The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-21
STUDIES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

A~>~~~>~.>~
,-rhe purpose to destroy
David had taken full possession Of Saul,
and he resortcd TO various expedionts to
that end. He first gave his daughter In
marriage. hoping sho might ensnare him
In some way. Another war with the
Phillstt1es again exposed him. Saul or
dered Jonathan and his servants to MUIR.
der him outright when opportunity offer
ed, but Jonathan interposed and the king
relented. Another war with the Phills-
tines brought additional honor to David.
resulting In an Increase OF envy ana
4 causlng another attempt to kill David's
wife then befricnded him. and he fled for
safety to Ramah. Saul sent servants TO
take the fugitive, and finally went forth
In pursuit. but tho spirit OF God came
upon the servants and the king, and turn
ed them from their purpose. It was soon
nftor that Jonathan sought David, and
they had an interview in the field. part OF
which forms the Lesson for the day. Before
beginning this lesson the student should
read tho nineteenth chapter.
PROMISE. (verses IL and 1877 Tho
two young men, Jonathan and David,
one the kings son. the other the future
king. stood together In the opeD field.
under the blue vault of Heaven. The
the former a true and tried friend who
sought to protect him. It was important
that saurs real purpose should be known
80 that timely defense might be made,
This Jonathan proposed. He would act
as a messenger, learning his fathers dis
position first, and then bearing the intel
iigence to his friend day or two should
be consumed in obtaining the desired In
formation. There was every opportunity.
-tslS r0n C0
the kings son to be treacherous at such
time. He might have ensnared and
ruined the one to whom he proffered
friendship 1t was. therefore, In most
solemn manner that he promised his as
sIstance by appealing to God to Wit
mes his sincerity, and calling upon him to
avenge his perfidy. II he betrayed his
friend. His language. broken and inter-
rupted, Is emphatically that OF strong
affection and emotion
RETURN.-(Verses IA and $50 Jonathan
required David in return for the kind
ness shown to promise him favors. Ho
knew that 1t was customary for mon
Z in those days on coming TO the throne
to put to death all others who might have
any claim to 1t by reason OF their de-
scent from a former sovereign. He. there
fore, sought to secure for himself and his
heirs personal safety and such favor as
only royal person had ability to be-
stow. At first this exnction seems to
vitiate the declared friendship. 1t has
the appearance of selfisnness on the one
side and OF doubt OF the others good
mes on the other. as II Jonathan were
doing what he did for his own sake, dis
trustful OF the %one whose welfare he
would promote. A more careful study
will show that the request was wise and
just, that It was made In good spirit.
and that 1t was calculated to strengthen
the bonds Of friendship, and especlaa0
to render David truer and better man.
How he afterward complied with Jona-
than's request is a matter of history.
e Sam. I'D It sometimes occurs that
kindly act Is more appreciated when a
return or reward Is affixed to 1t, 80 that
obligations become mutual.
COVENANT.-(Vers 16) Strictly speak
ing this Is what was done between Jona-
than and David. Neither pledged to the
other wholly unpaid kindness. but each
promised something by which the other
was induced to act, They made cove
nant, an agreement in which the two par
ties were interested and obligated That
covenant, as to Its nature, has already
been given, but may be properly repeated.
{ Joha than agreed to befrlend David BY
learning the purpose of the king and help
Ing him to escape from any danger that
might I'LL Cd ltIl luIl. <hS a. Cou1S lA1o
life would be spared, and In Gods own
good time David would ascend the throne
OF Israel. obtaining the honor and power
accorded to him by the amounting OF
Samuel (sam. XVI. 1s.) And David
agreed for himself and house, that on
attaining the klngly office he would show
Kindness to Jonathan and his children
forever, not only sparing their lives, but
In various ways doing them good This
agreement was sealed on both sde9
by kind OF oath in which the two
parties called to God as witness and. to
help them in keeping the terms unfor-
t,nately, In after years, 1t was violated
on Davld's side, q Sam. 1V:17) but with
out his design.
action, however. was not on the plane
OF commandments was not purely
giving and taking, the giving being for
the sake OF receiving. Below 1t all and
dominating all was affection, and.
strange as It may seem, the kings son
exceeded the shepherd youth In his love.
The latter had deported himsen so prop
erly, had displayed such generous quail
ties, had so manifested his abilities and
indicated his destiny, that Jonathan's
whole soul was drawn out toward him.
He filled the savlour's requirement IN
this particular. Matt. XIX, $50 1t was
a marvellous display Of affection TO sur
which was his by Inheritance, to protect
and assist another In obtaining regal
power-thls act Of Jonathan is without
a parellel In history. and 1t marked him
as OF that high grade, which adorns our
humanity only occasionally In the pro-
gress Of the centuries Having these
enot,ons, he turned to David and re-
ouired him to swear to keep the covenant
they had made because Of his lo<s-that
is, for loves sake alone. Thus two hearts
were Joined and two lives were blended
In a holy purpose with mutual Interest.
whoever. at this distance beholds that
pioture must be filled with admiration.
fAPPOINTAIENT,--(V VERSES Is and l9.)
There followed this formal agreement
an arrangement Of details all looking
toward the service to be rendered by the
kings son. David was directed to keep
in hiding In a safe place for three days.
During that time Jonathan would be at
r,,itt, 1,to Potber farming what hA