The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-22
THE sUNDAY-SCHOOL LESSON.
1 Samuel xviii, 5-16-August 23, 1903
David and Jonathan.


The Kings son was fascinated with the shep-
herd boys deed of prowess. There he stood. in
the royal presence a self-oblvious hero, his
hand clutching the CORY locks of his dripping
trophy He had slain the Cathite monster, and,
single-handed, turned the tide of battle; but
with modest composure he answered Saurs ques-
ton as to origin, freely admitting his humble
parentage His heroic and patriotic spirit was
transfused with piety. He had done this deed as
unto the Lord. He had adventured with fearful
odds against him, but in the buoyancy Of
faith that apprehended victory He would avenge
Jehovah of his insulting adversary, and then, II
he xvilled If So go back to his little flock on the
Judean steppes.
cr., ,oodestv piety dsinterestedness could
M, but arrest the attention of the most sluggish
ord unobservant. Davids noble spirit bloomed
like a fair lily on the reekng dunghil OF Saul's
sordid court and camp. Jonathan was struck
with consuming admiration. He had found his
fellow His own dauntless and devout heart
was mated The ideal friendship which then
sprane up was rooted in common theocratc
faith Both believed in Jehovah and the imma-
hence of his government in Israel The mutual
ity of their faith accounts not only for the origin
Of their friendship, but for its phenomenal
strength and perpetuity
1t was a gracefuls and significant act when
Jonathan >clothed David IN his princely
raiment and girdle. and armed him with his
sword and famous bow. BY so doing he meta
morphosed a shepherd boy into a courtier. ready
to appear in royal presence. To this day, how
ever in the Orient, these gifts of clothing orna-
ments or arms from ones own person are con-
sidered the highest tokens of friendship. 1t has
also been considered a seal of friendship. Thus.
for example. Edmund Ironside and Canute con-
frmed their covenant with each other by ex-
changing garments and arms
Jonathans affection for David was severely
tested 1t seemed be in hopeless collision
with the spirit of fial pety. How could the
fathers hated enemy be the SONS chosen friend?
Again this intimacy seemed inimical to his per-
sonal interest. 1t required of him the surrender
Of his right to the throne And this prince of
Saurs royal house no effeminate weakling.
predisposed to evade honor environed with
dangers Jonathan skillfully traced and reso-
lutely kept within the tangled boundary lines Of
apparentIy conflicting duties He saw that his
fathers envy of David was groundless He
fused to aid him in making away with his rival.
He pleaded for him SO well as to extort from
Saul a promise of safety for him. When the
promise was broken he warned David of danger
At the same time he gave his father indisputa-
BILE evidence of his fidelity. He fought for him
and died with him.
Again while Jonathan recognized his rros-
pective right to the throne after the order Of
human law and was conscious OF his ability to
| -eign, yet when the theocratic purpose that
David should succeed Saul was evident, he
bowed in the complete self-abnegation OF one
| who in a later period of Israers history, said:
..He must increase. but must decrease"
THE TEACHERS LANTERN.
Pythagora's dictum. Friendship. one soul in
two bodies'' is the classic counterpart to the
expressive sacred record that the soul OF Jona-
than was linked to the soul of David.
friendship is the best and the evilest of things
When based upon a common and true faith and
guided by the mutual purpose of obedience to God
| II is fragrant remnant of paradise regained. as
/ well a strong buttress to character. Friend
| ship not so based and transfused has In It ele-
ments of positive danger.
| That .lie of necessity is blot upon other
wise fair record. 1t was born Of unbelief. David
| got morbid and fearful over Saui's course to-
/ ward him He thought deceit justihable and
necessary under the circumstances His course
is not explicitly condemned in the narrative. but
| the consequences show II unnecessary and disas-
trous-
The ideal friendship before US ripened In the
/ Storm Washington remarked: True friendship
is plant Of slow growth and must undergo and
/ Withstand the shocks Of adversely before IL Is
entitied to the appeilasion.'
| II il utterly Impossible TO an envions
| master. The more wisely David behaved the
better Saul kated him. But the Bethlehemitss