The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-07
SUNDAY-SCHOOL LESSON.
DIR. PELL's DEDUCTION FROM THE
Staying OFGOLiATH.
Every David Has His Goliath The Giant
Temptation often Challenges Us tos
Fight The Object Lessons.

December sth-David and Goliath.--I.
Samuel xviii, 3s-5l.
David had a fondness and a talent for
music, and though he had no stage
save that which had the sky for its
roof and no audience except his fathers
sheep and his Heavenly Fathers birds
he had a way OF doing his best. and be
played so well that somehow the outside
world got wind OF IL. Little did he inn
aglne when he was satisfying his own soul
with the best work he could do, that the
talent which he was culttvatlrg would be
the means OF introducing him TO kings
court and eventually to n kingdom.
Little did he dream that he was pre-
pairing to improve the worship OF Jeho-
vah's Temple. and to enrich the Church
through ali ages with inspired and inspir-
ing hymns. But these are the talents
and these are the labors which are sure
to ive--these things which belong to our
unseen life, these things which we do not
advertise, and which we do not calculate
upon bringing MS I'm anything-these
things which we are 30 often tempted
TO do but poorly because no one sees
us. IL David had done his best on his
harp only when people were listening.
his best would never have been worth
listening TO. II he had never done his
best with his sling, except when there
was a match game the lesson upon
which we are now entering would never
have been written.
The story il too familiar TO need set
ting forth in order. We must content
ourselves with snapshots here and
there, where the truths which we need
to learn lie thickest.
On one side OF ravine. i'm the valley
OF Elah stands a giant-a descendant OF
the ancient Anakim. Aside from his
armor, the picture is that OF a big. cow
ardly, school-boy. whose chief glory Is
in jumping on every little fellow that
comes In his way. On the other side OF
the ravine arc the little fellows-namely,
Saul's soldiers--who are cold with fright.
and a ruddy youth. who IL hot with in
dlgnatiOn. This youth is just from home,
and has come, not 10 join the army. but
only TO bring a basket Of bread TO hts
brothers. and some cheese for their
captain, and 10 inquire how the boys are
getting on DO you see that giant?
He is defying US" the soldiers have said
to David And the young shepherd ~
all on fire. who is this uncircumcised
Phlistine that he should defy the armies
of the living God?" David Is fresh from
the quiet fields where 1t is easy for
a man TO commune with God, and where
Il Is easy for n jealous young lsraelite
to think of Israel as belonging 20 God.
The soldiers have forgotten all that, and
Il has not occurred TO them that the
giants challenge is a matter I'm which
Jehovah is especially interested. David
takes 1t as an insult offered to God. and
as a servant OF God, he desires to resent
it.
The thought comes 10 us as we go on
with the story that every David has his
Goliath. More than once I'm life
time. we wake up on a cloudy morning
20 find that some giant temptation has
challenged us TO a fight. David killed
the giant enemy; may we not learn from
this lesson how We can Kill ours?
Here comes a worldly-wise man. who
saws: 81 think | understand It..
David was shrewd fellow. He
always knew what to do, and the very
nick OF time I'm which to do II. lie
knew, for instance just when 10 catch
the lion by the beard. II was the
most natural thing in the world for
man of David's shrewdness to stop at
the brook, pick up a smooth stone, twirl
II In his sling. and send 1t crashing
through the giants BRAIN There Is
good deal I'm what MIR. Worldly-wise Man
says. God intends us to use our COM
mon sense in lighting our temptations
and there IS no better way than to Dip
down into the old Book. and pick up
some smooth stone OF a promise, and put
n in tho sling OF faith. and let II fly
against every temptation that comes IN
sight. But the divine side Is upper
most in every conquest. David knew
his chances. and used them but sup
nose he had missed his game?
Three things helped David I'm this fight.
Ia Tho first Mace he called to mind