The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-05-12
SUNDAY SCHOOL. NOTES
Side Lights on Next Sundays
Lesson Tor Teachers and Pupils
Edited by Charles X. Meyers.
lay 16-pavid Spares Saul


Sam &c.
1t has been before remarked in this
column that we are studying the his
tory OF the Children of Israel as found
(. in the Old Testament with the view to
gain lessons which will be helpful to
us in our now everyday life. Today
we shall learn as to one OF the under
lying principles of the Christ reli
gion; forgiveness for enemies, and let,
ting God recompense punishment for
wrong doing rather than INDUCING. in
revenge and taking in our own hands
to resent injuries.
1t may be briefly stated that the first
king OF Israel, Saul, had proved un,
worthy OF his Office and was jealous of
a young man, David, whom he rightly
suspected was in time to succeed him
as The king. Saul ordered his officers
to kill David at sight; tried to do so
himself by throwing a spear or JaEe-
lin: and then chased him from place
to place with intent to take his life.
This was well known not only to David
but all the people. Now the natural
thing for men>liying in the time of
David to do was TO kill Saul at the
first chance, and thus end the matter
This was not the feeling OF David,
strange to say, and in this he was fol-
lowing out the. true spirit OF the bible
feligion as set forth in the teachings
OF Jesus and further commanded by
the great Apostle Paul.
BY reading~of the Gath and 2Gtll
chapters of First Samuel we will see
that on two occasions Saul Was in the
power of David and that in both cases
tho kings life was spared. tn the
oath chapter it is told how when David
was hiding in cave Saul came and
laid down in the opening and fell
asleep David was urged by his fol
lowers to make an end OF the King
then, but refused. He did cut Oft part
of the garment OF the sleeping man
aud then after Saul departed called
out after him, showing the pieces OF
the garment as evidence of c0nsidera
ton for his life. This was one OF the
triumpils OF the life OF David. Saul
came to recognize at that time how
wicked and mean he had been, and
made the confession in verse II, Thou
art more righteous than j.; for thou
btt,L ItNUItlcu mo S,po'i. "ICICto y
have rewarded thee evil" There can
be few deeper joys than to have one
who has wronged you confess tfatFthc !
fault is all his and that you have
at all times done the square thing"
In the lesson for today Saul and his
chief man of war, Abner, were out on
a hunt for David. When they were
sleeping David and his companion,
Abishai, went down TO the camp and
had opportunity to kill Saul. This the |
companion urged to be done, but |
again David refused to take the life
Of Gods Amounted king He did
take the kings spear and 4 cruise OF
water which sat near his head. When |
at safe place David called out revil- |
ing Abner for his neglect in not pro-
tecting the king. Saul heard and
made second confession as to the
sinfulness of his conduct by saying
in the 2ls verse. 81 have sinned,
have played the fool and have erred
exceedingly"
There now comes before us the
whole subject OF how to treat our enc
mics and those who despitefuly use
us. There arc two courses, to fight
BACK III kin OF SHOW ~! Z anu COLlSlu-
Grafton. Every one OF US are up
against this situation daily. There is
no doubt as to the commands OF the
blessed Jesus, for He said return good
for evil, do good to those who despite
fully use you. This is found in the
Sermon on the Mount. In !. Peter 2,
%, the great apostle calls attention to
the example of Jesus whom he de-
clarcs "When he was rcyiled. revilcd
not again; when He suffered He
threatened not; but committed himself
to Him that iudgeih rghteously."
That master christian leader Paul
went on record in plain words as to
christian conduct\when there seemed
need for revenge and redress of sricv-
ances. He said in Romans IL, 10,
Dearly beloved, aycnge not your
selves, but rather give place to wrath,
for it is written, vengeance is mine;
will repay saith the Lord"
1t is human nature 10 strive to get