Lesson. David fought in the name of the Lord, trusted in His strength, and sought His glory. How can we imitate him? All sin, all evil, is the enemy of the Lord: we must fight against them in His strength and seeking His glory, and He will make us more than conquerors.
Different Objects.
1. 1. Object, a Leaf. Children, what do I hold in my hand? A leaf. What can you tell an about it? One says it has form; others, color, substance, length, breadth, thickness, branches in its frame like the tree, all different, etc., etc. What is a leaf? The clothing of trees. Gen. viii. 11.
2. What does the Bible say about a leaf or leaves? Shall not wither, Ps. i. 3—be green, Jer. xvii. 8—not fade, Ezek. xlvii. 12—fadeth, Is. i. 30—sewed fig-leaves, Gen. iii. 7—cast their leaves, Is. vi. 13—fair, Dan. iv. 12, 21—nothing but leaves, Mark xi. 13—putteth forth leaves, Mark xiii. 28. Enlarge and illustrate any points.
3. See Rev. xxii. 2: And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
See bad, poisonous leaves. Upas tree, poison-ivy, etc.
See good leaves.—Sassafras, balsam, wintergreen, etc.
The leaves of the Bible are for the healing of the nations, etc.
Corrupt leaves or bad books blight and destroy.
II. Object, a Grapevine with cluster of fruit. Cut branch will not unite again with the vine. Prune so as to produce fruit, otherwise will run to leaves. Taste of good fruit. See fruits of the Spirit, Gal. v. 22, love, joy, peace, etc. How bear such, etc.