Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1920-07-09
IMPHovEp uNlroRk INTERNATIONAL
SUNlNSGlOOL
LESSON
(By REV. p. b. FITZWATER. ID. D..
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago)
tCopyriEht. 1870. Western Newspaper Union) }
LESSON FOR JULY II
JONATHAN BEFRIENos DAVID.

LESSON TEXT Sam. 20.
GOLDEN TExT-A friend loveth at an
times; and a brother Is born for adver-
sity.-Prov. 17:17.
ADDITIONAL. WATERFALL Sam Is;
1-5, 17-3o: 1e:i-4.
PRIMARY TOPIC-A Story of Two
Friends.
JUNIOR TOPIC-David and His Friend.
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOPIC
Friendships That Are Worth While.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Friendship: What 1t Is and What 1t
Does.
The friendship between Jonathan
and David Is peculiar in that 1t oc-
CURED between two men of rival
worldly interests. Jonathan was the
crown prince. the heir to the throne.
David was the heir according TO divine
choice and arrangement. Jonathan
knew this and magnanimously waived
his natural personal rights TO the one
whom he knew that God had chosen.
Following the interview of Saul and
David after the victory over Goliath,
Jonathan's soul was knit with that of
David. He loved him as his own soul.
While there was mutual love. yet this
pleasing trait stands out more In Jona-
than than in David. because 1t meant
great loss to him-the loss of the
throne, but immense gain to David
the acquisition of the throne to which
he had no natural right. The genuine
friendship was shown:
!. BY Giving to David His Court
Robe and Equipment OS:A.
- -. Inv, Nlaa
crown prince. Following the love-cove-
nant between them (1S:3) Jonathan
stripped himself of these and gave
them to David. This act was virtual
abdication in favor of David. Love
seeketh not her own" Il Cor. 13 :5).
u. BY Defending David Against the
Frenzy of Saul Il Sam. 19:1-6).
According to oriental custom, the
women met David and his soldiers as
they were returning from their victory
over the Philistines. and with singing
and dancing they ascribed more praise
to David than to Saul. This stirred
up the murderous envy of Saul and
moved him to thrice attempt to kill
David In his third attempt Jonathan
defended David before his father and
evoked from him the oath that David
should not be slain t19:6). Thus he
exposed himself to the anger of his in
furiated father, for David's sake.
When one is willing to lay down his
life for another he proves that his
friendship is real. Greater love hath
no man than this that a man lay down
his life for his friends" tJohn 10 :13).
III. BY Revealing to David Saul's
Murderous Intent q Sam. 20 :30-40).
The beginning of a new moon was
celebrated by sacrifices and feasting,
at which all the members of the family
were expected to be present ". o..
Davids excuse for absence was to go
home 10 attend the yearly sacrifice Of
.,.e earrre family. This annual feast
was more important than the monthly
feast.
Matters were now so serious that
they renewed the covenant between
themselves. In Its renewal the terms
were projected beyond the life of
Jonathan wv. IA. 15). Saups anger
was now so fierce that for Jonathan
to be found in company with David
was dangerous thing, so he cleverly
plans 10 give David n sign by which
he could know Sauls purpose. We
prove our friendship by warning those
who are exposed to danger. David's
heart responded to Jonathan's love by
pledging himself to deal faithfully
with Jonathan and his seed forever
Later history proves that this was
faithfully carried out III Sam. Z. 81.
Some Observations on Friendship:
l. Friendships should be made while
the parties are young-while the
hearts are capable of being knit to-
gether.
. Real friends are few; therefore
be careful in the formation OF the ties
of friendship. Friends should be Sc
lected. We should love everybody, but
we can have but few friends.
g. There should be some variations
in the temperaments In those who
would be friends. Friendships should
he formed for the purpose OF mutual
ly helping each other. Both parties
however, must possess real merit.
4. Both parties must be God-fearing.
David and Jonathan both recognized
their obligation to the Lord and that
his help was essential to the welfare
of both. Without deep religious life
there can be no friendship. There are
times when one party must absolutely
renounce his interests in behalf of the
other Genuine love is the basis Of sill
friendship.