The Brinkley argus., 1915-04-30

LESSON TEXT-I Samuel 1s:1-12.
 GOLDEN TEXT-whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.-Proy. 2s:25.
 Although anointed by Samuel, vic torious in arms and promoted at court, David was many years in reaching his throne. At first both court and army did him honor (ch. 1S:2), yet he con- ducted himself with great modesty (1s:1S, 23l. He also obeyed the king explicitly though he knew fully that he was the God-appointed successor of Saul Escapes as wonderful and as proyidential as David's occur in the lives of most of us if we could but know them.
 |. David and Jonathan, w. 1-3. The story of the love of David and Jona- than is a classic With such close family relations and son-inlaw so successful at arms it is strange that Saul's anger should vent itself upon David At first Saul was much at- tached to David but the admiration of the people for David aroused his jeal- ousy, (ch. 1S:6) and jealousy is pecu- liarly soldiers disease. The slave Of jealousy never has peace. As sin and disobedience developed in his life Saul became subject to fits of insane rage during one of which, as David played upon his harp and endeavored to quiet the monarch's spirit, he hurled javelin which served as his scepter, at the harpist (ch. 19:1o). Saul felt that David was diyinely protected and he knew that God had departed from his own life (15:23; 16:1D. Saul did not keep his grief and rage to himself for Jonathan and the nation alike knew all about 1t.
 II. Saul and Jonathan, w. AZ. It took courage and self-sacridce on Jonathan's part to speak on behalf Of David Prudence and principle are combined in Jonathan's plea. Those who envy include in their hate and anger all who speak kindly in behalf of their enemy. But Jonathan's argu- ment (vv. 4, 5) is unanswerable. David had not sinned against Saul; it was Jehovah who wrought a great salvation for all Israeli on the day David took his life in his hand and overcame Goliath Jonathan pleads for God as we'll as for his friend. He called to Sauls memory his former joy at seeing Jehovah's victory through David and for the time being Saul was persuaded (v. 6) and made another of those impetuous promises which proved so feeting. Ushered by Jonathan (Matt. 5:e) David returned to Saul's presence, entered once more upon the discharge of his duties and desisted only when he saw that his presence only aggravated the king and that he was uselessly exposing his life in Saurs presence. David was faith ful to God and to Gods anointed king.
 III. MichaI and David. w. s-12. Saurs hatred was too deep to be per manently overcome. David went out and won a great victory over the Phi nstines and as he followed his courtly duty. Saul burst out with fresh at tack (vv. 8, 9). David had married Michal when about twenty-one years of age and Saul's attacks occurred dur ing the next three years. The evil spirit mentioned was a demon (1S:10; Acts Is;16-1s; Mark 1:23-26), a mes senger of Satan permitted by God for Saurs discipline (II Cor. 12:O. God permits evil to come upon men not to tempt them-solicit them to do wrong but to bring them to repentance or to refine them as pure gold. Thus evil may be said to do Gods work (ch- 4:1) "to be sent from Jehovah"
 w. Summary. All who envy are murderers at heart (Matt, 27:1S; John 3:12, 15). The present day murderers huri their jayelins of islander lying and vituperation against the reputa- ton of the men whom they hate. Or else they hurl unfair and unjust busi- ness methods at others that they may perpetuate their power or else build themselves up upon the ruins of those whom they envy. Saul missed David but he was no less a murderer. Satan
 
 always oyershoots the mark when he assails one of Gods anointed, chosen ones. Saul could not harm David though he wished to ever so much CPs. 37:32, B: Isa. 54:17: Luke 4;30; 10:3sl. Saul's hatred stopped not even at the threshold of David's house but invaded the sacred precincts of his home Envy Is blind, it assails all that a man has, spares none with whom he is connected and colors ev- cry act and relation of life even to the relations of father and child. Saul was frustrated by his own children, Jonathan and Michal David's danger was imminent, hence his speedy es- cape.
 Men are strong in so far as they see Gods purpose and discipline in their lives
 SauIs experience at Naioth (vv. 23, 24) was response of his emotional nature to a religious appeal, another time when God was waiting to be gracious.
 Divested of his armor and outer robes Saul lay in trance, overcome by tbe power of him who turns the hearts of men as rivers of water.
 The wrath of man is made to praise him, the life of the prophet is pre- e. xf