The Muskogee cimeter. [volume] (Muskogee, Indian Territory, Okla.) 1901-19??, 1908-08-21
Friendship of David
and Jonathan
Sunday School Lesson for Aug. q, 1908
Specially Arranged for This Paper

Nersty.'-PrOV. 17:17.
TIME.-1G62 B. c., and continuing till
the death of Jonathan, 1855
PLACE.-The court of Saul
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
onathan.-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 wom-
en- q Sam, 1920.
Brave. Jonathan was 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.
istines Il Sam. 14:1-15). He was
brave in defending David before his
angry father Il Sam. 20:10, 32). He
showed another even nobler courage
in l Sam. 14:43. II certainly taste
in my hand; here l am; 10, l
must die"-"not lament, but hero.
ic act of selfsacrifce for the sake of
the people"
His good judgment is shown in !
Sam. 14:27-30.
His faith in God and his religious
nature were strong as David's Il Sam.
14:6, ~; 10: 5; 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 unselfishness led
him to recognize, submit to, and pro-
mote the evident leadings of divine
providence I Sam. 23:16-1S; 20:13-
between two men of whom the younger
er was most formidable rival to the
older. r."-Blaikie.
Model Son. Jonathan's noble char
acter is also shown by his devotion to
his unfortunate father. "To him, if
to anyone, the frenzy of the king was
amenable." Saul hearkeneth unto the
voice of Jonathan" Il Sam. 1850.
Other characteristics. Jonathan
was older than David, had been
brought up in very different circum.
stances, and was more mature and
self-restrained. 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, 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
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, |
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), wall by night and day to
peaceful shepherds Il Sam. 25:15,
16)." professor Sanders.
An Ideal endshlp.-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.
woven together into a complete tex
ture of friendship. And Jonathan |
loved him as his own soul" q Sam.
IS: -. This love in its highest perfec.
tion. mother love and bridal love is |