The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-07-16
LESSON FOR JULY 10
DAVID SPARES sAUL's LIFE

LESSON TEXT Sam. %.
| GOLDEN TEXT-Love your enemies, DO
good to them that hate you.-Luke 6:27
ADDITIONAL WATERFALL Sam. "a.
PRIMARY TOPIC-The Man Who>Was
Kind to His Enemy.
JUNIOR TOPIC-"Paying Back"
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Overcoming Evil With Good
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Treatment of Wrongdoers.
!. Saul in Pursuit Of David wv. 1-3).
Ever since David took his departure
from Jonathan Och. 2O), when that
crowning act of friendship was
shown. Saul had been hunting him as
wild animal. He now pursues him
with 1900 chosen men. David fees
from place to place, hiding as an out
law. Sometimes he is in the enemies
country doing disreputable things
This is the period Of his schooling
which fitted him to be the eminent
king that he was. 1t was bitter
period in his life, but God sent him
to this school and adapted the in
struction to his needs. David never
could have been the broad man that
he was. had he not been prepared IN
this crucibe of bitter experience. His
wading deeply into trouble adapted
him to write psalms suited to all men,
in all ages, and under all conditions.
His life swung through the arc OF
human experience, touching the high
est point of fame and dipping to the
depths of sorrow, and shame. Then,
personally, he learned many lessons,
among which may be mentioned:
/. His own weakness. It was nee
essary that he be humbled under the
sense of his infirmities. Unless man
has learned this lesson, sudden eleva-
ton to power will utterly ruin him.
2. His dependence upon God
David's many miraculous escapes
caused him to realize that the LORD
had redeemed him out of his adver-
sity. His hiding places An the rocks
gave him much of his imagery for the
psalms.
3. He learned the country and peo-
pie over which he was to rule. BY
knowing the grievous Affections which
Saul had heaped upon the people he
could sympathize and remove them.
4. He learned the magnanimity of
self-control. This a man must know
before he can be true king. He that
ruleth his spirit is better than he that
taketh a city prov. 1922.
II. Saul in David's Hands wv. 4-2O).
l. David sends out spies ". ~.
This he did to find out as to whether
Saul was come in very deed.
9. David at Saul's camp wv. 5-1D.
He took with him Abishi and went IN
the night to where Saul was sleeping.
Abishi asked to be allowed to XIII
Saul, but David forbade him because
Saul was the Lords anointed.
3. David takes Sauls spear and
cruise of water wv. II, 13). Once be- !
fore at Engedi (ch. 24) David spared
Saurs life. Now again he was at his
mercy. This he did that he might !
show tangible evidence to the king
that he had no evil intent
4. David taunts Abner, the kings |
bodyguard wv. 14-16). He calls to
Abner and taunts him for his listless- |
ness-his failure to watch over the
Lords anointed, the evidence of which !
is the cruise and the spear in his |
hands.
5. David reasons with Saul wv. IT, |
2O). When Saul recognized David's |
voice, David began to reason with |
him, showing that he had nothing but !
good intentions toward the king. He
asked that he would show what wrong |
he had done or what evil intent was
in his heart. David is very humble !
and begs Saul to relent, for surely If |
he had any wicked purpose he would |
not have saved his life twice when the -:
Lord had placed Saul wholly at his
mercy. David had peculiar regard for |
the Lords anointed., He recognized
the fact that the Lord had delivered
Saul into his hands not to kill, but to- |
save.
III. sauIs Confession wv. 21-25).
1. He confessed that he had sinned. |
The sad feature about his confession !
is that it lacked conviction, for he |
went right on SHINING. This is the |
great trouble with people. They are !
willing to confess that they are sin |
ners, but still they 60 on SHINING.
g He confessed that he had played !
the fool and erred exceedingly. We !
see about US daily many using such |
expressions, but still they go on re- |
peating their sins. David shows his |
magnanimity of spirit, however, in de- |
livering the cruise and the spear to |
Saul's servant. He knew that Saul's |
confession was not genuine, so he vas |
afraid to go near. He knew the cum !
ming of that old fox. He still appeals |
to Saul's kindness to him, and they |
part never to meet again.