The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1892, Page 14

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David and Goliath.

You surely know the Bible story which our
picture illustrates. It is the story of David
and Goliath. We read it in the seventeenth
chapter of the first book of Samuel.

The army of the Philistines and the army of
the people of Israel were arrayed in battle
against each other. The Philistines stood on
&@ mountain on. the one-side, and Israel stood
on a mountain on the other side, a valley be-
ing between them. And there was a champion
in the army of the Philistines, named Goliath.
He was tall like a giant, and very strong. He
wentout of thecamp every day, and challenged
the people of Israel saying, ‘Choose you a man
for you, and let him come
down to me. If he be able
to fight me, and to kill me,
then I will be your ser-
vant; but if I prevail
against him, and kill him,

then shall ye be our ser-
yants, and serve us.”’

Now, no one in the army

of Israel dared to fight
that man Goliath. But
David, a young and rather
small Jad, who had just
come to the army to visit

his brothers, one day
heard that big man brag
and challenge any one in
Israel to fight with him.
And he got five smooth
stones out of a brook, and
took a sling into his hand,
and in the name of God
went out to fight with
Goliath. The big man
laughed scornfully when

he saw little David coming
towards him. But David
slang a stone, and that stone struck the Philis-
tine on his forehead that he fell to the earth
on his face. Then David ran up, and took the
Philistine’s sword and slew him, and cut off his
head. ‘hus David had won the victory, and
the Philistines fled. But the men of Israel
arose, and shouted, and rejoiced. Why were
they so glad? What had they to do with that
victory? Why, do you not see, David was
their representative in that fight, he stood

in their place, and therefore Dayid’s vic-

» tory was the victory of the whole people of

Israel.

_ There is an Easfer lesson to be learned from
_ ourstory. Christ is our David. He was our
» fepresentative in the great battle against Sa-
‘tan. In mighty battle He conquered our en-
my; for the Easter tidings tell us that on the
‘third day he came forth triumphantly from
srave. Our David has won the victory,
His victory is our victory. Let us be glad!
id has triumphed over our enemy,

is triumph is our triumph. Let us re-

“They must not Rise.”

Mr. Moffat, the missionary, went to pay a
visit to the African chief, several hundred
miles inland from the missionary station at
Latakov, in South Africa. The name of the
chief was Macaba. He was a great warrior,
and was the terror of his enemies. In one of
his conversations with this man of war and
blood, while seated with fifty or sixty of his
headmen and ‘‘rainmakers’’ around him, the
missionary spoke of the resurrection of the
dead.

““What!’’ cried the chief, starting with sur- |
prise; ‘‘what are these words about the dead? |

The dead—the dead rise?’

“tYes,”’ said the missionary, ‘‘all the dead

shall rise.’”

“Will my father rise?’’

**Yes, your father will rise.’’

“Will all the slain in battle rise?’’

‘tYes,??

‘Will all that have been eaten by lions,

tigers, and crocodiles rise?’

“Yes, and come to Judgment.’’
*‘Hark!’” shouted the chief, turning to his

warriors; ‘‘ye wise men, did your ears ever
hear such strange and unheard-of news? Did
you ever hear such news as this?" turning to
an old man, the wise man of his tribe.

“Never,”’ said the old man. “I thought I

had all knowledge, but I am confounded by
these words. He must have lived long before
we were born.’”

The chief then turned and said to the mis-

sionary, laying his hand on his breast, ‘‘Ka-
ther, I love you much.
my. heart white as milk. The words of your
mouth are sweet like honey; but the words
of a resurrection are too great for me. I do

Your visit has made

The Lutheran Pioneer.

a

not wish to hear about the dead rising again ;
the dead can not rise; the dead shall not rise.”’

‘Tell me, my friend,’’ said the missionary,
“‘why must I not speak of the resurrection.’

Lifting his arm, which had been so strong
in battle, as if grasping a spear, the chief said,
“TI have slain my thousands; and shall they
rise ?—shall they rise?’

In the consciousness of his sin, the thought
of meeting his slain overwhelmed and fright-
ened the chief. And, oh, itis a terrible thought
to every unbeliever that he.shall meet again
all whom he has injured, neglected,- and de-
stroyed.

s+ oa oo >

Unbelief.

Methinks the tale of
Calvary is enough to break
a rock. Rocks did rend
when they saw Jesus die.
Methinks the tragedy of
Golgotha is enough to
make a flint gush with
tears, and to make the
most hardened wretch
weep out his eyes in drops
of penitentiallove; but yet
we tell it you, and repeat

it? Who cares about it?
Sirs, you sit as uncon-
cerned as if it did not sig-
nify to you. Oh! behold
and see, all ye that pass
by. Is it nothing to you
that Jesus should die?
You seem to say, “‘It is
nothing.”” What is the
reason? Because there is
unbelief between you and
thecross. If there were not
that thick vail between you and the Saviour’s
eyes, His looks of love would melt you. But
unbelief is the sin which keeps the power of
the Gospel from working in the sinner; and it
is not until the Holy Ghost strikes that unbe-
lief out: it is not till the Holy Spirit rends
away that infidelity, and takes it altogether
down, that we can find the sinner coming to
put his trust in Jesus.—C. S.

/_ s——- ome:

“He lives, He lives!”’

When Luther, in his sore trials, at times
became sad and gloomy, he comforted and
cheered himself with these words: He lives.
He would often write them in large letters
with chalk upon his table. Yea, upon all the
doors and sides of his room he would write:
He lives, He lives, He lives! Upon being
asked what he meant thereby, he said, ‘‘JEsus
Lives! and if He did not live, I would not wish
to live a single hour. But because He lives,
we also shall'live through Him, as He Himself
says: ‘I LIVE, AND YE SHALL LIVE ALSO!?’*-

it oft, but who weeps over ”

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