Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-05-14
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDNYSQ1OOL
LESSON
LESSON FOR MAY IS
DAVID SPARES SAUL.
(By E. O.. SELLERS, Acting Director OF
Sunday School Course. The Moody Bible
Institute, Chicago, Il.) 5

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.
ID David and the ~shew-bread; (2l
Goliath's sword; 90 David feigns
madness Och. 21); "a The cave OF
Adullam; (5) His n of his par
ents: (6) The killing of the priests
(ch. 22); Cd Wandering in the will
derness (ck. 23); (8) The cutting OF
Saurs robe (ch. 24); (9) NabaTs churl-
ishness. and (10) AbigaiPs kindness
(ch. 25). It might be well to have
one scholar give a summary of each of
these events.
J.. David and Abishai, Wv. ST.
Once before, the Ziphites had in
formed Saul as to David's whereabouts
C3:19). Learning that Saul evident
ly intended to follow him into the will
derness (v. A., David sent spies to
learn the exact location of Saul and
h 5000 men under command of Abb
neE. 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 we're scat
tered about sleeping within the place
of the wagons" ". 5 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 flesh
can saw or protect a sinful man. From
a neighboring rock David and his
friends could distinguish the spear
and the outlines of the camp. David's
challenge was directed to both of his
companions. Ahimelech. the Hittite.
declined the summons, whereas Abb
shat, David's nephew who had already
proved himself in the affair at the
well I'll Samuel 23:13-16) and later be-
came a leading figure in David's king
dom, accepted the challenge.
II. David and Saul, Wv, s-f2-Abishai
was quite right that God had deliv-
cred Saul into David's hand ". 81, but
he was wrong in his conclusion as to
what that meant. God delivered Saul
that he might, If possible, a V him.
1t was a challenge that tested David's
magnanimity, his sense of honor and
also an event wherein he could appeal
to Saul's honor. Abishai's anger is
evident from his words. 81 will not
smite him the second time" There
was ample p~rovocation. but David rec
ognized in this experience the hand
of God, nor would he profit by an
others hand appraised against the
Lords anointed" (v. 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 to
let Jehovah execute his own DEGREES
(ch. 24:15 CT. Ps. 105:15). Here we
have a great principle. In this dis
pensation all Christians are anointed
of God q John 1920, and while sope
Of these may be rejected ones" Gas
6, Z: II Sam. 1:16) still we must be
satisfied to let God avenge our wrongs
and establish US in that place to which
he has called us, resting assured that
he will see to it that we get to that
place. To have yielded to the lowest
motive would have been termed
good policy" but for the future king
to have been accessory to the fact
would have endangered his own fu
ture safety. David yet loved Saul
in spite of his cruelty. 1t appeals
to our pride and our love of power
to have revenge within our grasp, but
It is a greater evidence of power and
grace to be able to withhold, and still
more noble to have no spirit of re
sentiment. BY keeping Christ before US
constantly, remembering that he re
yiled not" we a forgive even as he
forgave and do good to them who de
spitefully use US. Instead of killing
Saul. David carried away his speal
and his cruise, both emblems of Saul's
kingly Office and power. These woult
he sufficient evidence that God ha(
delivered Saul's life into David's hands
and that David had not used to his ad
vantage this opportunity.
III. David and Abner, w. 1916
Returning to his vantage point
doubtless the brow of a hill on thu
opposite side of the valley, a poin
of safety, David awakened the sleep
ing camp. Abner replied, who ar
thou?" This cry sounds strangely Xix
the present-day replies to he cha
lenge of our David when a sieepinI
camp of sin is aroused. This ca
came at night. When our King shal
return his visit will be unexpected an
at night q Thess. 5:2-4; Rev. 1915
It would seem like a humiliation 70
|. this proud, naughty general, Abner, t
! be tainted by David ". 15). AS chic
officer he was responsible for tn
. kings safety and his life. Davi
! therefore might well reproach an
! chide him, for his lack of fidelity wa
{ worthy of death. When Saul wa
thoroughly awake to the fact
Dayid's visit to his camp n the fae
: that his life had been spared, he wa
: moved to another one OF his moment
of repentance wv. 17-2I-
Nv, The Result, w. 17-25.-David
address to Saul, is a remarkable on
He first appeals to a ". ls) an
!. desires to know what, if any, fau
: he has committed. He next challenge
: the motives which impelled Saul. Wa
. r. God Who sent him on this journe
; or was it the evil counsel of me
= ". 1e)? If this latter then let Go
: deal with them according to the
: inst deserts. And, finally, David use
! the two SMILES Of a flea and a pa
fridge as evidence of his humility, hi
!. inoffensiveness. his harmlessne;
duke laid.
Every sinner who fights against &C
and against his anointed ones "play
the fool' and will sooner or later, Ill
!, Saul, awaken to the fact that he b;
: "erred exceedingly"
! David did not undertake his own d
, Iiyerance and "the Lord delivered hi