The Tupelo journal., 1908-08-21
Friendship Of David
and Jonathan
Sunday School Lesson for Aug. q, 1905
Specially Arranged for This Paper

SCRIPTURE TEXT Samuel 2O:3O-42.'
Read all of chapter. Memory verse. AZ.
| TENT.-"A friend loveth at
all times, and a brother is born in ad-
versity. Prov. 17:17.
TIME.-1062 B. c., and continuing till
the death of Jonathan, 1856.
pLACE.-The court of Saul.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
Notwithstanding 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-" g Sam, 1920.
Brave. Jonathan was a brave and
noble soldier, and had accomplished
coiiiC NCiy udllHS lCdlS VI al IlS. AIOAlC
with his armor bearer, he had cap
tured a mountain fortress of the Phil
tstines Il Sam. 14:1-15). He was
brave in defending David before his
angry father q Sam. POLO, 32). He
showed another even nobler courage
in 1 Sam. 14:43. Il certainly taste =.
/. J.. in my hand; here | am; 10, l
must die"-'nota lament, but a hero,
ic act OF self-sacriice for the sake OF
the people"
His good judgment is shown in l
Sam. ~14:27-30.
His faith in God and his religious
nature were strong is David's q Sam.
14:6, ~: 80: S; 20:13, 42).
His unselfiShness was more promi.
nent than il any other Old Testament
character. He was the Golden Rule
exemplified."
His great-hearted unselishness led
him to recognize, submit to, and pro-
mote the evident leadings of divine
providence q Sam. 2~3:16-1S; 20:13-
between two men of whom the younger
er was a most formidable rival to the
older.'-Blaikie.
A Model Son. Jonathan's noble char.
acter is also shown by his devotion to
his unfortunate fatho "To him, if
to anyone, the frenzy of the king was
amenable." Saul hearkeneth unto the
voice of Jonathan Il Sam. 1870.
Other characteristics. Jonathan
was older than David, had been
brought up in very different circum.
stances, and was more mature and
self-Testrained. He was a soldier. not
a 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, a perfect,
childlike 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), a wall by night and day to
peaceful shepherds Il Sam. 25:15,
16).'-Professor Sanders. b
An Ideal Friendship.-Between Da-
vid and Jonathan there arose a beau
tiful. almost ideal friendship. The
soul of Jonathan was knit with the
soul of David" Their souls were inter.
owe together into a complete tex
ture of friendship. And Jonathan
loved him as his own SOUL Il Sam.
IS: y. This love in its highest perfec-
ton, mother love and bridal love is
the finest type and Illustration of the
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: A.. 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 Il Sam
uel 19).
Third, By the incident and the
covenant in ! Samuel 20.
He wished David well.
He yielded up his hopes of the king
lon to David, only STIMULATING thai
David should not kill him when he be-
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.
V. 81. Saul tried to persuade iona
than to let him kill David, for as long
as the son of Jesse liveth
thou shalt not be established
V. 33. When Jonathan refused. Saul
cast a javelin at him to smite him"
Rl~essedness of Friendship.
Il would rather have a good friend"
said Socrates, than all other objects
of ambition put together"
THE glory of life is to love, not to
be loved; to give, not to get; to serve,
not to be served"
1T is never given to a man to be
wise in the true and noble sense until
he is carried out of himself in the