The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1927-07-28
Lesson for July 81
DAVID AND JONATHAN

DAVID AND JONATHAN
LESSON TEXT Samuel 1914;
1917. 4
GOLDEN TEXT-There is a friend
that sticketh closer than a brother.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Two Good Friends.
JUNIOR TOPIC-David and Jona-
than.
INTERMEDIARY AND SENIOR TOP.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-The Obligations Of Friendship. y
The friendship Of David and Jona[t
than has become immortalized in the;
worlds thought. 1t was unique in
that it occurred between two men Of
rival worldly interests. Jonathan was
the crown prince, the heir to the
throne. David was heir according to
the divine choice and arrangement
Jonathan knew this and magnanimous-'
~ waived his natural personal rights
to the one he knew God had chosen. 4
! !. Friendship Established Between;
David and Jonathan Il Sam. 1910,
i. Love at Sight wv. p. {
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, this.
pleasing trait stands out more prom.
inently in Jonathan than in David
because it meant great loss to him,
the loss of the throne; while it meant
immense gain to David, the acquisition
OF the throne to which he had no nat.
ural right. Z
2. Covenant established wv. 3, ~.
Following the love covenant be-
tween them, Jonathan stripped himself
of his court robe and his equipment
and gave them to David. This act
was a virtual abdication of the throne
to David. 4
II. Jonathan Defended David
Against sauPs Frenzy Il Sam. 19:1-O.
David went into the battle with
Goliath out of zeal for God and true
religion-not for personal glory, but
it turned out as always that because
he made God first, God honored him.
Upon David'S return from victory
over the Philistines, according to ORR
entail custom he was met by a tri-
umphal chorus of women from all the
cities Of Israel chanting praises to
him for his victory over their enemy.
They ascribed more praise and honor
to David than to Saul. These women
seemed to sing as answering chants.
The one sang, saul has slain his
thousands" the other answered, "and
David his ten thousands" To hear
sung the praises of a shepherd boy
surprising his own was too much for
Saul. 1t aroused murderOus envy
which had been slumbering in his
heart and moved him twice to attempt
to kill David. This wickedness was
in his heart as a bitter feeling, but
this occasion famed it into a flame,
making it burning passion of evil.
In Saul's third attempt to kill David,
Jonathan defended him before his IA
Their and evoked from him the oath
that David should not be slain. He
thus exposed himself to the anger of
his Infatuated father for David's sake.
Ill. Jonathan Revealed to David
saul's Murderous Intent Il Sam.
20 :30-40). =
The beginning Of the new moon was
celebrated by sacrifices and feasting
at Which all the members of the fam
lily were expected to be present ". 81.
Davids excuse for being absent was
that he might go home to attend the
yearly sacrifice of the entire family.
The annual feast was more important
than the monthly feast. Matters were
now so serious that Jonathan and
David renewed the covenant between
themselves. In this renewal the terms
were broadened beyond the life of
Jonathan wv. A. 15). Sauls anger
was now so fierce that for Jonathan
to be found in Davids company was
most dangerous, so he cleverly planned
a sign by which he could make known
to David Saul's attitude and purpose.
We prove our friendship by warning
those who are exposed to danger.
David's heart responded by pledging
fidelity to Jonathan's seed forever.
This pledge was faithfully carried out
by David QI Sam. OF, 81. Concern
ing real friendship observe:
!. 1t should be made while both
parties are young, when the hearts
are capable of Being knit together.
2. Real friends are few. We should
be careful in the formation of friend
ships. For though we should love
everybody we can have but few friends.
Friendship should be formed for the
purpose of helping each other. There
can be no real friendship except where
merit is on both sides.
3. Real friendship can only be with
God-fearing people. Both David and
Jonathan recognized their obligation
to the Lord.