The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1908-09-05
Sabbath School
NOTES BY R. S. HOLMES.

Golden Text-"Prepare 10 meet
thy God" Amos I; Il.
Lesson Text Verses I-I3
The story oil sudden and violent
death is almost always sad The story
OF life that makes failure for itself is
always sad, and when its failure ruins
others il is even more sad. Such was
the story OF Saul the first king OF Is
rael.
He died by his own hand after a dis
astrous battle in which three oi his
sons were killed One OF these was
Jonathan. the crown prince, and
Davids friend Sauls death was by
his own hand II was the final act that
marked his utter failure.
Saul might have been as great as was
his successor had he on'y obeyed God.
Greatness in that day depended upon
obedience "a God whether il does now
or not. Saul steadily sapped the ioun-
dations at his own strength David
gave staggering blow TO ,hc Philis-
tines. He proved himself, while he was
in command OF predatory bands in the
wilderness, the most daring soldier OF
his day. Had avid been made com
mandcr in chief. and kept at the court
Of the king. that disastrous battle in
Mount Gilboa would never have been
fought But Saul went wrong He
chose to 60 wrong. That is the story
OF almost all ruined life.
Years have passed since the last les
son. David had been an exile part OF
the time in the country OF the Philis-
tines When the great war between
Israel and these enemies came the
mobiles al the PhiliStincs would not
hear al David going with them 10 war,
Saul was old. a prey to rcmCrSc. DIS
,rustiul 81 himself and iorsakcn by
God. Not because God wanted to for
sake him. but because Saul would not
so live that God could remain with
him Disaster was inevitable.
VERSE STUDY.
". +. Very brici; very graphic;
packed with misery aud disaster What
a short description oi a great battle.
They fought Probably all day long.
Israel fed IN army that fees IS a
pitiiul thing. It is cowardicc in full
run. The army icll down slain. That
is all the story God way against
them because they had been against
God
vs.. , The rout was complete, and
the pursuit was relentless. Spare no
one was apparently the word What
picture. The king and three princes
ran for dear life The fight was all cut
Of them But they cou'd not run fast
enough The three princes were over
taken. and one by one they fell Sad
end for a rOval line
W. 4. Next step in the great trag-
edy The arrows 81 the archcrs
wounded the king Wounded him so
sorely that he could flee II" more Loss
oi blood and weakness brought him To-
a SiandStill Only death remained.
Poor man. He comprchcnded il all.
vs. 4 Vt bay at last Only one
friend left with him Where was David
now, The king saw that death was at
hand lie was too proud to die AT the
hands at his foes "Slay me- he cries
10 his armor bearer But the man
was afraid. He respected the lie Of
his king. This man was Gods anoint
ed He dared not touch him Then
Saul seized probably the mans sword.
perhaps his own. and icl upon its
point. A. he held the hilt against the
ground. That was common way OF
death III Greek and Roman times The
whole oriental world seemed to know
about that That was the end. II was
sad esd, ana he had brough, IT all
upon himself
Vs., 5 Here is one little bit oi light
upon the dark picture The armor-
bearer tel upon the sword also That
was not coward'cc nor fear That was
the act ni loyal devotion in 4 moment
of supreme grief His name no one
knows The namclc,, men and women
OF the world have done some oi its
creates, acts The man thought that
was duty II may have been a low and
false idea oi duty. but it was the idea
Of the times. and to il he was faithful
vs. o. Th, is only a summing up ui
the iull extent ui the disaster. It was
complete and without apparent rem
edy. ,rarl's defeat was ruinuuS
There VA, nu government lett and the
greatest soldier Ut the nation was an
exile
vs. :. Th, is the picture 81 the ire
mcuduus ruin The story ui the bate
travelled fast over hill and valley. and
beyond the Jordan the tdingS went
There the men and women and child.
ItU li''i ll''U lWt UdlllflN lEdt UlU no
walls They hid in the ravincS and
forests aud caves The ph'listincs
from the coast came pouring in They
took possession oi the farms and zine
yards and homes of the ISracliicS The
nation was ruined Sin did all this.
Their king had brought all this. It
shows that his administration had been
utterly ursystcmatic and weak. lie
die dand left dcicnsclcsS people
vs.. 8 The story goes back to the
battlefield in this verse. The Phiis-
tines slept on the field after the battle.
and next day began to count up the
extcn, ~ their victory. Il no doubt
surprised them They found tn" four
dead princes Saul and his sons. II
was barbarouS age II seems wicked
10 heap 'ndigniticS upon dead bodies.
but that was the way 81 the times
David had cut of the head 81 Goliath
Now these v;ctorS cut on the head of
Saul
vs. Q They sent his armor and
doubtless that Of his captains and sons