The Afro-American. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1892-1899, 1895-12-14

IN1slER ATI0NAL LESSON FOn
DECEMBER is.
Lesson Text: seDayId and Jonathan, =
Samuel XXX, 82-42<- Golden
Text Prov. xvihl "a
gemmentarSl


81. Sand Jonathan answered Saul, his
father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall
he be slain2 What hath he done2' After
David had slain Goliath and had finished
speaking with Saul, it is written that Jona-
than. son of Saul, loved David as his own
soul and gave him his robe and garments
and sword AMI bow and girdie 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 sang
':Saul has slaih his thousands and David his
ten thousands" (xviii:, y, then Saul became
jealous and sought to take David's life.
Having rejected the Lord by his dis
obedience, he became the prey OF an evil
spirit, but the Lord was with David and
prospered him xviii, 10-16). As Sauls
prosecutions of David increased. David said
one day to Jonathan, "As the Lord liveth,
and as thy soul hyeth, there is but step
between me and death" Xxx, 81, but Jonathan
could not believe that his father meant death
to David and so agreed to sound his father
Xxx, 12) in Davids absence, and then let
David know. SauPs answer was that David
must die (verse 80. hence Jonathan's reply
as in this first verse of our lesson.
So. "And Saul cast iavelin at him to
snite him, whereby Jonathan knew that 1t
was determined of his father to slay David:
II there was anger enough in Saul to kill
his own son, then it was certainly poor
prospect, humanity speaking, for David. We
see in Sanl what may become of man when
he rejects God. Saul might have been the
Lords own representative, honoreI by God
and man, for everything was put within his
reach for his good.
81. lie was grieved for David. because
his father had done him shame" There
fore he arose from the table and went away
without eating. 1t is easy to fast when the
heart is grieYed, and If our love to Jesus
Christ was more like the love Of Jonathan
to David we would be more sensitiv3 con-
corning the sights put upon our Saviour
and not find pleasure and a degree of salts
| faction in persons and places AMI things
which dishonor Him. Oh, for whole heart
for Christi
50. "And it came to pass in the morning
that Jonathan went out into the field at the
time appointed with David, and a little lad
with him" See the story of this appoint
ment in verses Is to % and note Jonathan's
faithfulness in keeping it. Our comfort is
not in our faithfulness in keeping our word,
but in the faithfulness of our covenant keep
ing God and Saviour. See David's comfort
when he came to his dying hour III Sam.
xiii, 5. See also Cor. l., 9; X, IS; [ Thess.
v, "a: II Thess. ill.,, 3.
SO. "And he said unto his lad, Run,
fetch unto me the arrows which [ shoot,
And as the lad ran he snOt an arrow beyond
him." [ suppose any lad would cheerfully
go anywhere with the kings son for ''any
manner OF service" Ct Chron. xviii, 2D.
Think how cheerfully Samuel ran at the sup
posed call of Eli three times in succession in
one night. Let the question search US, cam
I a ready and cheerful messenger for the
King and His Son at all times?" (II Sam.
XIV. 80.
81. Jonathan cried after thelad and said,
Is not the arrow beyond thee?" See the sig
ni1cance of this in verse %. How it must
have gone to David's heart, for it was even
/ L,oF IN IN biD1cnJf
from Jonathan, ne must become a stranger
and fee for his life because an enemy is on
the throne which rightfu1ly belongs TO him.
But it is all part Of the for6Ordaincd plan
| for him, and Gods way for him to reach the
throne in due time. See Eph. H., 10; Math.
! xvi, "a.
SO. "And Jonathan cried after the lad,
Make speed, haste, stay not" IN additional
N. yous word for David from the heart that
40 ~ him as its own life, but it was for
RS DDS sake and Just because Jonathan loved
7 MIN so for it hurt Jonathan as much, ii not
more, than David. All that God says or does
to us is infinite love; the very worst that can
come to us is love and goodness and mercy,
as God sees it, and we must trust Him.
80. "But the lad knew not anything, only
! Jonathan and David knew the matter" So
/ we go on not knowing. He holds the key of
| all unknown, and we are glad. When He
/ asked Philip about feeding the 5000 it was
!
what He would do" (John vi. g.. The lad
with the loaves knew nothing, but was evil
IDENTIFY ready to be used, "Jesus knew from
the beginning" and that is enough,
40. "And Jonathan gave his artillery Or.
Y. Weapons) unto his lad and said unto him,
Go, carry them to the city" The lads bust
| ness was simply to do what he was told; run
after the arrows, gather them Up, bring
them to his mas. er and now AXE them home.
| His master knew what he was about, and the
| lad did not need to know. There are many
things which we now do not need to know;
we do need TO obey and to hayeimplicit con-
fldence in our Master and in all that He does.
Thus in quietness and in confidence we shall
find strength Elsa. xxx, 15). Whatsoever the
King does should please all His people Oh
Sam. Ill, 36).
Al. "And they kissed one another and wept
one with another until David exceeded"
Tt cir love was wonderful, passing the love
of women III Sam. j., 26). There was moth
ing that they would not do for each other if
it lay in the power of each other to do it.
Yet this was but the faintest shadow of the
love of Christ to US. Jonathan's love cost
him much and brought him much service,
yet it was steadfast 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 home and of hui
initiation and suffering inde5crlbable, and 1t
was all for His enemies. Behold what man
ner of love Il John lii, 2, 81.
AZ. And Jonathan said to David, Go in
peace" And SO they parted, each having
the peace of God in the midst of much tribu-
lation. See John xvi, 80; xiv, q; Math
XIV, s. They met again. and Jonathan
strengthened Dayid's hand in God and babe
hin fear not. telling him that he DAVID
W uld yet be king in Israel and he would be
nat to him (chapter xiii, ~. Such selfre-
nouncing is very rare. 1t is truly Christ
like. AS next weeks lesson will be a Christ
mas lesson, and the next review, we will
not return to the Old Testament story till
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-" He
has given Himself and all he benefits Of His
finished work to each one woo accepts Hta.
He shall be King and we snail Feie1 with
Him (ReY. l., 5, 6; v, 9, l0l.-Lessqn Helper