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should find the new king of Israel in the house o f Jesse, and yet as each son passed before him, God said, “It is not he.” “Are these all your children?” Samuel asked. Then Jesse said, “There remains yet the youngest. And he keeps the sheep.” So they brought David in. He was just a little shepherd boy, but he was to grow up to be king over Israel, for God had chosen him. God had looked into his heart, and He saw that it was honest and pure, .and God knew that David would make a good king for His people.
First Jesse brought his oldest son before Samuel. How big and strong he looked! “ Surely,” thought Samuel, “this is the Lord’s choice.” But God spoke to Samuel and said, “Man looketh on the outward appearance but the Lord looketh on the heart.” So, because his heart was not good enough, Eliab was not chosen. Then the second son of Jesse stood be fore Samuel—and the third and the fourth and the fifth and the sixth and the seventh. But not one was the right one. What was the trouble? God had told Samuel that he
promise that his throne should endure forever (2 Sam. 7). V. T he N ational E xperience (Psa. 78:70-72). The whole psalm should be read. It is a psalm concerning David’s people rather than David’s person. It contains the na tional experience of David’s people before they would come to their appointed place of world-wide empire as being the head of the nations of earth. Lesson Questions 1 Sam. 16:4-7. What did the Lord tell Samuel to do (vs. 1-3) ? What later his tory proves that Samuel’s fears of Saul’s reaction were not fancied (1 Sam. 22:6- 19) ? Since Saul was still king, how would Samuel’s errand be naturally regarded? Where was David when Samuel “sanctified Jesse and his sons” ? How did the Lord correct Samuel’s mistake concerning Eliab (cf. Isa. SS :8) ? Vs. 8-12. What other prominent Bible characters were shepherds? (See Abel—■' Gen. 4 :4 ; Lot—Gen. 13:5 ; Rachel—Gen. 29:9 ; Joseph—Gen. 37:2 ; Moses—Ex. 3 :1.) What verses can you recall in which the Lord Jesus is referred to as a shepherd? (See Psa. 23;'Isa. 40:11 ; John 10:11 ; Heb. 13:20.) V. 13. What is typified by oil in the Scripture? What was the immediate re sult of David’s anointing? Psa. 78:70-72. What comparison and contrast of David’s early life and his later responsibilities are given in these verses? Golden Text Illustration “Man looketh on the outward appear ance, but Jehovah looketh on the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7). Through the utilization of the X-ray, the necessity of opening every oyster in the gathering o f pearls has ceased to exist at a pearl fishery in the Ceylon Islands. The oysters are arranged in batches of a hun dred on a moving platform or carrier, and are passed in succession under the rays and above a special paper devised for di rect radiography. Unless the subsequent development of the prepared paper betrays the presence of a pearl, the oyster is not opened. If the pearls discovered are small, the oysters containing them are replaced in their natural homes, and from time to time are reexamined until the pearls are large enough for commercial purposes. —P opular M echanics . A Shepherd Boy 1 S amuel 16:4-13; P salm 78:70-72 Memory Verse: “The Lord is my shep herd; I shall not want” (Psa. 23:1). Approach: After Saul had ceased to be a good king, it was the prophet Samuel’s work to find the new king which God had chosen for the children o f Israel. Lesson Story: God sent Samuel to the
SEPTEMBER 10, 1933 JONATHAN 1 S amuel , C hapters 18 to 20
Outline and Exposition I.
Lesson T ext: 1 Sam. 18:1-4; 20:35-42. Golden T ext: “A friend loveth at all times” (Prov. 17:17). Kingly Garments I n this country , we wear clothing for protection or as an ornament. In Bible lands, however, clothing has a social significance. We can always tell a person’s station in life by the clothing which he wears. His clothing is not determined so
J onathan ’ s L ove for D avid (18:1-3). For some time, Israel had been in bon dage to the Philistines whose dominion and power were represented by the giant Goliath. Until the giant’s challenge was met and his power broken, there could be no peace for Israel. But there was no one in the ranks of Israel who was ready or able to accept Goliath’s challenge and meet him in combat. It appeared that there was no hope of deliverance for Israel. Sud denly David appeared, and with his sling and smooth stone brought to an end the boasting of the giant and the dominion of the Philistines. When David returned from slaying Go liath and reported to Saul, Jonathan saw him and at once fell in love with him. There was something about David so at tractive to Jonathan that from that day forward he loved him as his own soul. It was this affection which formed the foun dation upon which rested all the service Jonathan delighted to render David through the years. The spiritual lesson lies upon the sur face. Our Lord Jesus Christ has come, and by the work of the cross He has brought to an end the power of Satan. He has risen from the dead as the victorious Conqueror, and as we see Him thus, we be come so enamored of Him that our service is gladly yielded. It is with such an affec tion that service must be rendered Him to satisfy the heart. The friendship which began that day be tween David and Jonathan continued through the years and closed only upon the death o f Jonathan in battle beside his fa ther Saul. Knowing what Saul was and that God had chosen David, Jonathan should have left Saul and cast his lot with David. But while he may have failed under the stress of the times, Jonathan ever proved himself David’s friend, and David’s recognition of this may be seen in his lament upon the death of Jonathan (2 Sam. 1 :17-26). H. J onathan ’ s P rophetic A ction with D avid (18:4). In stripping himself o f his robe and sword and girdle, etc., and bestowing them upon David, there was a prophetic mean ing. It indicated that David, and not Jon athan, should follow Jonathan’s father as king. Jonathan may have had no thought of such a future, but he did relinquish his own claims in favor of his friend David. David was not yet upon the throne, but as far as Jonathan was concerned, the place was his and was acknowledged in this action.
much by his eco nomic position as by h is social station. Sometimes his reli gious standing de termines the nature of his clothing also. T h o s e o f t h e farming c l a s s are called fellahin. The fellah wears a white
cloth over his head, which hangs down his back almost to the waist. This is held in place by a circular ring of heavy black rope which is placed around the head. The outer garment is a long robe of linen or cotton cloth, usually white, which hangs about to the ankles. Beneath this are white pantaloons, which are drawn in tight about the ankles, but which are quite baggy above. Those of the educated class are called affendi. An affendi wears European cloth ing, but his distinguishing characteristic is his hat. It is a brimless affair with a high, circular crown of brillfent red color. Usually there is a black tassel fastened to the top. The sheik is the religious leader of the community. He wears a skirt much like that of the fellah, but it is usually of wool and of some darker color. Frequently he wears a European coat over this skirt His distinguishing mark is also his head dress. This consists of a cap of red felt, with a black tassel which fits loosely on his head. He winds several rounds o f cloth around the brim o f this cap, forming a turban. The turban is the mark of the sheik. There are many other styles of clothing which indicate the social, religious, or po litical standing of their wearers. It is im portant to know that a person’s clothing is a mark o f' his station in life. When we realize this, we can understand the mean ing o f Jonathan’s act in stripping off his own clothing and putting it upon David. This clothing was the sign of royalty, the indication that its wearer was to be the next king. In this way, Jonathan showed his faith in Jehovah, and his confidence in David, his true friend.
h o m e o f a m a n named Jesse. Jesse lived in the town of Bethlehem, a n d it was here God said that Samuel should find the next king of Israel. S a m u e l didn’t k n o w yet himself who was to be king. He just knew that the king was to
come from the house of Jesse. So Samuel called together the household of Jesse.
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