The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-11-30
The Sunday School Lesson.
SERIES FOR 1895.---FOURTH QUARTER.
STUDIES IN JEWISH HISTORY.

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several weeks. And no man among the
Israelites has been willing to accept the
challenge; at least no man on whose
skill and prowess the Israelites were will
ing to hazard their own freedom Saul
and all Israel are greatly dismayed.
On this special day of our story David
appears on the scene. He is still youth !;
he may be twenty years of age.
Whether he has come from the field,
where he has been tending his sheep, or
whether he has come directly from
Saul's court, where he has by his skill
as harpist and a singer become Saul's
poet laureate and armor bearer, it is not
essential now to inquire. While the re-
port of his appearing fresh from the
field may be but an imaginative access
sorry of the story, the fact that he has ap.
peared and is undoubtedly here, is all
that need at present concern us.
David, learning the situation, volun-
teers to meet the Philistine. Something
in the bearing of this young man causes
this surprising offer to command respect
among the Israelites. The news of the
proffered championship comes to the
ears of Saul. He sends for the young
man. David's confident saying, Let no
mans heart fail because of ham; ting
servant aoiH go and fight auith this Phil
istine, awakens the assurance of the
king. He subjects the candidate to an
examination. He hears from him stories
of his shepherd experience, how he has
overcome lion and again bear. He
cannot doubt, after his interview, that
the young man is sane. 1t cannot dis
please even Saul that David is courag
eous because Of his expectation of Di-
vine assistance.
l. David's Preparation, We. 80
40.
Saul, having accepted David as his
champion, offers the choice Of his arm
DRY for his preparation. He presented
him with coat of armor not inferior to
Goliath's. He proffered helmet Of
brass to shine upon his head like that
on the head Of his opponent. He girded
sword upon him,-a keen blade no
doubt, superior to that of the giant.
Saul, in short, provided David with the
most approved preparation for warfare
then known among the warriors.
David dressed and armed himself un-
der Saul's direction. Then he said,
cannot go soith these; I haze not proved
them. He feels awkward in such en-
easement; clumsy in the use of such
weapons. Saul suffers him therefore to
make his own preparation.
David now dresses himself in the shep-
herds tunic. He takes with him his
shepherd bag or scrip, and his sling. He
is as free of limb as when he tended sheep
on the hill-sides. His sling is his sole
weapon; and this he has learned by long
practice to use with phenomenal skill.
The sling is leathern cord, both ends
of which are held in the hand, the mid
die of the cord being enlarged to hold a
small stone; the cord, by being whirled
several times around the head, then by
letting go one of the ends from the hand,
sends stone with surprising swiftness
and force. When one has attained to
skill in its use it is nearer in effective
ness to the rifie,-in the time of which
we speak but a prophecy,-of any means
of personal warfare yet known.
David goes down to the ravine and
from among the many smooth stones of
the torrent bed selects five of the
smoothest. He does not, observe, stake
success on one stone; neither does he
weight himself with too many stones;
five is the number he chooses:
This completes his preparation. He is
ready for the strange battle.
2. Goliath and David Give
the Customary Defiance in the
Field,-vs. 3S-40.
When next the ponderous man in
brass comes over the plain. to shout
across the ravine his defiance, David
goes down from the camp of Israel to
meet him. Goliath. with his helmet, his
coat of mail. javelin, sword, spear. and
a man going before him bearing his
shield, walks with the tread of one who
believes himself invulnerable and invinc
ible.
He describes the boy coming down to
meet him. The boy has no armor, no
helmet, no weapon, save a shepherds
staff,-for David's sling, until used,
would be concealed in his hand. Goliath
is beyond measure surprised. The youth
with auburn hair, of fair countenance
appeared to the giant like young maid.
en- coming out to meet him.
The giant delivers himself of the GUS
tomary bombast. Am I a dog. he asks
that thou contest to me Nth stdUes?-
that is. with such weapons as staff
for the sling he has not yet seen. Come
to me, he continued, and aoiH give thy
flesh to the fouls of the air and the
beasts of the field.
David was also master Of intimidat-
ing oratory. Thou contest, he said, to
M 1tft ohd acith spear. and
lcith a iauelin; but l come to thee IN the