The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-07-10
BIBLE STORY
Jonathan and DAVID.

Foremost among many beautiful
stories in the bible is this one Of
Jonathan And David. Jonathan was
. prince, Of surprising personal
charms and faultless character, q
skillful archer. renowned for brave
and daring deeds, beloved Of the
people. and IN every respect worthy
Of the throne Of his father Saul.
Upon Q very brief acquaintance he
Forms a friendship with David, .
shepherd boy. which stood the
strain Of the most trying circum-
stances imaginable, overlapping
even the barrier of death. The love
Of Jonathan shines with even more
princely luster because he knew
that David vas destined to occupy
the throne.
David first came to the notice Of
Jonathan on the occasion Of his
surprising and spectacular fight
with the giant Goliath. That great
creature, embodying the last word
in military preparedness, had daily
presented himself before the army
Of Israel and challenged to single
combat any man that might be
chosen. From the king down no
one was willing to undertake the
task. On the 10th day Of this en-
barrassing situation David appear
ed in camp, having been sent by
his father to carry provisions to
his older brothers and bring back
tidings OF their welfare. The boys
patriotism was aroused by the
biasphemous challenges Of the
giant and he sought the privilege
Of entering the conflict. His bro
Tiers laughed at him. but he press
ed his desire to fight the giant un-
til the king consented to his fight
ing and placed upon him the royal
armor. With gracious tact he de-
clined the sumbrous trappings and
hurried to meet the foe, armed with
his stan, his trusty sling and flve
smooth stones gathered from the
brook as he went.
Am l q dog. that thou CONTEST to
me with slaves" said Goliath.
Come to me, and I will give thy
flesh to the fowls of the air and to
the beasts Of the field"
| Then said David to the Philis-
tine, Thou CONTEST to me with
sword, and with . spear. and with
4 shield; but I come to thee in the
name Of the Lord Of hosts. This
day will the Lord deliver thee into
mine hand: that all the earth may
know that there il . God In Israel.
The light was brief. Tho drst
stone brought down the giant. His
head was cut on with his own
sword IN the hands Of the boy.
Jonathan had viewed with won.
der and admiration the combined
|modesty and courage, strength and
skill, self-possession and reverence
for God possessed BY David. And
when he WAS brought before the
king with the head Of the giant ir
| his hand, his behavior WAS 20 sim
pie and unaffected. his personality
SO gracious and modest, his loyalty
to the king % evident and sincere
and the undennable charms o.
youth 10 mingled with all that "tht
soul Of Jonakhan was knit with thu
soul Of David; and Jonathan loved
David q hid own soul"
/ Following this for some time thu
opportunity for the cultivation O
friendship IVES abundant. Davit
was taken Into the homo Of thu
hing and the friends were much
together. Royal marks Of friend
lship we're BESTOWED By Jonathas
and no doubt reciprocatsd BY Da
vid.
Rapid advancement IN militar,
position marked David1 pfcGfesI
and he WAS fully equal 70 the grow
Ing responsibilities. He becams
very popular. When the army -
turned nom some aueeooatul f1N
Iagainst the pAilistines the vomel
| came ont q All the c1tiis d Israel
i .sineiaS IA dancing. % A6et KIM
J. eanl. WITH tabretAs With ~. ~
WITH lnofxunanfo e UnG1ot -