The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1903-09-04
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON X, THIRD QUARTER, INTER
NATIONAL SERIES, SEPT. 6.

Text Of the Lesson, I SaA- XXI, A-l3.
Memory Verses. q, 7-t.oideH Text
Prov. XIV, I2-CommentarV Prepar-
ed by Rev. ID. VI. stearns.
Copyright. 1908. by American Press Association
After the events of the last lesson
David and his 600 went TO Achish, king
Of Gath of the Philistines, and, receiv-
Ing Liklag from Achish he dwelt there
year and four months, making con-
tinual raids upon neighbOring tribes
Chapter xviii. The next chapter tells
of Gauls visit TO the witch of Endor
and Samuel's last message TO him. In
chapter xxx the lords of the Philis-
tines object TO Achish taking David
and his men with them TO battle. In
chapter xxx David and his 600, return
ing 10 Liklag, find ii burned with fire
and no trace of their families. Then
followed one Of David's greatest trials,
when even his 600 turned against him
and talked of stoning him, but David
encouraged himself in the Lord, his
God, and in due time, through the
young man Of Egypt, lie recovered all
and more and rewarded all, making it
law in Israel that those who tarry
/ by the stuff shall share equally with
those who go to the battle Xxx 6, 10,
"a, 25).
/ 1-3 Now the Philistines fought against
Israel and the men Of Israel fled from
before the Philistines and fell down slain
/ In Mount Giboa.
This was the battle from which Da-
vid was hindered, and thus again God
delivered David from having anything
to do with the death of Saul. 1t is sad
TO see the people of God falling before
the defiers of God instead of one chas-
ing a thousand and two putting 10000
TO fight Deut xxi, 3d. but the best
of men are nothing If God is not with
them. 1t makes ones heart ache to
read in verse . of the death of Jona-
than. and we cannot be astonished at
the depth of DaVid's lamentation over
one whose soul was so knit with his
own QI Sam. t. 1920, but we wonder
as we read that ii was over Saul as
we'll as Jonathan. David saw not his
enemy, but the Lords anointed. Saul
had known much of the mercy of God,
but now he is in the hands OF those
who know no mercy prov. xxx, u.
As. So Saul died, and his three sons. and
his armor bearer. and all his men that
same day together.
What, then? Where are the dead?
The words of the Lord Jesus in Luke
xvi and other words of the Spirit as
plainly recorded in Scripture teach us
that if we are redeemed by the pre-
cious blood of Gods great sacrifice
Oev. xvii, Il; Heb. tx, 90. ITO die is
gain" ITO depart is to be with Christ,
which is far better" (Phil. 1. p, 23),
and when the spirit leaves the body
our conscious personal life continues,
and the angels who minister TO the re-
deemed guide or carry us TO perfect
bliss in His presence, where we await
the resurrection and the kingdom OF
God.
l. Israel - forsook the cities and fed.
and the Philistines came and dwelt In
them.
Here are not only the defeat and
slaughter of the Lords people, Israel,
but their possessions taken and en-
joyed by their enemies. When Chris
tians refuse 10 walk humbly with God,
in simple reliance upon Him, and turn
their backs upon Him in order TO fell
lowship with the world which hates
Him. the enemies of God will come in
like flood, and the bodies which ought
TO be temples Of the Holy Ghost, filed
with love and peace and joy, will be
possessed by such enemies Gs envy
and hatred and foolish thoughts and
sinful lusts and thus Gods property be
sadly defled.
s, g. They cut off his head and stripped
off his armor and sent into the land of the
Philistines round about TO publish IL in
the house of their idols and among the
people.
Thus what Saul feared came upon
him. and these uncircumcised Philis-
tines abused his body. But, worst of
all. it was published abroad among
these idolatrous defiers of the living
and true God When one who bears
the name of Jesus is in any way over
come by the world, the flesh or the
devil. that holy and beautiful name is
blasphemed and dishonored by the sins
thus committed. Our great business
here is TO magnify that name and to
show forth His praises The defiers of
God cannot do enough to show their
hatred of Him and His people. The
devil never made anything good or
helped any one TO be godly.
10. They put his armor in the house Of
Ashtaroth. and they fastened his body 10
the wall of Bethshan.
The poor body that might have glo-
rified God q Cor. vi, 10. 20). the ar.
NOR that was no use to David or to
Saul either. May we be skillful in
using the armor that will never fall
into the idolater's hands. the shield OF
faith and sword of the Spirit and he'll
met of salvation! (Eph. VII
lib All the valiant men arose and |
went all night and took the body of Saul
and the bodies of his sons from the wall !
of Bethshan and came to Jabesh and |
burnt them there.