The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-05-05
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson W.-Second Quarter, For
May g, 1915.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.


Text of the Lesson, Sam. Xxx, S2-42.
Memory Verse, AZ = Golden Text,
Prov. xvii, 17-commentary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. Stearns.
Our lesson topic today is .srhe
Friendship of David and Jonathan
but the lesson verses give only one in
cident out of many. As our next les
son will be in chapter XVI. we will
consider the David and Jonathan in
cidents in chapters xviii to xiii. In
chapter xiv the name of Jonathan is
mentioned twenty-four times. and I'm
chapter Xxx it is found twenty-seven
times. His name may mean the gift
of Jehovah, and he surely was such to
David, a real friend and comforter.
making us think of Paul's words con-
corning some of his helpers. Fellow
workers unto the kingdom of God.
which have been a comfort unto me"
(Col. iv, III. In our first Introduction
to Jonathan chapters xiii and XIV. in
which we find his name just twenty
eight times, We see him as a brave SOL
der, relying upon Jehovah to fight for
him and with him xiv, G. u. The next
mention of him Is after David's defeat
Of Goliath, when~we read that his soul
was knit with the soul of David. for
he loved him as his own soul. He
stripped himself of his garments and
armor and put them upon David tchap-
ter xviii, Ia; see also Xxx. II; ii Sam
/, 26). They were truly kindred spir-
its, both strong in the Lord. We can
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 xiii, l, of
all true disciples, HE loved them unto
the end, to the uttermost'' Or. ", mar
gin).
The next incident is in chapter xix,
II, where Jonathan pleaded with his
father for David, reminding him that
through David the Lord wrought a
great salvation for all Israel. and so
David was for time restored to Sauls
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
fed to interview Jonathan and to tell
him that when near Saul he felt that
there was but a step between him and
death and to ask him to find out If he
could just how his father really felt
toward him. for it would seem as If
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 I will
even do it for thee" Xxx, A.. or as in
the margin. Say what is thy mind.
what thy soul speaketh OF thinketh,
and l will do it." What a friend to
have and yet listen to Him who calls
US friends, eff ye shall ask anything
| in My name will do it" John XIV, 10;
I xiv, 1D. Jonathan seems not to have
believed up to this time that his father
meant any real harm to David, prob
ably attributing all to his fearful tenn
per, for he said. "If knew certainly
i IOaI SNh nCIc W lily
Their to come upon thee would not 1 tell
it theeT' Xxx, 81 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, 1928. When the plan was 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 it was de-
| termined of his father to STAY David.
So he arose from the table I, fierce
anger. for he was grieved for David
Xxx, 32-34). Then Jonathan in the
morning went out into the field and
communicated with David by a pre-.
arranged plan Xxx, 1924, 35-40l.
| 1t was three days interval verse
| 19), reminding us of so many three
days stories, and it was a morning
farewell that these two friends now
had verse so. 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 ! have given
His message from His word from time
to time. simply knowing that l 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 He
was doing and that His word will al
ways accomplish His pleasure John
vi, 6; lisa. Nv, III How pathetic the
farewell of these two after the lad had
L crornc- I-iSSinn tho rraor,i.... Al,