The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1908-08-21

hl tNitH, anu a brother 10 born Ia AL
N~rstiv Prov. M
TIME iMs " G.. and continuing tii
the death ot Jonathan. los
If.ACE-Thc court 81 Saul
Comment and Supeestive Thought.
Jonathan.-JunRthnu tho son OF
Saul. tho crown prince. IL n OF the
finest. tho most attractive. and x
ing characters In all history.
Mighty In Love. Ills love did not
now from weakness but from
strength. lie was Great. heart himself.
He loved David as his own soul"
David. In the Song OF the Bow"
his touching lament over his friend
slain on Mount Bilboa. exclaims. Il
am distressed for thee, my brother
Jonathan; very pleasant hast thou
been unto me. thy love for me was
wonderful. passing tho love OF wom-
en-" g Sam, 1890.
Brave. Jonathan was a bra re and
noble soldier, and had accomplished
some very daring feats Of arms. Alone
with his armor bearer, he had cap
tured a mountain fortress OF the Phil.
istines q Sam. 14:1-15). He was
brave in defending David before his
angry father Il Sam. 20:10. 32). He
showed another even nobler courage
in l Sam. 14:43. II certainly taste .
. . in my hand; here l am; 10, l
must die"-"not n lament, but a hero
ic act of ~self.sacriace for the sake OF
the people"
His good judgment is shown in I
Sam. 14:27.30.
His faith in God and his religious
nature were strong as David's Il Sam.
14:6, ~; 10: s: 20:13, 42).
His unselfshness was more promi.
lent than in any other Old Testament
character. He was the Golden Rule
exemplified."
His great-hearted un~selishness led
him to recognize, submit to, and pro-
mote the evident leadings OF divine
providence q Sam. 23:16-1S; 20:13-
between two men of whom the younger
err was a most formidable rival to the
older."-Blaikie.
A Model Son. Jonathan's noble char.
acter is also shown by his devotion to
his unfortunate father. ITO him, II
to anyone the frenzy Of the king was
amenable." saul hearkeneth unto the
voice of Jonathan" Il Sam. 1880.
Other characteristics. Jonathan
was older than David, had been
brought up in very different circum.
stances, and was more mature and
self-restrained. He was a soldier, not
a poet. He had not quite the genius,
self-reliance, masterfulness, and vital
force of David, o his versatility, and
power of leadership; but his was q
great soul, a mighty heart, with a
most wonderful capacity for loving.
David.-David, the son of Jesse, the
shepherd, also was very attractive in
his person.; he was accomplished in
music and song; he was faithful; he
was full Of grace like "a he-goat upon
the mountains" he was courageous
even in heroism; he behaved himself
wisely in all his ways" he had great
common sense and tact; he was large
hearted and generous; and, above all.
he had "a sublime faith, a perfect.
childlike trust in the glorious arm OF
the Lord" He had that in him by
which he became "a champion of
those who were in distress Il Sam.
23:1-5), a wall by night and day to
peaceful shepherds q Sam. 25:15,
16)."-Professor Sanders.
An Ideal Friendship.-Between Da-
vid and Jonathan there arose a beau
tiful, almost ideal friendship. "The
soul of Jonathan was knit with the
soul Of David" Their souls were inter-
woven together into a complete tex
ture of friendship. And Jonathan
loved him as his own soul" Il Sam.
18: u. This love in its highest perfec-
ton, mother love and bridal love Is
the finest type and illustration of the
love of God to his children, as often
expressed in the scriptures.
Expression of that Friendship
First. Jonathan, the crown prince,
gave his court robes and armor to
David Il Sam. IS: ~. Possibly the
gift was suggested by the need Of the
country lad for some dress appropri.
ate to his entrance into court"
Second. He defended David from
the frenzy Of his father Saul Il Sam.
uel 49,.
Third. BY the incident and the
covenant in 1 Samuel 20.
He wished David we'll.
He yielded up his hopes of the king.
dom to David, only STIMULATING that
David should not kill him when he be.
came king, as vas the custom Of the
times, and the further history shows
the need of the stipulation.
He formed a shrewd plan OF making
known to David the feelings Of Saul
toward David.
V. 81. Saul tried to persuade iona
than to let him kill David. for as long
as the son Of Jesse llveth . .
thou shalt not be established"
v. 33. When Jonathan refused, Saul
cast a javelin at him to smite him.
BIessedness of Friendship.
81 would rather have q good friend
said Socrates, than oil other objects