The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1908-08-28
DAVID SPARES
SAUL'S LIFE
Sunday School Lesson for Aug. 80, 1908
Specially Arranged for This Paper


years Of exile before he came to be king,
B. C. 1O52-1O55 Ussher), or 1024-1sl7.
PLACE.-Thc wilderness of Judea, In
Guiding Maon, Carmel, the hill liachilah,
and the wilderness of Ziph, all from lour
to eight miles south and east OF lfeoroh'
the cave of Adullam, southwest OF Jern-
salem. about two miles from Elah, where
David conquered Goliath; and ItnSedi,
wilderness west of the Dead sea, ana
bordering upon it. Saurs capital was ht
Gibeah, about five miles north of Jerusa-
lem.
Samuel died about this time at Raman,
aged Sc. David was between 20 ana oo
years old, and an exile.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
Lessons David Learned-Hard as
these years of exile were for David to
bear, yet they were most fruitful years
to him, as his apprenticeship for the
kingdom. In them he found what
Hugh Miller called his schools ana
schoolmasters.
/. The exile experiences preserved
him from the dangers to which his
sudden elevation to power and popu-
larity would expose him. He learned
his weakness, and his need OF divine
help.
Q. He learned entire trust in God un-
der all circumstances; the value ana
necessity of religion. This led to the
marvellous development of religious in
stitutions, and of the service OF song
under his administration.
g. He had the best opportunities 1or
becoming acquainted with the people;
their grievances under Saul; their
needs; their dispositions and tenden-
cies. He understood their spiritual as
well as their temporal wants. His own
weaknesses, in yielding to the tempta-
ton to falsehood, and to dependency
and unbelief, would help him to I'M
derstand the people.
4. He had practice in the art OF gov
erning.
5. He gained experience in war.
G. He obtained knowledge OF the
country, and of its enemies.
Z. IN this school of fighting men
were trained those generals and WISE
strategists who in the golden days OF
David's rule commanded his armies
and raised Israel from the obscurlty
of an Arab tribe, who with difficulty
held their own among the ancient
Canaanites, to the position of one OF
the great nations of the old eastern
world. '-Ellcott.
8. Many of his sweetest songs were
wrought out by this long and hard ex-
nerience, for the comfort and hope not
only of his own people, but for coos
children in all ages; for while they
grew out of hardship and wrongs they
were songs of victory, OF light snin-
ing out of darkness, roses growing
out of black soil"
9. In spite of his few lapses from
faith and perfect truth, he grew in
character and manhood, he became
strong in faith and virtue large
hearted, wrise, and consecrated TO COO
Victory Over Himself-1 Samuel 70
The Two Accounts. There are Two
accounts of David's sparing Sauls life,
one in 1 Samuel 26, our lesson verses
for to-day. and one in 1 Samuel "A. The
scenes of the events were in the same
general region, Saul's army was IN
both cases his select band OF 5000;
so that some scholars think that the
two accounts are descriptions of the
same event. But they are so different
as TO make this very improbable; ana
II is perfectly natural that such an
event should occur more than once.
David and Abishai quietly stole into
Saul's camp and took away his spear
probably of beautiful and costly work
manship as became a king, and the
cruise or pitcher of water which Is
usually. in warm climates, kept near
n person's couch, as draught In the
night time is found very refreshing.
Saurs cruise would probably be oil SUI
perior materials, or more richly orna-
mented than common ones, and there
fore by its size or form be easily dis
tinguished. Bible.
Then the two men went to another
hill over against the one where Saul
was encamped, and shouted to Sauls
general Abner, deriding him for his
negligence. Saul recognized David
voice and they talked together.
V.19. IF the Lord have stirred thee
M" as a punishment to David for
some wrong. Saying, Go, serve other
gods" 90 into heather lands, and
away from all religious services OF
| Jehovah.
SAM repented and departed. David
accented his profession of friendship.
but he was too wise to put himself in
Saul's power. He well knew that his
changed opinion was like the early
dew which soon passeth away.
Thus David gained his great victory
over himself; a greater than his IA
nous victory over Goliath. He that
ruleth his own spirit is greater than
he that taketh a city" 'Self-preser-
walton is the first law of nature" but
Il is not the first law of God, who is
above nature. We may not in anywise
transgress Gods law in seeking
safety"
Overcome Evil with Good.
To fight evil with evil is simply to
make two OWLS instead of one.
And both evils are increased by the
! processes.