Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-09-05
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER 9th.

DAVID AND JONATHAN-I SAM XX, 1-l3
From the New York Independent
NOTEs.-NdiOth.- cluster of build
ings, the dwelling of the school O
prophets, of which Samuel was the head
- -Ramah.-Samuel's dwelling place
four miles from Jerusalem and rear tt
Gibeah.-He came to Gibeah, tn
capital, in order to have an interview
with his hearts friend.-T91tly as tn
Lord Eoeih.-This is David's solemn
oath, referred to above. To moron
is the ne,o moOn.-Special feasts or sac
rifiees were celebrated at the beginnin;
of each month (Num. xvii, lib y
Then say.-This is nothing less than q
lie that David asks Jonathan to tell hi,
father. In the light we have it is un
justifiable. According to the morality
of those days it might have been justifi
ed. We must judge David not by om
standards, but by the lower codes they
had.
INsTRUCTIoN.-This friendship is one
of the rarities of history, sacred for pro-
fame. The romantic side of persons
character is always attractive, and read
ers and students are never tired of con-
templating the love of David or Jona-
than-a mutual love surprising that of
women.
Yet such friendships are not uncom-
mon in these mechanical days when
mind and soul are mostly alert to earn
the dollar for bread and home. Our men
do not talk and rhapsodize over their
friendships as is the custom among Ori-
entails. A grasp of the hand is often the
only outward sign of supreme trust
Our poets sing of history rather than of
the living present. Yet perhaps there
is no nObler test to a mans character
than such friendship as the lesson
speaks of.
1t must be founded on the highest
type of purity history has revealed. 1t
must be on as lofty plane as that be-
tween Christ and John. The maxim
"honor between thieves" is all bosh
There can be no honor where the mo-
tive is base. There can be no love be-
tween immoral persons, if this defini-
milton of love be accepted" God is
love-"
1t is too common for men to come to-
gether to do little quiet tippling or
card playing; to tell questionable stories
and discuss the financial or political
crisis over their cigars, and refer to these
companions as their friends. Another
kind of spurious friendship is on high
erlevel. 1t is when members of churches
meet, whether ministers or laymen, and
condemn their neighbOrs in ecclesiasti-
cal language, because they do not love
God their way.
But friends should so elevate each
others manly tone that they radiate an
uncon scious benevOlence, just as the
lover who has been successful in hard
won suit feels as if he loved the whole
world and that Nature adored him.
Friendship is the sureSt test of char
acter. The more unselfish the more sue
cessful the relation will be. David was
ready for Jonathan to kill him if he was
of his friends affection. JON
athan dared the anger of Saul for the
sake of his friend.
A deep affection is great strain upon
a character. 1t brings out the evil as
well as the good. There is no sin which
has not been committed in the name of
love- The moral tension of strong af-
fection is sometimes tremendous. The |
impulse of self-sacrifice will lead men |
anywhere. David tempted Jonathan to
a small deception. That lie was not so
immoral then as it would be now. But |
the danger is too old and too young to
be limited to any age. Friendship needs
to keep its high ideal as an eagle must
guard its wings. Clip either and it falls.
Friendship not only tests the weakness
in character, but the strong and true.
David was poet. Saul was warrior.
Both trusted the Lord and each other.
Their different natures found common
ground in a religious feeling that neith-
or was ashamed of. The intimacy of
our civilization, compared with the SIM
Dlicity of the ancient, need not do away
with religious fervor as a basis of friend
ship. We need such ground the more
Dur minds are distracted by business and
,ur hearts are faint with a thousand
subtle oppositions.
This was a disinterested friendship.
Neither could gain aught but love from
he other. AS thus it has stood as the
ype unto this day. Instead of asking
rom each other they were greedy to
erve. Jonathan gave David his armOr
md warned him at the risk of his life.
TO lay ones life down for friend is yet
considered the noblest test of sincere at
achment.
Mutual love to God is, then, the sure
ooting for friendship. Christ is the
pest school for friends the world has yet
He, by his beneacence to
nen, teaches them fidelity In their de-