"And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth."

DAVID AND JONATHAN

4 5. DAVID AND JONATHAN. 1 Samuel 18:14; 19:1-7. Teacher's Aim. The aim is first to thoroughly master the story, and incidentally to glorify and idealize the relation of friendship.

1.

Brothers are bound up with each other before they are aware of it; but friends have to discover each other somewhere along the journey of life. Here is a story of how two famous friends found each other, and became knit together for life.

2. (a) After David had slain the giant Goliath, he was brought before King Saul, and received the king's praise and some of the rewards. And it came to pass when he made an end of speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan, the king's son, was knit with the soul of David; and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and also his sword, and his bow, and his girdle.

(b) After a while Saul had troubles, and he blamed David, and grew angry with him. And he spoke to Jonathan and to all his servants that they should slay David. But Jonathan delighted much in David, and told him, Saul, my father, seeketh to slay thee. Now hide thyself, and I will talk with my father of thee. And Jonathan spoke good of David to his father, Let not the king sin against his servant David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and his works have been very good. He put his life in his hand and smote the Philistine, and Jehovah wrought great victory for Israel. Wherefore wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause? And Saul hearkened to the voice of Jonathan, and said, He shall not be put to death. Then Jonathan called David and told him all, and brought him to Saul, and he was in his presence as beforetime.

3. It must be kept clearly in mind that the main feature in the teaching of these lessons is to have each pupil tell the

story in a free, accurate and connected narrative, not memorized verbally, but told from the impression of the events. Let the pupils select subtitles for each part, and after the whole story has been told, choose a title for it.

4. Conclusion. Friends like David and Jonathan can often put away strife by helping people to understand each other.

5.

6.

Text. The perverse is an abomination to Jehovah ;
But friendship is with the upright.
Proverbs 3:32.

Show a picture, such as Tissot's Friendship of David and Jonathan, O., 85.

7. Place in the notebooks the title, subtitles a and b, reference, conclusion 4, text 5, and the picture.

4 6. DAVID'S EXCUSE. 1 Samuel 20: 1-7; 24-32.

Teacher's Aim. The aim is to fix the story in the minds of all, and to secure a clear notion of the brotherly act proposed, and the falseness of the excuse.

1.

When brothers have been scattered they love to meet in the old home at Thanksgiving time.

2. (a) David had been for a good while a musician at the court of King Saul, and had a place at the king's table. There was to be a two-days' feast at the new moon, when the king's household, as well as all other families, came together for a good time. For some reason the king was again angry with David, and he was afraid to take his seat at the feast, and he also feared the king's wrath if he should be absent without permission. So David decided to hide in the woods until the feast should be over. He would rely upon his friend Jonathan, the king's son, to tell him what the king might say and do, and he would make up an excuse to the king.

DAVID'S EXCUSE

(b) David had come from a humble farmer's home, to live at the king's court. It would be a beautiful and brotherly thing for him to say, Let me get away and spend the feast with my brothers rather than in the king's court. So he said to Jonathan, If thy father miss me at all, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem, his city; for it is the yearly sacrifice for all the family. If he shall say, It is well, thy servant shall have peace; but if he be wroth, then know that evil is determined by him. And Jonathan said, Be thou in this place on the third day, and I will come to shoot at a mark. I will say to the lad, Go, find the arrows. If I say, The arrows are on this side of thee, know that there is peace. But if I say, They are beyond thee, go thy way; for Jehovah hath sent thee away. On the first day the king said nothing, but on the second he said, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat neither yesterday nor today? Jonathan gave him David's excuse as planned, and Saul was wroth and said, As long as the son of Jesse liveth thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him to me, for he shall surely die.

3. Teach the parts of the story in the usual way, selecting subtitles a and b. Draw out opinions on the question, Can an excuse be a good one if it is not true?

4. Conclusion. The excuse of going home to see his brothers, which David sent to the king was beautiful but untrue.

5. Text. With lies ye have grieved the heart of the righteous. Ezekiel 13: 22.

6. Show a picture, such as Doré's David and Jonathan, Wilde, 478. Select a title for the lesson.

7. Place in the notebooks the title and subtitles, reference, conclusion 4, text 5, and the picture.