Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-29

CONTEXE-The agreement betw zen
David and Jonathan. studied last week.
was faithfully kept by the latter. Learn
Ing his fathers evil designs concerning
his friend. Jonathan went forth into the
field and made them known by the APP
pointed signals. Immediately David fed
for safety. Proceeding to Mob he OBJ
tanned bread for refreshment and the
good sword of Goliath, which had been
laid up with the priest. Thus armed he
fed to Achish King OF Gath. afterward
to the cave Of Adullum. where many I'M
fortunate men Joined him. With these
he advanced to Mispeh and then took
refuge in the forest OF Hareth. Intelli-
gence of his hiding was carried to Saul.
who at once determined upon his destruc-
ton. Pursued by the king. David was
thereafter fugitive. remaining but lit
tie time in one place. While he was con-
cealed in the wilderness Of Ziph Saul
came with 1900 men to capture him. To-
days lesson relates an interesting event
in that connection. We include for sake
OF greater clearness in our exposition a
few preceding verses.
APPROACH oversees 5-6).-On some
occasions David had fed when he knew
his enemy was near. deeming 1t most
prudent to be at a respectful distance.
But in this instance he determined on a
bold movement in the hope OF winning
the favor of the king. what to some would
seem to be extremely perilous. He waited
until night came. when Saurs men had
gone into camp and fallen asleep. none
of them apprehensive of any danger per-
haps unaware that the one they sought
was near The king and his great cap
tain. Abner, leader Of the forces. lay in
fbn v,,{1 .A - H. -F
war near at hand ready for use at a mo-
ment's notice Il Sam. xiv:5O). Informed
OF the situation by his spies. David called
into his counsel Abimelech and Abishai.
two trusty warriors. the first a Hittite.
the other genuine Israelite. and asked
for volunteer to accompany him to the
kings camp. He did not propose to send.
but to go. and he desired an associate,
willing to risk the peril. but unwilling to
trust the expedition wholly to any one
without him. Abishai offered himself.
PROPOSAL Oversees 7-s).-The two
set out together on their errand. Pass
Ing unobserved through the outer lines of
sleeping warriors they stealthily pursued
their way until they came to the spot
where the king lay. At the head of the
his spear. which his own right hand
might WELD in war. Around him were
loyal men. ready at a moments signal to
do his bidding. The sleep that night was
supernatural. God had sent upon all a
peculiar influence. such as fell upon
Abraham Gen. xv:12), SO that no man
knew that David, the shepherd youth,
was in their midst. A moment the two
gazed upon the face OF the sleeper. Abb
shat saw in the circumstance a Provi-
dence-he believed that God had designed
this as the moment in which David should
be freed from his prosecutor. LET me
smite him. he cried. With one well
directed stroke. delivered by a steady
H. .f,.N -
that the deed should be done and Saul
should die.
RESTRAINT (verses 9-1O).-But
David would not permit Abishai to exc
cute his purpose. He who had been so
long pursued returned good for evil and
stood in defense Of one who might have
been slain. What motive prompted this
parts. First. the deed would be one Of
enormous wickedness. Saul had been
anointed by the prophet Samuel Il Sam.
KID. BY that, act he had been conse-
kill him would have been murder and
treason, both crimes punishable with
death. How could either OF these two
escape guilt. the one for acting. the other
would die by some other method. The
Lord might smite as He had slain other
bad men. and it would be better to leave
him in the hands of God psalm. xciv:D.
Or SauTS time would come to de no
matter how or when; however long de-
layed. the end OF life would surely come
0deb.. ix:2O; or he might fall in battle
as he actually did g Sam. ito. In any
event. whether by the Lords hand. or
by the hand of an enemy, or by ordinary
course Of nature, so let the king pass
away.
STRATAGEM Oversees l1-12).-Back
of this motive was another that did not
in the least diminish the force of Davids
speech to Abishai, but rather cast new
light upon 1t. In coming down to the
camp and to the sleeping form Of the
king there was no purpose Of blood. such
as some men would have cherished, but
instead a hope Of Transforming a cruel
enemy into a friend. This he attempted
by a remarkable stratagem. Abishai was
directed to take the spear and the cruise
Of water from Sauls head, the one the
weapon of defense. the other the source
of refreshment: both, needed on wax
ing. would be quickly missed. Their re-
moval was a sign to all that the owner
had been suddenly rendered powerless
either to do harm to others or to maintain
his own comfort, and that this had been
done while he slept: that, therefore, some
one had been near enough to disarm him.
but had spared his life. Bearing the
spear and the cruise the two men return
ed as they came. No one walked. no one
knew Of their movements. Softly and