The farmer and mechanic., 1915-03-16
HERO WHO SAVED THE DAY.
n International Sunday School Les
Son for March Il Is Jonathan and
IL ,rmorbearer."- u Sam. 14:1-46.


- >rmorbearer."-I Sam. 14:1-46. |
(By William r. Ellis.)
), sbodv said it couldn't be done,
puf he with chuckle replied
~ maybe il couldn't, but he would |
be one
z,ho wouldn't say SO till he'd tried.
b,. buckled right in, with trace OF
grin
Du his face. If he worried he hid it.
L. ,tarted to sing as he tackled the
thing
aeat couldn't be done, and he did it,
Ike Harris.
history loves Jonathan. because he
Aipself was a great lover (OfA which
,r. ir q later leSSOn) and because
&C. dared 10 do the deed that daunted
hie father and his soldiers. This is
hero tale from IsraeIs history. In
repid Jonathan and his armor-bearer
berformed q feat that would have
Rou him an iron cross or a Victoria
Cross If done in the present war.
Thpse two. by single brave strate-
gem. an Impossible" achievement.
pnt to rout the Philistines and won
a great victory for Israel.
II VAS a dark day with Israel
tNlanv Years had elapsed since the bril-
klar, conquest of the AmmOnites by
Saul recorded in last weeks lesson.
A new foe had come up from the
IVES. almost irresistibly. The Phil
I.istincs- whose name by the way, is
perpeluated in the present title of the
Hand paleStine-a mysterious people
from over the sea. and possibly from
Crete, had settled on the maritime
plain Of Canaan. They first appear
in the time OF the judges and con-
| tinue in history until the Christian
| era. Their power increased steadily,
until this great battle with Israel, in
spircd by Jonathan's valOr. For time
prior to this the lsraelites seem to
| have yielded TO their suZerainty, even
having been disarmed by them, as the
Arabs and Druses and MacedOnians
were disarmed. a few years ago, by
the Turks. Saul had trouble with
these militant people throughout his
| reign but his successor, David. con-
quered them. The monuments abound
in contemporary illusions to the Phil
| istines. and their five ruling cities. AT
this very hour, strife is being Waged
| between Turkey and Britain over the
ground along the Mediterranean
where often the Philistines fought.
The ValedictOry Of q Prophet.
The two events stand out between
this thrilling story Of Jonathan's feat
and that of his father. which we
considered last week. One Of these
was Samuel's valedictory, delivered
before the assembled nation at Gil.
gal down on the Jericho plain. Ii
IT he formally and regally surrender
ed the leadership of the nation to tht
new king, and gave an accounting O.
his office. He called all the people t.
witness that he was free from tain
L. he cried in the phrase which i
most characteristic Of him: wa
there anybody to witness against him
a brave man standing on his cleal
record challenges admiration.
All the thoughts of grand oil
samuel were thoughts of his peopl
and their God. His parting word
We're a summons to loyalty to faith
AS Gods advocate he pleaded wit
them to remember Jehovah. Their
As he went into retirement. he prom
ised that he would serve them as a
lntercessor. Moreover as for me
lar be it from he that I should 81
against Jehovah in ceasing to pra
ior YOU: But 1 will instruct you l
the good and the right way Ofte
the post of greatest power is tn
derS whether, in these grave day
christians are praying constantly fo
IN" nation, the Church and all mar
kind
second of the notable events II
corded prior to the days lesson
oauis sin in Offering to sacrifice bt
1ore his waiting army, without tarr!
ihs for the prophets appearance, {
Urected. He treated the sacrifice {
mere formality to be gone throug
WIN and in his vanity, he did NJ
H"~ltate to put himself in the pla'
W the priest. For this disobedien'
aii failure to wait before God
.''umanded. Saul had to hear II
NF"4d news that the scepter wou
pass from his hand and house:
would not be the founder of Israel
'9i line. Like many man sine
saul lost his kinship by putting h
plans ahead of the clear We
=, me Lord.
n People i'm Panic.
p" It was a gloomy company, al
small one that waited with Sa
" the stronghold of Geba. across
V"ep ravine from the Philistine ga
LSon at Michmash. Terror had be
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