The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-08-05
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
Lesson Comments for
August g.
Subject: David and Go!,1th, Sam. xviii, 3S.4e
Golden Text, R2ri. viii, 3l-Memory
Verses, 4S.a7 Commentary on
the Days Lesson.

I. David offers to fight Goliath Tvs. se
81. The giant, Goliath, who came out as
the champion of the Philistnes, belonged
to the primitive race of the Anaklm. OF
which the Israelites had found small
remnant at the time OF the conquest, fon
hundred years before (Num. 1882, 81;
Josh, l4:12). These, driven out by the
Israeltes, attached themselves to the Phil
one OF family or giants, all OF wnom were
s.ain by David and his men y Sam. 2l:lJ
22). Goliath's height has been various!
estimated at from nine to eleven feet. Hi
armor is estimated to have weighed about
lJ7 pounds while the head OF his spear
weighed about nineteen pounds. In those
times great size aud strength and armos
were OF inrmeasurlo,e advantage in battle
This armed and plumed giant dehed TIN
armies OF Israel morning and evening tor
forty days. His appearance sent dismaJ
into the hearts OF Saul and his people.
None of Saups soldiers dared to fight wit .
him, for no one could overcome him wit
the ordinary weapons OF war But lusi
at this point David appeared on the scene,
and. much to the astonshment OF .SaHi,
offered to champion the cause oi lsrad
and go out and meet the Ph!istlne.
II. The weapons chosen Tvs. $500. -,
80. "His armor." The word for 'armor'
il the Revised Version Is apparel Prob
ably a special military dress adapted to hi
worn with arinor. Coat OF mail" Ihd
ancient Hebrews were particularly attcn'
tive to the personal safety OF their war
riors. The coat OF mail was usually mad1
OF leather or some plant msterial, some,
times covered with metallic scales, and
capable OF taking the form OF the part.
oi the body it protected. 'Assayed to 60
Endeavored to go. BY making the attempt
David showed his courtesy and deferencn
% hi -,,,,n fyn
The shrewd, practical sense OF David ad'
monished him of the folly OF attempting
such combat with weapons with which
he had no skill. He is wise man who
knows what he cannot do as well as wha;
he can. pat them off :" This was like.
wise from the Lord. who would have il
made manifest that His servant fought and
conquered by faith. and that the victor$
was from Him, VINO works by the most
despised means and Instruments,
1o a. s soS T,' ~; s9PIe{fhs H5d thsv 'fo9 bsc1
rough. Or angular, they would not ha-a
passed easily through the air. and tne
roughness would in the course. OF then
passage. have given them false direc'
ton. Had they not been smooth. the1
could not have been readily sent from the
sing. shepherds bag, Used to carr
o. Eastern shepherds. 1t WAS also yer?
effective in war. anl was regularly en
poycd, not only by the lsrseiite troops.
hut also by the Syrians, the Egyptians and
the Pe,sians. The sling is composed OF two
strings and a lcathcrn strap. The stral
is in the middle and is the pace wherd
the stone lies. The string on the right
end OF the strap is firmly fastened to thl
hand. The string on the cit is held he
tween the thumb and middle joint or the
fore.hnger, 1t is then ,wnir.ed two or
three times round the head, and when
discharged, the fngcr and thumb let. go
their hold of the lett end OF the string.
The sling was n formidable weapon III me
hand oi a s;ilful person. a stone could
be hurled with velocity that would make
it as fatal as riac;,ball: Il was a very
common weapon in Daylds time. seven
hundred left-handed Ben! n!amites cou.d
Sing at hairs breadth and not miss.
III. David aud Goliath meet (vs. 4l-.D.
n.43. "Philistine came on Goliath; in
his shining armor, with his dreadful c.anE.
.ng tramp under the buqdredweishIf eight tG5 oi
whoie scene. and could hardly persuade
himself that this hoy was laraefs cham,
p!on. 'Dsdancd him." Goliath seemed
nsulted that such young unarmed Iad
rs David should approach hihn Am
dog He hur.s thrust at David, suG'
rastng that he knew no more than TO con-
.rol his shepherd dog, and ignorant,y sup
9osed he could b. as successful with hIm'
Pride goeth before destruction, anG q
naughty spirit before fall prov. l6;lS
BY his gods" These gods were sucA, as
pason Baal and Astarte. me COM, COM,
:hus became question not merely between
David and Goliath, but between God ana
dos Ii Goliath was successful then ldof
airy would gain stronger hold upon the
A. As. Come to me-" He darcs David
10 venture near, declaring he will exhibit
ais great strength in pulling him lnto
oieces. 1t was common when two cham
,ions met that each should make speech
% the other, and thus Goliath scorned
:he shepherd boy. Then said David
There was no mistake about their coming
;ogether. 1t was intended. David spoSe
With as much assurance as did Gollnth,
md felt no shame because OF the contrast
3etween their authority. Nothing can
exceed the modesty, the faith, the piety
md the zeal for the glory OF God and the
ause OF Israel and OF true religion ,sI %nlcn
iefed" David trusted in the God whom
Goliath defied and relied upon Him a;
safely as Goliath did upon his sword and
46, AZ. 1Will the Lord deliver" This
vas the language of faith. he gave the
glory to God in advance. Earth may
1now" Here the language is prophetic
md rises above that immediate occasion
,nd declares how other nations and times
,hall hear OF that days victory and shaii shall
Siyc God the. giory. ms assembly
! David speaks as ii it were a gathering tor
worship instead of q battle array He
| addresses himself to this combat, rather
as a priest going to offer sacrifice to the
! Justice OF God, than as soldier going to
engage an enemy OF his country.
| ~. Goliath slain Tvs. is-54l. as, 10,
Arose and came" Goliath saw that his
challenge was accepted. though scorning
to fight with David, yet he advanced to
meet him in great pretense to dignity
| David hasted." lie did not try to make
diso.ay OF his power. He was, inten,
! oa heing Instant in season, a1d advanced
10 do real execution. He could not wait
Tor Goliath to strike the first blow. Tha.
would be presumption. When each ad'
ganoed to meet the other, it was prope.
10 make the attack. In his forehead"
It does rot appear that the ancient he'll
nets had any covering for the face. The
septuagint supposes that the stone passed
through the helmet, and sank into hil
forehead.
JO-5t. David then raa and took thu
sword of Goliath and cut of the head OF
the giant. As soon as the Philistines saw
that their champion was dead they fed in
sreat terror.