The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-08-27

which urged the deed. To ell David's
and self-obivious answer was, "Veng-
eance is the Lords; he will execute it
in his own way and time" Again
the sanctity of the kings life:and
person is acknowledged. "He is the
Lords anointed no harm must be
done him. David is no regicide. He
will continue an exile and fugitive
rather than appoint himself the execu
toner of Divine vengeance.
By most skillful device he secures
unmistakable evidence that the king
has really been at his mercy. He
carries away the royal spear which
stands like a flagstaff at the kings
pillow, and the silver ever from which
/ the king refreshes h "self. With
these imperial trophies David and
his comrade in adventure safely
withdraw from the camp. A NOM
ent later David's musical voice, which
he has often practiced among the
hills, rang out its haunting challenge
to Abrar, Saul's chief of steT. Saul
recognizes the voice which has often
Gained his frenzy. David uses h."
opportunity to depr ecate the king s
course. Saul has one of his oft-re-
curing, but entirely superficial, seas
ons of conjunction, ending - a stilt-
ed blessing upon his rival.
The Teachers Lantern.
The cave and exile psalms cast
light upon the incidents of this per
iod. They also show the spirit and
principles which dominated the heart
of the fugitive. They may not have
been literally written by David. The
theme and Motive of them may have
been transmitted by tradition, and
afterward put into permanent met.
rical form. If that is so, the spirit
has been singularly preserved. 1t is
quite possible that some devout He
brew of later date so put himself il
complete sympathetic touch with
David as to interpret his emotions
! with absolute fidelity. That has of
ten been done in literature.
The flight to Mob supposed to be
described in Psalm ill., To Gath il
xxXiv (the alphabetical Psalm
Among the ''cave songs" a"e (Adul
LAM PSF n lvii and cglii. Among tht
songs of exile ere Psalm xiii lone O
, the choicest of the Psalter) anC
Pse i wi. 1t he been aptly sale
that all the experiences of human
re seem emptied ito David's single
career. He sang much because h'
suffered much.
David is the ideal friend-mak er anC
friend-keeper. Heknew how to crap
pie his friend with hooks of steel.
: The duplication Of incidents, as 70
! example, Saul twice in Davids pow
err, with only slight incidental differ
ences of detail, ought not to ammo!
: the reader. Or y those who hold K
: verbal inspiration AID rerrancy W.
go out of their way to defeud tn,
} text. Others W freely admit tina
5 the two incidents may really be one
t with immaterial differences in the
2 narrative. The substance of it is tina
? Saul was in David's power, and 70
r high ethical andreligious reasons h
2 did not put him to death, = tn
e spirit and custom of his age .woult
: justify him in doing and condemn
him for letting the opportunity pass
| There 10 more striking lustrat
| ion of a fancied and false securit
S than Saul so dead asleep that hi
/ rival could carry away souvenir
: from his very couch ID person.
:. David's conduct &c a good common
: on the Sermon on the Mount, "Lov
= your enemies" There is no room TO
y hate, even of a deadly foe. Davi
: was that near to the standard of tn
d Sermon, though he lived thousan
S years before it was preached.