeal and wakes us to the magnitude
of the conflict and OF the forces enlisted in
it. 1t was such spirit that arrested the
attention OF David Hume when George
Whiteield was closing one of his match.
less proclamations of tho gospel. Pausine
moment the great preacher stamped with
his foot. lifted up his eyes and hands tc
audience as scarcely anything else could
stop. Gabriel! stop. Gabriel! stop ere you
enter the sacred portals and yet carry will
you the news Of one sinner converted tc
God.- George Whitetield spoke as one who
believed that the battle was the Lords.
Fire smooth stones. First. they were
right at hand; j. e., available; second
they were easily carried and portable
third they were designed to fly straight a
the mark. definite, incisve; fourth. they
were meant to bring down the object a
which they were aimed-etfective; fifth
and last. every one of them was enough
for all this if rightly cast; they were
charged as it wore. with divine energy
Let US pick up five such stones out of the
heavenly brook which seemed to run a
David's feet. stones which David used t.
fight a greater Goliah in later years. anC
which are smooth and round for our owr
use against the giants that challenge us
|; There are many of them and we need moi
err in taking the first we come to at the
crossing of the brook. ~ The Lore
knoweth the way Of the righteous:" &C.
lestial intercourse. Psalm I. And here
David says in remembrance of tina
blessed acquain tances ship. Thy servant slew
} both the lion and the bear" (2) Why dc
the heather rage?" Psalm II. confidence
in the superior might of Jehovah. Says
David of Goliath, Let no mans heart fai
because of him." (3) Thou. Lord. art :
shield for me, I will not be afraid of ten
thous ands of people," Psalm III: reliance
on Gods help. He will deliver me,
: David says here. g) Offer the sacrifices
OF Righteousness and put your trust in the
Lord" Psalm Nv; trust In the righteous;
ness of Christ. says David here, But
come in the name of the Lord OF hosts.
(5 But thou. Lord. will bless the right
1 y =