The Dolores star., 1920-07-16
LESSON FOR JULY 18
DAVID SPARES sAUL'S LIFE.

LESSON TEXT Sam. &c.
GOLDEN TEXT-Love your enemies. do
good to them that hate you.-Luke 6:27.
ADDITIONAL WATERFALL Sam, "a
PRIMARY TOPIC-The Man Who Was
Kind to His Enemy
JUNIOR TOPIC-"Paying Back"
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Overcoming EVIL with Good.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Treatment of Wrongdoers.
I. Saul in Pursuit Of David wv. 1-3).
Ever since David took his departure
from Jonathan (ch. 20), when that
crOwning act of friendship was
shown, Saul had been hunting him as
n 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. 1t was a 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:
1. His own weakness. 1t was nee
essary that he be humbled under the
sense of his infirmiues. Unless man
has learned this lesson. sudden eleva-
tion to power will utterly ruin him.
.. Els dependence upon God.
Davlds 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-
| Pile over which he was to rule. By
| knowing the grevous Affections which
Saul had heaped upon the people he
| could symputhize and remove them.
4. He learned the magnanimity Of
| self-cOntrol This a man must know
| before he can be n true king. He that
| rueth his spirit is better than he that
| taketh city (Prov. 16 :32).
u. Saul in David's Hands wv. 4-20).
l. David sends out spies ". ~.
| This he did to find out as to whether
| Saul was come in very deed.
| .. David at Saul's camp wv. 5-1D.
| 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.
3. David takes Saul's spear and
cruise of water wv. 10, 13). Once be-
fore at Engedi Och. 24) David spared
mercy This ne did that he might
| show tangible evidence to the king
| that he had no evil intent.
4. David taunts Abner. the kings
| bodyguard (vv. 14-16). He calls to
| Abner and taunts him for his listless-
! nesS-his failure to watch over the
Lords anOinted, the evidence of which
| hands.
5. David reasons with Saul wv. IL
| 20). When Saul recognized David'S
| voice, David began to reason with
| him, showing that he had nothing but
| good intentions toward the king. He
asked that he would show what wrong
| he had done or what evil intent was
| in his heart. David is very humble
| and besS Saul to relent. for surely If
he had any wicked purpose he would
| not have saved his life twice when the
Lord had placed Saul wholly at his
| mercy. David had peculiar regard for
| the Lords anonted. He recognized
| the fact that the Lord had delivered
| Saul into his hands not to kill, but to
| save.
| III. Saui's Confession wv. 21-25).
| l. He confessed that he had sinned.
The sad feature about his confession
went right on shining. This is the
great trouble with people. They are
willing to confess that they are sin
ners, hut still they so on SHINING.
2. He confessed that he had played
the fool and erred exceedingly. We
see about us daily many using such
| expressions, but still they go on re.
| peating their sins. David shows his
| magnnnimity of spirit. however, in de.
| livering the cruise and the spear to
| Saul's servant. He knew that Sauls
confession was not genuine. so he was
afraid TO go near. He knew the Gun,
ming of that old fox. He still appeals
to Saul's kindness to him, and they