Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-05-28
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
'SUNlNSOOOL
LESSON
(By REV. T: B. FTTZWATER, D. D.,
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago.)
Copyright. 1920, Western Newspaper IJnion)
LESSON FOR MAY 30
JONATHAN AND HIS ARMOR-
BEARER.

LESSON TEXT Sam. 14I-46
GOLDEN IEAT-For the promise Is
unto you and your children, and to all
that are afar off, even as many as the
Lord our God shall call-Acts 2:39.
ADDITIONAL WATERFALL Sam. 13:
1-23
PRIMARY TOPIC-A Story of a Brave
Prince.
JUNIOR TOPIC-How Two Men Put an
Army to Flight.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Our Foes and How to Overcome Them.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Value Of Initiative in Christian
Work.
I. IsraeI's Reduced Condition wv.
1-3).
The Philistine oppression had be-
come SO terrible that the king had
only about 600 men, and they were
completely disarmed, except that Saul
and Jonathan had each a sword and
spear. Lest the Israelites should
make unto themselves swords and
spears the Philistines 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 Philistines 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 go against the Philistines.
ii. Description of the Passagsway
Between Israel and the PhiIistines
wv. 4, 81.
Over against the way which Jona-
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.
Ill. Jonathan's Resolution to Co
Against the PhiIistines wv. 6-10.)
1. Jonathan's summons to the young
man ". g.. Here the thought Of verse
one is resumed, verses two to five 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 is no restraint to the Lord to
save by many or by few" God is all
powerful, so with him numbers cut no
figure. Whatever he wills for US he
can do. One with God Is a majority.
One going out in the energy Of the
living God shall chase a thousand and
two shall put ten thousand to flight
(Deut. 32:3 :3O).
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 as
touching anything in the name of
Christ it shall be done (Matt. 1S 10,
20).
8. Watching for the will of God wv.
S-1O). Doubtless the same Spirit who
had moved Jonathan to go had In
structed him to watch for the Divine
leading. The sign that God would de.
liver the Philistines into their hands
was the invitation for Jonathan and
bis companion to come up to the Phil.
istines. They did not go forward until
the sign Of divine leading was given
The walk by faith means that we
stand still at times to ascertain the
will of God, but it also means that we
take the steps as indicated.
w. Jonathan's Marvellous Victory
wv. 11-16).
Being assured Of the divine leading
Jonathan with his armorbearer sprane
forward saying that the Lord had de
livered the enemy into the hands OF
Israel. He did not say 'into ou
hands," but "into the hands of Israel
: This is a fine touch Of humility; II
shows that it was zeal for God, MOI
. selfish ambition that impe1led him tt
go forth. God interposed by a great
} earthquake, causing CONSERVATION
among the Philistines, moving them te
destroy each other.
v. Saul's Foolish Behavior wv
17-46).
1. His carnal zeal (vv. 1929. Aftel
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
(vv. 24-3O). It was that curse woulG
be upon any one Of his soldiers who
should stop to eat on that day. Fast
ing is 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 kill iona
. than. Jonathan not having heard thi'
rash oath, partook Of the honey as h,
. passed through the woods and wa.
greatly refreshed. When this was re
ported to Saul he was about to taxi
the life of his own son, who had 81
gloriously wrought in the deliveranc,
of his people.