Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-11-21

BY REV. j q. SiIERBCRN.


ycxaiun whIch attended this honor. !
seems difficult to explain the seeming
forgetfulnrss of Saul that no did moi
recognise David who had been with him
at court only ii liltle time before. II
appear, almost certain, too, that Jona-
than did remember him, for stl Ct
construction of the first verse would no
necessarily lead to the c,nc'u Ion thai
Jonathan's affection for David sprung up
ius, II, ,ha particular time, hut 1t may S
vel be understood o mean that a former
attach II, nj was greatly slrengthen,d and
conf med. OF course, however, San
would recall his former knowledge OF
David us soon as he was informed whose
son he was. The love, strong and con
sislcnt. which jonathan had for David
marks noble and unusual character
Jonathan had 1aile as much reason 10 he
Jealous OF David's popularity as did his
father. Ii The hearts of the people went
after David, Jonathan was as much the
loser as Saul, tor in the natul al course Of
fathers place. 1t is not to be supposed hal
a this time either Saul or his son.knew thai
Dvd had been chosen as The next kin e,
but Saul knew that The king dom was to b,
ia en- from him, and was quite naturally
Jealous of any one who was becoming a
popular fay te.
The language marking Jonathan's afiec
ton is rem ukable; Le"loved him as his
own soul,'i e., as himself. This is thu
love eujoined toward all our fellows, and
is so seldom manifested, that, in cur
time, even, it is worthy of remark wheh
shown, Saul, though stung with ealousy,
saw that David was too valuable a man
to be spared from his presence, and s.
took him permanently 10 his court. At
covenant with each her, in which iona
than unwitingly lerf,rms an act which is
an exact pr phtcy of what God has
pul pesed concerning David. In clothing
DAVID wi n his own robe and armor Le
doubtlts, intended to signify that in tie
fullest sense he recosnlz al hm rs IN,
equal, but the act was Ie lily II prophecy
that David should come into his place ant
take the kingdom.
The fifth verse gives us a brief but veil
suggestive account of David s pro>ptrit
and promotion He became faithful
and valuable servant Of his king, and Wa.
soon promdled to a le ding place IN tn
armv.' NJ re than this the record afh III.
that he was popular among all the p ople
and SO amoug the ilicers of the kim
From such alemen we must conc 'ud
that David was possessed Of lare qualities
Of mind and manner. 1t cannot bt
accounted for that a young shepherd iro
the moun.alns should tax. such high ran
among older Ulcers, and that 80 sudd my
unless he had about HIM remark. 10"
powers. and manly traits. In The NIX
verses there seems to be a return 10 th'
events Immediately following The ovel
throw of the Pillstines, after Their cham,
pion was slain. Some, however, are
disposed to think that all the events
connected with his promotion took plac.
Immediately after DAvids exploit viii
Goliath, and during the campaign III
followed; and hence they think that thu
history AS we have it gives US the eXac
order of events. Be this as it may, th'
fame which his brave act brought him
became source of danger and suffering
TO him
As was natural the people of Israel fell
great Joy at the deliverance which haG
been wrought for them, and tul ned out 10
do honor to their dellverer. They might
have worded their song of gratitude diff
erentIy, and in a way that would not have
aroused the jealousy OF Saul SO much; bu
as simple. straight forward people they
gave honor where it was du.. Along III,
way by which the army returned the
women, (not dancing girls, but the pat
riotic wives and mothers Of 1SraeD came
out and hailed their deliVerer with music
song and dancing, responding to each
other saul has slain his thousands, and
natural that Saul should be vexed at such
language. He had already been soured in
his disposition by the declaration of Sam
uel that the kingdom should be taken
from him, and now TO have stripping"
shepherd praised more than he. the king,
was not 10 be endured
The feeling of the king toward David
after that time is very aptlv described 10y
the expression "he eyed David from that
day forward" He looked upon David as
bis rival in the affections of the people,
and secretly wished sometimes that he
was cut of the way. 1t is not easy to
unde, stand s;aul's mental condition at this
period. but it would appear that at times
morose and vicious disposition NANTES
ted Itself, which might be regarded MS "A
mental disease, the punishment for his
disobedience.
1t not unusual that man thwarted in
his designs, and failing IN his schemes.
becomes n,isanthropic and out of sort,
with things in general; and such moods
ar. likely to rucur from time to time,
usually with increasing violence. SAUL
disorder may III ve been only Of this sort.
or it may have been more directly "a visit
fton from the Lord. One thing is certain.
S;.ul's feeling toward David made him
unjust, unreasonable, and cowardlv. liz
hated and feared one who had only the
most loyal purposes in his heart liz
removed from his presence one of his
most faithful officers, and sent him oul
wi the army, il hope, no doub', that he
might he slain. But God was with David
and be had favor with all the people,
while God had Withdrawn from Saul and
it was evident that tho people felt little