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Wednesday
The First
Lesson
1 Samuel 20:24-39
24 So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was
come, the king sat him down to eat meat.
25 And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon
a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's
side, and David's place was empty.
26 Nevertheless
Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something
hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.
27 And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day
of the month, that David's place was empty: and Saul said unto
Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat,
neither yesterday, nor today?
28 And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of
me to go to Bethlehem:
29 And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a
sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to
be there: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let
me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh
not unto the king's table.
30 Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said
unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I
know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion,
and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?
31 For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou
shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send
and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.
32 And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him,
Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?
33 And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan
knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.
34 So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did
eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for
David, because his father had done him shame.
35 And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out
into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little
lad with him.
36 And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which
I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.
37 And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which
Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is
not the arrow beyond thee?
38 And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay
not. And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his
master.
39 But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew
the matter.
1st Lesson Questions -
What did Saul mean in verse 26, "Something hath befallen him, he is not clean ..."? (see Leviticus 15:16; Deuteronomy 23:10ff) RESOLVE.
The Second
Lesson
Luke 20:9-26
9 Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain
man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went
into a far country for a long time.
10 And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that
they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen
beat him, and sent him away empty.
11 And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also,
and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.
12 And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and
cast him out.
13 Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will
send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they
see him.
14 But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves,
saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance
may be ours.
15 So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What
therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?
16 He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give
the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God
forbid.
17 And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written,
The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the
head of the corner?
18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but
on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
19 And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought
to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived
that he had spoken this parable against them.
20 And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign
themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words,
that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of
the governor.
21 And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest
and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any,
but teachest the way of God truly:
22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?
23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why
tempt ye me?
24 Show me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They
answered and said, Caesar's.
25 And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things
which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.
26 And they could not take hold of his words before the people:
and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.
2nd Lesson Questions -
Is the parable of the vineyard applicable today? How so? RESOLVE.