The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1915-03-18
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson MI.-First Quarter, For
March II, 1915.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Our first Introduction to Jonathan
the son Of Saul. is in chaptcr xiii .
where We find him the captain of a
thousand men shifting garrison of the
PhllSunes and thus melting them to
gather against Israel in numbers as
the sand which is on the seasbore
xii, 30, causing many in Israel to
hide wherever they could-in caves.
rocks high places and in pits and to
flee over Jordan, while those with
Saul followed him with trembling If
was sad indeed and a reproach to Coo
to nave His people in such distress.
but the fault was wholly with them.
Let US lay it to heart that when be.
levers are cast down or overcome in,
stead Of victorious it is a reproach to
our God.
Samuel had instructed Saul to wait
at Gilgal seven days until he should
come and Offer sacrifices and show him
what to do chapter X. S. Saul waited
seven days, but not quite the full time.
and, as he said, forced himself and of
fered the burnt Offering, and Just as
be l2d finished Samuel came and re-
proved him and told him that his king
dom would lot continue. but that the
Lord had sought Him man after His
own heart mhaptpr xiii. S-1A Did
you ever wait all but the time that
would have brought the person or thing
you expected and then grow restless
and just missed it? If SO you can prob
ably sympathiZe somewhat with Saul.
But next time wait more patiently and
the full time, for though He tarry. He I
will surely come in the fullness of time!
whether it be for some deliverance in
your daily life or to the air for us all.
Jonathan is one of the most beauti-
full of all the characters in the Bible
and his love for David one of the most
beautiful Of love Stories-a rare man
indeed, seemingly raised up by God to
be true friend and comfort to David.
But we shall meet him again in our
Sr0ios In our lesson verses he is a
real hero and, with his armor bearer,
starts a wonderful deliverance for Is
rael His reliance was on the Lord
and his courage most unusual, for
what could two men expect to do? He
must have remembered Deut xxi, 80,
and the assurance that one should
chase thousand and two put ten
thousand to fight, for hear him en-
courage MS armor bearer with the
words, 1T may be that the Lord ii
work for us, for there is no restraint
TO the Lord TO save by many or by
few Verse g.. 1t may have been that
be thought of the great de,iverance by
Gideon'S three hundred Judg. vii, 4, y,
md possibly Asa long afterward was
e.o.a.Gei by ;Ae Remembrance Of
Imatham QI ChrOn. xiv, IL. l have
been personally strengthened and en-
outraged by each of these records and
expect some day in the kingdom to
have good fellowship with Gideon and
Jonathan and Asa and lots of others
whose records have greatly helped me
Jonathan'S helper must have had the
same spirit as his master and greatly
helped him with his good words, do
Ill that is in thine heart; behold. l am
With thee according to thy heart
verse =. They sought guidance Of
be Lord ana received the token they
Bked for if He would have them go
Onward verses 10. l2), so they brave
y scaled the rocks, just these two and
he Lord wrought victory and fought
With them by a great earthquake
Ferses 1919. When Saul and his men
beard of the battle and the noise of
rctory they. with those who had been
b hiding. took part in the defeat of the
hilistueS, and 80 the Lord saved Is
ael that day" verses 1929. The rest
( CHAPTER xiv tells of what looks like
great mistake of Saul's, which caus-
4 much trouble and but for the inter
rence of the people on behalf of JON
than might have resulted in his death.
aul had evidently begun to go aStray, 4
5 shown in his not waiting the full
me appointed by Samuel and also in
is receiving no answer from God z
hen he asked counsel Of Him.
When one has ceased to be controlled !
J God there is no knowing what he
Iay do, for if God is not controlling !
is the devil Even in the record of ]
mon Peter when he testified of our
ord. Thou art the Christ, the Son of
e living God" Jesus said. MY Fa-
er who is in heaven revealed that to
ee." In the same chapter it is re-
rded that Jesus had to say to him,
let thee behind me Satan; thou art
offenSe unto me. for thou savorest .
# the things that be of God, but
ose that be of men" Matt. xvi, 16, II,
}. The tongue is an unruly member,
metimes blessing and sometimes
rising. but this ought not so to be
IS. iii, $40. There is one good thing
'itten of Saul in chapter xiv, 80. He I
lit an altar unto the Lord-his first
q. 1t is also written that he deliver
Israel out of the hands of them that
oiled them. but it is also written
If there was sore war against the
ilistines all the days of Saul oversees
52). Contrast chapter vii, Is, "The
nd of the Lord was against the Phi
ines all the days Of Samuel" 1t was
ter for Israel under the rule of
nuel than under Saul, for Samuel
S the Lords representative, while