The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1908-08-22
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson VIll.-Third Quarter, For
Aug. %, 1908.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES
Text Of the Lesson. ! Sam. Xxx. 1912
Memory Verse, 42- Golden Text
Prov. xvii, 17-commentary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. Stearns.

Prov. xvii, l7-Comrentary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. Stearns.
copyright. 1905, by American Press Association.l
At the beginning of last weeks les
son we referred briefly TO the love of
Jonathan and David as set forth in
xviii. IA. and now we follow on to
consider the love OF God and Of iona
than and the murderous hatred of
Saul. The great murderer Is ever seek
Jag TO kill. but the great and only life
giver is not only ever giving life. and
life abundantiy, but He is ever pre-
serving and caring for the life which
He gives When Saul instructed iona
than and all his servants to kill David.
Jonathan so reasoned and pleaded that
his father said, As the Lord liveth. he
shall not be slain xix. Lei. But no
reliance can be placed on man pos
sessed by such an evil spirit. and soon
we read that Saul sought TO smite Da-
vid to the wall with his javelin and
then sent messengers to slay him in
his own house. but David escaped and
went to Samuel. and he and Samuel
went TO dwell at Naioth xix. I-24).
From thence David returned to inter
view Jonathan and said to him. ''Tru-
ly. as the Lord liveth and as thy soul
liveth. there is but a step between me
and death" Xxx, 81. for so it seemed as
long az he was within reach of Saul.
Jonathan could not believe this of his
father. so they fell upon a plan to as
certain truly the purpose of Saul to-
ward David. When. shortly after this.
Saul attempted to kill Jonathan also
because he took David's part. then Jon
athan knew that 1t was determined of
his father to slay David. and he com
| municated the same to David by
means Of the lad and the arrows as re
corded In chapter Xxx. 30-42. our special
lesson for today. One cannot but think
of the purpose Of the Jews to kill
Jesus and of how He escaped out of
their hand again and again until in the
eternal purpose of God the time came
when they were permitted to do that
which His hand and counsel had re-
solved before to be done (Acts ". 81.
The death Of David at the hands of
! Saul was not in the plan and purpose
. of God, however much 1t may have
seemed so at times. We may not know
always just what His purpose for us
| is, but He will make it plain. and we
! may be quite sure that If we are abid-
ing in Him nothing that is not in His
| plan for US can ever reach us and all
| that is in His plan surely will. We
may learn TO live in God and find il
/ Him always a home OF peace and rest
| This is our privilege though few seem
! to attain to it. See the heart OF iona
| than in verse 81. He did not care for
| himself nor grieve because of his ia
| theirs treatment Of him. but she was
grieved for David because his father
! had done him shame" Saul's treat
ment of his son was also his treatment
! of David. for Jonathan stood for Da-
vid. When Paul sent Onesimus home
/ to his former master. Philemon. he
said in his letter. Receive him as my
self, and If he oweth thee aught put
it to my account" So the Lord Jesus
makes US one with Himself. and who
ever or whatever touches one of His
touches Himself Therefore He said
to Saul when prosecuting the Chris
tians. "Why persecutest thou Me-
He said concerning Israel in Zech. II.
8. HE that toucheth you toucheth the
apple of his eye"
See the love Of Jonathan and David
in their parting after the lad had re.
! turned home Verse A.. They kissed
one another and wept one with an
other till David exceeded" Joseph
thus wept not only over Benjamin.
but over all his brethren as he fo-gave
them and took them to his heart to
love them and care for them and nour-
ish them and their little ones. Does
Jesus love us thus? For we think that
we could trust and rest in love like
that. Listen 10 His own word. las the
Father hath loved Me so have | loved
you: continue ye in Ny love" John
| XIV, o. How slow we are TO believe ii!
The wondroUs love of these two, Da-
vid and Jonath than. is seen on 4 later
occasion when Jonathan went to Da-
vid and strengthened his hand in God
and said 10 him. Fear not. for the
hand of Saul. my father. shall not find
thee. and thou shalt be king over Is
I rael. and | shall be next unto thee"
(chapter xiii. Is. IL. There seems to
be not a particle of self in Jonathan.
his desire being all for David and his
welfare
But what shall we say concerning
the love Of the Son Of God TO US. who
though He was rich. for our sakes be-
came poor that we through His power
ty might become rich? Oh Cor viii. o.
He laid aside all Els glory which He
had with the Father before the world
was and became one Of US. taking Our
nature and. greater than all. taking
our sins and suffering for them in ouI
stead. that we might in due time he
lifted up to His place and share His
kingdom and glory. How can we re-
frain from telling it and living q
make IL known 10 those who never
heard? As we live it and tell 1t we are
I Ioua+ban-S lo6-uc