The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-08-22
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Duties Taught bY . Study or the Inter
national Sunday.schOo Lessen Appoiated 10
Sept. 1. SAM, II 1851.


Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
indicated above.l
SUBJECT: GOLIATH KILLED BY DAVID.
/. Preliminary.
Though Canaan was the Promised Land Of
the Israelites, yet 1t was not handed to them
freed from enemies IL was beautiful terri
tory, worth getting and keeping. The first
work of Gods people was to rid it OF the hea-
then. They were promised Gods assistance
Had they had enough faith and energy they
might at the very start have driven out their
foes. But they loved ease too much had too
little faith in God As q consequences, tue
neighboring nations kept annoying them. The
Phlistines were very troublesome. At the
time of our lesson the Israolite5 were sorely
threatened by that people. Led by Saul thcy
went forth to battle. The Philistines and the
Israelites were ranged in opposite war-like
lines The sons of Jesse. brothers of David,
had enlisted and were in arms Among the
Philistines was giant Day after day he went
forth, insolent, threatening, and challenging
the Israelites to match him. He proposed that
the troubles between the two sides be settled in
a sort Of duel. As he stalked forth fear fell on
the Israelites. No man dared to volunteer to
meet the defiant giant. One day David went
to tho army to visit his brothers. While there
he saw and heard Goliath. His whole soul was
stirred up with Indignation. Though not sol
der he was eager to meet the staggering
braggart. and asked the privilege of so doing.
IL seemed insane, suicidal, for youth, unused
to war, of small stature, to accept the challange
OF man stalking large, n cleaning form. y
But David insisted. argued, told of some oil
his exploits oversees 1887, and begged the priv
ilege of meeting the boasting antagonist.
We give special attention In these notes to
verses 1881.
9. Tho Principals.
David aud Goliath have become household
words. Tho story Of the boy killing the giant
is nursery tale.
Goliath was Philistine-a resident Of Gath
about IL feet high. He was heather as to
religion. He trusted in his great hight and
strength, protected by armor. No idea 0i
Providence entered his mind. He was op.
posed to the Israelites on principle. He had
evidently more bravado than courage. For 4l
days twice daily--S0 times-he went forth,
daring any Israelite to meet him. Even Saul
declined such contest though he was himself
very tall. (9:2.(
David was but a youth; one Of eight sons Of
Jesse Of Bethlehem; shepherd boy - the
youngest child OF the family, perhaps 10 years
of age. lie had confidence not so much in
skill nor strength, but in an over-ruling Provi
deucc. lie clained that be killed the bear and
the lion only because the Lord enabled him "a
do So He expected God to be at his side il
the contest WITH Goliath. We are reminded oil
Zeeh.. 1 =" Who art thou, great mountain
Before Herubbabol thou shalt become plain
The mountain stands for those who opposed
tho Israeitcs in rebuilding their temple, bul
Xerubbabel brought them down 10 the ground
So the Philstines stood on mountain before
the youth OF Israel brazen and defiant. lYerss
81 So, too, the body of Goliath was as {
mountain of flesh before the stripping David.
& The Ay1aor
We have In verses 30, 80 reference to the an
cient armor of soldiers. Compare with verses
| 81. The armoT consisted of several parts. TIVE
are specified in verse ga helmet OF brass anC
a coat of mail The helmet protected the head
1 The part which covered the face WAS the beaver
| IL WAS made jointed, SO that il could be raised
| enabling the weafer to drink. In ruder modern
| warfare the helmet is worn somewhat. 1t wa
| made Of firm hide, skins, or brass. The coat o
mail Of Goliath weighed 5000 shekes, or Isl
pounds " 3D. Piutareh says the usual weig
| OF a soldiers pan0ply was about go pounds. Al
eimus, in the army of Demetrius, had an armoi
| double that weight. The coat Of mail covered
| the body down TO the ankles. Helmets and
coats OF mail were defensive armor Dayit
took aH ofensive, or attacking weapon
sword. This shows he expected TO approach
| Goliath for hand to-hand contest, and not
| fight at distance with spear and bow. But /
4 WAS folly for David to put Rrmor against armoi
4 according 10 ancient warfare. Goliath nigh
] wear his outfit. David. at tho suggestion o
| SAUL essayed TO meet the giant in the usua
| military garb. He made trial OF tho armor, bu
no WAS not used TO such defensive gear. II,
| had not proved, tried, accustomed himself Il
| such an outfit lie saw he could not move Will
| alacrty. Aud he was not Intending TO depend
| on his own skill or strength. He believed Got
would Bght the enemy. merely using David
lie wore no soldier clothes. He took no usua
implements of war. He went forth q mer'
| shepherd. He had staff cut from Q tire.
| branch and customarily carried by shepherd
| lie had his sling. IL was very ancient wea
pon. Tho inhabitants Of the Balearic IslandI
were in great notoriety from their skill will
the sling. Their name 10 derived from sait
practice. Parents on those Islands would neve
allow their children TO partake meal till the.
had shot il by the use Of tho sling from SOM
quite elevated point. vegetius states tina
singers in general could readily HE n mari
600 feet distant. Ovid aud Seneca represent
| ieaden ball siung with such velocity as TO mel
In the air. Eastern shepherds still carry Sling
sling was made out of hair, sinews. rushes
wool work, or leather. The spot where tn
stone was put in the sling was called the cup, be
cause by n sort Of depression. cup-like in shape
it retained the stone till siuug Tho materia
OF the sling was quite wide ut the cup or aper
ture for tho stone, and from there tapered dow
| tue cAun, SnnDtiNR IL I'd Do uiufo tiSoA
While David trusted in Jehovah. it is plain h
had great confidence In bis skill in the US
OF the sling Eugene Potion, in his volume
Spain aud It's People," speaking of his or
trance into Cordova, refers to the singers whoI
he met, and remarks the marvels Of their deS
tsrity aud accuracy in the use of the sling w
notice how carefully David selected the stone
| He took more than one. He took smooth stones
Trusting in God, he acted Us though he had
part TO do
L. Time and Place.
We date the lesson A. NJ. 29il. or d. C. log
The contest between David and Goliath was
tho Valley of Eiah, The place is now know
ms the Vale of Acacias. or the Wadi Sgmi.
was between 10 TO 20 miles southwest frol
Jerusalem.
g. The Approaeh.
All things ready, the fight began. AS WI
his custom, the giant went forth from I'll
} camps of tho Philistines To defy the Israelite
challenging for a competition. 1t was unde
stood that that side would DO victorious who's
representative defeated the representative
the opposite side. 1t was David against Gel
} ath; the STRIPPING against the giant; rigl
against wrong; God against the enemies of
rael modesty against insolenco; monotheis
against polytheism; the spiritual against u
material faith against fatalsm. There WI
GOODNESS about David without impertinence;
consciousness OF right a full reliance on Jeh
: yah.
6. The CoRoqay.
: David and Goliath came within speaking Ill
lance. Back of Goliath was heather serval