Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1889-08-29
THE SUNDAY school.
AN INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE
LESSON CONSIDERED.

ing tho scripturaI Lessons Inteliigentiy
and Probably.
The lesson for Sunday. Sept. 1. may be
found In 1 Sam. II: 32-5l.
INTRODUCTORY.
We come to the story OF one OF the most
notable personal encounters OF all history.
Homer. in his generous periods descriptive
OF the meeting OF heroes and demi-gods In
the Trojan battle plain. never touched the
high mark OF either literary or moral sub
Unity to which this narrative carries US.
There was real dignity In this contest. We
execrate the French duel, we abominato
and abhSr the English prize-ring. because
OF eithor the total absence OF adequate pur-
pose. or else the utter falseness OF the APP
plication. But where. as here. great tissues
are at stake. and a great cause e to o DC
served. the matching OF strength with
strength, and the acceptance OF
sort OF vlcarious test and ordeal has
something in IL near akin to divinity The
Roman youth who for Rome's veal leaped
into the yawning chasm, John Maynard
who, TO save the passengers OF his burning
vessel. clung in self f-immolation to his
pilots box. awakens in us an admiration
little short ofreverence. 1t becomes wholly
reverence. at last and alone. when ona
tree outside the walls Kingly Head drops,
and he who was wounded for our transgres-
sions-the just for the unjust-meets and
conquers the giant Death.
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS
And Dauid said. David had como on
merely civilian errand TO the battlefield
". ID, which was at u point on the troub-
lous borders OF the land not far east OF
Bethlehem. Hds bold words about the in
solent Goliath ". 26) had been reported to
Saul, who, at his wits ends to break the
deadlock, now forty days In duration,
sent at once to him.-FaiL because of him.
The Douay version says. "Be discouraged
in him." (See Margin.) We prefer. how
ever, the King James translation as nearer
the original tOUer HIM .--This Palestine.
He may have been mercenary OF the
Philistines, and one of the. relies OF the
old Anakim. SO frightful always to
Israel Deut 8: 2. He was about
ten feet high. and belonged to a family OF
GigRptiGu iun nAss ns 5ailt t,8ftsx ri slain by
Saul said to DdUid. Saul had already met
David. but knew him up to this time only
as poet and musician az 10. How
strange, then, this new Development So
strange, indeed, that he does not seem to
recognize him in his new character. or IL he
does. the startling events of the day make
a revision of his conception OF the young
man necessary (see VS.. 55-59, 1t must be
remembered tn at several years had prob
ably passed since David was for a season in
the royal court.--But a youth. The word.
according to the lexicon, could be applied
to bearded young man OF twenty. We
know from l Sam 16: Is, that David had, be-
fore this. shown himself TO be remarka-
bly, strong and well-developed young man.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
IhU servant lCtU 90 and f0ht IGith THIS
Phtlistine. The voice of tho 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 Davil. full Of trust in God2
Tetzel WAS the Goliath OF work righteous
ness, and Luther, with his The just shall
live by faith" was the David who smote
him TO the earth and pat the whole of Phil
istia to constsrnation. Bunyan and Wes-
ley ana hnvN aud Edwards were young Da-
vids In their day. May me mention in their
later spheres of action. Phillips. Cough.
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
churchl
But come TO thee in the name of the Lord
Of hosts. That was holy boldness. 1t deiled
the sword because u greater sword was
held; "the sword OF the spirit. which Is the
word OF God" 1t despised the spear be-
cause around about were the invisible yet
invincible spearsmen OF the Almighty. 1t
| laughed at shield and javelin, for of the
| omnipotent God it might say: He is our
| help and shield" His truth shall be my
| she'll and bucklor." To those who go forth
| In tho name OF God there Is safety anG
strength. "There"-that is. to those dwell
ing in the Zion Of full faith-"there brake he
| tho arrows OF tho bow, the shield, and tbs
sword and the battle 1t is the secret OF
| Hudson Taylor's success in China aud 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.
but Gods. and hence we can call in all the
sRRggbn9rXo o 4f rDa, hsayen The servant 81 GGd
/ 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. D for the devout in
| trepidty OF an Elijah on Carmell o for
| faith to believe that the battle Is the Lord S
and to call upon the divine resourcesl Once
in while pious courage startles us with
| its appeal and wakes us to the magnitude
| OF the conflict and OF the forces enlisted in
it. 1t was such a spirit that arrested the
| attention Of David Hume when Geo &c
WhiteHeld was closing one Of his match
less proelamations Of the gospel Pausing
moment the great preacher stamped with
his foot. lifted up his eyes and hands tc
hoaven with the cry that thrilled the vast
audience as scarcely anything else could
stop, GABRIEL stop, Gabriell stop ere YOU
enter the sacred portals and yet carry with
you the news Of one sinner converted tc
God"
Piue smooth stones. First, they wer,
right at hand; /. o., available;. second
they were easily carried and portable
third. they were designed to. fly straight u
the matk, definite, incisive; fourth. the,
were meant to bring down the object a
which they were aimed-effective flftl
and last. every one Of them was enough
for all this IL rightly cast; they wer'
charged, as 1t wore. with divine energy
Let US pick up five such stones out OF th
heavenly brook which seemed to run a
David's feet. stones which David used (,
fight greater Goliah in later years. an,
which are smooth and round for our owl
use against the, giants that challenge US
There are many OF them and we need no
err in taking the first we come to at tn
crossing of the brook. ~ The Lor
knowethl the way of the righteous; ce
lestial intercourse. Psalm j. And her
David says I'm remembrance of tha
observation-disclosures Thy servant sleN
both the lion and the bear" ~ why d.
| the heathen rage?" Psalm III, confldenc
in the superior might OF Jehovah. Say
David of Goliatl. Let no mans heart fa
because Of him." (B Thou. OIord. art
shield for me. / will not be afraid OF te
thousands Of people," Psalm III; relianc
on Gods help. He will deliver me,
David says here. (D "Offer the sacrifice
OF Righteousness and put your trust In th
Lord" Psalm Nv; trust in the righteous
ness OF Christ. says David here. But
| come in tho name of tho Lord of hosts.
9) But thou, Lord. will bless the right
eous; with favcr wilt thou compass him q
with a shields" simple dependence on th
! grace OF God. The Lord saveth not wit
! sword and spear" Just five smooth stone
out OF the brook.
Next Lesson-"David and Jonathan