The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-08-25
The SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson lX.-Third Quarter, For
Aug. 80. 1903.
THE INTERNATIONAL SEXES.

Text of the Lesson, Sam. XVI. 17-25.
Memory Verse, 21-Golden Text, Luke
wi, e7-Commentary Prepared by Rev.
D. NJ. Stsarns.
ICopyrisht. 1905 by American Press Associationl
David is still fleeing for his life
from Saul, for Saul Sought him every
day and said, "If he be in the land |
will search him out throughout all the
thousands of Judah" txxiii, IA. 23). but
God delivered him not into his hand.
On one occasion Saul and his men
compassed David and his men round
about to take them. but jlst then
messenger came to Saul saying. Haste
thee and come, for the Philistlnes have
invaded. the land" so Saul returned
from pursuing David (xXiii, %, 2O.
After the parting Of David and Jona-
than. as recorded in last weeks lesson,
there followed that incident to which
our Lord referred in Matt. xii, 3. when
He said. Have We not read what
David did when be was an hungered.
and they that were with him.: Inese
lessons were therefore Il familiar por-
ton TO our Lord. as were all the Scrip
lures, which He loved to unfold to His
disciples That day at Mob the devil
was on hand in the person Of Doeg the
Edomite. Saul'S chief herdman. and he
became the murderer Of eighty-hve
priests. besides other men and women
and children, by the command OF Sau!
(xXii, is, 19). Abathar. one of the
priests. escaped and fed to David and
told bin the sad tale. icaGia% i'af!d
to feel that he was guilty OF the death
of all those people. 1t wGS then thar
David uttered those memorable words
to Abiathar. abide thou with me:
fear not. for he that seeketh my life
seeketh thy life. but with me thou
shalt be in safeguard" (XXii. 23l.
When we think of the slaughter OF
these priests Of the Lord. the massacre
of the babes ut Bethlehem and the
martyrs in all ages, we are simply
dumb. yet tempted to ask, Where is
the love of God in all this? Then we
remember that He said to His dis
ciples, Fear not them which kill the
body, but are not able to kill the sour
Matt. x, 2S), and He has also taught
us that Ito die is gain" SO that some
day we shall see that all this work OF
the devil brought no real harm to these
martyred ones. but only gain. We
cannot see it now, but we can believe
it, and believing is seeing-faith is the
eye of the soul. The story of today's
lesson does not tell us Of the first time
that David had Saul in his power. See
in chapter xxiv how completely David
had him and how easily he might have
disposed of him. but he refrained say
ing. II will not put forth my hand
against my lord. for He is the Lords
anoiuted" (xXiv. 1W. He simply cut
off the skirt Of Saul's robe privily that
he might afterward show him how he
had hin in his power and If possible
make him ashamed Of himself and or
his folly. He succeeded for time and
in some measure, as we learn IRON
Saul's words in the end Of that chap
ter. But, as we said in previous les
son. no reliance can be placed upon
such man possessed with such an
evil spirit. and now he is again pur-
suing him with 5000 chosen men
(xXvi, l, p. and again God puts Saul
in David's power and causes deep
sleep to come upon Saul and his men
while David and AbishaL (David's SIS
ter's sony came by night and took the
spear and the cruise of water from
Sauls bolster. and none Of Saul's men
saw it nor knew it nor awaked be-
cause of that deep sleep from the Lord.
It must have been sleep from the
Lord which held the guard to whom
Peter was chained that night of his
deliyerance by the angel (Acts xii 81.
When AbiShai urged David to take ad-
vantage Of his opportunity and let him
smite Saul to the earth. promising that
one thrust would do the work. David
again refused to stretch forth his
hand against the Lords anointed, say
ing, LAS the Lord liveth, the Lord shall
smite him, or his day shall come to
die, or he shall descend into battle and
perish" (verse 10Y. He would leave
his enemy wholly to God and keep his
h.: - !; j. -. - in.' Is - COLL
nit our way and our works and all
people and things 80 wholly to God
and so leave them there that we can
dwell in God and see Him only.
When David had put a good distance
between Saul and himself he cried
out to Abner. the captain Of SauFs
host, and told him what valiant man
he was and how well he had cared for
his master Saul recognized Darid's
voice. David replied to him. asking If
it was God or man who had so stirred
him against him. comparing himself to
a flea and partridge. as he had for
merly to a dead dog and flea (verSe
20: chapter xiv. A. Saul seemed
penitent again. confessed that he had
erred and played the fool and sinned
and asked David to return. assuring
him that he would no more do him
harm. David asked him to send for
his spear, reminded him again how be
had spared his life and appealed to the
Lord to render to every man His
Righteousness and faithfulness. Note
David's habit OF continually inquiring
q, 4