The National tribune., 1889-09-05
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Duiies Taught by n Study or the Inter-
national Sunday school Lesson Appointed for
Sept. Ii. SAM. "a :4-17.

ouBJECT: DANlD'B LENfFNCY lOWARD oAUb
IN THE CAVE OF ENGEDI.
/. Time.
The date of this lesson is A. M. 2943, or 1861
p. Z. Saul had been anointed for 81 years, and
Samuel had anonted David two years prior to
the lesson We go back $3.50 years. The spar
ing of Saul by David occurred 525 years more
after than before Chrsts birth.
2. Place.
| We find ourselves in the wilderness of En-
gedi (V. H. Saul was bitterly opposed to
David, and determined on taking the life of
Jesse's son. He was filed with envy of David
Oh account of the popularity of the youth,
| famous aud heroic. The cOnqueror Of Goliath
was hailed everywhere, and with reason, for
| he bad lifted off from the 1sraeites at peril
Gus moment the cruel yoke of the Philstnes.
Saul'5 iealously exceeded his admiration Of
| David The youth was forced to fee from the
court and palace and seek refuge in the caves
and behind rocks. Eugedi Is "a Hebrew word,
meaning the kids well, or the fountain of n
! kid. Engcdi was about ID miles southeast of
| Bethlehem and about 20 in the same direction
FROM Jerusalem. Engedi is named from the
| town Engcdi, and that from the brook Engcdi.
| The place was celebrated for its vineyards.
| Cant, ~ 1t was also famous for its balm.
| il Is mountainous, and the mountains have
| many caverDs. The region is fertile in palm
trees 1t is about midway west of the Dead
Sen, and not far from the coast. The modern
names are Ain Djcdy, Ain Jidy, or Jiddy. At
! the time the 1sraelites went into Canaan the
| place bore the name Ha2azon lamar. Though
| A. ID. 800 it was populous with Jews. il is now
abandoned. Ritter refers to the "toilsome de-
scent down the aig-zag pass over masses of red
| limestone smooth as glass, but with irregular
! surfaces. Only in n few places had human skill
| done anything to lesson the difficulties, which
| Eli Smith declares to have been greater than he
/ I.-l IF
and Robinson TO surpass those of Switzerland"
The shcop-cotes " 81 were probably on the
upper ridge OF Wady Chareitun. large cave
! is there which answers all the conditions OF the
! lesson. 1t is about five minutes from the viii
| lage EnEedi. The natives thereabout believe
! that one to he the cave in which David had
| mercy on Saul. Robinson in this vicinity saw
| n gaZcllc, a iaclal aud mountain goat.
The Rabbaus declare that after David and
/ his party had entered the cave a spider woye
| Its web over the aperture, leading Saul not to
suspect any persons were within the cavern.
| Stfabo says there is a cave in Syria which
! could easily accommodate 1000 men. Pocock
/ in his travels mentions q cave into which IL IS
| said 10000 people one time fed. Adam Clarke
| expresses the thought that might be the cave
| OF the lesson.
Whence came Saul to Engedi7 Probably
after the victory over the Philistines he re-
| turned to Gbeah. Then came the news of
/ verse !. Some however suppose Sauls feel
| ings toward David were harsh that after
/ protecting himself against the Philistines he
proceeded at once in search Of David before
| going back TO his palace.
B. The Parties.
David had 400 men. tScc % : ], 9; % -; %
| Is; 80: lD) In verse these are called David's
/ servants. We know one of them by name.
| (22: 20 % % o. Saul had 1900 chosen men.
| Verse - IL must be Saul imagined David
| would take stand against him. Moreover.
Saul must have known that David had gathered
| some forces.
L. The Opportunity.
| Saul entered the cave David was within
with 100 soldier. Saul was alone, and it is
| possible he fell asleep, thinking himself in ut
/ most safety. David's men urged him to slay
/ Saul, 10 issue order to them to do. That
/ was wonderful compassion on the part OF David.
/ lie felt ashamed for even what he did in cut
/ ting off portion of what was probably Saui's
| outer regal garment Tbeaet was an ndignity
| TO royalty, bad example to set before body
| OF uucouth men. So, at any rate, David be-
| lieved. No one could doubt the fact of Dayd's
mercy, and OF the utter upiqueness of such
| lenieney. II affected even Saul to tears.
4 5. Ethical Suggestions.
| l. Do not be uisled by others Act your
own sense OF right. Be prompt. ready. decisive
in cases where rs leader the responsibility is
| lodged with you. Dayid's men tried to per-
| suade him to kill Saul or TO allow them to assas.
sinate him. but David refused assent and
asserted his personal individuality and sense
| OF right. With such strained relations as ex-
listed between Saul and David, David might
| have winked ut the suggestion of his men to
! permit them to kill Saul. 1t is clear David
| WAS a leader of men, competent 10 control their
| passions.
! = 30 polite Verse gives illustrations.
| David addressed Saul most respectfully. My
| Lord the King" be said. Again, speaking 10
/ Saul, he used the word father" ~ Ill Ii
! is proper 10 address men by their official or
other titles. And not only words spoken to
! persons in various ranks should be indicative
of REGARD but also our acts toward them. 1t is
recorded that David stopped with his face To
4 the earth aud bowed himself as he approached
| toward saul. Courtesy is special duty toward
all superiors in age, position. office, etc. but
1t is likewise becoming in all toward all.
3. Believe the Bible. The region OF Engedi
| furnishes just such caves AS the one mentioned.
And goats yet seen bounding from ledge to
! ledge Science, travel, geography are among
/ the Christian evidences. Monumental theology
| is becoming an important branch of study Tor
| the clergy. Wild goats abound in tho billy re-
| gion west Of the Dead Sea. Stanley mentions
| numerous ibexes" seen IN that section. One
| should study the Holy Scriptures with a relia-
/
| history of a country is great help in under
| standing its local literature. When "A traveller
| sits down near Engedi seeing near at hand
| large caves aud noticing the wild goats leaping
| up and down the craggy region. let him read
| the account which we now study. The i'm
| preston is full of interest.
| 4. Subjects should always treat rulers rev.
| erently. How respectfully David addressed
! Saul. He said MY Lord the King" and " My
/ father" He stopped and bowed in the presence
OF royalty. ". 81 He felt utterly ashamed
| OF having cut of the iappet of SauPs regal
robe. lilo thought it an indignity TO his ruler,
aud as such civil misdcmeanor lie could
hardly forgive himself. Respect should be
shown by subjects to those in authority Plu-
| tarch said: This is the very best of our many
! excellent laws, that we should honor and adore
| our King as the image of God who preserves
| all things" 1t is IL Christian duty TO show re-
| spect for properly constituted civil authority.
| Rulers are regarded Us the Lords anonted.
| David was indignant at tho Amalekite who
| aiterwaTd slew Saul. e Sam, l H. Compare
| with Ps, l0o: 49, Though officers may not
commend themselves, they still have rights.
| Their evil does not warrant our impertneuee.
| Says Shakspere in King Lear, A dogs obeyed
| IN Office We should order ourselves lowly
and reverently To all our betters. It is not n
pleasant governmental feature of the United
States that official position gains for its pos
SCISSOR so little regard. We remember David
ordered the offender against royal dignity in
the case of the Amalekite versus Saul, to be
| killed. g Sam, l: 10. l6)
5. Do not be too inclined to heed statements
| mn Hn tn unf mat yuh n1t 4