The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-09-03
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTs FOR SEPTEMBER O.
Subject: Saul and Jonathan Slain in
Battle, Sam. 3f-Golden Text,
Amos 4:12-Commit Verse O.
Read 4 Sam. 27: . Sam. 4.

Amos 4:12-Commit Verse g.
Read 1 Sam. 27; Sam. 4.
TDIE.-1056 B. G. PLACE
7ilboa.
EXPOSTION.-I. The Death of
Saul and His Sons, 10. With this
lesson we come to the end of Saul's
career, so promising in its beginning.
80 gloomy in its ending II 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 a goodly young man
there was not among the children Of
Israel a goodller person than he" Il
Sam. 9:2). His father was a
mighty man of valor" Il Sam.
9:1). He was humble Il Sam.
10:22), and considerate OF others
(ch. 9:5). But we find him later in
life monster Of pride, arrogance
and self-will (ch. 1S:7-11; 1910;
20:S0-33; 22:9-19). Here we have
a lesson of how little real worth there
Is in merely natural virtue and how
easily Il is transformed into devilish
sin. But there was promise in the
life of Saul for other reasons. Gods
grace was manifested to him (ch.
10:7-9), the Spirit of God came upon
him (ch. 1910; 11:6), he undertook
valiant battle against the enemies of
the Lord, and won great victory
(ch. 11). So we see that man may
know something of the power of the
Spirit, can war to a certain extent in
tho energy of the Spirit, and win vic
tories for God, and yet after all, be-
come an Gpostate and his earthly life
close in hopeless gloom Matt. 1922,
23). Saul seems to have been strik-
ing illustration of such an one. His
decline was step by step (ch. 1875
IA; CT. 14:1S-20). His loss of the
kingdom was foretold at this first
step away from God. He takes long
step further downward by positive
iisobs1ience (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
the devil (ch. 2S:6, y, and this
crowning act of apostasy leads to the
awful judgment and ruin of our les
son Il Ch. 1919, 14). No matter
how often or how completely Israel
routs the Philistines, the Philistines
and renew the attack ". u. The
Philistines had been effectually sub
dued in the days of Samuel (ch.
7:13). There was a 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
90 al a nd dau
the enemies of the Lord fed (ch.
7:1O; Held. There is a 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 1912;
2S:15-19). 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. 14:6)
was faultless in the matter He knew
! that his father was rejected and
David chosen of the Lord (ch. 23:1O
Ought he net to have broken with
Saul and gone to David without the
camp bearing his reproach?" Heb.
| 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 q Cor. e:15-1S). What
an inglorious ending to what might
! have been glorious life ". ~.
! III. The Triumph of the Philistines
7-1O. This is what came of asking a
visible king instead of God (ch
1919. 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 Ger. 1875, 60. God lei
! them have their king that they might
| learn their folly by bitter experience
They cut of his head. and stripped
off his armor, and they fastened hil
| body to the wall of Beth-shan." From
! l Chron. 1910 we learn further tha
they fastened his head in the housi
! of Dagon." Indignity was added t
indignity The world rejoices in moth
ing so much as in the downfall o
one who has been a servant of Cot
(cf. Ju. 16:21-25).
III. The Gratitude and VaIor O
the Men of Jabesh-gilead, 11-13
Saul had rescued the men of Jabesh
gilead from terrible suffering ant
shame (ch. 11:1-11), and they hat
not forgotten 1t. There is this on
bright spot in the dark record of hi
death. The one act to which tn
Spirit of the Lord had inspired hir
(ch. 11:6) brought It's reward eve,
in his downfall. but that reward wa
simply honor from man. That wa
all he sought. That was all he &c
Matt. 6:2). But the most touchin
and lasting tribute to the memory G
Saul was that of David, whom he ha
pursued with such relentless hate {
Sam. 1:17-2D. David has nothin
but good to say Of his fallen foe.
WOMEN PRECI TrnFn