Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1920-07-15
LESSON FOR JULY is
DAVID SPARES sAUL's LIFE.

ADDITIONAL MATERIALr-l sam. ~.
PRIMARY TOPIC-The Man Who Was
! Kind to His Enemy.
| JUNIOR 5TOPIC-"Paying Back"
y 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. 20), when that
browning act Of friendship was
shown, Saul had been hunting him as
wild animal. He now pursues him
with 1900 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 he the eminent
king that he was 1t 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:
/. His own weakness. 1t was nee
essary that he be humbled under the
sense Of his infirmities. 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 true king. He that
ruleth his spirit is better than he that
taketh city prov. $500.
II. Saul in David's Hands wv. 4-20).
1. David sends out spies ". ~.
This he did to find out as to whether
Saul was come in very deed.
.. David at Saurs camp (vv. Oily.
, 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. IL, 13). Once be-
fore at Engedl (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
that he had no evil intent.
4. David taunts Abner, the kings
bodyguard wv. 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
is the cruise and the spear In his
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 begs 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 anointed. He recognized
the fact that the Lord had delivered
Saul into his hands not to kill, but to
save.
III. Saul's Confession wv. 21-25).
/. He confessed that he had sinned.
The sad feature about his confession
Is that 1t lacked conviction, for he
went right on SHINING. This is the
great trouble with people. They are
willing to confess that they are sim
ners, but still they go 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
magnanimity of spirit however, in de-
livering the cruise and, the spear to
Saul's servant. He knew that Saul's
confession was not genuine. SO he was
afraid to 90 near. He knew the cum
ming Of that old fox. He still appeals
to Saul's kindness to him, and they
part never to meet agein.