Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-07-08
SABBATH SCHOOL
LESSON
For July IL
sx DIR. n1As1oN na'H. HULL

they friends, or just acquaintanees? Now,
make out list of them; after you have fin
ished studying this lesson, go over that list
again and cross out the names Of any who
does not measure up to the standard Of a
friend, and then see how many friends you
have.
| Faith in His Friend
| Jonathan was real friend of David's
When they first met, after the death Of
Goliath, his soul was knit to Dayid's soul
| MS though they were one. They had much
| in common Both had done daring exploits
| and been deliverers of their people from the
| oppression of the Philistines. Both had
! accomplished these victories by faith in the
| Both were young men, although Jonathan
was probably fifty years the elder. Both
| had a keen appreciation Of the presence ana
| power of God, and of His purposes FOR their
| people This latter always knits souls to-
| gether. They may have little else in com
| mon, but if they have this sense of God,
| they have strong bond in common.
Jonathan had not only been friend OF
| David's while the victory over Goliath was
| fresh in their minds, but his friendship con-
| tinued-otherwise it would not have been
friendship. During the succeeding months
| and. years Saul had become jealous OF
| Dcvid, and had made ten attempts on his
! life. Make list of them as recorded in
| the 18th and 10Th chapters) At least one
| these
| life by reasoning with his father. But after
repeated attempts David became discouraged
| and fled to Naioth, where SamueI was
| Even here he was not secure, Tor Sa9i cor. con.
tinued to hound him until David fled from
Samuel to his friend iona than.
Can we appreciate David's position! Al
| though he was the idol of his people, ne
was homeless: although he had physical
! strength and beauty, and had been univer-
| sally successful in his military exploits; ne
was in Saul's territory, and an eastern king
was a despot; the life of any one or ms
| subjects depended entirely upon his Whim.
| Although he had been anointed to be king
| over Israel, he had no klngdom ana even
| the bed upon which he slept might be taken
from him tomorrow. $3.50.
he was practically alone. He became dis
| couraged, respondent; his faith was under
| cclipse: he was afraid, powerless, ready TO
| flee. How many friends did HE nave
| then?
Jonathan showed himself a. friend IN
need and friend indeed. David had fa1th
in his friend. He believed In Jonathan SO
to him. telling him of the persecution OF
his father and asking what he had done.
what sin he had committed that mace MS
| father seek his life. Jonatnan oo rrted 70
he told him everything he was going TO 40;
he must he mistaken about his fatners
purposes, for he knew nothing OF this Thus
he tried to comfort and reassure David: Dut
If didn't work David thought Saul had not
told dc Jonathan of this because he knew of
his love for him and did not want TO grleVe
him. He was sure there was only a step
between him and death (but he dldn't real
ize then that God was that stepl.
/. Not only did David have faith in Jonathan,
but Jonathan had faith in David SO ne
do it, To promise to Go anything one
asks YOU before you have any int1matlon as
to what it is requires great deal of faith
in your friend but if you are fr,frS you
A Faithful Friend
Now David put a rather questionable de-
mand upon his friend Some think he asked
him to tell lie for him. his purpose Was
feels toward me bya seeing how he acts IN
der these circumstances. / ough to be az the
feast of the new moon. II he notices my
absence say my brother demanded tnat !
come to the annual family reunion at Beth
lehem If your father takes 1t kindly, al
right; If he doesn't, then Wen know ne In
tends to kill me.
Now we are not apologists for David
he did many wrong things. He lied to
Abimelech the priest of God in the holy
place at Mob; he acted lie IN Achlsh'
and his act here may have been the same.
However, Bethlehem, was less than ten
miles away; there were family reunions;
and 1t may have been the truth. He didn't
go TO Bethlehem, however, but hid hlmseH
| in the field near a selected rock. AT any
rate Jonathan was willing to do as ne asked
and faithfully carried out his promise. They
withdrew by Jonathan's suggestion to Sc
cluded place, where Jonathan entered INTO
| solemn league and covenant with MIN,
sworn to before God, in which ne agreed 10
| tell him the whole truth about the matter
| or ask ask the curses of God on himself
And they arranged sign oy means oI
which Jonathan could give DaVld tne aesiI Tea
| information. There was another part OF the
covenant but of this we shall think later.
Jonathan was faithful to his friend, even
though it cost him his fathers displeasure
l. IL IT. 70 irCf
| of the feast David's seat was empty. but
| nothing was said, for Saul thought he might
be ceremoniallv unclean; but when the sec,
| ond day came and he was still away Saul
| pnuuired for him, for he knew that his I'M
| cleanness could have been removed by that
| time Jonathan told of his request TO go
| to Bethlehem. This threw Saul into rage.
| He lost his temper so that he cursed iona
! than's mother, his own wife, and then tried
| to kill Jonathan, his own son and conf1dant.
| Jonathan left the table in great anger him
self because his father had insulted his
| mother and his friend.
| iona than's friendship was costly, but ne
| was willing to pay the price for he loved
| David as his own soul; and love never counts
| the cost. 80
| Friend Because of His Faith
The lad played unconscious but very
| Important part in saving David's life When
| Jonathan sent him back to the city. he ana
| David met David bowed himself before
| Jonathan three times, showing his deep graf
|
and then they fell on each others neck
| and wept but Saul exceeded. They parted
| and never saw each other but once a1ter-
wards; when David was almost captured by
Saul in the Wilderness of Ziph, Jonathan
| came to him and strengthened his hand IN
| Cod" and assured him that his father could
not capture him, for God had chosen him to
be king and there was no way under heaven
| for Saul to prevent it. And just here we
| find the very essence of Jonathan's friend
ship--it was his faith in God. When he
| made the covenant with David about which
| we spoke, he showed that faith; for note
| that when he, the crown prince, was begging
David, fugitive and despair1ng man, TO
spare his life and the life of his children
when God shall have raised him to the
| throne. Could there have been more re-
| markable scene? 1t showed, not only his
| marvellous faith in God (when David was
eclipsed) but spirit of resignation to the
will of God that is rarely seen.
So, here is my message to you To-Day:
| To be a friend requires that you nave
| faith in your friends; even though all 9th
ers have lost faith in them, even though
| they have lost faith in themselves.
| It requires that you be faithful to your
| friends interest regardless of the cost to
| you. You will not count The cost, for love
| rever counts the cost.
It requires that you have faith in God FOR
only as you have faith can you lift them
| up to higher level: and unless Won
| strengthen their hands in God your friend
! ship will not amount TO anything.
How many friends nave you, 1udgeo py
| these tests? Go over your list that you
made and strike off those who cannot meas
ure up that you may appreciate those who
| 10 the more
| On that list there is one name that
should be put at the top-it is Jesus! For
| He believes in YOU He loves you and
has shown it in the costliest way. He
| can and will lift you up to a place along
| side Him at the Fathers throne.
| In his 'In Memoriam," Tennyson said:
''ue was rich where l was poor.
| And he supplied my want the more,
As his unlikeness fitted mime
This is Supremacy true of my Best Friend.
| Jesus! Oh! that you knew Him, too.