The Tupelo journal., 1903-08-21
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson In the international Series
for August 81, 1OO3-Davfd
and Jonathan
THE LESSON TEXT.

| Lord God of Israel. when l have sounded
my father about tomorrow any time, OF
the third day, and behold, If there be good
| toward David, and l then send not unto
tnee, and shew 1t thee;
To- me Lord do so and much more to
Jonathan; but If 1t please my father TO do
thee evil. then will shew 1t thee, and send
| thee away. that thou mayest go in peace;
ana the Lord be with thee. as He hath been
with my father
II. And thou shalt not only while yet ]
| I'VE shew me the kindness of the Lord, that
| die not:
| IS. But also thou shalt not cut off thy
| kihoness from my house for ever; no, not
| when the Lord hath cut off the enemies Of
DaViu every one from the face of the earth.
10. so Jonathan made a covenant with
me mouse OF David, saying, Let the Lord
even require 1t at the hand of David's ene-
mics
H. And Jonathan caused David to swear
again. because he loved him; for he loved
| MIN as he loved his own soul.
B Then Jonathan said to David. To-
morrow Is the new moon; and thou shalt
De missed, because thy seat will be empty.
~ And when thou hast stayed three
Gays, then thou shalt go down quickly, and
come TO the place where thou didst hide
thyself when the business was in hand,
ana shalt remain by the stone Eel
70 And l will shoot three arrows on the
SIDE thereof. as though ! shot at mark
a. And. behold / will send lad, saying,
20, md out the arrows. If l expressly
say unto the lad. Behold the arrows are on
TINS side of thee, take them: then come
thou: for there is peace to thee, and no
hurt; as the Lord lveth
%. But if 1 say thus unto the young man,
Beholo. the arrows are beyond thee; go
thy way; for the Lord hath sent thee away.
70. AND as touching the matter which
thou and have spoken of. behold, the
Lord be between thee and me for ever.
GOLDEN TEXT.-There Is q friend
that stfcketh closer than q brother
Prov. 1S:24 Xxx
OUTLINE OF SCRIPTURE SECTION.
David's escape. Sam. 191-4
Davids appeal to Jonathan. Il Sam, 2O1-11
Jonathan covenant........1 Sam, 20:l2-16.
Jonathan's sign....l Sam. 3O:17-23
The sign given...............1 Sam, 20:24-34
me anectionate parting. L Sam, 20:25-42
TIME.-Probably about 1862 B. C.
PLACE-Gibeah of Saul
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
In what true friendship consists is
seen In the strength and beauty of the
tie that existed between David and
Jonathan. Friendship does not de.
mand but gives; and either would will
ingly have made sacrifices for the
other. Such friendship is possible
only between persons of exalted char
acter. @
Chapter nineteen narrates the tenn
porary reconciliation between Saul
and David, at Jonathan's earnest in
tercession. But it was very short
lived. AS soon as David again wins
renown in battle, Saul's hatred re-.
turns, more violent than ever, and the
victim of his insane jealousy escapes
from the court by night, assisted by
his wife, the kings daughter. He
seeks refuge with Samuel at Ramah
cred, and fleeing at Sauls approach
he returns for an interview with JON
athan.
David did not wish to be forced into
the life of an outlaw, if he could pos
sibly remain in peace and safety at
the court. So he begs Jonathan to
discover, if possible. the cause of the
kings animosity toward him JON
athan's sanguine disposition secuted
the idea that Saul desired David's
death or that his dislike was really
permanent, but David feared the
worst. The two friends arrange to-
gether that at the feast of the new
moon. which was to occur the next
day. Jonathan should make a final
attempt to reconcile the king to
David
Then as the two friends walked
through the fields-both conscious
that it might prove their last meet
ing-they solemnly vowed that their
mutual friendship should be lasting
should continue even to their descend
ants. when Jehovah hath cut off
the enemies of David" Jonathan's
faith in David's future is remarka bic.
In spite of David's desperate condition
that day, his friend believed in him.
and believed he would some day be
Of jealousy under such circumstances
is truly Christlike.
Jonathan promised to sound his IA
Their on the following feast day as to
his feelings toward David, and agreed
to report to David at their rendezvous,
oh thC thiiN way. <As a UIhdtc
view might be prevented by the pres
ence of spies or others. they arranged
the signs as described in verses 2O-22.
so that. in any case. David might readily
know whether or not it were necessary,
for him to fee from the country.
The rest of this chapter should be
faithfully read At the appointed
feast. David's absence is noted by the
the king, who had proba bly, planned
his death on that occasion. Jonathan
quickly discovers Saul's implacable
hatred of his rival. and risks his own
life vainly in defending David from the
royal abuse. The account Of the
parting of the friends at the trysting-
place on the third day is brief but
significant of their strong attachment.
They never met a gain but once.
Jonathan loved David as his own
soul. And why? Because his soul was
like the soul of David; because.he was
modest, he loved David's modesty; be-
cause he was brave. he loved David's
courage: because he was virtuous, he
loved David's goodness" Charles
Kingsley.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
A true friend viii always stand up
for his absent mate.
A true friend will forfeit even life
itself to protect the one he loves.
A true friend seeks to give rather
than get; his Joy is in benefting his
comrade.