The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-09-23
THE " SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR SEPTEMBER II.

xvii, 1-Topic: Israel Obtaining
King-Summary of Lessons.
"Lesson l." Topic: Israel demanding
king. Samuel was growing old; there was
no one to take his place; other nations
had kings; Israel wanted to be like the ma
tions around them; the elders came to
Samuel and asked that they might have
king; the request displeased Samuel; ne
took the matter to the Lord; the Lord
said, Hearken unto the voice OF the people;
they had not only rejected Samuel, but
they had rejected the Lord; the. Lord tod
Samuel to protest soiemnly and show what
a king would expect Of them.
H. Topic: Israel choosing king. Saul
gees to Samuel seeking information; the
Lord told Samuel to anoint Saul to be
king; Samuel invites Saul to dine with
him; afterwards he anoints Saul; Samuel
calls the people together to Mizpeh; told
them that they had rejected God; ordered
the tribes to arrange themselves for the
purpose of casting lots for king: Saul is
chosen; Saul had hid himself; the Lord
revealed his hiding place to Samuel; Saul
is brought in and the people shouted and
said. God save the king.
III. Topic: The consequences OF oDey-
ing and disobeying God. After his election
as king Saul returned to private lie, but
soon it became necessary TO go against the
Ammonites, and Saul called the'army to.
eether and gained great victory. Samue!
then called the people together at Gllgal
for the purpose of establishing Saul in the
government. Samuel makes his farewell
address; speaks of his integrity; recalls
Jehoyah's past mercies and lsraels lngratl-
tude; confirms his words by miracle--a
thunder storm in harvest time; the people
are comforted.
". Topic: Disobedience punished. Saul
had been king about ten years; he had grown
to utterly destroy the Amalekites; he
brought back the best of the sheep and
oxen and Agag the king: Samuel met Saul
and charged him with disobedience; Saul
excused himself and said the people saved
the best in order to sacrifice to the Lord;
Samuel said, ITO obey is better than sacri-
fice;" Saul is rejected.
V. Topic: The Lord choosing king.
The history of David is begun; Samuel IS
commanded to go to Bethlehem and anoint
one of the sons of Jesse; he fears to go; ls
told to take heifer and sacrifice unto the
Lord; the elders of the town tremble at
peaceably; seven of the sons of Jesse are
made to pass before Samuel, but the
prophet said the Lord had not chosen
them; David is called in from the field
and is anointed by Samuel in the presence
of his brethren.
vi. Topic: Fighting the Lords battle.
The Philistines are arrayed against Israel;
Goliath, the Philistine giant, challenges
Saul's army to furnish champion to meet
him; David hears the challenge and otIers
himself; is first clad in a coat of mail, but
lays it aside and takes only his staff and
sling and five smooth stones from the
brook; the Philistine derided David;
David answers him; David slang stone
and smote Goliath in. the forehead; David
then cut off the head of the giant; the
Philistines fed; Israel pursued them.
VII. Topic: The deliverance and pros
perity Of David. After his victory over
Goliath David acted wisely and was pro.
noted; the women sang his praises; Saul
became very angry; he watched Davld's
movements with suspicion; feared DAVID
would seize the kingdom; tries to Kill
David, by casting his javelin at him; David
sand; all Israel and Judah loved David.
VIII. Topic: Jonathan's last interces.
sion for David. To save his life David fed
to Samuel Saul pursued him; David then
appealed to Jonathan for assistance; JON
athan loved David and promised to find
out what Saul's intentions were; Jonathan
soon discovered that Saul intended to kill
David: Davlu and Jonathan met at the
stone Eel; according to previous arrange.
ment arrows were shot and David was
warned; David and Jonathan then have
an affectionate farewell.
TX. Topic: David's noble act. Samuel
died and was buried in Ramah; David IN
exile for six or seven years: Saul pursued
him with murderous intent; Davld's exile
a benefit to him in many ways; Saufs lie
was twice in David's power; David exhlb-
tied true nobility by not permitting him to
be put to death; David called to Saul from
a distance and eXpostu!ated with him;
Saul admitted his sin and promised to
pursue David TO longer.
X. Topic: The Israelites defeated. The
Philistines fought against Israel; Saurs
sons were slain in the battle; the arcner5
pressed Saul hard: he was greatly dis
tressed; asked his armorDearec TO Kill him;
sword and took his own llfe; the armor-.
bearer then took his life; the men Of Israel
fed; the Philistiles came and dweit IN
the country; the bodies Of Saul and his
sons treated with indignity: inhabitants OF
Jabesh.giiead took the bodies, burnt them.
and buried the bones.
N. Topic: David ascending the throne.
David returned from exile; asked direction
of God; was told to "go up to Hebron;
those with David located near Hebron;
David was anointed king of Judah; ne
showed kindness TO the people of Jabesh-
gilcad; asked them to recognize his au-
thority; Abner made lsh-bosheth king
over the northern tribes: Abner and lsh:,
bosheth were both assassinated; all Israel
came to David and urged him to become
their king: he was again anointed and es-
tabiished his canital at Jel1lsolem.
XII. ToEic: Warnings against sinful iiT-
ing. This cDstie was written by the Aros-
tie Peter about A. D. G4-6G. from Babylon,
to the Christians scattered abroad: the
trnc lie is tne Cbrist-iife; al should for
sake sin; intemperance is deadly evil all
will be Judged Peter urges sobrlety, watch
fulness, prayer, fervent charity, hospitality,
the proper use of gifts In this lesson we
should dwell on the goldea text. Temper,
a2ce in its true significance Is very broad
term, and in its Importance ranks third IN
the constellation of graces. which, accord
ing to l Pet. l, are The adornings of true
Christian character. Its proper application
imriics the total abstinence from that
which is wrong. and the moderate use and
endowment Of that which is right. It is
mistaken and harmful, but too frequent
conception that it means only to abstain
from intoxicants Properly understood it
corprehends all the inward impulses and
outward acts of life. Gods commands are
both negative and positive. The first COM
mard to the race was, Thou shalt not.
its violation wrecked the race. In like
manner wreck: follows dsohedierce to ihe
command, BE not drunk with wine Re-
t,ibutioc will sooner or later overttake inc
man who INDUCES. OF the nation which in
Gorses the gigantic wrong. In it is excess
Of every kind-inebriety, crimirality, in
sanity