The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-09-01
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson Third Quarter, For
Sept. s, 1908.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text of the Lesson, Sam. xxi.
Memory Verso, g. Golden Text.
Amos iv, 12-commentary. Prepared
by Rev. D. M. Stearns.

Nemory Verse, g. Golden teSs'
Amos iv, 12-commentary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. Stearns.
ICopyrisht, 1908. by American Press Association.l
Notwithstanding Saul's assurance In
last weeks lesson that he would not
amy more attempt to harm David, Da-
vid felt it to be wise to get out of his
reach, so he and his GOO went into the
land Of the Philistines, to Achish. king
of Cath. who gave him Ziklag as h,
own town, and he dwelt there a year
and four months. When Saul heard
that he had gone to Gath he sought no
more again for him (11vii. 10. Da-
vid's strange conduct before Achish IN
chapter xxi. 1915, his now seeking ref
uge with him and yet lying to him. all
show us at least this-that God finds
the best Of man but very poor mate
rial and has great occasion to e1er-
else continual forgiveness. There IL
but one perfect man in all the Bible
story, and we must learn to see Jesus
only. In chapter xviii we have an in.
stance Of consulting spirits and what
came Of 1t. We know that this sort OF
thing is all Of the devil and is an
abomination unto the Lord (Deut. xviii.
1912. but in this case the woman got
more than she expected, and Samuel
was allowed to appear with message
to Saul which he had not expected and
which certainly had no comfort for
him in 1t. There is no use in saying
that the work of mediums and so
called spiritualists is all humbug and
seight of hand. No doubt much of 1t
is. but whatever is real about 1t Is the
work Of the devil. and we have no rec.
ord of God ever interfering as He did
in the case Of Samuel.
The Philistines gathered their ar
mics against Israel. and David and his
600 went out with them, but the
princes Of the Philistines insisted that
they return. and David yielded to the
entreaty Of Achish and returned. only
to find that the Amalekites had inVad-
ed the south and had burned Ziklag
and had taken captive all those who
had been left in it. Then David and
his COO wept till they had no more
power to weep: but. worst of all, Da-
vid's men turned against him and
spake of stoning him. In this time Of
great darkness 1t is written that "Da-
vid encouraged himself III the Lord his
God" Xxx. g.. Compare II Tim. iv.
1918. The story Of Dayid's inquiring
of the Lord. of his finding the young
man Of Egypt. one Of the band of the
Amalekites. and how he pursued them
and smote them and recovered all IS
told in the rest Of the chapter. Fail
not to notice in verse 24 the law that
those who tarry by the stuff are to
share equally with those who so out to
the battle. and let the home ones find
comfort and encouragement.
Our special lesson chapter is the rec
ord of the defeat Of Israel by the Phil
istines and Is summed up in verse 6.
in these words: $50 Saul died. and his
three sons, and his armor bearer. and
all his men that same day together"
The Phillstines' treatment Of the bod
les Of Saul and his sons when they
found them among the slain on the
battlefield the next day Is indeed q
sad story concerning those who might
have been the honored of the Lord. So
also Is the record OF the burning OF
the bodies and the burial of the bones
under a tree at Jubesh. What God
would have done for Israel had they
relied on Him Is seen In the words of
Deut. 111ii. 30, How should one
chase a thousand and two put ten
thousand to fllght?"
It was illustrated In David's victory
over Goliath. and also the day that
Jonathan and his armor bearer saw
the power of God CO their behalf
(chapter XIV. and in every case where
Israel walked with God and relied upon
Him. We cannot wonder ut anything
that might overtake Saul. but to see
Jonathan among the slain and his body
so Ill treated does seem sad indeed,
and we can heartily join in David's
lamentat ton in II Sam. 1, 25, 26. Some
might not be able to join SO heartily
In his Kind words concerning Saul, but
&C AZ I:rnw that wn -" ant to thin',.
80. -. H.. - V %. ,t.i lis While the
lived. It is wonderful how much good