The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-05-12
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson WI. Second Quarter,
For May Is, 1915.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Text Of tho Lesson, ! Sam. xvi, Sic,
Memory Verses, II, 12-Golden Text,
Luke VII 27-commentary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. Stearnsr
The lesson today Is a record Of n
Of the occasions on which David had
Saul completely at his mercy. but be
refused to lay bands upon him or to
listen to the suggestion of Abishai that
David would permit him to smite Saul.
for he suid. las the Lord liveth. the
Lord shall smite him. or his day shall
come to die, or he shall descend into
battle and perish" verses 8. 10L Thus
David left the matter wholly in the
bands Of the Lord. illustrating his wi
words. Commit thy way unto the
Lord; trust also In Him, and he shall
bring it to pass" Cps. xxxvii, 81. Sam
XXI tells how his end came.
On this occasion David took the spear
and the cruise of water from Sauls
bolster that he might show him how
he had him in his power. but did not
harm him. David was able to do this
without any one knowing 1t because Il
deep sleep from the Lord was fallen
upon Saul and his men verses II, 12).
Compare Gen. II. q; xv, 12. and consid-
er Peters release from prison. though
be was bound with chains between
two soldiers. and there was a guard at
the door Of the prison facts XII. 8-10.
Is, 49,. Truly the God of Israel Is the
God that doest wonders (Ps. xxi. IS;
Xvii. AZ. David. with his trophies.
stood on the top Of n hill afar of and
cried to Abner that. though he was a
valiant man. be was worthy to die be-
cause be had failed to take care of the
king, and he told him to look for the
kings spear and cruise Of water that
had been by bis bolster verses 1916.
Saul knew David's voice and pro-
fessed to be very grateful to him for
sparing his life. asking him to return
to him. and saying that he would no
more seek 10 do him harm, but David
knew his enemy too we'll. and after
telling him To send for his spear. they
again parted. each going his own way
verses 17-25,. This was not the first
time that David had Saul in his pow
er. bur refused to harm him. See in
chapter xiv how be cut of the skirt
Of Saul's robe and how Saul then pro.
fessed penitence and good will and
spoke of David's being king some day.
Thus Saul sought him every day. but
God delivered him not into bis hand
txxiIi. al. In the end Of chapter xiii
there Is the record Of an incident that
looked like Il close call for David. but
Saul was suddenly called of and David
escaped. All through the story we can
hear David saying: The Lord Is the
strength Of my life. OF whom shall
be afraidT" FPS. xvii. 1-3J
The cave Of Adullam story in chap
ter xii Is full Of interest. beginning
with his seeking a place of. safety for
his father and his mother till he could
know what God would do for him and
ending with his words Of comfort to
Abiathar: abide thou with me Fear
not. for he that seeketh my life seeketh
thy life. but with me thou shalt be In
safeguard" Chapter XIV tells Of the
death and burial Of Samuel and then
the story of drunken Nabal and his
beautiful wife Abigail-beautiful I'M
wise counsel t David and in her con.
duct toward him. Some of her men,.
orable words are ever with me: Bound
In the bundle of life with the Lord thy
God" (xxv. 20l. a bundle which cannot
be broken. for those to whom BE gives
eternal life can new perish John Z.
2S). Chapters xvii, xxx. XXX. tell b
story of Ziklag. which Achish gave to
David, but to which David returned on
n occasion to find the town in ruins
and the wives, sons and daughters Of
himself and his COO followers all
gone into captivity. That was one OF
the most trying times in all David's ex.
~perience, and they all wept until they
had no more power to weep. The
grief Of David. almost beyond endur-
ance. was heaped up by the threat OF
his 600 followers to stone him. as II he
was the cause of all this. so that Da'
yid seemed. as far as human sympathy
was concerned, to be absolutely alone.
Then we read the words which have
helped so many. David encouraged
himself in the Lord his God" Xxx, 81.
A somewhat similar incident In the
life Of Paul Is recorded in II Tim. ",
1918. The way that David found the
enemy, the Amalekites, through the
guidance Of an almost dead Egyptian
servant. whom he restored to life, and
how be recovered all-wives, sons.
daughters, spoil, nothing lacking to
any. and much additional spoil-is a
very thrilling record and should en-.
courage US all to wait on the Lord and
not to think anything too hard for
Him. There were 200 Of David's men
too weak to Join in the pursuit Of the