Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1908-08-19
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson vIll.--Third Quarter, For
Aug. %, 1908.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Text OF the Lesson, SAM Xxx, oo'f<'
Memory verse, 42- Golden Text,
Prov. xvii, 17-commentary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. Stearns.
Copyright, 1908, by American Press Association
At the beginning Of last weeks les
son we referred briefly to the love or
Jonathan and David as set forth in
xviii, IA, and now we follow on to
consider the love Of God and oStona-
than and the murderous hatred Of
Saul. The great murderer Is ever seek
ing to kill, but the great and only life
glver is not only ever giving life, and
life abundantly, but He Is ever pre-
serving and caring for the life which
He gives. When Saul instructed Jona-
than and all his servants to kill David,
Jonathan so reasoned and pleaded that
his father said, "As the Lord liveth, he
shall not be slain" xix, 1-6). But no
reliance can be placed on a man pos
sessed by such an evil spirit, and soon
we read that Saul sought to smite Da-
vid to the wall with his javelin and
then sent messengers to STAY him In
his own house, but David escaped and
went to Samuel, and he and Samuel
went to dwell at Naioth xix, 7-24.
From thence David returned to inter
view Jonathan and said to him. "rFu-
ly. as the Lord liveth and as thy soul
liyeth, there Is but step between me
and death" Xxx, 81, for so 1t seemed as
long as he was within reach Of Saul.
Jonathan could not believe this Of his
father, so they fell upon a plan to as
certain truly the purpose Of Saul to-
ward David. When, shortly after this,
Saul attempted to kill Jonathan also
because he took David's part. then JON
athan knew that 1t was determined OF
his father to STAY David, and he COM
municated the same to David by
means Of the lad and the arrows as re-
corded in chapter TX, 30-42, our special
lesson for today. One cannot but think
Of the purpose of the Jews to kill
Jesus and Of how He escaped out OF
their hand again and again until In the
eternal purpose Of God the time came
when they were permitted to do that
which His hand and counsel had re-
solved before to be done (Acts iv, 2S).
The death Of David at the hands Of
Saul was not in the plan and purpose
Of God, however much 1t may have
seemed so at times. We may not know
always just what His purpose for US
is. but He will make 1t plain, and we
may be quite sure that If we are abid-
ing in Him nothing that Is not In His
plan for us can ever reach us and all
that is in His plan surely will. We
may learn to live IN God and find in
Him always a home Of peace and rest.
This Is our privilege, though few seem
to attain to it. See the heart Of iona
than in verse "a. He did not care for
himself nor grieve because Of his ia
theirs treatment Of him, but "he was
grieved for David because his father
had done him shame" Saul's treat
ment of his son was also his treatment
of David, for Jonathan stood for Da-
vid. When Paul sent OneSimus home
to his former master. Philemon, he
said in his letter, Receive him as my
self and il he oweth thee aught put
It to my account" So the Lord Jesus
makes us one with Himself, and who
ever or whatever touches one Of His
touches Himself. Therefore He said
to Saul when prosecuting the Chris
tians. "Why persecutest thou Me?'
He said concerning Israel In Zech. IL,
8, "He that toucheth you toucheth the
apple of his eye"
See the love of Jonathan and David
in their parting after the lad had re-
turned home Verse 4). "They kissed
one another and wept one with an
other till David exceeded" Joseph
thus wept not only over Benjamin,
but over all his brethren as he forgave
them and took them to his heart to
love them and care for them and nour-
ish them and their little ones. Does
Jesus love us thus? For we think that
we could trust and rest In love like
that. Listen to His own word, GAS the
Father hath loved Me so have l loved
you; continue we in My love" John
XIV, 81. How slow we are to believe 1t!
The wondrous love of these two, Da-
vld and Jonathan, is seen ON q later
occasion when Jonathan went to Da-
vid and strengthened his hand in God
and said to him, Fear not, for the
hand of Saul, my father, shall not find
thee, and thou shalt be king over Is
rael, and l shall be next unto thee"
Chapter xiii, 16, 10. There seems to
be not a particle of self in Jonathan,
his desire being all for David and his
welfare.
But what shall we say concerning
the love Of the Son Of God to us, who,
though He was rich, for our sakes be-
came poor that we through His power
ty might become rich? Oh Cor. viii, 81
He laid aside all His glory which He
had with the Father before the world
was and became one Of us, taking our
nature and, greater than all, taking
our sins and suffering for them in our
stead, that we might in due time be
lifted up to His place and share His
kingdom and glory. How can we re-
frain from telling 1t and living to
make 1t known to those who never
heard? AS we live 1t and tell 1t we are
somewhat like Jonathan's lad-we
know not anything as to what we are
accomplishing (verse 89), but the Lord
knows, and He has assured US that
His word will never return to Hin
void, and He will watch over it to per
form 1t Qsa ", II; Jer. 1, II, r. W. 1t
is safe for us to obey and trust Him to
work out His own good purpose
willing and obedient" Qsa. 1, 10,
should be our motto.