The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1889-09-13
DAVID SPARES SAUL'S LIFE
LESSON XII, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, SEPT. Is.

Text Of the Lesson. ! Sam. xiv, A-l7-Com
init Verses IL. l3-Golden Text, Rom
xii. al--Commentary by the Rev. d. M
stearns.
compiled from Lesson Helper Quarterly by per
mission Of H. S Hoffman, publisher Philadel
phia.l
After David and Jonathan parted that day
as recorded in the last lesson, David obtained
from the priest some bread and also the swort
of Goliath and then fed to Achish, king o.
Gath, but was also afraid there, and, feign
ing himself mad, soon made his escape from
that quarter and came to the cave Adullam
Here he was Joined by his father and mother
and brethren and about four hundred men
over whom he became captain. He did not
however, tarry long at Adullam at this time
but, having made provision for his father and
mother with the king Of Moab, he sailed
forth against the Philistines and defeated
them. His company increased to six hundred
men, and he had with him Cad, the prophet,
and Abiathar, the priest; they abode in
strongholds in the wilderness, and Saul sought
him every day, but God delivered him not
into his hand.
L. "And the men of David said unto him,
Behold the day, of which the Lord said unto
thee" Saul, who SO persistently sought Da-
vid's life, is now completely in Ca-..es power
and his men seem to suggest that now he slay
him; but as David himself had cried, "Be
merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto
me" Cps. Ii, and Title, so he would show
mercy even to Saul, and is content to lay no
hand upon him, but simply cut off the
skirt of his robe privily to show him after
r<1c hot bo had til
s. "David's heart smote him because he
this slight token of his power, he feels con-
demned.
6. 1.-The Lord forbid that should do this
thing unto my Master, the Lords anointed I"
Here is anothersvew of the case; Saul was
not acting like the anointed of the Lord
should act, his life did not testify in that di-
rection, but as to his office he was 1.-The
anointed of the Lord, and therefore respon-
sib]e to God to act as such; and if he failed
1t was for the Lord and not for David to deal
with him.
Z. $50 David stayed his servants with these
words; = Saul rose upout of the cave
md went his way" Wemay do very much by
kind words and the manifestation of Christ
like spirit to hinder others from speaking
against or touching in any way the anointed
Of the Lord.
" 8. David cried after Saul, say
ing, MY lord the king and stoop-
ed with his face to the earth" Notwith-
standing David's fears and ofttimes question
able conduct, here is a truly humble and
forgiving spirit. Whatever were his sins,
his heart was in the main right with God,
and his failures tell us the truth of that which
he himself wrote: "Verily, every man at his
best estate is altogether vanity"
9. Wherefore nearest thou mems words,
saying, Behold David seeketh thy hurtT'
Saul had turned deaf ear to the words Of
God, and was giving heed to the lying and
deceitful words of men, and was therefore,
far from the way of peace. The only rest Of
soul for man is upon the words and thoughts
OF God; but how few, even among Christians,
rest quietly there? The words of this or that
man, what some one has said or reported, is
constantly needed, and there is, therefore,
such unrest, while all the while the God Of
peace is speaking peace and longing to give
peace to all who will hear Him.
10, II. "Some babe me kill thee, but mine
eye spared thee; = yet thou huntest my
soul to take it," Here David recounts the
incident in the cave, and displays as proof Of
the truth of it the part of Saul's robe which
he had cut off, thus testifying most unmis-
takably that there was no evil in his heart
towards Saul Notice how David says to
Saul that it was the Lord who delivered him
into his power in the cave; when we begin
to see the Lord and acknowledge His hand in
everything all fears and doubts will soon van
ish. David was now in better frame OF
mind than when he talked with Jonathan OF
Saul killing him; but the circumstances were
different now, and it is so easy to be bright
when the sun shines upon us; there is more
glory to God in being joyful in the dark and
cloudy day.
IL. "The Lord judge between me and thee,
and the Lord avenge me of thee; but mine
hand shall not be upon thee." This is beau
tiful on David's part; this is surely casting
his burden upon the Lord; it is in accord
ance with Rom. xii, 10, Dearly beloved,
avenge not yourselves, but rather give place
unto wrath" that is the wrath of God, not
your wrath; let Him manage all. Oh, what
a resting place this is; we have not to fight
our own battles, for it is God who fghteth
for us; we have not to defend our reputation,
but commit all unto Him; we have no re-
venge to take, but inasmuch as whoever
toucheth us toucheth the apple of Gods eye,
just let Him see to it in His own good time
and way
Is. "Wickedness proceedeth from the
wicked, but mine hand shall not be upon
thee" If the boys of all our Sunday schools
would act upon this principle, and remember
ing that wicked words and deeds proceed
from wicked hearts, avoid all such, refusing
even, when injured by them, to lay hand
upon 5them, it might be that some wicked
hearts would be won by such spirit and
learn of the new and clean heart which alone
can act in such way.
H. "After whom dost thou pursue? After
dead dog, after fea." In chapter XVI,
co. when he again had Saul in his power and
spared him, he uses similar words, comparing
himself to flea and partridge. David was
as harmless to Saul as dead dog, for he had
no thought of doing him any injury; but
SAUL tempted by the evil spirit of envy which
had taken possession of him, fancied all man.
ner of things against David, and his fancies
were helped by the liars and slanderers about
him. How many wretched people live today
who imagine that evil is surely coming to
them from this or that direction, while the
truth is that the imaginary source of evil ID
as harmless as dead dog or flea.
Is 1.-THE Lord be judge, and SEQ
=