The Jasper news., 1920-05-27

That are afas en, even as many ~ the
Lord our God shall eail.-Acts 2:ss.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS Sam. -:
la
PRIMARY roP1c-K story of Brave
Prince.
JUNIOR ToPIc-How Two Men Put an
Army to Flight
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOPIC
Our Foes and How to Overcome Them.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Value Of Initiative in Christian
Work.
I. lsrasrs Reduced Condition Cvv.
1-8).
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 q 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 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.
u. Description Of the Passaseway
Between Israel and the PhlIlstlnes
(vy. 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. 1t required great effort to
scale the cliff. The feat Of Jonathan
and his armorbearer was one Of the
most daring ever attempted.
~. Jonathan's Resolution to Go
Against the PhIlIStines wv. 6-1o)
l. Jonathan's summons to the young
man ". 81. Here the thought Of verse
one Is resumed, verses two to FIVE be-
| ing parentheticai. Jonathan did no.
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 majority.
(Deut. 81 :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 1879,
20).
3. Watching for the will Of God (vv.
6-10). Doubtless the same Spirit who
had moved Jonathan to go had in
strueted him to watch for the Divine
leading. The sign that God would de-
liver the Phillstines into their hands
was the invitation for Jonathan and
his companion to come up to the Phil
istines. They did not go forward until
the sign Of divine leading was given.
w. Jonathan's Marvellous Victory
| tvv. 11-16).
Being assured Of the divine leading.
| Jonathan with his armorbearer sprang
forward saying that the Lord had de
iivered the enemy into the hands Of
Israel. He did not say into our
hands," but "into the hands OF Israel"
This ls Q fine touch Of humility: II
shows that Il was zeal for God. not
selfish ambition that impelled him to
90 forth. God interposed by q great
earthquake, causing CONSERVATION
among the Philistines. moving them to
destroy each other.
v. saul's Foolish Behavior wv.
l7-4e).
/. His carnaI zeal (vy. 1T-28). 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. 24-so). II was that curse would
be upon any one Of his soldiers who
should stop to eat on that day. Fast
Ing 10 proper at times. but II was the
height Of folly to demand strenuous
service Of his soidiera- without the
necessary nourishment.
3. HIS discrimination to, kin Jona-
than, Jonathan not having heard this
rash oath. partook Of the honey as be
passed through the woods and was
greatly refreshed. When this was re-