Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-08-21
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
August q.
Subject: Devld and Jonathan, Sam. Xxx. u.
23-Golden Text, Prov. xvlii., A-Mem.
DRY Verses, l4.l7-Study Versus, l.42
Commentary on the Days
Lesson.

Z. Jonathan said" The Revised Yer.
sion gives the meaning here. Jonathan
calls God to witness that he would assist
David by letting him know exactly what
Saul's purpose was concerning him.
Sounded my father" That is, when he
had questioned his father. "If there be
good" etc. The private dialogue which is
here detailed at full length presents most
beautiful exhibition of these, two, ami.ble
and undetermined friends. Jonathan was
led, in the circumstances, to be the chief
speaker. The strength of his attachment,
his pure disinterestedness, his warm piety
his invocation to God consisting OF a
prayer and a solemn oath combined-the
conviction that his own hmily were by
the divine will to be disinherited and
David elevated to the possession of the
throne; the covenant entered into with
David on behalf of his descendants, and
the imprecation ". 16) denounced on any
of them who should violate his part of the
conditions; the reteration of this covenant
on both sides ". ~ to make it indis..
soluble; all this indicates such a power OF
mutual affection; such magnetic attract
iveness in the character of David; such
susceptibility and elevation of feeling in
the heart of Jonathan, that this interview
for dramatic interest and moral beauty Is
unrivaled in the records of human friend.
ship.
l3. "The Lord be with thee" etc, These
words show that Jonathan expected David
to occupy the throne of Israel. No doubt
Saul had now fully made up his mind that
David was his rival for the throne; that
he was the man after Gods own heart OF
whom Saul had told him; and perhaps tho
fact that Samuel had anointed him was
now generally known. Jonathan had all
these facts before him and yet he. had no
jealousy, but loved his rival as his own
soul.
IA, Is. "That die not" etc. Convinced
that David will succeed to the hngdoTh
Jonathan exacts a promise from him to
show kindness to his posterity after his
time. His words, like Sauls in chapter
2a:2l, are prompted by a fear lest even
David should conform to the barbarous
Oriental custom by which the first king OF
new dynasty often tried to secure him.
self on the throne by numbering his pre-
lecessor's family. David fulfilled his prom
jse by showing kindness to Mephibosheth.
See 2 Sam, 9;l.l3; 2l:7.
Is, II, Made q covenant" Namely, by
obtaining from David promise to, show
kindness to himself and to his family Tor
ever. "Shall require it," etc. There IS
much difference Of opinion as to the mean
ing of the second part OF this verse. 1t IS
generally understood to be continuation
of the historians words, and that this is
mere statement of the fact that the Lord
would require the fulflment Of the cove
nant even at the hand Of David's enemies.
benson explains It as follows: If either
Jonathan or any Of his house shall prove
enemies to David or to his house, let the
Lord, the witness of the covenant. severely
punish the violators of it. ITO swear
again" By this is meant that he again
entered into solemn covenant. "Becausee
made him anxious to maintain friendly
relations between their posterity.
IL, l9. "Seat-empty." 1t seems that
there was one table for Saul, Jonathan,
David and Abner; Saul having the chiei
teat, that next to the wall. "Stayed three
DAYS" Either with your family in Bethle'
hem, or wherever YOU find it. convenient.
Go down quickly" "a quick movement
would be necessary In order to avoid being
detected, 1.-THE business etc., Literally,
ION the day of the business" referring
either to the incident recorded in chapter,
l9:l-7, or to some unknown matter. Ezel.,,
The name of a stone near Gbeah, Wen
known to JaGathan and David, but I'm
known to us.
1928. "And + will shoot" etc. iona:
than thus provides for informing David OF
SauPs designs without making personal
interview between them necessary, as 1t
might be hazardous to attempt to meet
ngain. Though David was the anointed
king to reign after Saul, he had everything
TO fear from Saul, and therefore concluded
it better to secure himself than to get
into danger. He might have rallied an
army in his defense, but. he had not
sought the kingdom, or public notice. and
he chose to trust God to bring about his
affairs in his own time and way, de who,
even in Gods way, runs before he is sent;
runs at fandomj runs without, light, and
without divine strength. Gods children
may suffer wrong, but while they keep
true at heart God will surely attend to
having them delivered without fail, though
they are permitted to suffer some priva.
tions before reaching the place where God
will honor them. Read Cor. All, Is;
Pet. 3:l3. The promises of God cannot
all. Faith and obedience secure their full.
iment. GAS touching the matter" This
9fers to the covenant just made and the
ign agreed upon.
Ill. Saul's intentions tested Tvs. 24-34).
Jonathan soon discovered that his father
vas very angry against David and had
determined upon his death. Saul al so be-
Jones enraged against Jonathan and casts
lis javelin at hsn to smite him. Before
his time Jonathan had not believed that
lis father really intended to kill David,
but now he knows the truth. -,
". The, parting Tvs. 35:42). In the
morning, which would be the third day
Dnce Jonathan left David, Jonathan took 4
ad and went into the field to carry out
he plan arranged between them. After
me warning signal had been given David,
The lad was sent back to Gibeah, and find.
ing no one near Jonathan, seized the op.
3ortunity for one more interview with
;he one he loved as - own life. And they
kissed one another. and wept one with
aaother, Until David exceeded. The sep
Aration of two such faithful friends was
equally grievous to them both, but David's
rase was the more deplorable, for when
Jonathan was returning to his family and
friends, David was leaving all his com.
forts, even those of Gods sanctuary, and
therefore hi grief exceeded Jonathan's 8.
At last Jon A.lian said to David, go in
peace" 1t was kindness in Jonathan to
bid David depart, since his life was in
such danger. They referred to the cove
nant they had made with each other, to
be faithful and kind to each other from
generation to generation. They found
some comfort in this way in the nlournful
separation. Nothing can be conceived
more pathetic than this parting; and we
do not find that they met more than once
more in this world.