The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1920-07-08
LESSON FOR July II
yoNArHAN bEFRIENDs DAvID.

JONATHAN BEFHlENps DAVID.
LESION rExr-I Sam. 50.
GOLDEN TExT-A friend lcveth at all
times: and . brother IL born for adver-
sity.--Prov. 17:17.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS Sam. 10:
PRIMARY ToPro--A story of Two
Frisnds
JUNIOR ToPIc-David ana His Friend.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
--Ffiendahlps That Are worth while.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
--Frisndship: What II Is and What II
Doea
The friendship between Jonathan
and David ls peculiar in that It oc-
CURED between two men Of rival
worldly interests. Jonathan was the
crown prince, the heir to the throne.
David was the heir according to divine
choice and arrangement. Jonathan
knew this and magnanimously waived
his natural personal rights to the one
whom he knew that God had chosen.
Following the interview Of Saul and
David after the victory ever Goliath.
Jonathan's soul was knit with that Of
David. He loved him as his own soul.
While there was mutual love, yet this
pleasing trait stands out more in Jona-
than than in David, because It meant
great loss to -liiniAthe loss OF the
throne, but immense gain to David
the acquisition of the throne,to which
he had no natural. right The genuine
friendship was shown:
Z. BY Giving TO David His Court
Hpbe and EquIprtent' t18s4). I : 'ii..
SThese belonged ITO Jonathan as the,
crown prince, Following the ioye-cove-
uhnt between them lis :3) Jonathan
stripped himself: ;of these and gave
them to David. This act was virtual
abdicatioh In favor Of David. Love
16eeketh' not her own" tI Ger. 1859. i
II. ~ Defending pavid AaslnSt The \
Frenzy Of, Saul Il, Sam. 1910. !.
According TO oriental custom, the
women met David and his soldiers MS
they were returning from their victory
over. the Philistines, AID with singing
ahd dancing they ascribed moro praise
to David than TO Saul. This stirred
up the murderous envy, Of Saul and
moved him to thrice attempt to XIII
David. In his third attempt Jonathan
defended David before his father and
evoked from him the oath that David
should not be slain (10:0). Thus he
exposed himself to the anger Of his In
furiated father, for .David's sake
When one is willing to lay. down his
life for another he proves that his
friendship Is real. ~Greater love hath
no man than this that man lay down
his life for his friends" (John 10 49,.
III. BY Revealing to David sauIs
Murderous Intent Il Sam. 20 :30-4OD.
The beginning Of new moon was
celebrated by sacrifices and feasting.
at which all the members Of the family
were expected to be present ". 81.
David's excuse for absence was to 60
home TO attend the yearly sacrifice Of
the entire family. This annual feast
was more important than the monthly
feast.
Matters were now so serious that
they renewed the covenant between
themselves. In It's renewal the terms
were projected beyond the life of
Jonathan wv. IA. 49,. Saul's anger
was now 30 fierce that for Jonathan
to be found In company with David
was a dangerous thing. so he cleverly
plans 70 give David a sign by which |
he could know Saul's purpose. We
prove our friendship by warning those |
who are exposed to danger. David's |
heart responded to Jonathan's love by
pledging himself to deal faithfully
with Jonathan and his seed forever.
Later history proves that this was
faithfully carried out III Gam. "a, 81. |
Some Observations on Friendship: |
!, Friendships should be made while |
the parties are young-while the |
hearts are capable Of being knit to-
gether.
2. Real friends are few; therefore |
be careful in the formation Of the ties
OF friendship. Friends should be Sc
lected. We should love everybody, but |
we can have but few friends.
B. There should be some variations
in the temperaments in those who |
would be friendS Friendships should |
be formed for the purpose OF mutual
ly helping each other. Both parties, |
however. must possess real merit.
4. Both parties must be God-fearing. |
David and Jonathan both> recognized
their obligation to The Lord and that |
his help was essential to the welfare
Of both. Without deep religious life
there can be no friendship. There are
times when one party must absolutely