The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-05-12
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson VII. - Second Quarter,
For May is, 1915.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.


Memory Verses, II, 12-Golden Text,
Luke vi, 27-commentary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. Stearns.
The lesson today is record of one
of the occasions on which David had
Saul completely at his mercy, but he
refused to lay hands upon him or to
listen to the suggestion of Abishai that
David would permit him to smite Saul,
for he said, As the Lord iveth, the
Lord shall smite him, or his day shall
come to die, or he shall descend into
battle and perish" verses 0. 1O). Thus
David left the matter wholly in the
hands of the Lord, illustrating his own
words, Commit thy way unto the
Lord; trust also in Him, and He shall
bring it to pass" Ps. Xxxvii, %. l Sam.
XXI tells how his end came.
On this occasion David took the spear
and the cruise of water from Saurs
bolster that he might show him how
he had him in his power, but did not
harm him. David was able to do this
without any one knowing it because a
deep sleep from the Lord was fallen
upon Saul and his men verses IL, 12).
Compare Gen. ii, 81; Nv, L., and consid-
er Peters release from prison, though
he was bound with chains between
two soldiers, and there was n guard at
the door OF the prison (Acts xii, 6-1O,
IS, 19). Truly the God of Israel is the
God that doest wonders Ps. Xxi, IS;
lxxvii, IA. David, with his trophies,
stood on the top Of hill afar off and
cried to Abner that, though he was
valiant man, he was worthy to die be-
cause he had failed to take care of the
king, and he told him to look for the
kings spear and cruise of water that
had been by his bolster oversees 1916.
Saul knew David's voice and pro-
fessed to be very grateful to him for
sparlng his life, asking him to return
to him, and saying that he wOull no
more seek To do him harm, but David
knew his enemy too well. and after
telling him to send for his spear, they
again parted, each going his own way
oversees 1I-25l. This was not the first
time that David had Saul In his pow.
er, but refused to harm him. See in
chapter xiv how he cut off the skirt
of Saul's robe and how Saul then pro-
fessed penitence and good will and
Thus Saul sought him every day, but
God delivered him not into his hand
txxiii, 14. In the end of chapter xiii
there is the record of an incident that
looked like close call for David. but
Saul was suddenly called Off and David
escaped. All through the story we can
hear David saying: The Lord is the
strength of my life. OF whom shall
be afraid?" IT'S. xvii. 1-3l
The cave of Adullam story in chap
ter xxi is full OF interest, beginning
with his seeking II place of safety for
his father and his mother till he could
know what God would do for him and
ending with his words of comfort to
Abiathar: abide thou with me. Fear
not, for he that sceketh my life seeketh
thy life, but with me thou shalt be in
safeguard" Chapter XIV tells of the
death and burial of Samuel and then
the story of drunken Nabal and his
beautiful wife Abigail-beautiful in
wise counsel to David and in her con-
duct toward him. Some of her men,
orable words are ever with me: Bound
in the bundle OF life with the Lord thy
God" XIV, 29), bundle which cannot
be broken, for those to whom He gives
eternal life can never perish John X.
2S). Chapters xvii, xxx, XXX. tell the
story OF Ziklag, which Achish gave to
David, but to which David returned on
one occasion to find the town in ruins
and the wives, sons and daughters of
himself and his COO followers all
gone into captivity. That was one of
the most trying times in all David's ex-
perience, and they all wept until they
had no more power to weep. The
grief Of David. almost beyond endur-
ance, was heaped up by the threat of
his GOO followers to stone him, as If he
was the cause OF all this. so that Da-
vid seemed. rs far as human sympathy
was concerned, to be absolutely alone.
Then we read the words which have
helped so many. David encouraged
himself in the Lord his God" Xxx, @.
A somewhat similar incident in the
life OF Paul is recorded In ii Tim. iv,
1918. The way that David found the
enemy. the Amalekites, through the
guidance of an almost dead Egyptian
servant, whom he restored to life, and
how lie recovered all-wives sons
daughters, spoil. nothing lacking to
any. and much additional spoil-is a
very thrilling record and should en-
courage us all to ~ait on the Lord and
not to think anything too hard for
Him. There We're 200 Of David's men
too weak to join in the pursuit of the
enemy. but they. too. shared in the
spOils OF victory. and David made it a
law that those who tarry by the stun
shall share equally with those who go
forth to battle xxx, 10. 24l. Let all
homekeepers be encouraged. The sin
of Saul in the matter of familiar spir-
its and the witch of Endor is recorded
in chapter xviii This is n prevailing
sin OF many today. 1t is wholly OF the
devil and is strictly forbidden in Deut
xviii, 9-12. 1t Is not all trickery, but
Outlines some real work of the ndver
sary. The living. those who are truly
saved, should seek only the living God
and His life giving word All else is
from the devil. and it will be night
OF awful darkness forever for all who
turn away from the Word of God
No morning for them" Elsa. viii. 10
20; margin and r w
Oil! Oil!l