The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-12-05
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
DECEMBER q.
Lesson Text: "DavId and Goliath, I"
L Samuel xviii, 3S -5t-Goiden
Text' Samuel xviii, AZ
Commentary.

NOR. In the intervening verses since last
lesson we see David refreshing Saul with hi,
harp, greatly loved by him, having become
his armor bearer Chapter xvi, 81, 49, Ho
afterward returned to feed his fathers sheen
nj Bethlehem xvii, 15). The u, " saws TINT
he went TO and fro between Saul and Bethle-
hem. But now the armies OF Israel and OF
the Phiiistines are face 10 face and the hosts
OF Israel are defed by the giant. Goliath, OF
Oath. David, ha wing come from homo to see
how his brethren fared and observing how
the God OF Israel was being dishonored. Of
fered to fight aud conquer the giant. Saul.
hearing his story OF trust In the Lord oversees
~ to 30, accepts his offer and elothes him
with his armor.
30. II cannot go with these. for have not
proved them" Everything like natural
strength or human helps Is apt to prove a
hindrance in the Lords work. IN Il was TO
be test between flesh and flesh, arrrpor and
armor, Saul, who was head and shoulders
above the people, should have gono forth 10
meet Goliath. David IL but N shcplrered
youth aud II God will work through him n
must be apart from human devices.
40. "And he took his staH In HE hand and
chose him five smooth stones out OF the
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 the good aud great
and chief shepherd who will yet humble all
His foes. The sling and stones David had
proved, aud he may have had skill like the
200 loft handed BenIamites Of Judg. xx... t6.
But the Lord was surely with him
Al, ~ "When the Philistine looked about
and saw David, he disdaincd him." They
drew nigh to each other, the mighty man OF
flesh with his armor bearer before him, and
the ruddy youth Of fair oountenance with no
armor and no visible companion. The many
thousands OF Israel and OF tho Philistines
looked on in wonder, but there wore unseen
hosts looking on, too, hnd the Lord Himself
was there. but not with the philistine.
43, ~ "The Philistine cursed David bv
his gods" The flesh disdains the spirit
and mocks rs when Ishmael mocked Isaac
But the carnal mind knows not the Lord.
Consider these two upon whom both earth
and heaven were now intently gazing. The
Philistine. nine feet six inches high. with
armor Weighing over two hundred pounds. a
spear with q stan like n woaver's beam and n
head weighing about twenty pounds, aud an
attendant to.bear his shield; David, n youth
In n shepherds dress, alone. with but his
stan and sling. The Philistlne strong in
his own might and cursing as no came;
David in reliance upon the Lord and with a
prayerful heart.
IS. "I como to thoe' in tho namc OF tho
Lord OF Hosts, tho God OF tho armies OF Is.
rael, whom thou hast deGed." Goliath ron
resented himself, but David represented God.
"A truly as Jesus. Christ represented the
Wltu WIS HfFB on tHrtn IN
mortal body, and the Father spoke through
Him. aud wrought through Him, so we like
David and Moses and Joshua and Gideon and
the apostles may and should represent the
Lord Jesus and The Father in our mortal
bodies. A whole-hearted yielding 10 Him,
and relying upon Him, with no aim but to
honor Him will demonstrate der. xxxili ~.
4G. "That all tho earth may know that
there is a God in Israel" Seeking nothing
for himself. but only to magnify Jehovah
and lift His name out OF the reproach resting
upon II, David went forth with his heart
stayed.upon Him who had delivered him
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 tho Lord, they would soon
see His power on their behalf (II Chron.
xvi, 0).
A. "Tho battle is the Lords" See also
III Chron. Xxx, 10 1t is not sword or spear,
but tho Lord who shall work. "Not by
might nor by power. but by Ny Spirit, saith
the Lord of Hosts Czech. w., 6). Consider
the passage through the Rcd Sea, and the
Jordan, as well ns the deliverance from
Egypt. Consider the walls OF Jericho also.
and let us. like Moses and Joshua, put of
our shoes and keep them of. lest we hinder
the Lord OF Hosts by thinking that tho work
Is ours and by making suggestions TO Him
as to how things ought to be done. Oh, to
keep our hands of and stop attempting TO
steady the ark. Wo must also rludiously
avoid all the "new cart" business.
4S, 40. David hasted and ran toward tho
army TO meet the Philistine." Tho crisis is
on; all eyes are upon these two mon. What
an exciting moment A stone IL quickly i'm
Davids sling, swiftly II flies around his
head and Is on its way with unerring aim 60
its destination. II strikes the giant on the
forehead, sinks into his head, and hs falls
upon his face to the ground. David IL 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.
80. $50 David prevailed over the Philis.
tine with sling aud with u stone God
chooses weak things and things which are
not to bring to naught things which are,
that no flesh may glory In His presence.
When Nehemiah finished tho wall with the
aid OF the merchants and goldsmiths and
apothecaries and women, II Is written that
"his enemies perceived that the work was
wrought OF God" (Neh. VI, 16). Had the
workmen been well skilled In the art OF
building stone walls then they would have
had the credit. Had David been mighty
man and warrior he might have had tho
credit, but now II Ia clearly OF God, and IL.
rael IL rebuked for her lack OF faith In Him.
81. Slain by the stone from David's sling,
David now takes the giants own sword and
cuts of his head and brings 1t In his hand to
Saul. The Philistines fee, Israel pursues.
and there Is great victory, for the Lord
hath done II. Let us Become sklful In using
the stones from the brock, the precious
things from the word OF God, for nothing
blasphemy like the word of God givea forth
A n IL mi IlalnAH