The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-01

prGwcss. lie may have known Of Saul :
stature. in which the lsraclites had prlde'
and it was probably designed To meet pHys-
zeal strength with physical strength. LOOK
ing, therefore. over the field the giant as
GAINED the rudy youth before him e ON
est thou TO me with slaves, he asked;
thou a shepherd | q warrior. DO YOU dare
10 meet me with such weapons as II were
a dos?, The Phiiis tines corn found further
eeXypre5IS s in oath{ tIe probably deemed
imprecatlons in the name Of his gods were
hurled at David. Thereby the warrior dis
played his weakness, as did the trembling
King of Moab CNumb. xiii. SO when h.
invoked through BALKAN curse upon vic
torlouS Israel Self-cOnsciOus strength. true
bravery Is calm and unmoved. y little soul
III Il big body may rave and tremble and
seek by words 10 gain victory over big
soul in Il small body
.CHALLENGE.-The giant might have re-
tifed IN contempt. pleading that the one pre-
sentcd was unworthy. as prize fighter
might do If some tender child was placed in
the ring. If the champion gains an easy
mastery over the youth from the sheepfDli
tEerr VIII he no glory III IL. Instead. it VIII
lie an abiding shame. ~ he remembered and
rehearsed for years after. Neither would
anything be gained III the test of national
NaIor ana strength. except that Young
nero Would he crowned as laying down his
re for love of country and of God But
thlS giant was not TN. man 10 retire his
mental and moral fiber was al such char
acter that fight with physical inferior
was not TO be declined With much assur-
Encounter. his immense figure. nine
feet in height. rising up in full view. Il
VII! give thy flesh To- tine fowls OF the air
and 10 the beasts Of the field he said.
With one stroke Of his mighty arm he eX-
PsCt.h TO sever the young mans head from
lis body and leave the iifriess form to be
d"Sourod. And who could anticipate any
other result from such unequal contest!
REI'Ii-After these swelling words. it
vas Davids time To speak. There was no
evidence OF perturbation. He seemed as
confident and self-possessGd as when he first
proposed to his brethren to meet the luSp-
lent Philistine. Every word bore the marks
OF Il great soul composed in prospect of tri-
umph. His speech admitted the giants
physical superiority. coming with sword and
spear and shed, but declared that he came
in the name of the Lord. psalm xvi. -
He desired II to be known that this was TO
be not a fight between warrior and skeI-
herd. but between a warrior and the God
or Israel He then declared that God would
deliver Goliath into his hands. There was
the keynote-he mad come 10 receive the
enemy, whom God would subdue, the old
time spirit being in his heart. uOeut. vi, -
He went on to predict the result. Having
the man in his power. David would cut of
his head and the carcaSses of the Philistines
would be given to the beasts. CRev. xix, Is. }
Then the earth should know that there was
a God in Israel, and that assembly should
learn that the battle was the Lords. Josh.
y. 81 Modesty. faith and zeal were in that
address,
TEltMfPH3i speech, ended. Goliath
foot fastened to meet HIM ' Placing "a a
stone in his sling. he hurled IL with GeX-
ferrous movement. With marvellous pre-
and impelled bv superhuman power. that
stone sued through the air like rifle
ball or bolt from heaven. Oh Kings ix. ~
Striking the giants forehead, 1t broke
through his skull and buried itself in his
brain. Before the defiant boaster had drawn
his sword. before he had reached his de-
prOstrate in death. a moment more and Da-
rid stood upon him. Drawing the greet
sword of the fallen Philistine he cut OFF the
head and held it aloft The work was done.
The blasphemous tongue was silent The
young man. trusting in God, had triumphed
over his enemy. There was; no credit due to
Tie prediction had been fulfilled
PURSUIT-The whole scene was imme-
diately changed. The multitude that had
invaded Judah. expecting TO subiusate the
chosen people, lost hope when their cham
pion fell and sought safety in precipitate
s I The enn a IF ihs,r .nts neh had NeaSe 80
feared for weeks. regained their courage
ana went In hot pursuit; The old days hal
returned. the days of Moses, of Joshua. of
Gideon. and. Of Samuel. the DAYS of man 3
faith and OF Gods power, Deut. xvii, a,
\ stone from the, shepherds sling had
rfoach on a 19 and Tn s
all a new name had come into history. 4
new life force, new rule OF action II new
philosophy of government, destined to usher
in a better era. Israel, pursuing he. enc
mics. syrnboliZes the new monarchy over
coming in righteousness.
| TEACHING-There are many Instructive
points in our lesson. The most important
| lies on the surface. recognized by all, just
suggested the strength and the worth of a
| with Saul. forsaken. challenged and hope
| less. Contrast him with Goliath. hoastful.
scOrnful. dying. He is more than King more
| than giant; aye. true King and true giant.
| and more. What causes and institutions
have suffered because such men have de-
| layed their coming. And when at length
n rod hour
| the evils have been overcome. And how
| have men been inspired and led on 10 ss,Sle
! achievement; Oh: that God would raise up
| IN the church and state men of zeal. volun-
| teers in time of distress. who are able to
slay the giants. TO put TO flight the forces
| % evil and TO rally the faint-hearted in
of trI,tf