The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-09-06
DAVID AND JONATHAN.


LESSON TExT sam. 20: Liza
GOLDEN TEXT There is = friend that
sticketh closer than brother Prov. 1s;a4
CENTRAL TRuTn Truth, friendship with
God and with man, Il full Of blessings snd
power.
TrxK-B. c. 1907 About year after Da-
gid's victory over Goliath.
PLACE Gibcah. four miles north Of Jcru-
salem, vt the royal palace. and 1t the stone
I Ezel In the fields
/ SArL-About ~ years old. King over L.
racl 10 years. or 81. according to the common
chronology.
DAvrp-Twenty to twcnsy-,hree years old.
dwelling, since his victory, NJ the court Of
Saul captain over 1000 soldiers, and SON.
n-law 10 the King
! JONATHAN Son Of Saul, natural heir 10
the throne, perhaps thirty five years old.
After the victory over
Goliath, David was retained AZ Saul's court
But he was so praised by others, he WAS so
favored by God. aud so wise, that Saul was
envious, and tried 10 kill him. Several At
tempts were made in vain; but at last
Saul's anger was 50 great that David fled
to Samuel AZ Ramah. four miles northwest
n Jerusalcr and not far from Gibcah.
HELPS OVER HARD PLACES l. Prom
Na.oth: 'thc cluster OF cottages probably
the dwellings Of Samuels school OF the
prophets. 3. Thy father knowcfh. etc:
David was sure that Saul was intending 10
kill hun 3. The n<,r moon: feast was
usually held on the first d ~ Of each month
which began with the new moon. II was
celebrated by sncrihciai feast and the
blowing Of trumpcts Mum. 1910; . Ills.
Thiid day. tho feast probably continued two
lays. o. Yearly sacrifice: probably like the
,ne AZ which David was anoinfcd. (See
essen 50 This was not perfect truth, but
he Bible only states the fact. and does not
approve II. Moreover, we must Judge OF
me guilty by the light OF those Gays, not BY
,urs. II. Come, let ns 90 out. etc.: The
story Of David's escape is told in the latter
part Of the chapter.
LESSON FAcrs-David was obliged to fee
from Saul, and In his simplicity asked JON
sthan what the cause OF his fathers anger
against him was. Jonathan comforted his
friend, assuring him that he would not be
killed. To this David answers that iona
than does not know the bitter spirit that
his father cherishes, because his father has
hid il from his eyes. Then David asked his
friend TO find out the true inwardncss OF
tho King, so that he may know how to gov
ern himself. This Jonathan promises 10 do.
and they make an arrangement as 10 how
Jonathan shall let his friend know what he
finds out about the mind OF the King. In
all this interview we see very clearly the
grand spirit that Jonathan has in his heart
for his friend.
COMMENTS The root Of all Saul's actions
towards David was hidden deep down IN
his heart. and so in the lesson OF to-day we
shall find the root OF all Jonafhans con-
~, urs1a In. fl.s. In
the former case, however, the root was
envy. Ia this case. 1t is love. And how
different the fruitage Call the scholars
attention TO the grandeur Of this love of
Jonafhau's towards his friend. Humancy
speaking, II Saul had any occasion TO envy
David, Jonathan had more. Because.
though David might not attempt to seize the
reins OF government during Sauls lifetime.
he might moro readily do 50 after the death
Of saul. And OF course this would prevent
Jonathan from ever ascending the throne
That Jonathan often thought OF this thoro
can be no doubt. Yet all this raised no
spirit OF animosity at all in his noble heart
But more than this. In spite Of all tcmp,a-
tons TO be David's enemy, Jonathan not
only refused TO oppose him, but &C ually
helped him in many ways. And not only
this, but he helped him at his own great
personal risk. II really seems as though
Jonathrn's thoughts were far more con-
cerned for David's happiness and safety
than for his own. When he '.fcll in love
with DAVID II sam. ls:u, he gave up TO
him every thing. and from that day on. 10
the end OF bis life. he chung TO him closer
than . brother. As an example OF friend
ship between man and man, this affection
between Jonathan and David fully matches
that between Ruth and Naomi
Draw . parallel between the love OF
Jonafh han and David. and that Of Jesus for
US. This will not be hard to do. for in
every particular, while the one surpasscs
the other. II - yet like to it. For example,
ta) the love OF Jonathan for David cost him
heavy price. So the love OF Jesus cost
HIM heavy price, even the outpouring OF
His life blood. fb) Jonathan's love brought
him nothing but the mere JOY Of loving, and
the pleasure he took in David's welfare so |
with our Saviour. His love 70 US brought !
Him nothing. saving the joy and love and |
the pleasure OF saving sinners. tc) jon
athan's love was stcadfast unto the end.
SO Jesus, having loved His own. loved them /
TO the end. When, however, we have made |
all the comparisons we can, between the |
love OF Jonathan to David. and the love OF \
Jesus TO US, we must 20 on br I
contrasts. Thus: fa) David never did any \
injury TO Jonathan; but while we were vet
sinners tcncmies), IN due time Christ died |
for US. 10 David never rejected JON
athan love- But when Jesus came TO His /
own. His own received Him not He was
despised and rejected, and yet He loved
tc) After David accepted Jonathan's friend /
ship. he never wounded him. But Jesus
ran say that He has often been ''woundeti
10 the house Of His fricnds,r and yet He
loves II Is this continuous love Of Jesus
Tor His creatures that is most amazing.
Not that He loved US once with divine but
spasmodic love, leading him TO make ono
dnal effort to save US, but that He loves
right on, in spite OF wandcrings many and
rebuns many. Take Jonathan's wonderful
owe for David and multiply il BY infinity,
md you have the lovo Of Christ towards
,very onc.--Rev. A. +. Schaufiicr.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
!. Tho best friendships requires worth in
both parties.
. Friendship Is tested by adversely.
3 We grow like those We love.
4 Truo friendship cxalts, cnnobles, and
,lcsscs.
3 False friends, bad companions, are tho
'uin OF many.