The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-05-14
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDMSGOQL
LESSON
by e. o. SELLERS, Acting Director OF
Sunday School Course, The Moody Bible
Institute, Chicago, lid
LESSON FOR MAY is
DAVID SPARES SAUL.

LESSON TEXT Samuel 26:5-16.
GOLDEN TEXT-Love your enemies, do
good to them that hate you.-Luke 6:27.
Professor Beecher gives 1865 B. G.
as the date Of this lesson and the
death of Samuel. Saul had been on
the throne 81 years and David was
twenty-seven years Of age. There are
ten famous episodes between the les
son of last week and that of today.
% David and the shew-bread; GU
Goliath's sword; (3) David feigns
madness (ch. 21); ca The cave OF
Adullam; 81 His care of his par
ents; (6) The killing Of the priests
(ch. 22); ca Wandering in the will
derness (ch. 23); 81 The cutting of
saul's robe (ch. 24); co. Nabal's churl-
ishness, and (10) Abigails kindness
(ch. 25). 1t might be well to have
one scholar give a summary Of each OF
these events.
I. David and Abishai, w. ST.
Once before, the Ziphites had in
formed Saul as to David's whereabouts
t23:19). Learning that Saul evident
ly intended to follow him into the will
derness ". ~, David sent spies to
learn the exact location of Saul and
The 5000 men under command of Alb
ner. Abner was a cousin of Saul, a
brave man with a remarkable history.
Unwittingly they had placed them
selves in David's power, and that for
a second time (24:3-S). Like the
camp of the Midianites which Gideon
visited, Saul and his men were scat
tered about sleeping within the place
Of the wagons" ". s R. W, with Saul
in the center, the spear marking his
resting place and the bolster beneath
his head. Doubtless Saul trusted Alb
ner's protection, but no arm OF nesn
can save or protect a sinful man. From
a n%eighboring rock David and his
friends could distinguish the spear
and the outlines of the camp. DaVids
challenge was directed to both OF his
companions. Ahimelech, the Hittite,
declined the summons, whereas Abb
shai, David's nephew who had already
proyed himself in the affair at the
we'll Oh Samuel 23:13-16) and later be-
anne a leading figure in David's king
dom. accepted the challenge.
II, David and Saul, w. s~-12.-Abishai
was quite right that God had deliv'
cred Saul into David's hand ". -, but
he was wrong in his conclusion as 70
assaast fhat meant. Cod delivered Saul
that he might, II possible, save him.
It was a challenge that tested David's
m%agnanimity, his sense of honor and
also an event wherein he could appeal
to Saul's honor. Abishai's anger is
evident from his words, Il will not
smite him the second time" There
was ample provocation, but David rec.
ognized in this experience the nan
of God, o would he profit by an
others hand appraised against the
Lords anointed" ". 81. A conscience
less keen could have found an excuse
for allowing another to strike a blow
to his own profit. Saul was rejected
of Jehovah, yet David preferred u
Let Jehovah execute his own decree
(ch, 24:15 CT. Ps. 105:15).
III, David and Abner, W.. 1876
Returning to his vantage poln'
doubtless the brow of a hill on tn
opposite side of the valley, a poin
of safety, David awakened the SLEEP
ing camp. Abner replied, who ar
thou" This cry sounds strangely lik
the ~present-day replies to the cna
lenge Of our David when a sleepin
camp of sin is aroused. This ca
came at night. When our King shaI
return his visit will be unexpected an
at night Il Thess. 5:2-4; Rev. 1918.
II would seem like a humiliation 70
this proud, naughty general, Abner, t
he tainted by David ". 15). AS chie
officer he was responsible for To
kings safety and his life. Davl
therefore might well Teploach OIL
chide him, for his lack OF fidelity wa
worthy of death. When saul VIZ
thoroughly awake to the fact
Dayid's visit to his camp n the Ia
that his life had been spared, he we
moved to another n Of his momen'
of repentance wv. 17.21).
w. The Result, wv. 17'25.-David
address to Saul, is q remarkable on
He first appeals to reason ". lS) al
desires to know what, If any, fau
he has committed. He next challeng'
the motives which impelled Saul. WI
It God who sent him on this 'ourn'
or was it the evil counsel OF mt
". 1917? If this latter then let VI
deal with them according to me
lust deserts. And, finally, David US
the two SMILES Of q flea and ma
fridge as evidence of his humility, h
lnofensiveness, his harmlessne
fLnke laid.