Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-08-14
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments Tor
August 10.
Sublect:- Tries to Kill David, Sam,
xviii, 5-l6-Goden Text, Pisa. xL, /
Memory Verses, l2-4-Commentary
on the Days Lesson.

DAVID was appointed to some post of COM
Iiaho ana went out on military expedi-
tons. Wisely" This word combines the
i lsG OF prudence and consequent success.
same appointment as that referred to in
"; ", To- David was not made the leading
otncer over all the host, for Abner held
that position (chap. 1850, but Saul gave
MN some principal command in the army
and made him captain of regiment.
Was accepted" The elevation of the
shepherd boy was in the hearts of the COM
mon people, and no doubt the sentiment
OF the nation at this time had had some
Influence on Saul in his promotion of
David. ''.Saul's servants" Even the cour.
tiers, who were the most likely to be dis
pleased with this new favorite were glad
to receive the youthful conqueror and
recognize his authority.
Ill: David's victory celebrated Tvs. 6-9.
6. WAS returned" There has evidently
been a DEPRESSION in the narrative Tvs Isl
ito relate the circumstances Of David's
permanent reception into SauPs service,
the commencement of the friendship be-
promotion and success" The narrative
now goes back to the welcome which David
received when the army returned in tri-
umph from the successful completion of
the Philistine war. This verse should be
.
though some time may have elapsed, dur
ing which the army was occupied in fol-
lowing up its first success. Women came
out" 1t was the principal business of
certain women to celebrate victories, sing
at funerals, ETC. "Of all the cities" They
came together from all the neighboring
| cities. Singing and dancing" This is
characteristic trait of Oriental manners.
On the return of friends long absent, and
~, %l1o ofD
army, bands of women and children issue
from the towns and villages to form
trlumphal procession, to celebrate the vic
tory with dancing, music and songs, in
honor of the generals who have earned
the highest distinction by feats of gal
lantry. The Hebrew women, therefore,
were merely paying the customary con.
eratulations to David as the deliverer of
their country. "Tabrets-timbrels." That
used by the Arabs, and described as a
hoop over which a piece of parchment IS,
drawn. Sometimes pieces of brass are,
fixed in it to make jingling. 1t is beaten
with the fingers. The instrument must,
have been similar to the modern tam;
BOURNE.
7. "Sang one to another" They sang
alternately. Some of the women began
the song with, Saul hath slain his thou
"And David his ten thousands" This
was neat poetic parallelism. The en-
thusiastic throng intimate that DaMd's
triumph was of more importance than all
Of Sauls victories" In this they com,
mitted grave indiscretion; they praised
subject at the expense of their sovereign.
8, 9. Every wroth." Saul conferred his
thoughts on himself. This was the prinl-
cipal cause of his trouble. He was al
| I,y 10 bo 0f
But the kingdom" The prophet had
distinctly told him in the day of his sin
that the Lord had rent the kingdom from
him, and had given it to neighbor that
was better than he (chap. 1928. In David
Saul could read the marks of such man.
Eyed David" Watched all his move
ments with suspicion and jealousy, which
soon ripened into deadly hatred.
III. SauIs attempt on Daylds lie Tvs:
10, ny. Here commences the record of
those prosecutions by which, during the
rest of Saul's lifetime, the conqueror OF
Goliath was continually harassed. 1t
forms a suggestive period of Israelitish
history, and presents in striking contrast
the development of SauPs great wicked
ness on the one hand, and of David's many
excellences on the other. These persecu-
tions. however, were a most useful discip-
line for the psalnist king.
mentioned so frequently in the New Testa-
/; Of God, as Satan in Job FL. Game upon
Gaul" He relapsed into a state of de-
moniac possession. See chap. 1914.
, "Propnesied." Rather, "raved." Saul's
condition is neither that of simple mad
ness or of true prophecy: He is under
the control of a power higher than him.
| ~ 90 q
first inspired by the Holy Spirit of God,
but now that spirit has left him and a
foul demon occupies his place, and, &C
cordingy, instead of hallowed ecstasy, his
religious exercises resemble the frantic
rawlings of mailman. He utters impas-
stoned cries, and perhaps falls PROSTATE
on the floor and breathes forth his inner
rawlings like one holding communion with
an unseen world. GAS at other times. -
wonderful power in music to soothe,
troubled soul. "a javelin." The javeelin
or spear was the emblem of regal authority.
In ancient times kings used spear in
stead of diadem. They always had it at
hand, and in ancient monuments they are
always represented with it,.
II. Cast the javeln." Saul, now
thoroughly Infatuated, determined to make
an end of the shepherd boy. After this
|
That David was the God-ordained king.
This purpose he resolved to defeat. and,
accordingly, made several attempts on
Dayid's life.
". David's further advancement Tvs:
l2-l6). u, l3. ''Was afraid of David"
Saul became sensible that he was fighting
against God; this caused terror and con-
tinued to disturb him more and more.
Because the Lord" etc. When God is
with us we are certain to succeed: but
when the Lord forsakes person he is
equally certain to be defeated. The Chris
tan is mighty only Through Cod q Cor.
2:lO). Captain" 1t is not certain that
this was the same appointment referred
to in v. 5, but it is quite likely that it was
l4-l6. Behaved" etc. David acted dis
creetly; he trusted to the divine guidance;
God was with him. Because of this Saul
;. stood in awe of him" ". Is, R. w.
This is a stronger expression than the one
used in V. II, and denotes primarily the
avoidance of the person feared: all
loved David" Saul made David captain
over a thousand partly to get rid of him
from his presence, and partly perhaps IN
the hope that he would lose his life ir
battle Tvs. II, 25); but the result was that
he became firmly established in the affec
tion of the people.