The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-08-23

N Ms heart. as he grimly marched On
and on towards bis ovn beloved
| land:
\ God win provide q way OF escape.
Surely, he Will not suffer my hand TO
be lifted against my brethren and
against the Lords anointed. Surely
whep my hand has been stayed from
taxing the life OF my enemy hereto
fore. II will not fall now rs the ally
of these ungodly Philistines."
The day wore on and at Aphek the
armies OF the Paiiistines went into
camp. while In tie distance could be
seen the hosts of Israel preparing the
battle front. How Dayid's heart
smote him as no looked upon the
scene, and how an agony OF prayer
rose to God for help. His meditation
vas interrupted by the coming Of
Achish. who appeared greatly trou
hled. and with many words OF apology
and assurances as 10 his faith In
Dayid's integrity. he told David OF the
dissatisfaction Of the Philistine lords
at the presence Of David and his men,
and asked that they depart and return
TO Zikiag.
David was too WHY 20 reveal his
true state OF mind TO Aehish. and he
left the latter TO believe that he felt
deeply grieved that he was not per
nlitted to serve with the Philistine
army. but as he and his men took up
the return march the next morning It
was with lighter heart than he had
had as he had come thither. Lighter
heart? Yes. But there was the deep
anxiety he felt as TO the fate Of his
brethren in Israel. How would the
battle go? He was almost tempted to
yield to the muttered suggestion OF
some OF his men that they return and
cast their lot with the army of Israel.
But the wisdom of such a course did
not seem clear to him and so he con.
timed the march towards Ziklag.
The exclamation of one of his men
caused him to look up.
Smoke In the distance,"
What could it mean? With cries
of apprehension the men pressed for.
ward with quickened steps and soon
am upon the smouldering ruins of
the city which they had left in such
seeming security the day before.
After the first outburst Of anguish.
for every man mourned the loss Of
loved ones, they turned upon David
with savage ~reproaches. See what
he had brought upon them. Had they
not counseled that part of the men be
left behind? This was the judgment
of God against them for having pre-
stunned to go out against their breth.
rem.
And was not David responsible for
1t all? The angry storm grew, until
some of the more violent actually took
up stones to hurl at their leader.
It was then that the splendid and
heroic character of David stood forth.
Stone me II you must" he cried,
facing them without a tremor. God
knows that the intention Of my heart
was right. / have suffered with you.
In this hour of need, let us not fight
each other. Rather let us look to God.
He will guide u.s.
The hands which held the stones SO
menacingly above his head were low.
cred and Abiathar, the priest. seizing
the opportunity came forward with
the ephod and inquiry was made OF
the Lord, and the Lord answered
David and told him that he should
pursue after the Amalekites and re-
cover all.
The taking up OF the pursuit OF
those who had burned Ziklag abrupt,
ly ended all talk of going up to the aid
OF the armies of Israel, and David
found a welcome relief from his anx.
ious, troubled thoughts in the swift,
hard journey. In accordance with the
word of the Lord, their expedition
was favored with complete success,
and the next day found them all back
at Ziklag--wives, children and DOS.
sessions, together with much spoil
which they had taken from their enc.
mics.
As David sat before his tent door
that night he could not help but con
trast his feelings with those which
had filed his heart only a few nights
before when he had given his promise
to go out and fight with the armies of
the Philistines against Israel.
And now, instead, I have rich spoil
with which to send my brethren an
Offering" he exclaimed. How won.
derfully God has wrought good out
of seeming evil. How wonderfully he
has delivered his servant from a
snare that would have swallowed him
up utterly. But / wonder how went
the battle?" and he arose and called
his servant and sent him to seek
tidings. But it was not until the
second day after that behold a man
came out of the camp from Saul, with
his clothes rent and earth upon his
head, and said:
Saul and his sons are dead. See
here Is the crown and bracelet from
off the kings head and arm"
Then David took hold of his clothes
and rent them, and likewise all the
men that were with him, and they
mourned, and wept, and tasted until
even, for Saul, and for Jonathan, his
son, and for the people of the Lord,
and for the house of Israel, because
they were fallen by the sword.
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