Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1920-05-27

unto you and your children. and to all
that are afar off, even as many as the
Lord our God shall call.-Acts 2:39.
ADDITIONAL WATERFALL Sam. ID:
LIS
PRIMARY ToPIc-A Story Of Brave
Prince.
JUNIOR ToPIc-How Two Men Put an
Army to Flight
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Our Foes and How to Overcome Them.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Value of Initiative In Christian
Work
!. Israei's Reduced Condition tvv.
1-3).
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
4 their smiths; they only left them a file
to sharpen their instruments of hus-
bandry. This left them under the ne
eessity of going to the Philistines to
self was in hiding. Because he had
p"esumptuously intruded into the
priests office God rejected him. While
In this desperate condition God moved
Jonathan to go against the Philistines
~. Description of the Passaeeway
Between Israel and the PhiIistines
wv. A. 81.
Over against the way which Jona-
than and his armorhearer had to trav-
erse, on either side lay sharp rocks
called Bozez and Seneh. The opposing
camps were probably three miles
apart. Ii required great effort TO
scale the cliff. 1'llesfeat of Jonathan
and his armorbearer was one of the
most daring ever attempted.
III. Jonathan's Resolution to Go
Against the PhiIstines wv. 6-10)
l. JonathaD's summons to the young
man ". 81. Here the thought of verse
one Is resumed, verses two to five be-
ing parentbetical Jonathan did not
doubt but that the Lord was leading
BIN. He recognized his covenant re-
lationship with God, and therefore his
claim upon shim as against the uncir-
cumcised Phllistines, 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. 80 :30).
~n uyl.e <.F ut
bearer ". D.. He was actRated 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 Mart. 10,
~20).
3. Watching for he will of God wv.
1 S-10). Doubtless the same Spirit who
had moved Jonathan to go had in
structed him to watch for the Divine
4 leading. The sign that God would de.
q liver the Philistints into their hands
u was the invitation for Jonathan and
his companion to come up to the Phil
istines. They did not go forward until
Il the sign of divin" leading was given
II ~. Jonathan's Marvellous Victory
/ (yv. 11-16).
Il Being assured Gf the divine leading
n Jonathan with his armorbearer spr;,n=
n Reward saying that the Lord had de
b livered the enemy into the hands OF
# Israel. He did not say Into oul
III hands," but Into the hands Of Israel
&, This is a fine touch of humility; II
NJ shows that II was zeal for God, moi
NJ selfish ambition that impelled him tt
n go forth. God interposed by great
n earthquake, causing CONSERVATION
NJ among the Philistines, moving them Il
destroy each other. W
v. SauI's Foolish Behavior wv
N 17-46).
III /. His carnal zeal (vv. 1929. Aftel
N the Lord had given the victory at th'
II hands of Jonathan. Saul called for thu
ark of God to be brought, after which
j he went forth in pursuit of the enem.
y who had already been routed.
VI 2. His foolish obligation imposed
A (vv. 24-30). 1t was that curse woult
\ he upon any one of his soldiers wht
4 should stop to eat on that day. Fast
&ing is proper at times, but 1t was tn
height of folly to demand strenuou
Eseryice of his soldiers without tn
II necessary nourishment.
8. His determination to kill iona
a than. Jonathan not having heard thi
& rash oath. partook Of the honey as HI
~ PASSED through the woods and wa
~ Greatly refreshed. When this was re
kaorted TO Saul he wns about TO tax.
the life of his own son. who had 81
glorieusly wrought in the deliveranc
of his people.
Evidence of Thinos Unse en-.