Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-08-06
Sunday School Lesson and
Young Peoples Meetings
What the Church Folks Are Thinking About
and Doing Religious News From Every
where.

hearts never stop to measure inches.
David had that intensely practical
mind which no sooner sees q wrong
than it attempts to right it. Although
he had youths body, he possessed a
hero's heart.
''His strength was as the strength
of ten, Because his heart was pure"
The genius for Transforming his
purposes, into actualities belonged to
David; he knew the art of linking up
his good intentions to good deeds. He
fully realized that his outspoken
scorn of the Philistine and apparent
readiness to accept the gage of battle,
would be carried to the kings ears
Would that all champions of right had
g measure of David's common sense.
Ere long the ruddy youth stood I'M
abashed in the kings presence. Cues
toned, he related how he had bearded
both lion and bear, when they threat
ened his flocks. His simple creed held
no place for fear: Jehovah delivered
me-" Saul saw that this youth was of
hero mould. When a man sincerely
talks as partner Of God, he is one
to flee from or to join, according as
ones own purposes are false or true.
The great victories of life, through all
the yesterdays of history, and in this
present today, are won by high-heart-
ed faith in the sure triumph of right.
Napoleon might sheer about Gods
being on the side of the heaviest bat
talions, but Napoleon died defeated
and in prison and disgrace. The
sense Of being worker together with
Id ic he &iol
for success.
Saul, eager to grasp any prospect Of
hope, was enamored of the dauntless
David. He at once equipped him with
his own royal armor; but the shep-
herd lad fioundered helplessly in It.
Each must fight his own foes in his
own way. 1t has ever been the mis-
take of zealots to look upon their own
particular reform and their own par
! ticular method as the one way to de.
feat the giants of evil. From David
we learn better. Every one must
come to success along his own line.
One man may fight in armor, and an
other with stone and sling; let not the
conventionalist despise the originator.
David set out to the spectacular duel,
equipped only with his shepherds
staff and scrip, hording five smooth
stones, and his trusty sling.
The Scornful Giant.
Little wonder that Goliath laughed
in scorn and in indignation. He gnash.
ed his teeth at the insult Of sending
! out this STRIPPING to meet him. That
was the giants great blunder; he des
j pissed his enemy. While he boasted
hi
advanced quietly to meet him. The
i dignity of David's studied reply would
have warned him, had his wit beer
equal to his inches The calm certi
tude and particularly of 1t were omi
nous, like the voice of prophet. Be
ware of the man who fights calling OF
his God, and convinced that he repre-
SCENTS the Lord. Jehovah saveth no
with the sword and spear" David re
minded his big opponent.
4 Then the deyout young champion
uttered the sentence which is the core
of this story, and the secret of ever.
victory for moral reform-the motto
which should be inscribed on the ban
ners of those who do battle for tota
abstinence, for pure state, for clear
cities, for childless factories, TO
for cody schools, for a hol.
Sabbath, for the redress of the
wrongs of the workingman, TO
social purity, for world evangelization
and every other righteous cause
These are the words that interpret tn,
defeat of all Goliaths: For the bat
tie is Jehovah's" The size and skill
of the contending forces is relativel.
unimportant. The supreme question
is, Am I fighting on the Lord
: side?"
. A Victory and Prize.
AS the giant leaned back his hea,
in guffaw of laughter-so runs tn
ancient comment-over the presumI
tuousness of this beardless youth
whose flesh he meant presently to Civ
to the fowls Of the air, the sling Q
David whirled once, twice, thrice Il
: the air, and then straight to its mar
in the head uncovered by Goliath
gesture Of disdain, went the pebbl
: from the brook. The practice in mark
manship with which the lad had d
3 verified himself on the hills had nc
, been in vain; no requirement eve
: is. That despised pebble, from th
humble weapon, brought crashing t
the dust the proud champion of Phi
istia!
At once both hills began to re-ech
with the shout, Goliath has fallen!
! The two armies, startled by this III
expected issue of the duel, tarrie
, only to see the unarmed boy go fol
" ward and cut off Gonath's head wit
E the latter's own sword, before the rou
I began. Jehovah was indicated. Hi
: glory had been revealed; for he ha
overcome the mighty by the weak. TIL
: shepherds sling had been used t
? bring down the mailed warrior whoI
] the world had counted invincible. On
/ more of Gods surprises.
Z AS for David, he earned unexpecte
reward-the highest. For he won
: friend. Jonathan, the kings son, lool
: ed upon him and loved him, and thei
souls became knit as one. The honor
!. showered on the victor by Saul coun
ed for little alongside of this boo
of friend. Then, as ever, the frient
g ship, formed when engaged in mob
g service, proved lifelong blessing.
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