The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-05-15

NoLDEN IEAT-Love your enem,.
good to them that hate you.-InL.
Professor Beecher gives 1Oss .
as the date Of this lesson ana
death of Samuel. Saul had sso,
the throne 81 years and Davia
twenty-seven years OF age. Thar.
ten famous episodes between tina
son Of last week and that OF ~
Cd David and the shew.breaa.
Goliath's sword; ca David ~.
madness (ch. 2D; a. The c,r'I
Adullam; go His care of hi,
ents; go The killing of the MI
(ch. 22); CD Wandering in the >
derness (ch. 23); (S) The cutti,, j
Sauls robe (ch. 24); 90 NabaTs ~
ishness, and (10) Abigail's kind,.
(ch. 25). 1t might be well u ~
one scholar give a summary Of eas }
these events.
J.. David and Abishai, w. u
Once before. the Ziphites had
formed Saul as to David's whereaho
(23:19). Learning that Saul evia.,
ly intended to follow him into the
derness ". ~, David sent spis
learn the exact location of Saul y
the 5000 men under command Of
ner. Abner was a cousin Of SAM
brave man with a remarkable his,r
Unwittingly they had placed In
selves in David's power, and that
a second time (24:3-S). Like
camp of the Midianites which Gin
visited, Saul and his men were n
tered about sleeping within the DID
Of the wagons" ". r. w, with q
in the center, the spear marking
resting place and the bolster bena
his head. Doubtless Saul trusted
ner's protection, but no arm Of ID
can save or protect sinful man. nv
a neighboring rock David and
friends could distinguish the sd
and the outlines of the camp. Dar(
challenge was directed to both Of I
companions. Ahimelech, the Hrn
declined the summons, whereas n
shat, David's nephew who had alral
proved himself in the affair al q
well Gil Samuel 23:13-16) and latet
came a leading figure in Davids I'D
dom, accepted the challenge.
II. David and Saul, w. S-f2.-AbiA
was quite right that God had ddl
cred Saul into David's hand ". 81.
he was wrong In his conclusion y
what that meant God delivered q
that he might, II possible, save ID
1t was a challenge that tested Davi
magnanimity, his sense Of honor q
also an event wherein he could appd
to Saul's honor. Abishai's anger
evident from his words, Il win q
smite him the second time m
was ample provocation, but DAVID n
ognized in this experience the n
of God, nor would he profit By q
others hand appraised against Z
Lords anointed" ". 81. A conscla
less keen could have found an ezd
for allowing another to strike
to his own profit. Saul was reiec
Of Jehovah, yet David prefemd
let Jehovah execute his own deuu
(ch. 24:15 CT. Ps. 105:15) Here
have a great principle. In this 8
pensation all Christians are anon'a
of God q John 2:2O). and while =
of these may be rejected ones
6, Z; II Sam. 1:16) still We must
satisfied to let God avenge our vFu
and establish us In that place to "
he has called us, resting assured
he will see to it that we get %
place. To have yielded to the n'
motive would have been 70
good policy" but for the future
to have been accessory to the
would have endangered bis om
ture safety. David yet loved
in spite of his cruelty. II app
to our pride and our love Of ~
to have revenge within our grasp
II is a greater evidence OF po"a
grace to be able to withhold ana
more noble to have no spiril
sentiment. BY keeping Christ oelm
constantly, remembering thai ~
yiled not" we can forgive even
forgave and do good to them shss
spitefully use us Instead o. sn
Saul David carried away DIS
and his cruise, both emblems Of ~,
kingly office and power. These
he sufficient evidence that u0s 4
delivered Saul's life into Dawes 49,
and that David had not USED 70
vantage this opportunity. ..x-
~. David and Abner' ". -
Returning to his van.ass !
countless the brow Of q blu o.
o oUuo side of the valley. .
Of safety. David awakened .ns ~. q 4
ing camp. Abner replied. W. sn
tbou?" This cry sounds stranfv N
the present-day replies to =. -
1 lem Of our David when . s,s'
camp of sin is aroused ,u
came at night. When our nm $50
return his visit will be uneapu .,5l
at night q Thess 5:2.4; Rev. s'.a ~ ) /,
this proud, naughty general 49, :. =
he tainted by David ". ~. !,
officer he was responsive ,',s pd
kings safety and bis .I lie =
therefore might well rep' I'm, 3
chide him. for his lack Of 'a ssaI =
Thoroughly awake to the - y
navid's visit to his camp sns ana - !. =
that his life had been SPAR y. I,osss
NOV moved to another one Of bis
Of repentance wv III, -ndf
" ~. ~. .e sanI is a remark's.ss