Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-05-12
SUNDAY SCHOOL
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Text OF the Lesson, 1 Sam. XXNI,
SIZE, Memory Verses, II, 12-Goid-
EN- Text, Luke vi, 27-Commentary
Prepared by Rev. ID. NJ. Stearns.

The lesson today IL Il record or one
of the occasions OH which David had
Saul completely at his mercy. but he
refused to lay hands upon him or 10
listen 10 the suggestion of Abishai that
David would permit him TO smlte Saul,
for he said. As the Lord liveth the
Lord shall smite him. or his day shall
come To die. or he shall descend into
battle aud perish" verses s. l0J. Thus
David left the matter wholly IN the
ha nds OF the Lord. illustrating his own
words. Commit thy way unto the
Lord. trust also I'm Him. and He shall
bring IL 10 pass FPS. xxxvii. %. ! Sam.
XXI tells how his end came.
On this occasion David took the spear
and the cruise of water from Saufs
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 II because
deep sleep from the Lord was fallen
upon Saul and his men verses IL, ~.
Compare Gen. II. 81: XIV, IL. and consid-
er Peters release from prison. though
he was bound with chains between
two soldiers. and there was a guard at
the door OF the prison facts xii. 6-l0,
IL. l0J. Truly the God OF Israel is the
God that doest wonders FPS. xxi. 10;
lxxyii. IA, David, with his trophies.
stood on the top OF n hill afar of and
cried TO Abner that. though he was a
valiant man, he was worthy TO die be-
h. 30. faii Cob q ha
king. and he told him To look for the
kings spear and cruise OF water that
had been by his bolster verses 1876.
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 TO do him harm. but David
knew his enemy too well. and after
telling him 10 send for his spear. they
again parted. each going his own way
verses 1920 This was not the first
time that David had Saul IN his pow
er. but refused to harm him. See In
chapter xiv how he cut off 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 his hand
lxxiii. III. In the end Of chapter xiii
there is the record OF an incident that
looked like 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. or whom shall |
| be afraidT Fps. xvii ID,
The cave OF Adullam story I'm chap
ter xxi Is full OF Interest. beginning
with his seeking 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
| the story OF drunken Nabal and his
beautiful wife Abigail-beautiful In
wise counsel to David and I'm her con
duct toward him. Some of her men,
orable words are ever with me: Bound
I'm the bundle Of life with the Lord thy
God" txxv. 29l, bundle which cannot
be broken. for those TO whom He gives
eternal life can never perish John K,
2SD. Chapters XVII, xxx, XXX. tell the
story of Zikiag. which Achish gave TO
David. but to which David returned on
one occasion to find the town In ruins
and the wives. sons and daughters OF
himself and his 600 followers all
gone into captivity. That was one Of
| the most trying times I'm all David's ex-
perieDce. and they all wept until they
had no more power 10 weep. The
grief OF David. almost beyond endur-
ance. was heaped up by the threat Of
! his GOO followers TO stone him. as ~ he
was the cause OF all this. so that Da.
vid seemed. as far as human sympathy
was concerned. 10 be absolutely alone.
Then we read the words which have
helped so many, David encouraged
himself I'm the Lord his God" Xxx, 81.
somewhat similar incident In the
life of Paul is recorded in ii Tim. iv,
1915. The way that David found the
tnc duuithlttSs tut
guidance OF an almost dead Egyptian
servant. whom he restored to life. and
how he 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 300 OF David's men
too weak TO join In the pursuit of the
enemy, but they. too. shared In the
spoils OF victory. and David made It q
law that those who tarry by the stuff
shall share equally with those who go
forth to battle Xxx. 10. 24. Let all
homekeepers be encouraged. The sin
OF Saul In the matter of familiar spir-
Its and the witch Of Endor is recorded
In chapter xviii This is prevailing
sin Of many today. II is wholly OF the
devil and Is strictly forbidden In Deut
xviii, 9-12. IL Is not all trickery. but
offffp,ao oov,na rooI xuorb ~ the aHvor