saw that their God fought for them, and they ran after the Philistines, and the Philistines tried to run away: but the Israelites overtook a great many of them, and killed them. David showed the head of the Philistine to a great many of the Israelites, and he kept the armour that the Philistine had worn. Did David thank God for helping him to conquer the giant? O yes, he sang God's praises and played upon his harp. David did not wish people to praise him; he wished everybody to praise God.* He wished all people to say, "How great God is! he helped the poor young shepherd to conquer the great giant." Proud people wish to be praised: but people who love God, wish people to praise God. If God helps you to be good, my dear children, you ought to praise God for helping you to be good if you remember things you are taught, you ought to praise God for help *Thou hast delivered me from the violent man. Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name." Ps. xviii. 50. ing you to remember. What do you say in the Lord's Prayer about praising God? You say, "Hallowed be thy name," which means, "Let God's name be praised." Upon those hills two armies stand The shepherd youth has rais'd his hand A stone which from the brook he fetch'd It was the pow'r of God alone, And now he wakes the harp's sweet tone, Those armies too, that waiting stood The wondrous vict❜ry see; O that all nations now would own giant Goliath. David was brought to Saul, that Saul might speak to him. He came in with the giant's head in his hand. Then Saul said to David, "Whose son are you, young man?" And David answered, "I am the son of Jesse, who lives at Bethlehem." While Saul was talking to David, there was a person standing near, whom you have not heard of before; it was the son of Saul. He was a grown-up man, very brave, and very good; his name was Jonathan; he was a prince, because he was the king's son; and the king's son is called a prince. Jonathan began to love David very much indeed. What could make Jonathan love David so much? I think he loved David because David was so brave and so good. David had also a very sweet look. Still it was God made Jonathan love David so much. Jonathan told David that he loved him, and they both promised always to be kind to each other. Jonathan gave his own clothes to David, and wore other clothes, and he also gave him his sword, and his bow. Saul told David that he must not go back G to live with his father again, but that he must stay with him. So David and Jonathan saw each other very often. How much that must have pleased them, for friends like to be together. Perhaps you think that David now was very happy. But there was one thing that soon happened to make him sad. I will tell you what it was. Saul, After the Philistines had been killed in the battle, the Israelites went back to their homes, and did not live in tents any more. and Jonathan, and David went to the place where the king lived. As they were going along, they saw a great many women, with harps in their hands, and these women played as they went, and sang, and danced. They were singing about David, and how he had killed the Philistines, and they said in their song that David had killed a great many more men than Saul. These are the words they sang, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” Do you think that David liked to hear these songs? No. David did not wish to be praised. He wished God to be praised. |