Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1920-07-17
LESSON FOR JULY IS

LESSON FOR JULY IS
| DAVID SPARES sAUL's LIFE.
| LESSON TEXT Sam. g.
GOLDEN TEXT-Love your enemies. d
good to them that hate you.-Luke 6:27.
| ADDITIONAL WATERFALL Sam. p
PRIMARY TOPIC-The Man Who Wa.
| Kind to His Enemy.
JUNIOR TOPIC-"Paying Back"
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Overcoming Evil With Good.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Treatment Of Wrongdoers.
!. Saul in Pursuit Of David wv. 1-3).
Ever since David took his departure
from Jonathan (ch. 2O), when that
browning act of friendship was
shown, Saul had beer hunting him as
a wild animal. He now pursues him
with 5000 chosen men. David fees
from place to place, hiding as an out.
law. Sometimes he is in the enemies
country doing disreputable things.
This is the period of his schooling
which fitted him to be the eminent
king that he was. It was bitter
period in his life, but God sent him
to this school and adapted the in
StructiOn to his needs. David never
could have been the broad man that
he was, had he not been prepared in
this crucible Of bitter experience. His
wading deeply into trouble adapted
him to write psalms suited to all men.
in all ages, and under all conditions.
His life swung through the arc of
human experience, touching the high
est point of fame and dipping to the
depths of sorrow and shame. Then.
personally, he learned many lessons,
among which may be mentioned:
l. His own weakness. 1t was nee
essary that he be humbled under the
sense of his infirlnities, Unless a man
has learned this lesson. sudden eleva-
ton to power will utterly ruin him.
2. His dependence upon God.
David's many miraculous escapes
caused him to realize that the Lord
had redeemed him out Of his adver-
sity. His hiding places in the rocks
gave him much of his imagery for the
psalms.
3. He learned the country and peo-
pie over which he was to rule. BY
knowing the grievous Affections which
Saul had heaped upon the people he
could sympathize and remove them.
4. He learned the magnanimity of
self control. This man must know
before he can be a true king. He that
ruleth his spirit is better than he that
taketh city prov. 1927.
II. Saul in David's Hands wv. 4-2O).
1. David sends out spies ". ~.
This he did to find out as to whether
Saul was come in very deed.
9. David at Saul's camp wv. 5-1l). |
He took with him Abishi and went in
the night to where Saul was sleeping.
Abishi asked to be allowed to kill |
Saul, but David forbade him because
Saul was the Lords anointed.
). David takes Saul's spear and
cruise Of water wv. II, 49,. Once be-
fore at Engedi (ch. 24) David spared
Saul's life. Now again he was at his
mercy. This he did that he might
show tangible evidence to the king
hat he had no evil intent.
+. David taunts Abner, the kings
)odyguard wv. 14-1C). He calls to
Abner and taunts him for his listless-
less-his failure to watch over the
lords anointed, the evidence of which
S the cruise and the spear in his
lands.
5. David reasons with Saul wv. IT,
.O). When Saul recognized David's
'oice, David began to reason with
lin. showing that he had nothing but
,ood intentions toward the king. He
sked that he would show what wrong
lie had done or what evil intent was
n his heart. David is. very humble
md begs Saul to relent, for surely If
le had any wicked purpose he would
lot have saved his life twice when the
ord had placed Saul wholly at bis
.ercy. David had peculiar regard for
he Lords anointed. He recognized
he fact that the Lord had delivered
;aul into his hands not to kill. but to
ave. He did not kill, neither did he
How his servant to kill. He regard
d that which he could avert as be-
lg done by himself.
~. Saul's Confession wv. 21-25).
I. He confessed that he had sinned.
he sad feature about his confession
that it lacked conviction. for he
,ent right on SHINING. This is the
reat trouble with people. They are
filing to confess that they are sim
ers, but still they go on SHINING.
2. He confessed that he had played
ne fool and erred exceedingly. We
ee about us daily many using such
xpressions, but still they go on re-
eating their sins. David shows his
Of spirit, however, in de-
vering the cruise and the spear to
aul's servant. He knew that Saul's
was not genuine, so he was
fraid to go near. He knew the Gun.
Inu If th0f old fOy Ho still annoa1s |