The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-01
THE sUNDAY-SCHOOL LESSON.
For August o, David and Goliath" Il
Samuel xvii, S-f9t.

INTROpUCTION-Afte serving for
| brief time as musician to the Kirg, David
| returned to his home. och. xvii, 15D War
! with the Philist!nes soon brought him to
notice again, but in a new capacity, by
| singular circumstance. The enemy had en-
| tered Judah and passed on to the Valley of
! Terebeth, among the western hills of Ben
! jamin, and the Israeites had rallied TO
| help them. The three eldest sons of Jesse
| had Joined the army. and David was sent
| by his father to inquire for their welfare
| and deliver some provisions. On reaching
| the camp he found it greatly excited. be-
| cause u giant named Goliath. descendant
| of the old Rephraim Deut. il. 20, had chal-
| lenSed Israel to send a man to meet him.
| but no one had responded. On learning this
| condition of things David volunteered. and
was ushered into the presence of the King,
who doubted his ability. But David reaf-
| tirmed his purpose basing confidence upon
| the fact that he had killed both a lion and
| a bear that attacked sheep. and believing
| that the Lord would deliver the Philistines
into his hands. Whereupon he was accepted
| as the representative.
ARAlOR-It seems that Saul had adopted
; the mode of warfare common to other ma
| tons and had provided coverings for the
| more exposed portions OF the body. He
| clad In these. the more necessary because
| of the enemy to be met. Ch. xvii. -
| Hence he put upon David 4 coat of mail
| and upon his head an helmet of brass:
! dressed him Up like a soldier in the royal
| army. The young man suffered this to
| be done, perhaps not liking to object. and
| then gir,ied on d sword. But, on attempting
| to 90, he found himself uncomfortable. for
| he had never used these garments before
and they did not fit: d Had he gone thu thus
] armOr against arrnor. "A giant against IL
| youth with all the odds in favor of the
! former Matt. XVI, So Besides. had the
| issue been favorable. the honor would have
| been ascribed largely 10 saul and the in
struments he supplied. Politely informing
had given. he laid all the soldiers outfit
aside. doubtless to the great surprise OF
! SHE SsHEPHERD-In laying off the armor
| David did not abandon the fight. He only
refused Sauis method of lighting HIS
courage had not failed. but rather in
| be his real self. to give room for the dis
| play of his skill and for the help Of God; in
own shepherd apparel was restored to him
| and he stood as he when he left home
with the message of d fathers love. och.
xvii. II. 49, Grasping his staff: with which
| he had been familiar from childhood. he
stopped down and took five smooth stones
| from the brook and placed them in his bag
He carried his sling in his hand. with
which he able to deal a terrible blow.
Thus equipped. he stepped in front of Israel
I ties lines ana advanced TOWARD the PnlliS-
| tine host II was one of the most heroic
| deeds of history. The flower of the Philis-
| tine army naughty and defiant, symbol of
! the military power of the heather world.
preceded by a servant bearing his ponder
, Gus shield. was in the distance. Approach
, ing him was a mere STRIPPING. alone. that
day taken from the flock.
| Disseminated the daily calls for forty
days Goliath had reason to expect that il
any one accepted his challenge it would be
| some mighty warrior some stawart whose
form, like his own, might indicate his