The Jones County news., 1915-05-06
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson W.-Second Quarter, For
May 9, 1915.
The INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Text Of the Lesson, Sam. >cs, s2-42.
Memory Verse, AZ = Golden Text,
Prov. xvii, documentary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. stearns.
Our lesson topic today is "The
Friendship OF David and Jonathan. 3"
but the lesson verses give only one in
cident out Of many. As our next les
son win be IN chapter XVI. we will
! consider the David and Jonathan in
4 cidents in chapters xviii to xiii In
chapter xiv the name OF Jonathan IS
mentioned twenty-four times, and IN
chapter Xxx 1t is found twenV-seven
times. His name may mean the gift
of Jehovah. and he surely was such to
David, a real friend and comforter.
making us think of pauls words con
cerning some of his helpers, Fellow
workers unto the kingdom OF God,
which have been a comfort unto me"
(Col. iy, 1D. In our first introduction
to Jonathan chapters xiii and XIV, in
which we find his name just twenty
eight times, we see him as a brave sol
dier. relying upon Jehovah to fight for
him and with him (xiy, 6, q. The next
mention of him is after Dayld's defeat
of Goliath. when we read that his soul
was knit with the soul Of David, for
he loved him as his own soul. He
stripped himself of his garments and
armor and put them upon David CHAP
ter xviii, IA; see also Xxx, II; III sam.
l, 26). They were truly kindred spir-
its, both strong in the Lord. We can
not but think of Him who emptied
Himself for us, laid aside all His glory,
that He might redeem us, clothe us
with His righteousness and share with
US His Kingdom. We think also OF
the disciple whom Jesus loved, who
leaned upon his bosom, but we remem-
ber what is written IN John Kill, 1, of
all true disciples, "He loved them unto
the end. to the uttermost" R v, mar
gin).
The next incident is In chapter XIX,
II, where Jonathan pleaded with his
father for David, reminding him that
through David the Lord wrought a
great salvation for all Israel. and so
David was for time restored to Saul's
favor, but we saw In last lesson how
worthless and uncertain it was.
In our lesson chapter we see David
returning from Samuel TO whom he had
fed to interview Jonathan and to tell
him that when near Saul he felt that
there was but a step between him and
death and to ask him to find out IL lie
could just how his father really felt
toward him, for it would seem as If
David could scarcely believe that Saul
hated him as greatly as these sudden
outbreaks Of temper would indicate.
One may give way to temper again and
again and yet really love the person
spoken or acted against. How beauti-
full was Jonathan's reply to David.
Whatsoever thy soul desireth | viii
even do it for thee" Xxx, A., or as in
the margin, Say what is thy mind, |
what thy soul speaketh or thinketh, |
and I viii do It," What a friend to /
have and yet listen to Him who calls |
us friends, "If ye shall ask anything /
III My name win do it, (John XIV, 10; |
xiv, 14). Jonathan seems not to have
believed up to this time that his father
meant any real harm to David, prob
ably attributing all to his fearful tenn
per, for he said, "If knew certainly
that evil were determined by my IA
ther to come upon thee would not / tell
II thee?" Xxx, 81 They went out into 1
-he field alone with the Lord and with I
prayer, and, as in His sight, they made
/ covenant the one with the other aud A
arranged a plan by which Jonathan
would find out certainly what his fa-
hers attitude to David really was
Xxx, 1928. When the plan was work.
ID out and Sauls anger against David
became SO manifest that he tried to
iii Jonathan for taking Davids part
hen Jonathan knew that 1t was de-
ermined of his father to slay David.
80 he arose from the table in fierce
niger, for he was grieyed for David
Xxx, 32-3D. Then Jonathan In the
morning went out into the field and
with David by q pre-
rranged plan Xxx, 1924. 3540).
1t was a three days interval (verse
SIs ANAhAoltS hp VI 81
lays stories, and 1t was a morning
arewell that these two friends now
ad (verse 35). reminding us by anal
gy and contrast of SO many morning
tories The statement in verse 80 that
he lad who gathered the arrows knew
ot anything Of the Significance of his
oings nor Of the real meaning of jon
than's words to him has often come
D me with power, as have given
lis message from His word from time
time, simply knowing that / was
eeking to be faithful to him, but not
moving anything Of what He might
Q accomplishing by the message, but
1re always that He knew what He
'as doing and that His word will al
Tays accomplish His pleasure John
l. 6; lisa. lv, ID How pathetic the
irewell of these two after the lad had :
kissing. the weeping, the
1mmitting of each other to the Lord,
nd Jonathan's go In peace" (yerses