Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-07-01
SABBATH SCHOOL
LESSON
For July Al Sam. 17:1-l8:9
BY DIR. MARION M'H. HULL

= Golden Text: "David behaved himself
wisely in all his ways; and Jehovah was
with him." SAM 1914.
After the Spirit of God left Saul, he be-
gan to have spells of dependency. No Won
der, for he must have brooded over the pos
sibilities that had been his, and which he
had lost by his wilfullness and self-indulg-
ence. The Spirit was no longer behind him.
pushing him forward He had been; He
was no longer the Paraclete, the One-along-
side o-help; and Saul alone could not throw
off his despondency: One of his courtiers
told him of shepherd lad not far away
who was skilled musician and suggested
that he be sent for to play and talk, for, he
said also, this lad was most attractive
it happened that David began his training
at court; it was one of the parts in Gods
plan to prepare him to be the Master of
that court some day. He did not stay long
at a time though, for when Saul's moods
were changed by David's music, David went
back to the flock in the fields.
The Israelites We're still being harassed
by their old enemies, the Philistines. Now
they were gathered in battle array about
eighteen miles from Jerusalem one side
of the valley of Elah, and Saul and his army
had set themselves in order on the oppo-
site side. In the camp of the Philistines
was Goliath, a gigantic figure, II feet, IL
inches TALL and well prOportioned. Every
day he came out into NO-man's land, and
challenged Israel to send out a man to
fight him. For forty days this went on;
but meyer a man did Israel send out. Where
was Saul? Where was Jonathan? Saul
thought too much of his own safety; and
Jonathan seemed to have forgotten the God
who had fought for them when the Philis-
tines were routed before.
Jesses three oldest sons were with the
army. The commissary department de-
pended it seems, partly upon the faithful
ness of the families of the soldiers. Or it
may be the boys got tired of hard tack and
other delightful army fare, and that Jesse
knew they would appreciate a box from
Sn In no11 nd 10 vii ha CHI
fold and sent him to them bearing the box.
David arrived just as Goliath was stepping
out with his defiant dare. David seemed
surprised that it had not been taken up be-
fore now. Had not this God that Goliath
was defying defeated these very people not
long before? Was there any reason to sup
pose He was any less able or any less will
ing to do so now?
David heard of the rewards offered to
the man who would step out into No-Man's
Land for Israel; but that did not arouse
him at all in comparison with the thought
that this uncircumcized Phiistine was pre-
stunning to be mightier than his God, the
God of Israel!
Eliab, his eldest brother, heard his ques-
tions and lost his temper Eliab's remarks
were like Damascus blades; but if they cut
David to the quick nobody ever knew it,
Eliab showed his unfitness for anything
large because he wasn't able to control
himself; but David kept sweet even under
this scathing satire. His only reply was
Tin effect, How can any one help inquir-
ing in view of this situation?
Well, he kept on inquirihg; and every
time his own faith grew stronger. His faith
was contagious; others began to talk about
it, until finally it reached the ears of Saul.
He sent for David; and in a rather patron
izing way poohpoohed the idea of his being
able to do anything. David was thus forced
to defend himself and told of exploits he
had done as a shepherd They were not
remarkable in one way; many another sports
man had encountered and conquered dangers
as great But these differed in one respect.
David recognized that he would not have
been for the Lord his God! 1t Jehovah
who had delivered him out of the paws
of the lion and the BEAR and if Jehovah had
done this to save a little lamb of the
fought to save nation from slavery!
Saul could object no more, for he realized
that Jehovah was with this stripping. He
clad him in his armor-but David had no
in SauPs armor. Don't adopt @ny other
persons method-adapt it, if you think it
will work for you. You can't be anyone
else; be yourself So David put it aside, and
armed himself with-well, let's see. There
was a staff, and a sling, and a bag, and
five smooth stones from the brook near by.
Why five? Because five is the number of
grace in the Scripture-it is four, the num-
Der of creation, plus one the number of
God Gods creation plus God is grace.
and grace is the undeserved favor of God
of any merit and in spite of de-
merit on part Davids armor consisted
of eight pieces, and eight is the number
of spiritual perfection % plus. David
armed himself with God.
Goliath was entirely differently armed.
He was armed with all that signified man,
and pride in mans ability. Six is the
number of man in the Scripture. There
are six days for man to labor; all his time
is in multiples of Ska year of twelve
months (2XG), month of thirty days (5X6)
each day of twenty -four hours (4y6). each
hour of sixty minutes (10xG), each Htnute
of sixty seconds Q0xG). Man was created
on the sixth day. There are six words used
for imam" in the Bible.
Now note the three great God-opposed
characters in the Bible. Goliath was six
cubits and a span (about inches) high;
he had six pieces of armOr; and his spear
weighed 600 shekels of iron. (The armor
of the Chris San in Eph. has seven pieces).
Goliath represented the pride of the flesh.
Nebuchadnezzar set up an image of him
self which was sixty cnbits high, six cubits
broad, and which was to be worshipped
when six musical instruments sounded.
He represented the pride of dominion.
The antichrists number is the number of
I man-it is 66G. He represents the pride
If SRtans highest achievement, a super
man who claims to be a God!
So Goliath Went out armed with mans |
the all-sufficient grace of God. Super |
ficially it Looked like the odds were with |
actually, they were all with |