Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1920-05-27
LESSON FOR MAY 80
JONATHAN AND HIS ARMoR.
BEARER.


LESSON TEXT Sam. A:l-4s.
GOLDEN TEXT-For the promise u
unto you and your children. and to all
| that are afar of. even as many 40 the
| Lord our God shall cai..--Acts 2:39.
ADDITIONAL WATERFALL Sam. y:
la
PRIMARY ToP1c-A story Of Brave
| Prince.
JUNIOR roPrC-How Two Men Put an
Army to Flight
Our Foes and How to Overcome Them.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Work.
.. lsraePs Reduced Condition wv.
1-S).
The Philistine oppression had be-
come 30 terrible that the king had
only about 900 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 file
| to sharpen their instruments Of hus-
bandry. This left them under the ne
cessity of going to the Phaistines 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 Passageway
Between Israel and the PhiIistines
wv. A. 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. 1t 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 Resolution to Go
Against the Phllistines wv. 6-10)
]. Jonathan's summons to the young
man ". 81. 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 10 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 majority.
tDeut. 80 :30).
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. 1873.
2O).
9. Watching for the win Of God wv
0+1O). Doubtless the same Spirit who
had moved Jonathan to 60 had In
structed him to watch for the Divine
leading. The sign that God would de
liver the Philistfnes into their hands
was the invitation for Jonathan and
his companion to come up to the Phil
istines. They did not go forward unit
the sign Of divine leading was given
w. Jonathan's Marvellous 'vletoF1
wv. 11-16).
Being assured Of the divine leading
Jonathan with his armorbearer sprani
forward saying that the Lord. had de
livered the enemy into the hands o
Israel. He did not say ''into on
hands," but "into the hands Of Israel
This IL a fine touch Of humility; I
shows that 1t was zeal for God. no
selfish ambition that impelled him :
go forth. God interposed by grea
earthquake, causing Consideration
among the Philistines, moving them t
destroy each other.
v. saul's Foolish Behavior ",
17-46).
/. His carnal zeal wv. 1923. Afte
the Lord had given the victory at tn
hands Of Jonathan, Saul called for tn
ark Of God to be brought, after whic
ne went forth in pursuit Of the enem
who had already been routed.
2. His foolish obligation impose
(vv. 24-30). It was that curse woul
be upon any one Of his soldiers WI
should stop to eat On that day. Fas
ing Is proper at times, but If was d
height Of folly to demand strenuos
service Of his soldiers without u
necessary nourishment.
8. His determination to kill Jon
than Jonathan not having heard "a
rash cath, partook Of the honey as ]
passed through the woods and WI
greatly refreshed. When this was :
ported to Saul he was about to tai
the life Of his own son, who had
gloriously wrought In the deliveran
OF his people.
~.