Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-07-03
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
!, DAVID IN CAMP AND COURT.
/ Samuel, 17.1-1S.9.
Golden Text-David behaved
himself wisely in all his ways,
and Jehovah was with. him
Samuel, 1914.
BY REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON.

BY REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON.
IsraeFs independence was imper-
lied when David arrived in the camp
of Saul. His brothers were mem
bers of the kings forces, which were
composed of every ablebodied man
capable of carrying arms. The con-
tending armies had been assembled in
the Valley of Elah, about sixteen
miles southwest from Jerusalem. for
over month, when Jesse, anxious to
learn about the progress of the bat
tie and of the welfare of his sons. dis
patched David, who had returned
home after ministering to Saul with
his musical talents and was once
more caring for the sheep, with some
homemade food and messages for his
brothers at the front. David. reached
the army of Saul just as Goliath. the
great Philistine giant, came forth as
he had done daily for forty days,
challenging Israel to send out man
against him and settle the dispute
by a duel. Saul had losed his spirit.
The victor Of ever hundred battles
was cowed, because the Lord had de-
parted from him. by the defiance of
the uncircumcised Philistine. The
army had caught his spirit of fear. SO
that the voice of Goliath sent a shiv-
er through the whole. host of Israel.
The STRIPPING shepherd boy was dis
tressed by the evidence Of cowardice
among his countrymen and Inundated
by their failure to reply to the I'M
circumcised Philistine giant that
dared defy the armies of the living
God
Determined by bis love of his coun-
l.: -
unteer to meet the challenge of the
Philistine for the contest, David
had to overcome the opposition of his
brothers, who, by sneers and ridicule,
tried to crush his confidence and pre-
vent his volunteering to meet the
representative of the Philistines. He
turned aside their rebukes with a soft
answer and continued by his in
quiries to reveal his confidence in his
own power to conquer Goliath, until
finally Saul heard of him and sum-
moned David for conference.
David's offer to fight was free from
all thoughts of the rewards offered
by Saul. for the motives that inf1u-
enced the shepherd lad were patriotic
and religious. When the king who
evidently had forgotten how David's
music had relieved his attacks of
acute melancholia. questioned the
young volunteer David proved that
youth. but was inspired by a reason
able faith due to his previous VIC
tories.
His confidence was based on the
fact that on two occasions when, he
was outclassed in brute strength he
mad won. Once he had killed lion
that had taken a lamb from his
fathers flock, and upon another oc-
cas1on, when bear had tried to do
the same thing, David was given
power from above to slay the bear
He, would not enter the. battle in
ms own power, but that of Jehovah's,
for it was the Lords battle and,
trusting in Him for help. David pro-
posed to fight the -Philistine He be-
| lieved that the end would be a vic
tory for him because it was a battle
between the gods of Goliath and Je-
hovah. 1t was not a contest between
| the giant and the shepherd lad who
offered to enter the contest on behalf
of his nation and God His faith
won the approval finally of the king.
who, having had no other champion,
accepted the offer of David.
Faith does not despise means When
Saul offered the young champion the
! use of the kings armor, SO that the
PhiliStine could be met on his own
ground. David tested it and then dis
carded it. because he could not fight
in the heavy equipment of Saul He
x
with weapons that he could use to
the best advantage: He was skilled
| in the. use of the sling. He deter
mined to use it. He had learned how to
throw the pebble with a sling, so that
! he could always hit the TARGET He did
stones, but God. He proposed to do
his very best and leave the results
with his Lord
Goliath derided the STRIPPING lad
who came forth. to meet him in the
power of Jehovah. He. disdained to
meet him at first in a battle for SUI
premacy. He despised as men did
the Christ When he realized that
David meant business he became
| angry, because the only weapon that
he saw his opponent carry was his
staff. or club, that was used by shep-
flocks. He. did not see his invisible
armor of faith He der;ded and
cursed him for thinking of trying
to fight. When Goliath made it a con-
test between his gods and Jehovah
he was doomed. In battle between
David and the Philistine giant that
would, call for. the personal exertion
of brute force the youth would not
have been match for the giant. Da-
vid recognized his dependence upon
God, and in His power went forth to
win a victory that has thrilled all
ages.
David won with the first stone that
he sent from his sling. The gladiator
fell David had entered the contest in
faith and with prayer he had whiri-
ed the sling that sent the smooth
stone with whiz until it had struck
with a thud upon the skull of Goliath
In the name of God and for His glory
David had won great victory. 1t was
unexpected by those who watched the
contest. and in few moments IT
changed completely the attitude of
both nations Goliath's defeat was
recognized as a divine Judgment sent
upon the Philistines, who. seeing their
champion die upon the battlefield
turned and fed before the army OF
Israel that pressed them hard In the
nursuit of the enemy David took no
mart. He returned with the trophy Of
victory to Saul and became hence
forth a member of the court OF Israel
His faith in God had changed the
destiny of not only his nation, but
also his own life.
one of the first results of David S
,..;on 70 the court was the friend