The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-12-12
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
DECEMBER 10.
Lesson Text. "David and Jonathan"
i Sauuel Ky, 32-42 - Golden
rext Prov. xviii, IA
Commentary.

30. "And Jonathan answered Saul, his
father. and said unto him. Wherefore shall
he be slain What hath he done?" After
David had slain Goliath and had finished
speaking witt Baul, II Is written that Jona-
than. son OF saul, loved David as his own
soul and gave him his robe and garments
and sword and bow and girdle (chapter
xviii, 1-5), and that Saul also set him over
his men OF war and would let him go no
more home. But when the women Gang
Saul has slain his thousands and David his
ten thousands' (xviii., ~, then Saul became
Jealous and sought TO take David's life.
Having rejected the Lord by hts dis
obedience, he became the prey ~ an evil
spirit, but the Lord was with David aud
prospered him (xviii., i0-l6) As Sauls
prosecutions Of David increased. David said
one day to Jonathan. "As the Lord liveth,
and as thy soul liveth. there IL hut step
between me aud death" (xS.. ~. but Jonathan
could not believe that his father meant death
10 David and 50 agreed to sound his father
(xx., l2) In David's absence, and then let
David know. Saurs answer was that David
must die (verse BY. hence Jonathan's reply
as In this first verse OF our lesson.
80. And Saul cast iavclin nj him 60
smite him, whereby Jonathan knew that II
was determined OF his father to slay David"
II there was anger enough in Saul 60 kill
his own son, then II was certainly q poor
prospect, humanity speaking, for David We
SEQ In Saul what may become Of a man when
he rciccts God. Saul might have been the
Lords own representative. honorcd by God
and man, Tor everything was put within hs
reach for his good
"a. "He was gricvcd for David. because
his father had done him shame" There
fore he arose from the table and went away
without eating II is easy 20 fast when the
heart Ia gricycl, and II our love to Jesus
Christ was moro like tho loye Of Jonathan
ip nuNsiI IA ts.,tt1I I..
ccrning the Sights put upon our Saviour
and not find pleasure and "a degree oi salts
faction in persons and places ami things
which dishonor Him. Oh, for whole heart
for Christ,
80. And it camc 20 pass in the morning
that Jonathan went out into the field M the
time appointed with David, and little lad
with him. See the story ot this appoint
mcnt in verses lS 10 % and note Jonathan
tnithfulness In keeping IL. oar comfort is
not In our faithfulucss In keeping our word,
but In the faithfulness Of our covenant keep"
ing God and Sav1our. Soc David's comfort
when he came to his dying hour GI sam.
SNiii., .. See also / Cor. l.. Q; ". 10; | Thcss.
", %; III Thcss. ill.,, g.
80. And he said uato his lad. Run,
fetch unto mo the arrows which | shoot.
And rs the lad ran he snot nm arrow beyond
him | suppose any lad would chccrfully
go anywhere with the Kings son Tor ANY
manner OF service" Il Chron. xviii, 2D.
Think how chcerfully Samuel ran at the sup
posed call OF Eli three times in succession In
ono night, Let tho question search us, "Am
| "a ready and cheerful messenger for tho
King and His Son at all timcsy' (ll Sam.
Nv.. l5).
81. jonathan cried after thelad and said.
l. not the arrow beyond thee" See the sig
niilcance OF this I'm verse %. How IL must
have gone TO David's heart, for il was even
~ he feared. Hn must separate himself even
from Jonathan, he must become "a stranger
and flee for his life because an enemy Is on
the throne which rightfully belongs to him.
But Il "a all part of the foreordaincd plan
for him, and Gods way for him 20 reach tho
throne in due time See Eph. H., 10; Muth.
xvi, 81.
3s. "And Jonathan cried after the Lad, ,
MAKE speed ElSee, Stay *. l.n additional
grievcus word for David from the heart that
loved him as its own life, but IL was Tor
Dayid's sake and just because Jonathan loved
him So for II hurt Jonathan IA much, IL not
more, than David. All that God says or does
to us is infinite love; the very worst that can
come to Us ia love and goodness and mercy,
us God secs II, and we must trust Him.
80. "But the lad knew not anything only
Jonathan and David knew the matter" So
We 20 ON not knowing. He holds the key of
all unknown, and we are glad. when Ho
asked Philip about feeding the 5000, IL was
only to prove him, for clio lIW-clf knew
what He would do" (John vi. G). The lal
with the lDuycs knew nothing but wa- ryi.
IDENTIFY ready 10 be- used, "Jr-u- knew from
the beginning and that Is enough.
40. "Aud Jonathan gave his artillery or.
'. wrupuus) unto his lad, and said unto him,
Go, carry thom To tho CITY," The lads lusi.
ness w,l- simply To- do what he was told; run
after th" arrows, gather thcm up, bring
them 10 his master aud owtakothom home.
His master knew what ho-was about. ana the
lad did not need b. know. There ARE many
things which we now do not noed To know.
W. DO mood TO obey and 10 have implicit con.
illonco IN our Master, aud in all that Hcduo-.
Thus in quiotnes- and In confidence We shall
find strength lisa. Xxx, l5). Whatsocvorth the
king does should please all His people (II
SaW. ill.,. 9G).
Al. "Aud they kissed one another and went
ono with another, until David exceeded.
ILcir love wns wonderful, passing the love
Of women Oh Sam. l., 26). There was moth.
ing that they would not do for each other il
II lay in the power of cuch other to do IL.
Yet this WAS but tho faintcst shadow of the
love of Christ 10 us. Jonathan's love cost
him much and brought him much service,
Yet II was stcadfust to the end. David never
injured Jonathan nor rejected nor wounded
his love. The love of Jesus cost Him thirty
three years Of absence from homs and of I'M.
initiation and suffering indcscribnble, and II
was all for lis enemies. Behold what man
ncr OF love q John ill.,, ., -.
~. And Jonathan said 10 David, Go in
poucc.' Aud 50 they parted, each having
the peace OF God in the midst Of much tribu-
laton. See John XVII, 80; xiv. ~; Math.
xiv, &. They met again. and Jonathan
strengthened Dayid's hand in God and bade
him fear not, telling him that he (David)
would yet be king In Israel and he would be
next to him Chapter xiii, ~, Such self re-
nouucng IL very rare. II Is truly Christ
like A next weeks lesson will be "a Christ.
tl.a mil
not return to tho Old Testament story till
July, 1896. What better thought could we
carry with us than that which is here shad.
owed forth, the love of the Kings Son who
"Loved me and gave Himself for me-" lie
has given Himsel; and all the benefits Of His
finished worl, 10 each one who accepts Him.
lie shall be King and we shall reign with
Him (Rev. l., 8, 6; ", o, l0).-Lesson Helper
When n snake has gorgcd itself with
a large meal, its skin is so stretched
that the scales are some distance apart.