Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-03-19
BATTLES ARE WON BY
THOSE WHO DARE
Jonathan and His Armor-bearer
Practiced Wonderful
Strategy
SLEW TWENTY HEBREWS
International S. S. Lesson Is Jon
athan and His Armor-bearer."
I Sam, l4:l-46
(By William T. Eilisl

Somebody said it couldn't be done,
! But he with chuclle replied
That maybe it couldn't. but he would
be one
Who wouldn't say SO till he'd tried.
So he buckled right in, with trace
of a grin
On his face. II he worried, he hid 1t.
He started to sing as he tackled the
| thing
That couldn't be done, and he did
| it."
History loves Jonathan, because
he himself was a great lover (of
which more in a later lesson) and
because he dared to do the deed that
daunted his father and his soldiers.
This is a hero tale from Israefs MS
tory. Intrepid Jonathan and his
armorbearer performed a feat that
would have won him an iron cross or
Victoria Cross if done in the pres
ent war. These two, by a single
brave strategem, an Impossible
achievement, put to rout the Phills-
tine and won a great victory lor
Israel.
l.
Many years had elapsed since the
brilliant conquest of the Ammonites
by Saul, recorded in last weeks les
son. A new foe had come up from
the West, almost irresistably. The
Philistines-whose name by the way,
lis perpetuated in the present title OF
the land, PALESTINE mysterious peo-
pie from over the sea, and possibly
from Crete, had settled on the mari
time plain of Canaan. They first ap-
pear in the time of the judges, ana
continue in history until the Christian
era. Their power increased steadiiy'
until this great battle with Israel, IN
spired by Jonathan's yalor; FOR
time prior to this the Israelites seem
to have yielded to their suzerainty,
even having been disarmed by them,
as the Arabs and Druses and Mace
domains were disarmed, few years
ago, by the Turks. Saul had trouble
with these militant people throughout
his reign, but his successor, David,
conouered them. The monuments
abound in contemporary illusions to
the Philistines and their five ruling
cities. At this very hour, strife is be-
ing waged between Turkey and Britain
over the ground along the Mediter-
ranean where often the Philistines
fought.
The Valedictory of Prophet
Two events stand out between this
thrilling story of Jonathan's feat and
that of his father, which we consid-
cred last week. One of these was
Samuel's valedictory, delivered before
the assembled nation at Gilgai, down
on the Jericho plain. In 1T he for-
mally and regally surrendered the
leadership of the nation to the new
king, and gave an accounting of ms
office. He called all the people to Wit
ness that he was free from talnt OF
graft or self-serving. Here am i,
he cried in the phrase which is most
characteristic of him: was there any
body to witness against him? A brave
man standing on his clean record chai-
lenges admiration.
All the thoughts of grand old sam,
uel were thoughts of his people ana
their God. His parting words were a
summons to loyalty to faith. AS COO
advocate he pleaded with them to re-
member Jehovah. Then, as he Went
into retirement, he promised that he
would serve them as an intercessor.
Moreover as for me, far be 1t from
me that I should sin against Jehovah
in ceasing to pray for you: but VIII
instruct you in the good and the right
way" Often the post of greatest
power is the place of prayer. one
sometimes wonders whether, in these
constantly for the nation, the church
and all mankind.
Second of the notable events re-
corded prior to the days lesson is
Sauls sin in Offering to sacrifice be-
| fore his waiting army, without tarry-
! ing for the prophets appearance, as
directed. He treated the sacrifice as
a mere formallty, to be gone through
with, and in his vanity, he did not
hesitate to put himself in the place
cf the priest. For this disobediencei
and failure to wait before God as
commanded, Saul had to hear the
dread news that the sceptre would
pass from his hand and house: he
would not be the founder of Israefs
royal line. Like many man since,
Saul lost his kingship by putting his
own plans ahead of the clear word
of the Lord.
n People III Panic
So It was a gloomy company and
| q small one that waited with Saul
at the stronghold of Geba, across q
deep ravine from the Philistine gar
rison at Michmash. Terror had been
driven into the hearts of the Jews by
the expressions and triumphs of the
Philistines. Some were hiding in
caves and ravines and in the wilder
ness. Others had abjectly cast their
| lot with their conquerors, becoming
vassals. None had weapons, save the
xing and Jonathan. Dark and des-
perate indeed was the outlook for Is
rael. for that worst of all calamities
| had occurred, the hearts OF the people
had grown fearful. The heroic spirit