The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-12-12

and listened TO the interview between
his father and David II IL said "that the
soul OF Jonathan was knit with the soul
OF David, and Jonathan loved him as his
own SOUP; aud they there made a cove
nant Of friendship in accordance with
the custom OF those days.
"And Jonathan stripped himself Of the
robe that was upon him, and gave It to
David, and his garments even TO bis
sword and to his bow, and to his girdle."
At the time Of our lesson Jonathan was
perhaps thirty-ave years old, being
David's senior some ten years. He was
heir apparent Of the throne and David
his only rival. We know very little Of
his history, only. 30 much as Is inciden-
! tally associated with that OF David; but
that is enough to make him stand out as
one Of the "beacon lights" perhaps the
most illustrious example Of pure unset
fish friendship in all the annals Of his
tory. Let US not fail to read in the
nineteenth chapter how Jonathan inter-
coded with his father for David and had
him restored to his 'presence as in times
past"
But after this, David went out against
the Philistines and slew them with q
great slaughter; and again the evil spirit
came upon Saul and as David played
before him he attempted to smite him
with the i~avelin. Having escaped to his
own home Saul sent messengers there to
] seek his life; but he was rescued through
the strategy OF Michel who let him down
through u window and deceived the
messengers by putting an ''image In the
bed" David fed and came to Samuel at
Ramah, and told him all that Saul had
done to him; and David and Samuel
came and dwelt in Naioth. Fleeing from
there we find him again with Jonathan
tuking counsel as to how he shall escape
the wrath of Saul. (Chap. 20.)
Read in this chapter the touching &C.
count OF the interview between these soul
knit friends in which David appeals to
Jonathan to know what he had done
what iniquity, or sin, that Sau should SO
persistently seek to take his life, assuring
Jonathan that there twas but a step be-
tween him and death" Then Jonathan
said to David "Whatsoever thy soul de-
sireth l will even do it for thee" So 1t
was arranged between them, that on the
morrow, at the feast OF the new moon,
David should absent himself from the
feast, hiding himself in the field near by.
until the evening OF the third day; and
Jonathan should ascertain, in a way
agreed upon, Saul's intentions toward
David. By a prearranged signal, the
shooting OF three arrows, and sending q
lad for them, the result of the interview
with his father should be communicated
to David. And it was further covenanted
in this interview, that David was to show
Kindness to the house Of Jonathan not
only in his life time, but "when the Lord
hath cut off the enemies OF David every
one from the face of the EARTH" In our
lesson we have the result OF the interview
between Jonathan and Saul at the feast,
and the communication OF Saul's evil i'm
tentions to David.
Saul became furiously angry at JON
athan, calling him the 'Son OF a perverse
and rebellious woman" and ordered him
to send and fetch David that he should
die. Jonathan plead with his father say
ing: "Wherefore shall he be slain and
what hath he done?" This only exasper-
ated Saul the more, and ale cast q iave-
lin at Jonathan to smite him." This