The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1908-08-20
Friendship of David
and Jonathan
Sunday School Lesson for Aug. 23, 1908
Specially Arranged for This Paper

SCRIPTURE TEXT Samuel 20:SO-42
Read all of chapter. Memory verse, ~.
GOLDEN TEXT.-"A friend loveth at
all times, and a brother is born in ad-
versty. prov 17:17.
TIME.-1062 b. c., and continuing till
the death of Jonathan, 1858.
PLACE.-The court Of Saul.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
Jonathan.--Jonathan the son OF
Saul, the crown prince, is one of the
finest, the most attractive, and engag-
ing characters in all history.
Mighty In Love. His love did not
flow from weakness but from
strength. He was Great-heart himself.
He loved David as his own soul"
David, in the Song of the Bow"
his touching lament over his friend
slain on Mount Bilboa, exclaims, 81
am distressed for thee, my brother
Jonathan; very pleasant hast thou
been unto me, thy love for me was
wonderful, passing the love Of won.
en-" q Sam, 1920.
Brave. Jonathan was a brave and
noble soldier, and had accomplished
some very daring feats of arms. Alone
with his armor bearer, he had cap
tured a mountain fortress OF the Phil.
lstines Il Sam. 14:1-15). He was
brave in defending David before his
angry father q Sam. 2O:10, 32). He
showed another even nobler courage
in l Sam. 14:43. 81 certainly taste &.
. In my hand; here I am; 10, I
must die"-"not lament, but hero.
ic act of self.sacrifice for the sake Of
the people"
His good judgment is shown In
Sam. 14:27-30.
His faith in God and his religious
nature we're strong as David's Il Sam.
1876. 12; 10: s; 20:13, 42).
His unselfishness was more promi-
nent than in any other Old Testament
character. He was "the Golden Rule
exemplified."
His great-hearted unselfshness led
him to recognize, submit to, and pro-
mote the evident leadings Of divine
providence q Sam. 23:16-18; 20:13-
between two men of whom the younger
er was a most formidable rival to the
older. r."-Blaikie.
A Model Son. Jonathans noble char
acter is also shown by his devotion to
his unfortunate father. ITO him, II
10 anyone, the frenzy of the king was
amenable" saul hearkeneth unto the
voice of Jonathan" q Sam. 1850.
Other characteristics. Jonathan
was older than David, had been
brought up in very different circum-
self-restrained. He was a soldier, not
poet He had not quite the genius,
self-reliance. masterfulness, and vital
force of David, nor his versatility, and
power of leadership; but his was a
great soul, a mighty heart, with a
most wonderful capacity for loving.
David.-David, the son of Jesse, the
shepherd, also was very attractive in
his person; he was accomplished in
music and song; he was faithful; he
was full of grace like "a he-goat upon
the mountains" he was courageous
even in heroism; he behaved himself
wisely in all his ways" he had great
common sense and tact; he was large
hearted and generous; and, above all,
he had "a sublime faith, perfect,
chiidlike trust in the glorious arm of
the Lord" He had that in him by
which he became "a champion of
those who were In distress Il Sam.
23;1-5), wall by night and day to
peaceful shepherds Il Sam. 25:15,
16). professor Sanders.
An Ideal iendship.-Between Da-
vld and Jonathan there arose beau
tiful, almost ideal friendship. THE
soul OF Jonathan was knit with the
soul OF David" Their souls were inter
woven together into a complete tex
ture of friendship. "And Jonathan
loved him as his own soul" q Sam.
1S: ~. This love in its highest perfec-
ton, mother love and bridal love is
the finest type and illustration ofthe
love of God to his children, as often
| expressed In the scriptures.
| Expression of that Friendship
First Jonathan. the crown prince,
gave his court robes and armor to
! David Il Sam. IS: ~. Possibly the
| gift was suggested by the need of the
country lad for some dress appropri'
ate to his entrance into court"
Second. He defended David from
the frenzy of his father Saul q Sam.
uel 19).
Third. BY the incident and the
covenant in l Samuel 20.
He wished David we'll.
He yielded up his hopes Of the king.
dom to David, only stipulating that
David should not kill him when he be-
came king, as was the custom of the
times, and the further history shows
the need of the stipulation.
He formed a shrewd plan Of making
known TO David the feelings of Saul
toward David.