Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-12-05

BY REV. j o. SHERBURN


Dec 18th: David sparing his Enemy-I. Sam. 2i-l7-
After Dlvid's interview with Jonathan.
rs given in the last lesson, he set forth
upon II life OF adventure, hardship and
peril At first he h,l bat few followers,
and with them made haste to qait the
country. FIRST hs went to the king OF the
PnllstInes, but his ime was too well
known there TO make it safe for him 10
rem lin Aferw lrds he returned to his
native conntry. and was secretcd for
time in the cave of Adullam Here his
father family come to him, probtbly
fe,ring that Saul's anger at David might
b vente upon them. Here also larger
NUMBER of men gathered about him. Men
of the dangerous and discontented classes,
as the previous chapter informed us.
From thence he went to the land of Moab
and put his family under the protection of
the king of Moab. Again he returned to
Judea to deliver Il city which was beset by
the Phillstines, and for a time dwelt in
strongholds in the wilderness of u phi.
BY the Information of the Inhabitants his
lurking place was made known to Saul
and he was obliged to 60 elsewhere. Al
length, hunted from every hiding place.
he came and dwelt in the rocky iastnesses
west of the dead sea. called here the
wilderness of Engedi. The name sgnti-s
"the fountain of kid" By wilderness, ,
as used in Scripture we are 10 understand
will lands not suited to culture, but of
more or less value as public pasture
grounds.
In this locality travellers at present find
n large number Of caves in the soft lime
rock of the region. These caves are to
the present time. used as Enclosures where
the flocks, sheep or goats, are kept for
protection during the night time. Some
times the inclusure is almost wholly
natural, and the goatherd lays him down
with his dog at the mouth of the cave
into which his flock had been driven, and
in other cases yard is built up about the
entr lnce in which the flock is kept. while
the shepherd finds shelter from the wind
and the storm within the cave. To some
such place as tht, Saul came in his search
for David. He seems to have had no
suspicion that any human habitants were
within the cave, but possibly findlng some
rude bed he lay down to rest. This is the
real meaning of the term "cover his feet"
see Ruth 3 A.. David and his men, deep.
er within the cave, could easily observe
what was going on ne'r the mouth, while
Saul and his men would be unable TO see
them by reason of the dense darkness
within. When the followers of David
saw the deenceess condition of their
pursuer they were ready to suggest to
their lea er ha the favorable time for
revenge and deiverance had com,. But
d avid wa, of too brave and upright natur.
to take a mean advantage of his foe. II
on drew near 10 the king and cut off
the skirt or fringe Of his ingly robe
DAVID dJubtles, had in mind the appeal
which lie afterward made to Sui in his
own vindication, and W shed some visible
proof o, his own righteous m ,gnanimitv in
sparing his b tier elemy because he was
the Lords anonled. The test of real
greatness, through which David here
passed successfully, was Il more severe
one than that other one when he met and
conquered Goliath S,ul, his enemy. had
now bee me obnoxious to large part f
his subjects. The kingdom would be
much IN ire tranquil and hopeful under
David than under Saul. David might a
once end his vagabond life and enter upon
such life ofdigniy and qualification as an
enthusiastic people could bestow. More
than this the desperate men who followed
him could hardly be satisfied with any
thing other than the life of their enemy
For in linking their fortunes with those of
David they had really made themselves
enemies of Saul and Saul their bitterest
foe. 1t is marvel that discipline pre-
vailed over these law less men and kept
them from doing what their leader was too
noble and conscientious t. do. But such
is the power of Godliness! 1t not only keeps
from sin the man who breaches it, but it
puts mighty unaccountabe restraint
upon those who are associated with him.
After S,ul hal taken his rest and
escaped from D lvid, then would come the
time Of complaint and mutlny among his
followers. We have no intimation that
David feared anything of this kind, but
his fear of having done wrong to the
king led 10 an action which naturally
averted anv discomfort or uprising among
his men. When Saul was leaving, intent
on finding David that he might slay him,
David boldly went after him. and called
to him, and as n loyal subject prostrated
himself before his king, and successfully
vindicated his own loyalty and innocency.
He attributes Saul's rage against him to
false reports that have been made, and
bids the king to see with his own eyes
that he has no evil purpose against him.
In his rapid and impassioned pleading he
addresses the king as father, and holding
up The fragment cut from the royal robe
is thus able to show that he has had no
thought of harmng the king. "Yet thou
huntcsL my soul 10 take it," he says. lie
then solemnly appeals TO God, and declares
that God will take the case into his own
hands and Judge and avenge, but that he
will not be guilty of lifting hand asalns'
,no King. David by this address, bold
frank and manly, accomplished more
than he could have done with the sword
Saul was overcome, and none OF bis
followers could say that their leader lacked
courage or adronness. All that was noble
ana true it, the nature of Saul appears 10
have returned and asserted Itself. HE
wept at ,ne thought OF his own baseness