The Raymer enterprise., 1920-05-27
LESSON FOR MAY 30
JONATHAN AND HIS ARMoR.
BEARER.

Prince.
JUNIOR ToPIc-How Two Men Pu. an
Army to Flight
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Our Foes and How to Overcome Them.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
CThe Value Of Initiative In Christian
Work.
!. lsrasFs Reduced Condition Nv.
l-S).
The Philistine oppression had b.
come 20 terrible that the king had
only about 600 men. and they were
completely disarmed, except that Saul
and Jonathan had each q sword and
spear. Lest the Israelltes should
make unto themselves swords and
spears the PhllIstines took from them
their smiths; they only left them a file
to sharpen their instruments Of hus-
bandry. This left them under the ne
cessity Of going to the Phillstines to
have their tools sharpened. Saul him
self was In hiding. Because he had
presumptuously intruded into the
priests Office God rejected him. While
In this desperate condition God moved
Jonathan to 60 against the PhIlistines.
u. Description Of tho Passaesway
Between israel and the PhlIlstlnss
wv. T. 81.
Over against the way which iona
than and his armorbearer had to trav.
erse. on either side lay sharp rocks
called Bozez and Seneh. The opposing
camps were probably three miles
apart It required great effort to
scale the cliff. The feat Of Jonathan
and his armorbearer was one Of the
most daring ever attempted.
III. Jonathan's Rssolutlen to 90
Against The phlllstlnss wv. 6-10.)
l. Jonathan's summons to the young
man ". 81. Here the thought Of verss
one Ii resumed, verses two to Eve be-
Ing parenthetical. Jonathan did NOT
doubt but that the Lord was leading
him. He recognized his covenant re-
lationship with God. and therefore his
claim upon him as against the uncir-
cumcised Philistines, asserting that
'there 10 no restraint to the Lord to
save BY many or by few" God 10 all.
powerful, 80 with him numbers cut no
figure. Whatever he wills for us he
can do. One with God ID a majority.
(Deut 32:SO).
2. The noble response of his armor.
bearer ". y. He was actuated BY the
same faith and courage as Jonathan
and entered heartily into the under.
taking. When two agree together a.
touching anything In the name Of
Christ It shall be done (Matt. 1919,
20).
8. Watching for the will Of God wv.
610). Doubtless the same Spirit who
had moved Jonathan to 90 had In
structed him to watch for the Divine
leading. The sign that God would do
liver the Philisunes into their hands
wns the invitation for Jonathan and
his companion to come up to the Phil.
istines. They did not 90 forward until
the sign Of divine leading was given.
w. Jenathan's Marvellous Victory
wv. 11-18).
Being assured Of the divine leading,
Jonathan with his armorbearer sprang
forward saying that the Lord had de-
livered the enemy into the hands Of
Israel. He did not say "into our
hands," but "into the hands Of Israel"
This is fine touch Of humility; II
shows that II was zeal for God, not
selfish ambition that impelled him to
60 forth. God interposed by a great
earthquake. causing CONSERVATION
among the Philistines. moving them to
destroy each other.
v. saurs Foolish Behavior wv.
l7-48).
!. His carnal zeal (vv. 1929. After
the Lord had given the victory at the
hands Of Jonathan, Saul called for the
ark Of God to be brought, after which
he went forth In pursuit Of the enemy
who had already been routed.
2. His foolish obligation imposed
wv. N-S0). It was that a curse would
be upon any one Of his soldiers who
should stop to eat on that day. Fast.
ing ID proper at times but It was the
height Of folly to demand strenuous
service Of his soldiers without the
necessary nourishment.
8 His determination to XIII iona.
than. Jonathan mot having heard this
rash oath, partook Of the honey a. he
passed through the woods and was
greatly refreshed. When this was re-
ported to Saul he was about to take
the life Of bis own son, who had 20
gloriously wrought In the dellverancs
u bis people.