The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-05-15


cause he had failed TO take care of the
king. and he told him TO look for the
kings spear and cruise of water that
had been by his bolster (verses 1910.
Saul knew David's voice and pro-
fessed to be very grateful to him for
sparing his life. asking him to return
TO him. and saying that he would no
more seek to do him harm. but David
knew his enemy too we'll. and after
telling him TO send for his spear. they
again parted. each going his own way
verses 1928. This was not the first
time that David had Saul In his pow
er. but refused TO harm him. See In
chapter xiv how he cut off the skirt
OF Saul's robe and how Saul then pro-
fessed penitence and good will and
spoke of Davids being king some day.
Thus Saul sought him every day. but
God delivered him not into his hand
txxiii. Ia. In the end OF chapter xiii
there is the record of an incident that
looked like a close call for David, but
Saul was suddenly called off and David
escaped All through the story we can
hear David saying: The Lord is the
strength OF my life. or whom shall l
be afraid?" lPs. xvii. 1-3l
The cave OF Adullam story in chap
ter xii is full of interest. beginning
with his seeking a place Of safety for
know what God would do for him and
ending with his words of comfort to
Abba athar: abide thou with me. Fear
not, for he that seeketh my life seeketh
thy life. but with ME thou shalt Ike in
safeguard" Chapter XIV tells of the
death and burial of Samuel and then
the story of drunken Nabal and his
beautiful wife Abigail-beautiful In
wise counsel to David and in her con-
duct toward him. Some of her men,
orable words are ever with me: Bound
in the bundle of life with the Lord thy
God" txxv. 29l. bundle which cannot
be broken. for those TO whom He gives
eternal life can never perish John X.
/ 2S. Chapters xvii. xxx. xxx. tell the
story of Ziklag, which Achish gave TO
| David, but 70 which David returned on
one occasion to find the town In ruins
and the wives, sons and daughters of
himself and his COO followers all
gone into captivity. That was one of
/ the most trying times In all David's ex-
! perience, and they all wept until they
/ had no more power to weep. The
| grief of David. almost beyond endur-
ance. was heaped up by the threat of
| his COO followers TO stone him, as II he
was the cause of all this. so that Da-
vid seemed. as far as human sympathy
was concerned, to be absolutely alone.
Then we read the words which have
helped so many. David encouraged
himself in the Lord his God" Xxx, g..
! A somewhat similar incident in the
life Of Paul is recorded in III Tim. iv,
I 1918. The way that David found the
enemy, the Amalekites. through the
I guidance of an almost dead Egyptian
| servant. whom he restored to life. and
| how be recovered all-wives, sons.
! daughters. spoil. nothing lacking to
any. and much additional spoil-is
very thrilling record and should en-
| courage us all to wait on the Lord and
not to think anything too hard for
Him There were 200 of Davids men
! too weak TO join in the pursuit of the
enemy. but they. too. shared in the
/ spoils of victory. and David made 1t a
law that those who tarry by the stuff
shall share equally with those who go
forth TO battle Xxx. 10. 24. Let all
homekeepers be encouraged. The sin
OF Saul in the matter of familiar spir-
! its and the witch Of Endor is recorded
in chapter xviii This is prevailing
sin of many today. 1t is wholly of the
/ devil and Is strictly forbidden In Deut
xviii 9-12. 1t is not all trickery, but
| ofttimes some real work of the adver-
sary. The living. those who are truly
/ saved. should seek only the living God
and His life giving word. All else is
from the devil. and II will be a night
/ of awful darkness forever for all who
turn away from the Word OF God
mo morning for them" Qsa viii.> 10.
%: margin and r. W.