The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-09-02
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON CONF
MENTS FOR AUGUST 80.
Subject: David Spares Saul's Life, 1
Sam. 26-Golden Text, Luke GET
Commit Verse 21-Read Chap

SdTn. " lSIt LoA~ 49,
Commit Verse 21-Read Chap
tiers 21-25-Commentary.
T1ME.-1oeo B. c. PLACE.-The
Hill of Hachilan.
EXPOSITION.-I. David reasons
with Saul, VS.. 1920. Saul Is IN
David's power and completely az
David's mercy a second time Tvs.
LIP; CT. CHI. 24:3-S). And a second
time David shows the greatness OF
his character. He will not stretch
forth his hand against the LORDS
anointed ". III. Abishai was right
in Judging that God had delivered
David's enemy into his hand ". 81. CT.
v. 20; Oh. 24:18, 10; Josh. 24:44s
Judges 1:4), but he was wrong IN MS
judgment Of what David should do
with his enemy whom God had de-
livered into his hand. God gives u
enemies into our hands that we may
save them, not that we may destroy
them. David's real magnanimity
comes out I'M that he not only refused
to slay Saul himself, but also would
not permit another ". 81. The death
of Saul would mean the end OF HE
own trials and his accession to the
throne, but he will not accept deliver
anca and glory by questionable
means. David was truly a man OF
faith. In his conscience he had been
less keen. He could easily have salts
fed it by saying, II did not kill him.
But David's conscience was not OF
that sort. Saul had been rejected by
Jehovah, nevertheless the fact stood
that he was the Lord'sanointed ". 9)s
and the anointed of the Lord was
sacred in David's sight. No one can
stretch firth his hands against the
Lords auointed and be guiltless FPS.
105:15). 1t is well to remember in
the application Of this principle that
in the present dispensation all Christ's
are the Lords anointed Il John 2:20-
81, R. W. David's respect for the
anointed Of Jehovah, even though
that anointed n was his personal
enemy, was deep, and abiding (ch.
24:6, Z; 2 Sam. 1:14-16). David was
entirely content to leave the ven.
geance of his wrong and the estab-
lishment of himself in the place to
which God had appointed him entirely
In Gods hands. When Saul was thor
oughly awakened to the fact that
David had had him in his power and
yet had spared his life he was brought
to momentary repentance. He ad.
dresses the David, whom he had
sought to murder, very tenderly ",
TO-. and David answers with mar.
velous humility. He calls his would
be assassin, Saul, his Lord and King.
He seeks to awaken Saul to his folly
by pointing out his own innocence.
He challenges Saul to point out one
thing that he had done that deserved
his hate. Nothing can exceed David's
marvellous humility ". 1917. The
thing that David especially bemoans
is that he is driven away from fellow.
ship with Jehovah and His people W.
14). He speaks Of himself as a flea
or a partridge and points out to Saul
how foolish it Is for the mighty king
of Israel to be hunting for a flea or a
partridge in the mountains. There is
no insincerity in this. David enter.
tanned the most humble opinion OF
himself in spite of his rare gifts. He
humbled himself and God exalted him.
II. Saul's Brief Repentance and
Gratitude to David, VS.. 21.25. Saul
blinded though he was by envy, was
forced to see the generosity of David.
He says the very thing that every
sinner needs to say, II have sinned.
But there is no real and saving con.
viction of sin and consequently no
permanent turning from sin (cf. CHI
1924, 80; Luke 24:17; Elk. 1927;
Mum. 1894; Matt. 27:4). There Is
no saving power in conviction Of sin
if one goes right on SHINING prov.
1919. Saul promises that he will
no more do David harm because his
life had been precious in David's eyes.
He never had another opportunity to
do David harm. .Saul's description
Of his own conduct was both true and
expressive. He had played the fool
and erred exceedingly" That is pre-.
cisely what every sinner and every.
one. who fights against God is doing
Unfortunately, though Saul recog.
nized the true character Of his con
duct, he did not quit it. In that toe
he has many imitators. All the Sauls
on earth cannot prevent a righteous
MA from getting his just and full
due (cf. Eph. $50. David would not
even keep the kings spear as a me-
mento of his victory. David knew
that Gcd deals with us IS we deal
with our fellow-men Tvs. %, "a; CT.
Ps. 1925; Matt. ST; 6:14, Is; 7:2).
David's whole future history shows
how much his life was "set by in the
eyes of the Lord" AS he had not un.
dertaken his W de%liverance he
looked to the Lord to deliver him out
of all t%ribulation e.. 24). This the
Lord did, giving complete deliverance
from perils that arose again and
again and threatened to overthrow
his throne. David reaped the good
seed he had sown (cf. Ps. 1S). For
moment Saul was entirely ~reconciled
to David. He blessed him and de-
clared his triumph, but David thor
oughly understood how little conf
dence was to be placed in the per-
manence of Saul's repentance.
LEADING QUESTIONS. - What
truths about Christ are suggested by
the lesson? What characteristics of
David are brought out in the lesson?
What does the lesson teach about
faith? What does it teach about
God? What does it teach about treat
ment Of enemies? What is the best q.
lesson in the passage?