The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-04-30

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
(1S: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.
l. 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
Sauls 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. 1850 and jealousy is pecu-
liarly a soldiers disease. The slave OF
jealousy never has peace. AS sin 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
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; 1910. Saul did
not keep his grief and rage to himself
for Jonathan and the nation alike
knew all about it.
II. Saul and Jonathan, w. AZ. 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 Jonathans argu-
ment wv. 4, s. is unanswerable.
David had not sinned against Saul; it
was Jehovah who wrought a great
salvation for all Israeli on the day
David took his life. in his hand and
overcame Goliath. Jonathan pleads for
God as well as for his friend. He
called to Sauls memory his former
Joy at seeing Jehovah's victory
through David and for the time being
Saul was persuaded ". 81 and made
another of those impetuous promises
which proved so fleeing. Ushered by
Jonathan Matt. SOY David returned
to Sauls 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. MichaI and David, w. 9-12.
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 fresh at
tack wv. 8, 81. David had married
Michal when about twenty-one years
of age and Sauls attacks occurred dur
ing the next three years. The evil
spirit mentioned was demon OSLO;
Acts 16:16-18; Mark 1:23-26), mes
senger of Satan permitted by God for
Saul's discipline GI Cor. 1870. God
permits evil to come upon men not to
tempt them-solicit 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.
4:D ito be sent from Jehovah"
w. Summary. All who envy are
murderers at heart Matt, 27:1S; John
1912, 15). The present day murderers
hurl their iavelins of SANDER, lying
and vituperation against the reputa-
ton of the men whom they hate. Or
else they hurl unfair and unjust bust
ness methods at others that they may
perpetuate their power or else build
themselves up upon the ruins of those
whom they envy. Saul missed David
but he was no less a murderer. Satan
always overshoots the r'ark when he
assails one Of Gods anolnted, chosen
ones. Saul could not harm David
he WlSuGu W ever 50 uluCu
Ups. 1892, SO; lisa. 54:17; Luke 1870;
1O:99). Saul's hatred stopped not even
at the threshold of Davids house but
invaded the sacred precincts of his
home. Envy is blind it assails all
that man has, spares none with
whom he is connected and colors ev-
cry act and relation of life even to the
relations of father and child Saul
was frustrated by his own children,
Jonathan and Michal David's danger
was imminent, hence his speedy es-
cape.
Men are strong in so far as they
see Gods purpose and discipline in
their lives
Saul's experience at Naioth wv. %,
2G was a response of his emotional
nature to a religious appeal, another
time when God was waiting to be
gracious.
Divested of his armor and outer
robes Saul lay in a trance, overcome
by the power Of him who turns the
hearts NJ mon aa rivara nf xuatnr