The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-24
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson Iv.-Second Quarter, For
April rs, 1915.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

7
Text Of the Lesson, I Sam. xviii, Ss.5f.
Memory Verse, Is Golden Text,
Rom. viii, st-cemmsntary Prepared
by Rev. D. N. stsa-ns.
The armies Of the living God deiied
and the people Of God reproached de-
scribes the state of affairs at the open
Ing Of this lesson oversees 10. 26, S6).
l have just read In the papers Of
deficit In each Of two mission boards of
over $2oO,O00 and of one denomination
that has lost 100000 members In six
years. Does there seem to be any
parallel, and II so where is the David
Tor the occasion? We have reason 10
thank God for man like Rev. william
Sunday, who is rescuing more souls
from the hands Of the enemy and siay-
ing more giants than any other man
In America today (May, 1919, n far
as we are able to judge, because he
has learned how to sling stones with
deadly aim In the name of the living
God. We cannot but thank God also
Tor such q witness as Daniel Crawford,
from the heart of Africa, who has been
standing for the living God before the
preachers and students and hundreds
of thousands Of the people of our land.
oh, for more such Davids and Danielsl
Who is willing to be another suchl
How pitiful to see the men of Israel
sore afraid and fleeing from one def
ant Philistine! Verse "a The words
OF Joshua are applicable, 20 Lord,
what shall l say when Israel turneth
their backs before their enemies2"
Josh. vii, s.
David, the shepherd boy, of no ac-
count In the eyes Of his brethren, found
this condition Of things when be came
to the camp. sent by his father to see
how his brethren Jared and to bring
them some good things from home
(verses 1918, he having returned from
being SauIs armor bearer to feed his
fathers sheep at Bethlehem. Eliab,
his eldest brother. misjudged him and
spoke unkindly 10 him, but he meekly
replied, Is there not a cause? VERSES
%, 29). David's inquiry as to why
this man should be allowed to defy
God and reproach Israel was told to
Saul, and he sent for David, and he
said to Saul: Let no mans heart fail
because of him. Thy servant will go
and fight with this Philistine. The
Lord that delivered me out Of the paw
Of the lion and out Of the paw of the
bear, He will deliver me out of his
hand" tverses 82-3D.
Saul armed David with his armor-
his helmet, his coat Of mail and his
sword (what snapshot that we,Sd d
have made D-but he could not 60 thus,
for he had not proved It So he put it
all of him, and with his sling and five
smooth stones. which he knew how to
use, and with his staff In his hand he
went forth to meet the giant, the great
mass Of disappearing flesh and blood
(verses S840p. The giant disdained
him and cursed him, which is about
the way that flesh always acts toward
the spirit, or mocks, as Ishmael did
Isaac oversees n-44: Gen. xxi. 8; Gal.
v, III. How grand are the words of
David, IT come to thee in the name of
the Lord of hosts. the God Of the
armies OF Israel. whom thou hast de-
fed" (verse 45). The invisible God was
much more real to David than this
visible gisnt, who made Israel to trem-
Bile. He reminds us of Caleb and
Joshua, to whom giants and walled
cities were nothing, because they saw
and believed God. Moses also endured
as seeing Him who Is invisible. Most
people, however, see the difficulties and
see themselves as grasshoppers (Num.
xiii, 49,
Then notice David's one desire, that
all Israel and all the earth might know
the God whom he knew, the living
God. the God who could deliver from
an actual lion and bear. He had no
thought of himself nor desire for any
glory for himself, but he honored the
Lord, and the Lord did honor him, ac-
corfing to Sam. Ii, 80. 1t is greet to
see no man any more save Jesus only
and to say from the heart: ''The Lord
is my light and my salvation. Whom
shall I fear?" (Mark *, 8; Ps. xvii, ~
Nothing can be compared to such a
confidence in God as David had. Now
see him running toward the giant,
placing stone in his sling, and with a
prayer TO his God sending It In the
name of the Lord Of hosts and for the
honor of His name. Do you wonder
that 1t went straight and struck hard.
sank into the giants forehead and fell
ed him to the earth? The eyes of all
the thousands OF Israel and Of the
Philistines were upon David as he ran
TO meet his enemy, but he gave that
no thought for his eyes were upon
the living God, and Gods eyes were
upon him. according, to II Chron.
xvi. 8.
David had no weapon, so he ran and
stood upon the giant (can't you see
him?D and. taking the giants sword,
cut of his head and carried 1t away In
triumph, first to Saul and then to Jeru-
salem. He took the giants armor also
verses 1853. This was all written
for your benefit and mine that we
might learn to be strong in the Lord
and in the power Of His might. I do
not understand how neither Saul nor
the captain of his>host knew who, Da-
vid was. although David had been
sauIs armor bearer. but rejoice to
meet Jonathan again and 10 see him