The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-12-04
SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
DECEMBER 8.
Lesson Text: ssDavId and Goliath"
i Samuel xviii, 3S-51-Golden
Text: Samuel xviii, AZ
commentary.

90. "And Saul armed David with his ar
NOR" In the intervening verses since last
lesson we see David refreshing Saul with his
harp, greatly loved by him, having become
his armor bearer Chapter xvi, 81. 29). He
afterward returned to feed his fathers sheep
at Bethlehem (xvii., 15). The R. V. says that
he went to and fro between Saul and Bethle-
hem. But now the armies OF Israel and of
the Philistines are face o face. and the hosts
OF Israel are defed by the giant. Goliath, of
Gath. David, having come from home to see
how his brethren fured and observing how
the God of Israel WIS being dishonored, Of
fered to fight and conquer the giant. Saul,
hearing his story OF trust In the Lord Oversees
81 to 37), accepts his offer and clothes him
with his armor.
SO. ~ cannot 20 with these, for have not
proved them" Everything like natural
strength or human helps Is apt to prove
hindran,e in the Lords work. If 1t was to
be test between flesh snd flesh, armor and
armor, Saul, who was head and shoulders
above the people. should have gone forth to
meet Goliath. David IS but Shepherd
youth and If God will work through him it
must be apart from human devices.
40. "And he took his staff In his hand and
chose him five smooth stones out of the
brook" Being shepherd, he went forth as
such In his true character. Moses went
from keeping sheep to conquer Pharaoh.
Our Lord Jesus Christ Is the good and great
and chief Shepherd who will yet humble all
His foes The sling and stones David had
proved, and he may have had skill like the
700 left handed snjamites Of Judg. Xxx, 16.
But the Lord was surely with him.
Al, 42. when the Phllistine looked about
and saw David, he disdained him." They
drew nigh to each other, the mighty man OF
aa.t, ,irI,h h hnora hofn nd
the ruddy youth of fair countenance with no
armor aud no visible companion. The many
thousands Of Israel and Of the Philistines
looked ON In wonder, but there were unseen
hosts looking on, TOO, and the Lord Himself
was there. but not with the Philistine.
49, A. "The Phiistine cursed David by
his gods" The flesh disdains the spirit
and mocks as when Ishmael Knocked 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 staff like weaver's beam and a
head weighing about twenty pounds, and an
attendant to bear his shield; David, a youth
In a shepherds dress, alone, with but his
staff and sling. The Philistine strong in
his own might and cursing as he came;
David in reliance upon the Lord and with
prayerful heart.
As. II come to thee in the name Of the
Lord OF Hosts, the God Of the armies OF Is
rael, whom thou hast de1ed." Goliath rep
resented himself, but David represented God.
As truly as Jesus Christ represented the
Father when He was here on earth in
mortal body, and the Father spoke through
Him, and wrought through Him, 80 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 to Him,
and relying upon Film, with no aim but to
honor Him will demonstrate (Jer. xxxiii., 81.
46. "That all the earth may know that
there Is God In Israeli Seeking nothing
for himself. but only to magnify Jehovah
and lift His name out OF the reproach resting
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 the Lord. they would soon
see His power on their behalf II Chron.
xvi, 81.
Al. "The battle is the Lords" See also
II Chron. Xxx, IS. 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 w., g.. Consider
the passage through the Red Sea, and the
Jordan. as we'll rs the deliverance from
Egypt Consider the walls Of Jericho also,
and let US, like Moses and Joshua, put off
our shoes and keep them of, lest we hinder
the Lord OF Hosts by thinking that the work
is ours and'by making suggestions to Him
rs to how things ought to be done. Oh, to
keep our hands of and stop attempting to
steady The ark. We must also studlously
avoid ali the "new cart" business.
4s, 49. David hasted and ran toward the
army to meet the Phllistine." The crisis Is
on; all eyes are upon these two men. What
an exciting moment! A stone Is quickly in
David's sling, swiftly It flies around his
head and is on Its way with uuerring aim to
its destination. 1t strikes the giant on the
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.
so. $50 David prevailed over the Philis-
tine with sling and with 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 the wall with the
aid OF the merchants and goldsmiths and
apothecaries and women, It Is written that
'.his enemies perceived that the work was
wrought OF God" (Neh. VI, l6). 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 the
credit. but now 1t is clearly of God, and Is
rael is rebuked for her lack OF faith In dim.
81. Slain by the stone from David's sling,
David now takes the giants own sword and
cuts off his head and brings It In his hand to
Saul. The Philistines fee. Israel pursues.
and there Is great victory, for the Lord
hath done 1t. Let us become skilful In using
the stones from the brook, the precious
things from the word OF God. for nothing
will bring down the giants Of pride and
blasphemy like the word Of God given forth