The Yale expositor., 1908-08-07
DAVID AND
GOLIATH
Sunday School Lesson Tor Aug. 9. 1908
Specially Prepared for This Paper

1
| Memory verses, As. 40.
| GOLDEN TEXT.-"In the Lord put
my trust"-Psalm I'LL.
| TIME.-It is uncertain how long after
his amounting was Davids victory over
| Goliath. Prof. Beecher imagnes II to
be about four years. USHER gives b. c.
| 1868 for the date.
| PLACE.-The Philistines lived IN the
plain bordering the Mediterranean, south
| west of Palestine. The armies were
| gathered at Ephes- dammim, 1.-The boun-
| daries OF blood" toward the head of the
valley Elah, running up from the Phil
| lstine country toward Jerusalem. The
| scene of the battle was Ia miles south
| west OF Jerusalem, and ten miles west
| OF Bethlehem.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
| A guiding Providence is plainly dis
| cerned in this story, the meaning OF
each part being unseen till the result
showed the reason for every step The
significance of Providence Is often
written as with invisible ink, and can
not be read till the consummation is
reached. The three Oldest of Davids
brothers were in the army of SAUL
only about ten miles from home, and
! Jesse, feeling anxious for news about
them, sent David to the camp with
some fresh provisions, for the soldiers
there, as often in later wars, furnished
their own supplies. 1t was the fortieth
day of Goliath's challenge when David
reached the camp, and heard his
naughty words. He soon took in the
state of affairs. His inquiries and
comments brought upon him the re-
Duke of his oldest brother. But he kept
on till his words came to the ears OF
! Saul.
Saul was convinced by two argu-
ments.
% The courage, skill and power
shown by David in Staying lion and
bear in defense of his sheep.
(2) His trust in God as his deliverer
from the paw of the lion and the paw
of the bear.
What God has enabled one to do Is
the proof of what he can do in the
future, as well as preparation for do
ing it.
Davids Weapons.-Vs. 3S-40. Saul
was far from seeing the advantage
of David's use of the weapons in the
use of which he had gained great
skill Hence he began by putting on
David his own armor, the best the
kingdom afforded. But this was worse
than useless, and David put it off.
V. 40. "He took his staff" His shep-
herd staff and means of offense and de-
tense, In days when no firearms ex-
listed. A shepherds staff from Pales-
tine, IN my study. is a heavy, oak
club. Five smooth stones" Smooth"
in order to move straight to the mark;
five" so that If one failed, others
would be on hand. Such pebbles as
David would choose would weigh be-
tween six and fifteen ounces. In a
shepherds bag "a scrip" "As
the shepherd is ever moving in search
of pasture and water, he is very often
far from his headquarters, and there
fore he carries slung over his shoulder
skin-bag, primarily to contain his
bread, olive berries, raw onions, and
dried fruit, figs, or raisins. Mrs.
HOWE, in Sunday School Times. The
forelegs tied together form the handle
of the scrip. His sling was in his
hand" A sling skilfully used was by
far the best weapon with which to de-
feat huge, mailed warrior. 1t could
be used from a safe distance, but was
very powerful. David had doubtless
become accurate with his sling as a
means of defense, as the Benjamites
in the time of the Judges-"everyone
could sling stones at a hair-breadth
and not miss" (Judg. 20:16).
v. Al. "And the Philistine came on"
In his shining armor, with his dread
full clanking tramp under the hundred
weight of metal" Gender suggests
that they walked down the stream
on either bank, conversing as they
went.
v. AZ. Cursed David by his GODS
These gods were such as Dagon, Baal
and Astarte. The combat thus be-
came question not merely between
David and Goliath, but between God
and idols; between true religion and
false, as David fully expressed In his
answer to the giant ". 46) that all
the earth may know that there is a
God in Israel"
V. AZ. The battle is the Lords"
who will defend his own cause, and
not only had moved David to learn his
wea ron, but guided the stone to its
mark.
V. As. David fastened, and ran"
giving impetus to his sling. and
nearer mark for accuracy.
So Paris in the Iliad:
with his full strength he bent his angry
bow.
And winged the feathered vengeance at
the foe"
V. 40. David took thence
a stone, and slang IT," "On wings OF
faith and prayer the smooth stone
took its fatal flight" And smote the
Philistine in his forehead" The stone
either entered point unprotected by
the helmet. or IL may even have pene-
trated and passed through the helmet
itself-Prof. w. III. Green.
Practical Points.
The combat between David and
Goliath has many points which illus