Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-09-03
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
NIENTS FOR SEPTEMBER O.

Subject: Saul and Jonathan Slain in
Battle, Sam. 31-GOlden Text,
Amos 4:12-Commit Verso c.
Read 1 Sam. 27; Sam. 4.
TINIE.-1O56 B. G. PLACE.
Gilboa.
ExPOSITION.-I. The Death of
saul and His Sons, 10. With this
lesson we come to the end of Saul's
career, so promising in it's beginning,
30 gloomy in its ending. 1t Is sadly
and solemnly instructive, as showing
how much a man may have and yet
his life prove an utter failure after
all. He was goodly young man
there was not among the children OF
Israel a goodlier person than he" IL
Sam. 9:2). His father was a
mighty man of valor" Il Sam.
9:1). He was humble Il Sam.
1O:22), and considerate of others
(ch. 9:5). But we find him later in
life a monster of pride. arrogance
and self-will (ch. 1911; 1910;
2O:3O-33: 22:9-19). Here we have
a lesson of how little real worth there
IL in merely natural virtue and how
easily 1t Is transformed into devilish
sin. But there was promise In the
life of Saul for other reasons. Gods
grace was manifested to him (ch.
1O:7-9), the Spirit of God came upAn
him (ch. 1910; 11:6), he undertook
valiant battle against the enemies OF
the Lord, and won great victory
(ch. 1D. So we see that man may
know something of the power of the
Spirit, can war to certain extent In
the energy of the Spirit, and win VIC
tories for God, and yet after all, be-
come an apostate and his earthly life
clcse in hopeless gloom Matt. 1922,
c3). Saul seems to have been strik-
ing illustration OF such an one. His
decline was step by step tch. 1873
IA: CT. 14:1S-20). His loss of the
kingdom was foretold at this first
step away from God. He takes a long
step further downward by positive
aisobedience (ch. 15:19-23). With
this false step his rejection from the
kingdom is declared in no uncertain
terms. Finally. failing to get any
answer from the Lord about the bat.
tie with the Philistines, he turns to
crowning act of apostasy leads to the
son G Ch. 1918. 1G. No matter
how often or how completely Israel
routs the Phiistines, the Philistines
are always sure to gather strength
and renew the attack ". u. The
Philistines had been effectually sub
dued in the days Of Samuel (cb.
7:13). There was great victory
under Jonathan (ch. 14). David wins
a great victory (ch. 17:52), but in our
lesson the Philistines renew the war.
And the men of Israel fed Here
we see a change from the days OF
Samuel and Saui's early days. Then
the enemies of the Lord fed (ch.
7:1O; 11:lD. There is return to
the days Of Hophni and Phinehas (ch.
4:10). The explanation is simple.
Saul had disobeyed the Lord; and the
Lord had forsaken Saul (ch. IS: ~;
2S:15-19D. However nightly the
Lord might have helped us in times
past, If we disooey Him and He for
sake us, our power will be gone and
defeat and shame certain. 1t seems
very sad to think Of the noble hearted
Jonathan as involved in the over
throw OF his father. But parents al
ways involve their children in the
consequences of their transgressions.
The question arises whether Jonathan
for all his generous friendship for
David and all his faith (Ch. 1850
was faultless in the matter. He knew
that his father was rejected and
David chosen of the Lord (ch. 23:1O.
Ought he not to have broken with
Saul and gone to David without the
camp bearing his reproach?" Hep.
1919. He came to David as Nico-
demus to Jesus, under the cover of
secrecy (ch. 23:16). So he lost his
place of service. as the secret disciple,
however loyal he may be at heart,
always does (2 Cor. f:15-1S). What
an inglorious ending to what might
have been glorious life (v. A..
ii. The Triumph OF the Philistines,
7.1O. This Is what came OF asking
visible king instead of God (ch.
1870. 1t was all very joyful at first
(ch. 11:14. 15), but the arm of flesh
soon failed them. 1t will always be
thus. Those who look to man rather
than God for help, will always end by
being cursed (Jer. 17:5. 81. God let
them have their king that they might
learn their folly by bitter experience.
"They cut off his head, and stripped
off his armor, and they fastened his
body to the wall of Beth-shan." From
/ Chron. 1910 we learn further that
they fastened his head in the house
OF Dagon." Indignity was added to
indignity. The world rejoices in moth.
ing SO much as in the downfall OF
one who has been servant of God
(cf. Ju. 16:21-25).
III. The Gratitude and Valor OF
the Men of Jabesh-gilead, Ills.
Saul had rescued the men of Jabesh.
gilead from terrible suffering and
shame (ch. 11:1-1D, and they had
not forgotten it. There Is this one
bright spot in the dark record of his
death. The one act to which the
Spirit of the Lord had inspired him
(ch. 1850 brought its reward even
in his downfall. but that reward was
simply honor from man. That was
all he sought. That was all he got
Matt. 6:2). But the most touching
and lasting tribute to the memory OF
Saul was that of David, whom he had
pursued with such relentless hate e
Sam. 1:17-2O. David has nothing