The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-08-12
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR AUGUST 9:

Memory Verses, 46.47 - CoHmontslSs
on the Days Lesson: y q
I. David offers to fight Goliath Tvs. 81.
81. The giant, Goliath, who came out as
the champion Of the Philistines, be!ongeq
to the primitive race of the AnakIm, s04
which the Israelites had found small
remnant at the time of the conquest, tow
hundred years before (Num. 1882
Josh, A:l2). These, driven out by TN, me
istines; and Goliath appears to have been
one of family Of giants, all of whom were
slain by David and his men e Sam. 2l:t553
22y. Goliath's heigh has been variouag
estimated at from nine to eleven feet. Hls
armor is estimated to have weighed about
l57 pounds; while the head of his spear
weighed about nineteen pounds. In tnos6
times great size and strength and armor
were Of immeasurable advantage in battle.
This armed and plumed giant dehed Ins
armies of Israel morning and evening ZOE
forty days His appearance sent dismax
into the hearts of Saul and his people.
None of Sauls soldiers dared to fight WITH
him, for no one could overcome him WITH
the ordinary weapons of war. But Jnar
at this point David appeared on the scene,
and, much to the astonishment OF Saui
offered to champion the cause OF lsraei
and 20 out and meet the Phliistlne.
IL. Inc weapons CHosen We ~ III III
80. "His armor." The word for armor
in the Revised Version is apparel Prob
ably special military dress adapted Il. be
worn with armor. Goat of mail The
ancient Hebrews were particularly atten-s
tive to the personal safety OF their warss
riors. The coat, of mail was usually madae
of leather or some plant material, some.
times covered with metallic scales, and
capable of taking the form OF the parts
of the body it protected. "Assayed 70 co.
Endeavored to go. By making the attempt
to his superiors. Cannot 60 with these
The shrewd, practical sense OF DAVID adt
monished him of the folly of attempting
such q combat with weapons with when
he had no skill. He is a wise man VINO
knows what he cannot do as well as wnas y1
he can. "Put them off," This was BIKE.
wise from the Lord, who would nave II
made manifest that His servant fought ana
conquered BY faith, and that ths. ylssory
vas from Him who ,v.o,sa WORKS a.Ifs ~ sns moss
40. "His staff His shepherds crook
Give smooth stones" Had they been
rough or angular, they would not have
passed easily through the ar, and t9eg
roughness would, in the course OF gneIr
PASSAGE, have given them false sdlrec-s
tion. Had they not been SMOOTH tnsN
could not have been readily gent from fnes
sling. Shepherds bag. Used 70 = carry
his daily food. '"Sling." a favorifs weapon
of Eastern shepherds: 1t was also Tery,
njoved. not only BY the Isrselite troops,
hut also by the Syrians, the Egyptians and
the Persians. The sling is. compossd OF TWO !
ia in the middle, and is the place where
the stone lies. The string on the rlgnes
end of the strap is firmly fastened 20 sne
hand. The string on the left is held Pc
tween the thumb and middle JOINT OF tne
fore.6nger. 1t is then wh-led Two 2rs
three times round the head, and wnen
discharged, the finger and thumb iet: gos
The sling was formidable weapon IN the
hand of skilful person. A stone ecnld
be hurled with velocity that would make
it as fatal as rife.baA. 1t was q very,
common weapon in David's time. Seven
hundred left-handed Benjamites coulu
sling at hairs breadth and not miss;
III. David and Goliath meet we. 4is4al. ss.l.
4l-43. "Philistine came on. Gonatni sil
his shining armor, WITH h,s dreaS.e
metal" Looked about" he scanned ths
whole scene. and could hardly persuade
himself that this boy was lsraeEs cnams,
pion. "Disdained him." Goliath seemed
insnlted that such a young unarnled lad
as David should approach him. Am eE
a dog" He hurls thrust at David, sug-
costing that he knew no more than 70 con-
troll his shepherd dog, and ign9rantiy SUP
posed he could be as successfui WIZ ain,s
Pride goeth before destruction. aea
hauohty spirit before fall PROV. l6;lSl::s I;
nv his gods" These gods were such ss
Dason, :Baal and Astarte. The combat
thus became a question not merely between
David and Goliath, but between Godgan3
dos If Goliath was successful then ldol-,
atry would gain stronger hold upon tns
pp5 Is. Come to me-" He dares David
to venture near, declaring he will exlinat
his great strength in pulling nm ineo
pieces. 1t was common when TWO naaL. sna.
to the other, and thus Goliath scorned
the shepherd boy. Then said Dayla.
There was no mistake about their coming
together. 1t was intended. DAVID SPOKE
VIII as much assurance as did Goliath,
and felt no shame because Of the CONTRAST
between their authority. Nothing can
exceed the modesty,. the faith, tne P,ssy
and the zeal for the glory OF God ana !1e
cause of Israel and of true re1sfon, auna4 Ma,e4
glow in this most beautiful speeSSh., ,.pass sss
5e6ed." David trusted in the God whom
Goliath defed and relied upon Him as
safely as Goliath did upon his sword and
Spsst 4s a. ~ SWill the Lord deliver" This
was the language of faith. He gave tne
aIcry to God in advance. Earth may
Enow." Here the language is proPnetlc
and rises above that immediate occasion
and declares how other nations and, tunes
shall hear Of that days victory and .s,, snaa y
give God the glory. "This assembly,
David speaks as If it were gathering ior !
worship instead of a battle array. he
addresses himself to this combat, rather
az priest going to offer saerlf1oe TO tne
Justice of God, than as a soldier going 70
engage an enemy of his country; ~
W. Goliath slain Tvs. 1854. 4S, ~
"Arose and came" Goliath saw that his
CHALLENGE was accepted, though scornlng
to fight with David, yet he advanced 70
meet him in great pretense to dignity.
David hasted.S He did not t-y to make
a display of his power. He was, mtens
on being instant in season, and advanced
TO do real execution. He could not wait
for Goliath to strike the first blow. That
would be presumption. When each adj
yanced to meet the other. it was proper
to make the attack. "In his forehead.
Il does not appear that the ancient hei-
NETS had any covering for the face. The
Septuapint supposes that the stone passed
Through the helmet, and sank into hlr
5o.54. David then ran and took the
sword of Goliath and cut off the head OF
the giant. As soon as the Phiiistines saw
that their champion was dead they fed In,
great terror.