Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-05-07


GOLDEN TEXT-A friend loveth at all
imes.-Prov. T7:17.
There is perhaps no narrative in all
or literature which SO perfect
Iy illustrates the conditions OF friend
as this which is before US. Joz-
athan was every inch a man; affection
ate, sweet and tender, deeply pioua
and withal loyal to both duty and
friends. His rights, as the kings soH-
he gladly set aside for David, whom ha
loved as his own soul" (ch. 1875
20:17). Jonathan is a great type az
the surrendered life (ch. 23:17a-
I.IDavid's Danger, wv. sz-55. Three
times in the previous chapter tvv- g.
IA, 300 we read that David behaved
himself wisely" saul eyed David
". 19) and his Jealous anger grew as
he gave vent to his hate. Jonathans
desires for David drew the anger ef
Saul (20:30), but it only put him more
upon his guard and made him more de-
termined. if possible. to save both
David and Saul.
Following David's escape 1S:18l ne
consulted Jonathan regarding his
safety (20.1-10). They renewed their
covenant and swore fealty to each
other and to those of their house
holds wv. HID. 1t is a standing re-
Duke that Christians treat so lightly
their covenants with the church and
with the world. David was safe az
Naioth (19:18-24), for each company
sen after him, and Saul himself, vera
hindered by the Spirit of Jehavah from
carrying out Saul's foul designs. This
seemed for the moment to humble
Saul COL; Ps. STD. Jonathan
though great and mighty, was not
strong enough to deliver his friend
from the renewed wrath of his father
vain is the help of man." "Our help
Is in the Lord" Jonathan showed his
true friendship in that he told the Il
act state of affairs to David ". f0)-
When Saul became convinced that
Jonathan was taking David's part. he
tried to kill Jonathan and reviled the
mother who bore him ". 800. In his
loss of self-control Saul allowed David
to escape. Even so. sin overshoots its
mark. The contrast is a dark one fa
contemplate. When God was with
Saul GOD, when the Spirit of God
was upon him Q1:6), he did battle for
God and was humble, brave, generous
and obedient to God. But his bright
beginning ends in an eclipse, the conn
mencement Of which was his rejection
of the word of the Lord G5.231.
II. David Delivered, W.. 3542. JON
athansdid not revile again ". 34l when
insulted and assailed by his father.
and his manifestation of just anger
(for his mother was reviledl was
quite different from that of his father
Any attempt to reconcile Saul to Da-
vid ". 34) was a useless exposure ia
danger and for Jonathan to be seen
with his friend would imperil his own
life. This explains the expedient o!
shooting arrows in the field. Jonathan
shot his arrows beyond" i. e.. David
must go beyond" and out of the reach
of Saul. David trusted Jonathan's ideE
ity ". 23) when the test came. though
Jonathan might have good reason fol
playing him false in order to pronate
his own interests.
How many of US. like Jonathan's lad
unconsciously bear tidings of might.
import, messages of life or of condeHs
of III daily duties.
Diminishing the boy, Jonathan drew
near to David's hiding place. to tht
south of the stone Eel ". ii R. VI
where a most touching parting tool
place between these two friends. FRS
of all David bowed ceremonIousI,
three times, touching his head to tn.
ground, perhaps to show his unshakel
loyalty to Jonathan as the kings son
This was but for a moment; as men o
the East and friends, they rushed 3
each others arms and wept for a. ION
time. These were the manly tears o
two brave men not afraid to sho1
suggested that Jonathan should hav
accompanied David as Gods cleo
(Heb. 1879, but we feel that dut
babe him to remain by the side of hi
sin-stricken father. Only once subst
quently. and that briefly (23:I5-lSl
did these two meet. Jonathan's vIs
lent and untimely death drew frot
David n of the most touching an
yet beautiful laments to be found /
literature. sacred C otherwise CIT Sa-
1:17-2O.
The Lessons of the Lesson. Tru
friendship costs. Gods love gave {
the world his Son. Jonathan's frien.
ship for David was costly, but wa
given gladly, not grudgingly. Tru
friendship neither forgets duty re
neglects its desire towards the objeS
of its love. 1t is not governed emotion
ally, yet it ~disregards all ether ties, +.
they are wrong. Not ever a father {
mother should lead us to wrong
friend. When David came into pows
he remembered the everlasting GOV
nant made with Jonathan Gil San
$3.50. Our "Son of David" has made
similar covenant with us (Acts 16:3 81
2:39). True friendship is of sIc'
growth, but is not easily kiIle,
e chilled by reverses, nor frozen by a
versity prov. 1920. True friendshi
is unseifish. It gives and does nj
seek. Jesus called his apostles friend
:, John 1915, for a true friend wi
- give up ven his life for those b
{ loves. True friendship Is not conveI
tIonal, performing the merely perfun
( tory daily duties of man to man. Tru
friendship demands a great soul. Jol
e athan had an exceedingly great sol
u and one Of the greatest titles 20
% sessed by our Lord is the friend
j. sinners"
d . True friendship Is founded upon r
"a Iigion and the best friend, the ide;
+ friend, is Jesus Christ.
That friendship which is based upe
= oaths, ritual and dues, is not abidin
n nor true friendship. for it excludes a
i. who fail to possess the same pas
word or a sufficient amount of none
That friendship which is based upe
expediency. or a quid pro quo. is |