Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-08-06
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments to'
August g.

Subject: DAVID nnd uohntU' oa"' A''"' ''''
.-uoIden Text, Rom. vlti., 3l-Memory
Verses, 4S47-Comuentary on
the Days Lesson.
I. David offers to fight Goliath Tvs. 80.
81 The giant, Goliath, who came out as
the champion of the Philstines, belonged
to the primitive race of the Anakim, OF
which the Israelites had found a small
remnant at the time of the conquest four
Josh. l4,l2). These, driven out by tho
Israclites, attached themselves to the Phil
istines; and Goliath appears to have been
one of family of giants, all of whom were
slain by David and his men e Sam. 2l:l5
22). Goliath's height has been .variously
estimated at from nine to eleven feet. III,
armor is estimated to have weighed aboW
l57 pounds; while the head OF his spear
weighed about nineteen pounds. In those
times great size and strength and armoi
were Of unreasonable advantage in battle.
This armed and plumed giant defed tho
armies of Israel morning and evening Tor
forty days His appearance sent dismay
into the hearts of Saul and his people,
None of Saurs soldiers dared to fight with
him, for no one could overcome HIM with
the ordinary weapons of war. But just
and, much to the establishment of SAUL
offered to champion the cause of Israel
and 90 out and meet the Philstine.
III. The weapons chosen Tvs 3S-40). IS,
80. "His armor." The word for ''armor'
in the Revised Version is apparel Prob
ably a special military dress adapted to DO
worn with armor. Goat of mail" Tho
ancient Hebrews were particularly often
tive to the personal safety OF their war
,,;o,, Tho ooot If mail WAS usually mlt0
of leather or some plant material, some,
times covered with metallic scales, and
capable of taking the form of the parts
of the body it protected "Assayed to co.
Endeavored to go. BY making the attempt
David showed his courtesy and deierenc.G;
to his supcriors. Cannot go with these,
The shrewd, practical sense OF David nd
monished him of the folly OF attempting
such combat with weapons with which
he had no skill. He is a wise man wig
knows what he cannot do as well as what
he can. "Put them off. This was like.
wise from the Lord, who would have ~
made manifest that His servant fought and
conquered by faith. and that the, victory
was from Him, who works by the most
despised means and Instruments,
40. "His staff" His Shepherds crook,
rough or angular, they would not have
passed easily through the air, and the
roughness would in the course, OF Their
passage. have given them false dlfec,
ton. Had they not been smooth, they
could not have been readily sent from the
sling. shepherds bag Used to carry
his daily food. Sling" A favoritc; weapon
of Eastern shepherds. 1t was also very
effective in war, and was regularly enr
Moved, not only by the lsraclitc troops.
but also by the Syrians, the Egyptians and
the Persians. The sling is composed OF two
strings and a lcathern strap. The strap
is in the middle, and is the place whcro
the stone lies. The string on the right
end of the strap is firmly fastened to tho
hand The string on the lett is held be-
tween the thumb and middle JOINT OF 'he
forc.tinger. 1t is then whirled TWO OF
three times round the head. and when
d;scharrcd the finger and thumb let 90
their hold of the left end of the string.
The sling was n formidable weapon IN the
hand OF slllful person. a stone coH,d
he hurled with a velocity that would make
If as fatal as a rihcball. 1t was a very
sommon weapon in David's time. Seven
hundred left.handed Ben!amltes could
sling at a hairs breadth and not mss; -,
III. David and Goliath meet vs. Ili'J.
u43. "Philistinc came on, Goliath; IN
his shining armor. with hi, dreadful ciank.
inc tramp under the hundrcdwcIgEt OF
metal" Looked about" He scanned the
Whole scene, and could hardly persuade
himself that this boy was Israel : ch'n,
mon. "Disdaincd him" Goliath seemed
lusultcd that such Young unArmrd Lag
As David should approach hum; Am L
A dog He hurls thrust at DAVID s""'
costing that he knew no more than !" cou'
irol his shepherd dog, and ignorantiy sup
moscd he could be as successful with hun.
Pride poeth before destruction. and q
Laurhty spirit before fall (Prov. 10; Isl.
nv his gods" These gods were snch, a.
bacon. Baal and Astarte. The combat
Inns became question not merely between
David and Goliath. but between God ana
idols. If Goliath was successful theh lup''
airy would gam stronger hoid upon JIG
people. ;, IT,. ,,,, D,,.;j
N venture near, declaring he will cXInhlL
his great strength in pulling HIM INTO
Dicccs. 1t was common when two cham
1ions met that each should make speech
n the other. and thus Goliath scorncu
.he shepherd boy Then sad David.
There was no mistake about their coming
together. 1t was intended. DAVID spoke
With as much assurance as did "oliath,
md felt no shame because OF lhG roh'lnHt
between their authority. Nothing can
exceed the modcsty, the faith, the Plety
md the zeal for the glory OF God and the
.ause of Israel and of true religion, Mnlch
Flow in this most beautiful speech, "Hast
}cfed," David trusted in the God whom
Goliath defed and relied upon Him as
safely as Goliath did upon his sword and
pcar and physical power, u, ,,.:,
as, AZ. twill the Lord deliver" This
vas the language of faith. ne gave the
glory to God in advance Earth may
know" Here the language Is prophetic
and rises above that Immediate occasion
and declares how other nations and times
,hall hear of that days victory and shall
1--WE God the glory. This assembly,
David speaks as If it were gathering for
worship instead of battle array lilo
addresses himself to this combat, rather
As a priest going to offer sacrifice to the
Justice of God. than as soldier going to
engage an enemy OF. his country.
~ Goliath slain Tvs. 49-54. fS, ~.
AROSE and came" Goliath saw that his
challenge was accepted, though scornlnE
TO fight with David, yet he advanced to
meet him in great prctensc to dignity
"Davd hastcd." He did not try to mako
a display of his power. He was, intent
On being instant i'll season, and advanced
to do real execution. He could not wa, war
for Goliath to strike the first blow. That
would be presumption. When each adj.
ranced to meet the other, it was proper
to make the attack. "ln his forehead"
It does not appear that the ancient hel.
NETS had any covering for the face. The
Septuagint supposes that the stone passed
through the helmet, and sank into his
50-H. David then ran and tool, the
sword of Goliath and cut off the head OF
the giant. AS soon as the Phillstincs saw
that their champion was dead they fled IN
great terror.