The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-04-21
SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson ". Second Quarter, For
April rs, 1915.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Memory Verse, As Golden Text.
Rom. viii, a1-commentary Prepared
by Row. D. M. Stearns. -
The armies Of the living God dededs
and the people Of God ~reproached de
scribes the state Of affairs at the open
ing Of this lesson (yerses 10, .26. 36L,
I have just read in the papers Of g.
deficit In each of two mission boards az
over $250,OO0 and iof one denomination.
that has lost 100000 members In ax
years. Does there seem to be any
| parallel, and II SO where is the David:
for the occasion? We have a s to,
thank God for q man like Rev. William
Sunday, who. Is -rescuing souls
from the hands Of the enemy and STAY
ing more giants than any other man.
in America today MAY, 1914. as far
as We are able to Judge. because he.
has learned how to sling stones with.
deadly aim in the name Of the living
God. We cannot but thank God also.
for such a witness as Daniel Crawford.
rom the heart of Africa, who has been
standing for the living God before the:
preachers and students and hundreds
Of thousands Of the people Of our Land.
Oh. for more such Davids and Daniels!
Who is willing to be another such2-
How pitiful to see the men of Israel
sore afraid and fleeing from n def
ant Philistine! Verse 24.) The words
of Joshua are applicable. 20 Lord.
what shall l say when Israel turneth
their backs before their enemies2'
Josh. vii. g., -
David. the shepherd boy. Of no ac-
count in the eyes of his brethren. found
this condition Of things when he came
to the camp, sent by his father to
how his brethren Jared and to bring
them some good things from home
oversees 1913. he having returned from
being Saul's armor bearer to feed his.
fathers, sheep at Bethlehem. Eliab.
his eldest brother, m%isjudged him and
spoke unkindly to him, but he meekly
replied. Is there not a cause? Werses
%, 29). David's inquiry as to why
this man should be allowed to defy
God and reproach Israel was told to
Saul. and he sent for David. and he
said to Saul: LET no mans heart fail
because of him. Thy servant will go,
and fight with this Philistine. The
Lord that delivered me out Of the paw
Of the lion and out of the paw Of the
bear. He Will deliver me out Of bis
hand" oversees $3.50.
Saul armed David with his armor-.
his helmet, his coat Of mail and his
sword (what a snapshot that would
have made ?-but he could not go thus,
for he had not proved It. So he put it
all off him. and with his sling and five
smooth stones. which he knew how to.
use, and with his staff in his hand he
went forth to meet the giant, the great
mass of disappearing flesh and blood
oversees 3840)/ The giant disdained
him and cursed him, which Is about
the way that flesh always acts toward:
the spirit. or mocks, as Ishmael did
Isaac oversees 41-44; Gen. xxi. 6; Gal.
v. ~. How grand are the words OF
David, II come to thee in the name Of
the Lord Of hosts. the God Of the,
armies Of Israel. whom thou hast de-
fed" (verse 45). The invisible God was,
much more real to David than this.
visible giant. who made Israel to trem-
BILE. He reminds Us Of Caleb and
Joshua. to whom giants and walled
cities were nothing, because they saw
and believed God. Moses also endured.
as seeing Him who is invisible. Most
people. however. see the difficulties and
see themselves as g%rasshoppers Num.
Kill, 33). va go
Then notice David's one desire, that
all Israel and all the earth might know
the God whom he knew, the living
| God. the God who could deliver from
an actual lion and bear. He had no
thought Of himself nor desire for any
glory for himself. but he honored the
Lord. and the Lord did honor him. ac-
cording to I Sam. ii. 80. 1t Is great to
see no man any more save Jesus only
and to say from the heart: THE Lord
is my light and my salvation. Whom
shall I fear?:" (Mark ix. 8: Ps. xvii, ~
Nothing can be compared to such a
confidence in God as David had. Now
see him running toward the giant
placing a stone in his sling. and with a
prayer to his God sending it in the
name of the Lord of hosts and for the
honor Of His name. Do you wonder
that it went straight and struck hard.
sank into the giants forehead and fell
ed him to the earth? The eyes Of all
the thousands Of Israel and of the
Philistines were upon David as be ran
to meet his enemy. but he gave that
no thought. for his eyes were upon
the living God. and Gods eyes were
upon him. according to II Chron.
xvi, 8.
David had no weapon, so he ran and
stood upon the giant Cant you see
himD and. taking the giants sword.
.- % b;s bood on1 10 rriad II 9W9V in