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prise seemed utterly desperate. A sin gle stone hurled from above would stretch them crushed and helpless on the valley below, and what were a couple of young men to do when con fronted with a whole garrison? There was hut one point of view in which there was a possibility of success? The Lord God might favor the enterprise.— Blaikie. v. 9. If they say tarry. It has been suggested that the reply would show that the Philistines were brave men and Jonathan would give up the enterprise as impossible, hut in view of v. 6 it is clear that the sign was purely an ar bitrary one.— Dummelow. v. 12. Come up to us. Meaning that they would cause them to repent of their audacity. This was the favor able sign Jonathan had requested.— Treas. Scr. Knowledge. We will show you a thing. And after such a boast they showed them their heels.— Torrey. Commonly they use their feet for de fense whose tongue is their weapon.— Sidney. v. 13. Jonathan climbed up. They did what they had planned. Some com mittees resolve and then dissolve, but in this case they made the enemy dis solve.— Eliott. Faith is not afraid of hard work. It proves itself , by its works. (Jas. 2:15-17).— Davis. True bravery is shown by performing with out witnesses what one might he cap able of doing before all the w o r ld s Roche. They fell before Jonathan. The soul that reckons on God cannot he ashamed.—Devo. Com. Their arms perhaps were not at hand and for any thing they knew, a whole host of He brews might be hastening after their leaders to complete the work. Part of the garrison taking to flight spread a panic. Their terror was increased by an earthquake, (v. 15). Thus won derfully was Jonathan’s faith rewarded and Saul’s unbelief rebuked—Watson. Those who will not fear the eternal God He can make afraid of a shadow. (Prov. 21:1; Is. 33:14).—Henry. Jjg A Story of a Brave Prince. 1 Samuel 14:1-23. Memory Verse: “ Fear not; for I am with thee.” Isa. 43:5. Approach: How many of you boys
adhered to the forms of religion hut he had too much resemblance to the church of Sardis. “ Thou hast a name that thou livest and art dead.”— Bible Exp. v. 4. There was a sharp rock. Faith is worthless until it encounters rocks. (Jer. 33:3).—Muller. v. 6. Let us go over. The action viewed in itself was rash and contrary to all established rules of military dis cipline which do not permit soldiers to fight or to undertake any enterprise that may involve important conse quences without the order of the gen erals.— J. F. & B. It may be. This expression did not imply doubt. It sig nified simply that the object he aimed at was not in his own power hut it de pended on God and that he expected success neither from his own strength nor his own merit.-—Jamieson. The Lord will work. Happy are they who can rise above depression and misfor tune into the clearer heaven of fellow ship with God, allying their weakness with His might, their ignorance with His wisdom.—Meyer. He who brings in God as his resource has already won the victory.— Cook. There is no re straint. God delights to use weak things. (1 Coy. ;1:26, 29,).— Cole. Where there is a promise of defense and support, the weakest in the face of the strongest enemy may rely upon it with the utmost confidence. (Deut. 32:30; Judges 7:4-7; Ps. 115:1-3; Rom. 8:31).— Canne. To save by many or few. This is a truth easily granted in general— that it is all alike to om nipotence what the instruments are by which it works, and yet it is not so easy to apply. When we are few and feeble, then to. believe that God cannot only save us hut save by us, this is faith which shall obtain a good report. —Henry. v. 7. I am with thee. Would that Christians today were as ready to say to their leader in the plans that God has given, “ Do all that is in thine heart. I am with thee.”— Torrey. They were in blessed unity. They cast them selves upon the Lord and let Him de cide what they were to do.— Gaebilein. This armorbearer was a true soldier. He was seeking no leave of absence to attend the annual military ball. (2 Tim. 2:3, 4).^-Eliott. We get to know best what men are in their worst jeop- ardies.— Daniels. v. 8. We will pass over. The enter
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