The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-08-08
INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
Copyright. Davis V. Clara,


 Third Quarter. Lesson VI. 1 Samuel
 xvii, 3s-4e. August 9, 1908.
 Phllistia and Israel confront each other once more. at a point so often the scene of battle as to be called the bloody boundary On this otcasion the aliens are the fortunate possesSors of a. giant champion. Goliath is lineal descend ant of the- Anaixim, who, in this very 400 years before. had stricK- en the spies with terror. Twice oay this animated fortress moves out beyond The Philistine lire. and from beneath the brazen dome of his helmet there rings out his insulting challenge.
 The degenerate condition of Israel is painfully apparent. Saul has forfeited the Divine favor. He can not expect intervention. He tries tne human expedient of offering largesses to the hero who will accept the challenge. But the kings fear is contagious For forty days no one appears to pick up Goliath's gauntlet.
 Just ten miles away. on those rough Judean steppes. a rustic lad tends his flew sheep" Fidelity to his homely task has deveioyed noble traits. "oft on stilly night he drinks deep of the theo- cratic spirit He believes in the imma- hence of God in Israel's affairs. He keys his harp to victory. His courage Is test ed by personal encounter with the raven ous foes to his flock. Nor Is he altogether rustic. .'fiHe has been time Or two at the royal residence as an improvisator' and has been appointed a court esquire.
 But it never occurred to David as being beneath his dignity to turn errand-boy. and carry some cheeses. bread. ana parchedr corn down to his brothers at camp. That Bethlehemite lad, with his ten cheeses, was the greatest acquisition the host of Israel ever mad. His envious brother thought him out of his sphere. and ordered him back to the flock. But from that moment he was never to go back. Eliab was as incapable of under standing David as the brothers of the Messiah were of understanding David s greater Son. Not love of adventure. not desire for personal aggrandizement. ,quickened his pulse or prompted his ques, tions. No ill-tempered criticism dashed his spirit The Lords honor was at stake. He would fain vindicate it.
 A moment later he is ushered into SauTs presence. He seeks to cheer the despon- dent monarch His self-confdence is toned with modesty. Courage! thy ser want accepts the challenge!" It is pleas outre character of Israel's great king. Saul deprecates Davids danger. When somewhat reassured by ;ne narrative of his successful encounters with the wild beasts he clothes him in his own beau- tiful. costly, and invincible armor.
 David no doubt felt the impracticabil- ity of wearing armor in a contest in which there could be no measuring of strength with strength; but out of cour- tesy to the king and to demonstrate the he allowed himself to be pam oplied, In a moment 1t was seen that the only quality by which he could hope to win-namely. dexterity-was lost. The nimble shepherd was hopelessly fettered, He moved slowly and awkwardly; he would be dashed to death if he came with in reach of Goliath's weaver's-beam spear. t. ..r.
 Now, without an ounce of armor. with out weapon save his crude sling, Is- raers champion moves out beyond the line of battle. His courage Is unbroken. His trust in Jehovah is absolute, Purest patriotism burns in his heart. He will shrive his nation of disgrace and hls God iof dishonor. By his deed this day he will stir his nation sunk in lethagry. His confidence of victory Is based upon the purity of his motive, the justice of his cause, the wickedness of lns foe. the pow fer of Jehovah. But with all that, he takes ithe utmost care In the selection Of his lstones; his practiced eye sees to 1t that they are of right size and shape; he weighs them with a skillful hand; he takes care to have enough of them. He does what is expressed in our modern 4phrase of Keeping the powder dry" The shepherd lad challenges our admiration. He Is not Israels hero only, but the worlds hero and Gods hero. An ever increasing cloud of witnesses look down