The Sabbath-School by J. W. Scoles

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 26, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 33.

The Sabbath-School.

By J. W. Scoles

Notes on the International Lesson.

DAVID AND GOLIATH.

PROBABLY not many months had elapsed after the anointing of David by Samuel, as recorded in the last lesson, when the Philistines armed themselves to once more fight against the people of God. There had always been a feeling of enmity among the Philistines, against the Israelites, who had on several occasions suffered severely from their attacks. But since the time when Saul, filled with the Spirit of God, had so signally defeated the Ammonites soon after he took the kingdom, the children of Israel had been victorious in their conflicts with most of their enemies. As soon, however, as God removed his favor from Saul, the people seemed to lose courage, and when the Philistines, as related in the present lesson, gathered their forces and encamped in the valley of Shochoh, a few miles from Jerusalem, the children of Israel were sore afraid.

SELECTING from their ranks Goliath, a man of immense stature, probably ten or eleven feet in height, the Philistines sent him out as their champion and representative, rather than to risk a general battle. Had they known the weakness of the Israelites, they doubtless would not have parleyed so long with them, waiting for some one to meet Goliath, but would have at once fallen upon them. As it was, however, the Philistine placed himself before them, and for forty days tauntingly reproached them for their lack of courage.

SAUL was no longer being instructed of God, and therefore had not that faith which could expect divine interposition in his behalf. Israel also had been partakers in transgression with him, therefore they feared to engage in battle, having no hope that God would work for them and deliver the Philistines into their hands. A lack of faith always places God's people at a terrible disadvantage, and faith is impossible so long as we cherish and love the ways of sin.

GOD sometimes works for his own name's sake, through the instrumentality of his people, even when they have transgressed against him. In this case, the Philistines not only spoke against Israel, but reviled Israel's God as well, and rather than to allow an idolatrous nation to lift themselves up against the Ruler of the universe, God saved his people by refusing to allow dishonor to come upon his own great name.

PERHAPS nothing shows David's motive to be purely unselfish more plainly than the soft answer with which he replied to the charge of Eliab, his eldest brother, whose jealousy led him to taunt David with the inferiority of his occupation,—the tending of a few sheep in the wilderness. Recognizing the fact that God had chosen him for the

purpose of saving Israel, David's heart was full of courage and faith in the Lord. He felt that there was indeed a cause for decided steps to be taken, and, relying upon the strength of God, he was conscious of coming victory because of the justice of the work in which he proposed to engage.

THE arguments which seemed so weighty to Saul's mind against allowing David to fight the Philistine, were met with the strong yet simple faith of the young shepherd boy, who reasoned that the same God who had aided him when only a common lamb of the flock was in danger, would surely deliver the enemy into his hand, now that the honor of the living God was at stake. "The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine."

AND the Lord did deliver him. Not, however, as Saul expected the deliverance to come. The armor which he placed upon David was something he was unused to, so he put it from him, and with only his ordinary defence of a shepherd's staff and a sling, choosing five pebbles from the brook he went forth to meet the champion of the enemy, "in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel."

THE boldest defiance which can be offered by unbelief and sin, may be readily answered if we only have confidence in God. Instead of leading us to boast in human power, faith at once connects us with the strength of God. Because we cannot understand nor comprehend the way in which his strength is to be made manifest to us, is no reason why it should not be so. The part for us to do is to believe, whether we understand or not, and God will see that the way is opened for us, just as certainly as he opened the way for David of old.

IT is not necessary for the child of God to wear the armor of the world in order to defeat the world. Simple weapons become powerful means for the advancement of God's cause when wielded for the honor and glory of his name. The armor of the Christian consists of such simple things as truth, righteousness, peace, hope, prayer, and faith. These, in connection with the counsel which God has given us in his word, enable us to become partakers of the divine nature here, and to share at last the abundance of joy in the everlasting kingdom of God hereafter. J. W. SCOLES.