The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1908-08-27
Saul and Jonathan
Slain in Battle
Sunday School Lesson fer Sept. 9, 1908
Specially Arranged for This Paper


reign OF United Israel The dawn of a
new era.
TIME.-B. G ios Ussher. In margin
of our Bihles). b. &. i0s' In Revised chro-
nology.
PLACE.--on the northern slopes Of
Mount Gllboa were encamped the army
OF Saul, the Phnstine army at shunem'
The valley Of 1ezreel lay between thein'
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
Saul and the Witch OF Endor.-Saui'
brave as he was. felt deep depres-
sion OF spirit. Why? II was not so
much the numbers and battle array OF
the invading army. as his feeling Of
guilt and OF loss OF the favor OF God
There IL nothing so weakening and
depressing az guilty conscience.
Saul made every effort to obtain the
favor and aid OF Jehovah. except the
only one that could have been sue
cessful: complete repentance OF sin
and turning with his whole heart TO
God like the king in Hamlet, he
could not try what repentance could
do. because he would not repent
HE last resort was 20 find a sorcer-
ess or witch. the whole tribe OF which
he had driven from his kingdom, be-
cause they led men away from God.
Saul learned that eight or ten miles
away TO the north In some Of the re-
mote gorges OF Little Hermon. near
Endor. a sorceress had built herself
cabin, and there In gloom and OBJ
security piled her unholy arts"
There are two possible interpre'a-
lions:
FIRST. That the woman was inter
rupted and frightened by the uner'
pected. actual appearance OF Samuel.
whose voice Saul heard. but whom he
did not see: and that Samuel uttered
the terrible words OF condemnation
against Saul
Second. That the whole scene was
a deception ON the part Of the woman.
She recognized SAUL and was glad Of
an opportunity 10 revenge upon him
the evil he had done 10 her race. She
acted astonlshed. and made Saul think
nhe saw Samuel Then she put In
the prophets mouth only the doom
which seemed probable. and. as NIL
man says. excepting the event OF the
approaching battle. the spirit said
nothing which the living prophet had
not said before repeatedly and pub
licly"
VI. "And the men OF Israel fed
before the Philistinos" Sauls three
sons. including Jonathan. were slain.
The Philistlncs drove the people out
OF their town and occupied the terri
tory ". -.
"Gibeah. Sauis own city. was
thrown into terror. The royal family
fed for their lives In the flight the
nurse LET fall Mephibosheth. the son
OF Jonathan. then a child Of i've
years Of age. lie was famed for life
q sam. 4;D."-James Slime.
The Death OF Saul.--in the general
rout. Saul realized that there was no
way OF escape He was ia despair.
His army was gone. HIS son slain. he
himself was wounded and weak. and
God was not with him. Re had
"supped fun OF horrors"
Finding he could not escape. Saul
took n sword and fell upon IT, 90,
the HIT ON the ground and the point
at his heart. Thus father and son lay
dead together on the field OF battle.
3. and they cut on his head" To
send as trophy and proof Of their
victory. Il was hung IA the temple
OF Dagon az Ashdod q Chron. 1910.
stripped on his arnor. and sent into
tho land 10 publish u In the
house of their idols"
A Heroic and Loving Deed.--v. II.
ia IlN.a 10 a
heard" Jabesh-gilead was city OF
Manasseh. east OF the Jordan. about
ten miles across the Jordan valley
from Bethshan The inhabitants re.
membered the splendid feat Of arms
by which King Saul NJ the very begin.
ming OF his reign delivered them from
the Ammonites under Nahash. who
agreed 20 spare them only on condi.
ton OF the loss OF their right eyes.
The men in grateful memory res
cued these trophies. burned the decay.
Ing bodies. and gave their bones an
honored burial.
What Aids Did Saul Have Toward
a Blessed Life?--Gl He had long pc
riod OF home preparation and testing
in little things TN his powers were
matured before he was called to sus.
tain the strain Of the court and the
battlefield. GU Saul as king was re-
quired (see Deut l7;iS'20) TO write
out a copy OF the law. thus becoming
thoroughly acquainted with Il. better
than by almost any other means: and
then he must read therein all the
days of his life" (3) Saul received
special Influences of the Holy Spirit
Il Sam. 1870. fitting him for his
great duties. 90 He had the ability
10 become warrior ana statesman, a
great benefactor OF his nation. edu-
eating them In religion. defending
them against enemies. building them
up in prosperity and true success.
What Was the Central Source of
His Failure7--It was wrong choice.
He would not yield himself heert and
soul to God. as>David did?
Everyone makes mistakes and err
rors. but they s.re not absolutely de-
structive so long az ones central aim
and purpose Is 70 do Gods will.
"The win Is the ranking Official of
Ill a., x,.au .H.| NI." ...'