Middletown transcript., 1915-05-01


torious in arms and promoted at court,
David was many years in reaching his
throne. At first both court and army
did him honor (ch. 1922, yet he con-
Quoted himself with great modesty
(lS:1S, 23). He also obeyed the king
explicitly though he knew fully that
he was the God-appointed successor
Of Saul. Escapes as wonderful and as
providential as David's occur in the
lives Of most Of US If we could but
know them.
!. David and Jonathan, w. 1-3. The
story of the love of David and Jona-
than is a classic. With such close
family relations and a son-in-law so
successful at arms it is strange that
Saul's anger should vent itself upon
David At first Saul was much at
tached to David but the admiration of
the people for David aroused his jeal-
ousy. (ch. 1880 and jealousy is pecu-
liarly soldiers disease. The slave of
jealousy never has peace. AS san and
disobedience developed in his life Saul
became subject TO fits of insane rage
during one of which, as David played
upon his harp and endeavored to quiet
the monarch's spirit, he hurled a
javelin, which served as his scepter,
at the harpist (ch 1910. Saul felt
that David was divinely protected and
he knew that God had departed from
his own life (15:23; 16:1N. Saul did
not keep his grief and rage to himself
for Jonathan and the nation alike
knew all about It, Jonathan gladly
accepted Gods decree. willingly gave
up his rights in the kingdom yet he
was loyal to his father. 1t is a tender
and touching story OF Jonathan's love
for his friend David, and at the same
time his loyalty to his father Saul.
He delighted much in David" ". p,
gave full, explicit warning to David,
and also sought to intercede with Saul.
u. Saul and Jonathan, w. 4-7. It
took courage and self-sacrifice on
Jonathan's part to speak on behalf Of
David. Prudence and principle are
combined in Jonathan's plea. Those
who envy include in their hate and
anger all who speak kindly in behalf
Of their enemy. But Jonathan's argu-
ment wv. 4, 81 is unanswerable.
David had not sinned against Saul; It
was Jehovah who wrought a great
salvation for all Israel" on the day
David took his life in his hand and
overcame Goliath. Jonathan pleads for
God as we'll as for his friend He
called to Saul's memory his former
Joy at seeing Jehovah's victory
through David and for the time being
Saul was persuaded ". g. and made
another of those impetuous promises
which proved SO fleeting. Ushered by
Jonathan Matt. 5:9) David returned
to Saul's presence, entered once more
upon the discharge of his duties and
desisted only when he saw that his
presence only aggravated the king and
that he was uselessly exposing his life
in Saul's presence David was faith
full to God and to Gods anointed king
III. MlchaI and David, w. s-12.
Saul's hatred was too deep to be per-
manently overcome. David went out
and won a great victory over the PHI
listines and as he followed his courtly
duty Saul burst out with a fresh at
tack wv. 8, 81. David had married
Michal when about twenty-one years
of age and Saul's attacks occurred dur
ing the next three years. The evil
spirit mentioned was demon (18:10;
Acts 16:16-1s; Mark 1:23-26), a mes
senger OF Satan permitted by God for
Sauls discipline III Cor 12:7). God
permits evil tb come upon men not to
tempt them-Bolicit them to do wrong
but to bring them to repentance or
to refine them as pure gold Thus evil
may be said to do Gods work (ch.
AID ito be sent from Jehovah"
On the other hand If men will not
have the good spirit, the spirit of
truth, then God gives them over to
error and evil spirits (II Thess. 2:10-
12l. Doubtless David was on his
guard for when his insanity caused
Saul again I'd attack him he fed ".
! 10) Messengers were at once dis.
| patched to his house ". ~ and
Michal lower I'D David from a window
at some ungparded point, and as the
spies escaped from Jericho. and Paul
from Damascus, so he escaped from
his dangerous position. There are
suggestions in the Psalms which
would Indicate his grief over these
experiences.
Michal's stratagem (vv. 1910 was
one not necessarily sanctioned by
God, though he bore with 1t for 1t oc
Cured at that time of Ignorance
which God overlooked. "-Edersheim
~. Summary. All who envy are
murderers at heart Matt, 27:1S: John
3:12, 15). The present day murderers
hurl their javelins Of slander, lying
and vituperation against the reputa
tion OF the men whom they hate. o.
else they hurl unfair and unjust bust
ness methods at others that they may
perpetuate their power or else builC
themselves up upon the ruins of those
whom they envy. Saul missed Davit
but he was no less a murderer. SataT
always overshoots the mark when ht
assails one of Gods anointed, choser
ones. Saul could not harm DaviC
though he wished to ever so mucf
(Ps. 1892, S3; lisa. SALT; Luke 4:30
10:39l. Saul's hatred stopped not ever
at the threshold of David's house bu
invaded the sacred precincts of hi
home. Envy is blind. it assails al
that a man has, spares none will
whom he ID connected and colors ev
cry act and relation Of life even to tn,
relations Of father and child Sau
was frustrated by his own children
Jonathan and Michal. David's DANCE
Il was imminent, hence bis speedy es