The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1908-10-08
David's Kindness to
Jonathan's Son
Sunday School Lesson for Oct. IS. 1908
Specially Arranged for This Paper

verse o.
GOLDEN TEXT.-"And he ye kind 20
one another. tender-hcartcd forgiving
one another. "-Eph i;1s.
TIAfE-Not far from the middle OF
David's reign. about the timo OF the close
OF his wars. Prof. Willis J. Beccher
thinks that ~ was subsequent Go David'r
great sin and was probably ono OF the
earliest OF the fruits Of his repentance"
PLACE. David was al Jerusalem Me-
phiboshcth lived near Mnhanaim. where
Sauis son Ishboshoth. By the aid OF his
general. Abner. had undertaken Go hold
the Kingdom during David's reign al He
hron. II was east OF the Jordan. about
half way between the Dead Sea and the
sea 90 Galileo.
Comment and Suggestive Thought
David's Mind Reyerts TO Forgotten
sure OF the duties OF defending aud or
ganizing his kingdom and building
them up into material and religious
prosperity.
David had made a league OF friend
ship with Jonathan. Saul's son. which
was 90 extend 10 their children. All
the affection this prince had iavished
upon David now came back in full tide
to prompt him to express his apprcoia-
tion OF II by kind deeds TO some Of tho
family lie had also loved Saul him
self As far as Saul was concerned II
was noble example OF doing good TO
enemies. according TO the precept OF
Prov. 25;2i. % and Rom. i2:t9-2i.
saul had several times tried 10 XIII
David. he had driven him into exile.
and hunted him from place 60 place.
There was long. black chapter OF
wrongs In the past
lie Finds Mcphlbosheth. Son %
Jonathan an officer OF the
house OF Saul. reported 60 David that
a son OF Jonathan was living In the
home OF Machir In Lo.debar. a place
not far from Mahanaim.
Mephibosheth. whose name was or.
iginally Merib baal. Lord Meri"
a Chron. S:3i; e:fol. was eve years
old q Sam. 40. when his father Jon.
athan and his grandfather Saul were
slain on Mount Gilboa. when the news
came OF their death the. boys nurse
took him and ned toward Jczreel and
In her haste let him fall lie was 80
injured that be was all his life lame In
both feet Beine Eve years old az
Sauis death he must have been ~
or rs years old when David became
king over all Israel when. therefore.
he came 10 court he must have been
80 years old. was married. and had a
little son w. i2l. Mephiboshcth as
the representative ~ Saul's eldest son.
had the precedence over Saurs other
grandsons. and was Saul's heir.
Other Accounts OF McphibUshoth -
See Chron. $3.50; 9:40if. 2 Sam
a.: 2I:7: 1914; 19:2f30
Mephibosheths Property Restored.
and Himself Brought 20 the Palace
The oriental idea was that all the fam
ily Of a rival claimant 10 the throne
should be put 10 death. or removed
from all possibility Of melting an In
surrectlon.
lis inheritance from Saul was re-
stored 20 Mephlhoshcth II must have
been considerable. II was placed I'M
der Ziba. a steward. and the revenues
were to be sent TO his master at the
court OF David
Mephibosheth was invited 20 sit M
the royal table as part OF David's
household. The Syrian missionary.
Rev. William Ewing. says I'm the sun
day School Times: When two men
eat bread together. this Il the desert
sacrament. the sign and seal OF GOV.
enant OF friendship. a league for mu-
tual protection, This Is so II they eat
but once. Had David only on one oc.
casion Invited Mophlboshoth 10 sit and
eat with him. he would thenceforth
have been known as the kings friend.
TO injuro whom would b. TO provoke
the mOnarch's vengeance. But
place continually at the royal table
declared relationship OF n deeper
and stronger Kind. lie who eats con
tinually' at an Arabs board has
passed the conditions OF mere guest
or friend and is acknowledged as
Identified with the family in all its
manifold interests. David thus devised
right liberal things for the unfortu-
nate son OF the beloved comrade OF
other days"
Like David. we are not 10 whit TIL
the needy come to us. but we are 10
bttANh au9 We
our field, and find out who can be In
vited TO eat the bread OF life contlnu-
ally with us in our class.
We should organize and train our
class TO go into the highway and
hedges II need be. and bring others in
to enjoy the good things OF the Bible
with them.
No one should be too busy to do
acts Of kindness 10 individuals. and
TO pay by kindness the debts OF love.
Elevation TO power is a Gods given
opportunity" fer remembering those
who have been less successful.
woman came TO an oriental king
TO have some wrong redressed. and no
refused because he had not time.
Then" said she. III you have not
time to do justice, you have not time
TO be king"
Great Men Of Culture.
The great men OF culture are those
4