The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-05-05
SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson VI.-Second Quarter, For
May 8, 1915.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.


Memory Verso, 42- Golden Text,
Prov. xvii, 17-commsntary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. stsarns.
Our lesson topic today Is THE
Friendship Of David and Jonathan"
but the lesson verses give only n in
cident out Of many. As our next les
SOD will be in chapter XVI. we will
consider the David and Jonathan In
cidents in chapters xviii to xiii. n
chapter xiv the name Of Jonathan Is
mentioned t~wenty-four times. and In
chapter Xxx it is found twenty-seven
times. His name may mean the gift
Of Jehovah. and he surely was such to
David. q real friend and comforter,
making US think Of Paul's words COLI
corning some Of his helpers. Fellow
workers unto the kingdom Of God.
which have been IL comfort unto me"
tCol. iv. III. In our first introduction
to Jonathan chapters xiii and XIV, in
which we find his anne just twenty
eight times. we see him as a brave SOL
dier. relying upon Jehovah to fight for
him and with him xiv. u. u. The next
mention Of him Is after David's defeut
of Goliath. when We read that his soul
was knit with the soul Of David. for
he loved him as his W soul. He
stripped himself Of his garments and
armor and put them upon David tchap-
ter xviii. IA; see also *. II; II Sam.
i, 26). They were truly kindred spir-
its. both strong in the Lord. We cam
not but think Of Him who emptied
Himself for US. laid aside all His glory,
that He might redeem US. clothe us
with His Righteousness and share with
US His Kingdom. We think also Of
the disciple whom Jesus loved. who
leaned upon his bosom. but we remem-
Der what Is written In John Kill. /. Of
all true disciples. He loved them unto
the end. to the uttermOst'' (R. w.. mar
ginj.
The next incident Is in chapter xix.
IL. where Jonathan pleaded with his
father for David. reminding him that
through David the Lord wrought d
great salvation for all Israel. and. go
David was for n time restored to SaGl's
| favor. but We saw in last lesson how
worthless and uncertain it was.
In our lesson chapter we see David
returning from Samuel ito whom he had
| hedl to interview Jonathan and to tell
him that when hear Saul be felt that
there was but Il step between him and
death and to ask him to find out II he
| could Just how his father really felt
| toward him. for 1t would seem as II
| David could scarcely believe that Saul
hated him as greatly as these sudden
outbreaks Of temper would Indicate.
One may give way to temper again and
again and yet really love the person
spoken or acted against. How beauti-
full was %Jonathan's reply to David.
Whatsoever thy soul desireth ] will
even do it for thee" (x1. A.. or as In
the margin. Say what il thy mind.
what thy soul speaketh or thinketh.
und | will do it." What u friend to
have and yet listen to Him who calls
US friends. III ye shall ask anything
IN My name | will do it" ,John xv. II:
xiv, IL. Jonathan seems not to have
believed up to this time that his father
meant any real harm to David. prob
ably n%ttributing all to his fearful tenn
per, for he said. If l knew certainly
that evil were determined by my fa-
ther to come upon thee would not l tell
it thee?" Xxx. o. They went out into
the field alone with the Lord and with
prayer. and. as In His sight. they made
a covenant the one with the other and
arranged a plan by which Jonathan
would find out certainly what his IA
TIERS attitude to David really was
Xxx. 1929. When the plan WIS work
ed out and Sauls anger against David
became so manifest that he tried to
kill Jonathan for taking David's part,
then Jonathan knew that 1t was de-
| termined Of his father to Stay David.
So he arose from the table In fierce
anger. for he was grieved for David
Xxx, 32-34l. Then Jonathan In the
morning went out into the field and
communicated with David by a pre-
arranged plan INK. 1924. 3540).
1t was q three days interval verse
1O. reminding US Of so many three
days stories. and it was a morning
farewell that these two friends now
had (verse 35). reminding US by anal
ogy and contrast Of so many morning
stories. The statement In verse 80 that
the lad who gathered the arrows knew
not anything Of the significance OF his
doings nor of the real meaning Of JON
athan's words to him has often come
to me with power, as l have given
His message from His word from time
to time. simply knowing that | was
seeking to be faithful to him, but not
knowing anything Of what He might
be accomplishing by the message. but
sure always that He knew what BE
was doing and that His word will al
ways accomplish His pleasure John
vi, 6; lisa. w, 11) . How pathetic the
farewell of these two after the lad had