Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-08-22
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
iE.crna .ioIah Lcssol Comm.ats For
Angus. q.
Ssbice': Dey,d snt nathan, | sam. *. u,
T. Go.4,n lex. Prov. xvii :. 2.-%em.
CT, V.rses, A. Stay ,cIsas, ia,
toamclia'y on HE bays
IeSSn1

Lesson.
H. The cycnant renewed Tvs. l.,e::l.
L. "Jonathan said. The Revised Yer.
SION gives til meaning here. Jonathan
Gals God to VIturss thai he wound assist
David by lct,iur hun know exactly what
Sauls purpose was concerning HIM.
Sounded my father Tia, l.. when he
had questioned his father II there he
good. etc. The private dialogue w'uch *
here detailed AT iu!i edctn presents most
beautiful exhibition oi ihsse TWO amipb.e
and predetermined friends. Jonathan was
led. IN the circumstances. 10 he the chlct
speaker. The strength o: MS ..,tAchmcmt,
his pure Glsinterc>tCGaess. liis warm picty
his invocation to God CouHi~tlac q.
PRAYER and so.emn oath c"molued-n nc
cain and in.l expire sStcu ne gave to h.s
conviction that his own family were by
Inc divine will TO he disinhcrited AVID
David c.cva:ed to the possession 81 the
throne; the covenant entered mto with
David on behalf OF his descendants. and
the imrrecatlon *. 1G} denounced Oh any
OF them who shoulG vio,atc HI. part of the
conditions: the reitcration Of this covenant
on both sides Is. 10 to make Il nG;s-
soluble; all this indicates *nch :, power or
mutual affection: sucn magnetic attract
iveness IN the chaIn &c ri David: such
susceptibility ard e.ovaiian a. frc'ia: IN
the heart ri Jonathan. th;.t his interview
for dramatic interest .rd moral beauty ls
nnrivalcd in the records q. human ir.cn.'
shin.
t. 'Thc Lord nc with thee" e::. These
words show that Jonathan eXnccted lia.ld
10 occupy the throne ii !sracl. No doubt
Saul had now fI.iy iradc up his mind that
David was his rival ior tie throne: that
he was tho man af.cr Gods own hears or
whom Saul had told him; and rerhlrs the
fact that Samrcl ha;! anointei him WAS
now generally known. iona than rad ali
f.n hog, nv, ND ba had ~
jealousy, but !ovoa RS rival = his uwa
soul
l.. L. THAT dc ro-." et". Convinced
that David viii succeed I, the h:rrtoir.
Jonathan c.acts promise from HIM l."
show kindness 10 his poStcritv after rs
death rs we'll as to himself during MS lie
time His wo.;ls. Ike Saurs in chapter
2;:2l. are prompted hy iea:. lest even
David should conform II the haya1roCs
Oriental custom hy which the first king OF
new dynasty Otto tried 70 secure h'm-
self on thn throne Y numbering his pre-
decessor's family. David int" red his nror.-
isc hy showing kindness 10 Meph.bosaeth.
See Sam. a:l-l3; :i:7.
TO. Il. Made = covenant. Namely. nv
obtaining from Dgvi nromie" to show
kindness to himself and - MS tam.i'y io?'
ever Shall require it,. etc. There Is
much difference o: opinion as to the mean
ing OF the second part o. this verse. i Is
generally understood 10 be & continuation
OF the historians words. and that t1is Is {,
mere statement OF the Tact That tic Lor!
would require the fulii.mcrt az tho cove
r1at even at the hand OF Dav!d's enemies.
Benson explains it rs follows; II either
Jonathan or any Of his house shall prove
enemies 10 David or to his house. let the
Lord. the witness OF the covenant. severely
punish the violators OF it. To swear
again BY this is meant that he acaIn
entered into solemn covenant. "Bccaus..
he loved him" His grea; love to David
made him anxious TO maintain friendly
rclat ions between their posterity
Is. -. "Sea;-cmptv.' /; sccns that
there was one table for Saul. Jonathan.
David and Abner: Saul having the chief
scat. that rext TO the wal. STAYED three
days" Either with Your family in Be:h:e-
heln. o- wherever YOU find it convenient.
Go down quickly "A quick movement
would he necessary in order to-avoid heisg
detected. The business, etc. Literally.
On the day OF the business. referring
cishcr to the incident recorded IN chapter.
la:l-.. or 10 some unknown matter. Eel.
The name of stone near Ciheah wei
known to Jonathan and David, but I'M
known TO rs.
oc.a3 "snd will shoot" ctc. Jena.
than thus provides for informing David Of
Sau's dosiyns withcus making Z rersnnal
interview hctwscn them necessary. as II
might he hazardous TO attempt to meet
acain Though David was the snoin.ed
king IN reign after Saul. he bad everything
10 fear from SAIL. and Therefore co,-',udcd
into danger He might have rallied an
army il his defense. but he had not
fourh, the kingdom. or public notice. and
he chose to trust God to bring ABOUT his
affairs in his own time and way. He who.
even IN Gods way. runs before he g sent.
runs ~ random; runs withou: light. ard
without divine strength. Gods children
may suffer wrong. but while they keen
true at heart God will surely attend 10
having them delivered without fail. thor-h
they are permitted 10 suffer sorie pri'a-
tions before reaching the place where God
Pet. Sl3 The promises of God cannot
fail. Faith and obedience secure their in-
fi,mcnt. "As touching the matter This
refers to the covenant just made and the
sga agreed unon.
III. Saui's intentions rested Tvs. 24-a,).
Jonathan soon discovered that his father
was very angry against David and f7d
determined upon his death. Saul also he
comes enraGcd against Jonathan and casss
his javehn at him TO smite him. Before
this time Jonathan had not believed that
his father really intended 10 kill David,
but now he knows the truth.
". The parting Tvs. 3542l. In the
morning which world he the third day
since Jonathan left David. Jonathan took
lad ard went into the fed to carry ont
The plan arranged between them. After
he wrrning signal had been given David.
me lad was sent bacl; to Giheah. and find
ng no ono near Jonathan seized the or
oortunitv for one more interview with
he one he loved as his own life. Ard they
kissed one another. and wept ono with
another. until David exceeded. The sep
aration OF two such faithful friends was
equally er;eyous to them both. bat David's
rase was the more dcplorab.e. for when
Jonathan was returning to his family and
friends. David was leaving all his com
forts. even those of Gods sanctuary and
therefore his grief exceeded Jonathan's.
At last Jonathan said to David, Go in
peace" 1t was kindness in Jonathan TO
bid David depart since his life was il
such danger. They referred to the cove
lant they had made with each other. to
oe faithful and kind to each other from
generation to generation. They found
lome comfort in this way in the n,ournfnl
separation. Nothing can he conceived
mere pathetic than this parting: and we
DO not find that they met more than once
more in this world.