The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-08-05
JT7e
Smnnl-Schod
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM
MENTS FOR AUGUST 8.

Subject: David and Goliath, 1 Samuel
1871, 1S:5-Golden Text, Ps.
11:1-Commit Verses 4s, 49,
Commentary.
THME.-1063 B. C. PLACE
Vale of Elah.
EXPOSITION.-I. Goliath's Boast
ing, 1914. The challenge of Goliath
had filled the hearts of the whole
army with dismay Tvs. II, "a, 32),,' but
young David had no fear. The eyed
Of all the rest Of Israel were upon
themselves. The eyes of David were
upon God ". 80. This was the one
secret of David's courage, assurance
and victory. 1t is the secret Of all
true courage and victory. Saul also
had been at one time a man Of daunt-
less courage, but the Spirit of God
had now departed from him and he
was as big a coward as any in Israel
(cf. ch. 1914. David, relying upon
Jehovah, proposed to go and fight the
mighty giant single-handed. To cool
common sense his proposition seemed
IuC hClSAI VI dUSulolLJ. 1uClC VOC
much about Goliath to fill David with
fear Tvs. 4-S). David had taken all
these things into account, but he was
not afraid; for Jehovah was his saliva
ton and his strength (cf. Ps. ~27:l-33.
If we truly trust in the LORD we will
never be afraid. no matter, though
the odds against US seem to be over
whelming lisa. 1872; Ro. 8:31).
Even Saul sought to dissuade him ".
33). When God calls any n Of US
to fight some Goliath some kindly in
tentioned Saul Is sure to say, Thou
art not able" (cf. Phil. AID. 1t was
a good argument that David brought
forward to answer, the argument OF
unbelief Tvs. 34-37). We may wisely
trust the God who has delivered us in
the past to also deliver us in the pres
ent and the future (cf. Ro. 8:32).
David was confident, furthermore
that Goliath vas doomed to defeat
because he had defed the living God
Tvs. rs, 36). Saul sought to help
David by clothing him with his own
apparel and armor. But the intended
help proved a real hindrance. It is
impossible to fight the battles and
win the victories of faith with Saul's
armor e Cor. 10:4). When David
tried Saul's armor he was ~forcedsto
say, II cannot 60 with these" When
the church tries the worlds weapons
It is sure to find out that 1t cannot
90 with these" When he found that
he could not go with Saul's armor he
very wisely put them of him" He
took the weapons with which he was
familiar. When God calls. a man He
Is very likely to use the weapons He
finds in the mans hands (cf. Elk.
4:2). David's preparation seemed
utterly insufficient to meet a giant
with. In reality David had four more
stones than he needed. God had
chosen the weak things Of the world
to confound the mighty Il Cor.
1920. Saul's armor seemed a much
better preparation for such a fight
than David's sling. but David's sling
proved to be a better preparation than
Saul's armor. A few well chosen
stones from Gods word are a much
better preparation to cope with the
modern Goliaths of in1delity than
Saul's armor and sword of learning
and wit and eloquence. SauPs armor
Is spelling many a David in these
days. The Philistine regarded David
with utter disdain. That is the way
in which the Philistine usually re-
CARDS Gods champion. But the
Philistine's disdain turned out very
badly. for the Philistine himself
Goliath's disdain did not hurt David's
feelings very much, because David
knew who would win. The disdain- Of
the world is a small thing to the In
telligent believer. I'll.
II. David's Victory, 1910. All
Israel had been frightened by Coli
ath's boasts. Many a professed Chris
tan in these days is terribly fright
ened by the blatant boasts Of infidel-
fly, but the true man Of faith is not at
all disturbed by all this buster.
David was not frightened simply be-
cause his whole trust was Gin the
name Of the LORD Of hosts" David's
answer is viii worth studying. Our
answer to the boasts of unbelief to-
day ought to be the same. TO the eye
Of sense "a sword" and "a spear" and
"a javelin" seemed like a better
equipment than the name of the
Lord Of hosts" but when any man
can truly say that he goes into battle
Gin the name of the Lord of hosts"
his victory is sure. Jehovah is "the
God Of the armies Of Israel" David
made a great deal of the fact that
Goliath had defed the Lord ". As;
ef. VS.. &c, 36). Calmly but fearlessly
David declared to Goliath the sure
outcome of the battle. He took mo
credit to himself. He said, THE Lord
will deliver thee into my hand"
David knew that by faith alone.
There was nothing for sense to build
upon (cf. Heb. HID. David would
smite Goliath not because Of any
strength of his own, but only because
God had delivered. him into his hand.
David would do to Goliath and the
host of the Philistines" Just what
Goliath had boosted that he would do
to David ". 46; CT. ". 44). Gods
purpose in giving this great victory
to David was not merely to magnify
David, but that all the earth may
know that there is a God in Israel"
David was not aiming at his own
honor but at Jehovah's, but he got
great honor for himself (ch. 1876, y.
israel needed to learn a lesson as we'll
as the world tv. At, r. w. The
church needs to learn that lesson to-
day. The battle is the Lords, it is in
He hands