The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-09-05
INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY-SCHOOL LESSON
Copyright, Davis ". Clark.) EkN$S<sSG1G<AeE<N<e.

Save for my daily range
 Among the pleasant fields of Holy Writ. I might despair. -Tennyson- Third Quarter. Lesson \. l Samuel | xxi, 1-13. September 6, 1908. Death of Saul and Jonathan. The period witnessed steady increase of power for David. There was a sub jective enrichment arising from the wise use of every opportunity for discipline and exercise. David mastered the princi- ples and details of the art of leadership in camp and in court. Objectively he strengthened himself by alliances with various foreign chiefs and tribes. But his chief strength was that he was in tune with God. It is said he was a man after Gods heart. Not that there were
 not sad lapses, but on the whole the dominating principle of his life was to keep in harmony with the Divine. For such a one stumbling-stones are step ping stones. Ultimate success was as- sured.
 The same period witnessed a steady de- cline of Saul. The clock of his destiny
 struck twelve at the start. His first vic-
 tory was the greatest he achieved. In- l stead of stepping on the blocks in his
 way he stumbled over them. His pres
 tige waned. He accelerated his decline I oy UAOOQiH6 OfcE it. 1liS CuleL WedkueSS
 was that he was out of tune with God.
 The dominating note of his character was
 discordant to the Infinite He threw his
 soul against the iron of Jehovah before
 he threw his body upon the point of .
 borrowed sword.
 The completeness of Saul's divorce
 from God Is significantly pictured in the
 laconic words, "The Lord answered him
 not" All methods failed. No dream, no
 urim Qight). no prophet and when the
 Lord failed him he sought a witch. Such is the irrationality of sin. He tried to | a ail himself of the fagend of a sorcery
 he had himself sought to exterminate. What conscience he had lelt made a cow ard of him. He was afraid and his
 heart greatly trembled." 53 The contrast between Saul and David Is further accentuated by the fact that each in a different place was fighting a fateful battle on the same day. Saul is defeated, David victorious.
 David. on his return from the Philis- tine camp. finds his city of refuge lZiklag, burned, and every living soul- wives, daughters, sons-carried captive by the Amelekites. The grief and rage of their irreparable loss, his soldiers are on the point of taking his life. It is sig nificantly said that David encouraged himself in the Lord his God" The Di- vine silence to Saul is in striking con- trast to the quick and clear answer to David, Pursue! thou shalt recover!" The significant record Is. David recov- cred all"
 How differently went the battle with Saul that same day! The men of Israel fell down slain in Mount Gilboa. Three heirs to the throne go down in succession. The king himself, pierced with darts, writhes in agony. Tradition says that the sword with which Saul killed himself was the very one with which the priests were slain at Mob by Souls own orders. The tradition is based upon the supposi- tion that Doeg the Edomite was the ar- mor-bearer, as he certainly was the exe- cutioner in the first instance. But such minute particularly is entirely unneces- eary. Saul reaped what he sowed.