The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-08-05

Sam. IL: 3s-49.
The lesson story for this date is
very familiar to all in the main de.
tails. and SO we need not devote much
space to recounting of them. 1t
will be we'll however. to call to mind
that the OLE time enemies of the
1sraeiitee. the Philistines had gather
ed an army and came down on King
Saul and his men in great numbers.
The two armies were set in battle
array. 1t appears that the Philis-
tines had on their side huge giant
who according to the description must
have been fully eleven feet high.
OF course the 1srselites had no man
to match him in einRle combat.
Goliath stalked about in armour and
dared any lsraelite to come out to-
meet him. Saul and his men were
much cast down. At this time
David the shepherd boy came to the
camp sent by his father, and there
heard the challenge of the giast.
Now this boy had faith in God, and
believed that the armies OF. the
lsraelites stood for Him. He was
therefore highly indignant that q
heather. scoffer, at the true God
should dare set himself up against
the infinite Jehovah. and SO expressed
to the Israelites about him. DAVID
we'll said, ''Who is this Philistine
who would defy the armies of the
living God?:"
David obtained the consent of King
Saul. proceeds to battle against the
giant. and Stays him, using his shep-
herds sling and small stone. We
said in the lesson notes of last week
that David believed that Zone with
God is majority" and then we had
the Goliath incident in mind. There
are a number of lessons to be drawn
from the death of Goliath and we
give one or two. This great giant is
but an example of institutions and
people at this day who think they
have the power TO defy God, and the
reforms which grow out of the teach
ings of the bible. The most promin-
ent Of these giants just now is the
liquor power. 1t has felt itself
secure and as defiant and arrogant as
Goliath. in the same class are the
gambling; grinding trusts, which
make employees work for little or
nothing; dance halls, free to the pub
lie and near places where liquor is
sold. Their destruction may not
come as speedily as that of Goliath.
but will take place in due time.
A second lesson is the faith in God
displayed by David. He had in times
past shown David that he had power
to kill. with no weapon but his hands.
a lion and bear, and SO he felt that
this wicked giant would fall before
him. Again he refused to use the
protective armour of Saul. but chose
rather to use the means with which
he was efficient. So we can be en-
couraged to go forth as Gods man
or woman. girl or boy using the
homely means at our command in ou1
warfare. feeling that God will hess
efforts put forth for Him no matter
how humble.
Not alone the men of the bible
times. but thousands of others since
can attest that God and right will
prevail over deep seated defiant.
powerful wrongs. When we know we
are right, and are indeed right. we
can antagonize the giant stronghold
of sin and corruption. and win. l,
is not alone by might and power but
by the Spirit of God, that victories
are won. So we again see that this
Old Testament story about David ant
Goliath has something in it to teacl
us lesson today.
Those who have kept track of the
recent career of Hobson know that he
is addressing Chautauqua assemblies