Evening star., 1915-03-20

nation would fear an attack by 1he
number enrolled in our reserve army.
Only sure-footed young men couio
have made that climb. Arriving at the
TOP of the crag and seeing how the gar
rison was off their guard. they nade an
attack with their arrows. sings anu
stones that killed twenty, when an
earthquake, adding its terrors to the un-
expected assault. filed the Philistines
with fright that they commenced 70 nee
from the threatened peril that had oh-
nerved them.
The. commotion aroused the Hebrews
upon the other side of the deep raVine.
so that they came to the assistance OF
the two heroes and drove the eneii!
out of the land. Those who had oeeh
IMPRESSED into the service of the Phli-
istines and those who had been hiding
in the caves joined in pursuit with saul
and his 500. who pressed the enemy
without food or rest as their KING coHl-
manded until after the battle had oeen
won. .
There was glory enough in the VIC
tory for all because the help of all was
needed to make compiete success oi
what Jonathan had started. The power
of one consecrated man to impress the
world has been seen in modern tunes
In the life of Carey, Judson ana MOTIF
son. Gordon, Jackson and " ashington
in planning their battles upon thelr
knees have taught the "orio .nat .,ou ou
can and will do on the field OF battle
in response to the prayer OF fath. 1oi-
lowed by works, what He did IN the
case of Jonathan by giving a triumph
to the few who trust in HIS power anu
followed His leadership
Fasting, Painting, Fighting.
Saul evidently was moved by religious
impulse to preserve the presence ana
power of God with the army OF Israel
when He ordered a fast and imposed
severe penalty upon any who broke the
same during the day. That vow, whlch
wrought such disaster to the nation, was
the act OF daring and resoiute rengious
man. whose impulsivenesS prevented nun
from thinking through course OF actioi
and making a calm estimate of its proba-
BILE consequences. His adherence 10 MS
vow, even when as a father he ought 10
have seen his error, reveals his weakness.
He substituted his confidence in his own
purpose for the dictates OF justice, reason
and the direction of God.
Saul ought to have known the risk OF
losing the battle by such degree Jona-
than pronounced it foolishness, for he
in warfare that "an army travels on its
stomach" He himself had received
strength of body and mind when he par
took or food during the pursuit of the
enemy. He did not know that 1t was con
trary to his fathers order until after
the battle had been won. No army can
win victories when they are underfed. No
person that neglects the study of Gods
word. PRAYER and secret communion with
God will have strength enough to stand
fast in the hour of danger The faint
hearted Christian is apt to be spiritually
underfed through his own negligence and
become a gutter In the battle or NE.
Jonathan consulted God before he start
| ed. Saul in his perplexity sought the
guidance of Jehovah. Sauls failure. like
ours, was due to his neglect of prayer
and abiding in God. If he had not been
a type of a man who leans to his own
understanding his task would have been
easier Let us put on the armor of light
| that we may have the constant guidance
! of God. II We are guided by the light
we will be just to Saul, who did not find
| the kiugship any place Of ease or privi-
ilege. It gave him opportunity to sac
| rifi..e everything in his patriotic and po-
litical service for his countrymen, lead
/ ing them in their battles for freedom
and laying the foundations of their COM
! ing greatness. In that service Jonathan
was an important factor through his faith
and invincible courage that proved his
trust in God by doing His will and work
without f1inching or fear.
We are living in an hour when the
spiritual, social and secular foundations
of society are being tested and tried as
never before i'll human history. 1t fur
nishes great opportunity to any man
who is living in fellowship with God to
start movement tnat may save and
ira nsform society. The man whose
| friendship with God has given him the
vision of the hour. if he is earnest faith
ful and true, has as great an opportunity
to perform A single-handed service as did
Jonathan. Let US each heed the call OF
the sweet singer that summons US to put
on the armor Of light and enter the bat
tie of the Lord for the glory of the Father
in Heaven and good of our fellow men,
Awake. awake. Christian,
Il How capst thou longer sleep?
To thee the Lord is calling
The watch for Him 10 keep:
Make haste. put thine armor
Ard follow in His train;
WI JasuS thou n,yst ,,g(Fe,