The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1895-12-06
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
DECEMBER j.
Lesson Text: "Davld and Goliath, ="
L Samuel xviii, 3S-5i-GOlden
\ Text: Samuel xviii, AZ
Commentary.

3S. And Saul armed David with his ar
NOR. In tn" in crvCning verses since last
lesson We sea David refreshing Saul with his
harp. greatly loved bv him, having h.com.
MS armor bearcr (chnptcr xvi, 81. 23). Ho
hnerward returned TO feed his fathers sheen
M bethlehem (Xvii., l5). The r. " saws that
he went to and fro between Saul and Bsth,e-
.hem But now the armies OF Israel and of
the Philis;incS ar" face 10 face. and the hosts
OF Israel are dr'lcd by the giant, Goliath OF
Gath: David, htvng come from home 10 see
now his brethren farcd and observing how
the God of Israel WAS being dishonorcl. Of
Tered 10 Eight and conquer the giant Saul.
nearing his story OF trust in the Lord OVERSEES
34 to 80, accepts his offer and clothes him
with his armor.
80. Il cannot so with these, for have not
proved them Everything like natural
strength or human helps is apt to prove a
,hindrance in the Lords work. If Ii was 10
be u test between flesh nnd flesh, armor and
armor, Saul, who was head aud shoulders
| above the people. should have gone forth to
meet Goliath. David is but "a shephered
youth and il God will work through him II
must be apart from human Devices
40. and he took his staff in his hand and
chose him five smooth stones out OF tho
brook" Being shepherd, he went forth as
such in his truO character Moses went
from keeping sheep to conquer Pharaoh.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is tho good aud great
and chief Shepherd who will yet humble al
His foes. The sling and stones David had
proved, and he may nave had skill like tb,
7uC LETT handed BEN jamitcs OF JLIg. XX &C.
But the Lord was surely with him.
al, ~ when the Phiistin" looked about
and saw David, he disdained him." They
Grew nigh to each other. thu mighty man OF
heSh with his armor bearer before him. and
the ruddy youth Of fair countenanca with no
armor aud no visible companion. The many
thousands OF Israel and of tho Philistines
looked on in wonder, but there were unseen
n N m II.
was there. bnt not with the Philistine
H. A. 'The Philistine cursed David by
his gods" The 1lcsh disdains the spirit
and mocks as when lshmael Knocked Isaac
But the carnul mind knows not the Lord
Consider these two upon whom both earth
aud heaven were now intently gazing The
PhilStine, nine feet six inches high with
armor Weighing over two hundred pounds a
spear with Il staff like n weavers beam anu n
head weighing about twenty pounds, and an
attendant to bear his shield; David, a youth
i'll u shepherds dress, alone. with but his
staff and sling. Tho Philistine strong in
his own Nigh: and curSinS as he came;
David in reliance upon the Lord and with a
prayerful heart.
45. Il come 70 thee in the name OF tho
Lori OF Hosts, the God OF tho armies of Is
rael, whom thou hast defied." Goliath rem
resented himself, but David represented God
AS truly as Jesus Christ represented the
Father when He was here on earth in n
mortal body. and the Father spoke through
HIM. and wrought through Him. so we like
David AMI Moses and Joshua and Gideon and
the apostles may and should represent the
Lord Jesus and .he Father in our mortal
bodies. whole-hearted yielding to Him.
and relying apon Him. with no aim but to
honor lin will idemonstrate Ger. xxxiii., 81.
45. "That all the earth may know that
there is u God in Israel" Seeking nothing
for himself. but only to magnify Jehovah
and lit His name out Of the reproach resting
upon it, David went forth with his heart
OF tlli linn, Tho l,n.l .l.is..
from the lion and the bear. Could our
churches get rid of the ambition to magnify
themselves and their denominations, and live
only to magnify the Lord. they would soon
see His power on their behalf (II Chron.
xvi, 81.
Al. "rhe battle is the Lords" See also
III Chron. HX.. 10. 1t is not sword or spear,
but the Lord who shall work. mot by
might nor by power. but by My Spirit, saith
the Lord OF Hosts" Czech. iv., 60. Consider
the passage through the Red Sea, and the
Jordan, well the dcliverance from
Egypt Consider the walls of Jericho also,
and let us, like Moses and Joshua, put Off
our shoes and keep them Off. lest we hinder
the Lord OF Hosts by thinking that the work
Is ours and by making suggestions to Him
as to how things ought to be dono. Oh, to
keep. our hands off and stop attempting TO
steady the ark. We must also studiousIv
avoid all the "new cart" business
4S, 40. "David hasted and ran toward the
army to meet the Phiiistine." The crisis is
on; all eyes are upon these two men, What
an exciting moment! A stone is quickly in
Davids sling, swiftly it flies around his
head and is on its way with uuerring aim to
its destination. II strikes the giant on tho
forehead, sinks into his head, and he falls
upon his face to the grOuud. David is vic
tor-no; the Lord of Hosts is the victor. and
little David is the happy vessel used by God
because his aim was to magnify jehovah
90. $50 David prevailed over tho PhiIis-
tine with u sling aud with Il stone God
chooses weak things and things which ara
not to bring to nau9ht things which are
that no flesh may glory in His presence
When Nehemiah finished the wall with tho
aid OF the merchants and Soldsmiths and
apothccaricS and women, it Is written that
"his enemies perceived that the work was
worSmcn been VIII skilled in the art OF
building ston" walls then they would have
mad the crcait. iidi David boon u mighty
man and warrior he might nave hat the
credit. but now il il clearly uI God, anh Is
raCl l. rchuk"h for her lack oi faitn in Him
81. Siam by the stone from Dav:dS sling
David now lakes tho giant own sword ana
cuts of his head AMI brings II in his hand 10
saul. The phiSiN"s fee. Israel pursuuS
and there Is II great victory, for tho Lord
hath done il. Let us become siiiiul in ing
the stones IRON the brock. tho precious
things from the word Of God, for nothing
VIII bring down the giants OF pride and
haSphcmy like the word OF God given forth
i'll His name. Lesson Helper.