The Brinkley argus., 1915-05-14

Professor .Beeeher gives 1065 B. c. as the date of this lesson and the death of Samuel. Saul had been on the throne 3T years and David was twenty-ssyeD years of age. There are ten famous episodes between the les son of last week and that of today CD David and the shew-bread; (2) Goliashs sword; t3) David feigns madness lch. 2D; (D The cave of AdulIam t5j His care of his par ents. f6l The killing of the priests (eh. 28; C) Wandering in the will derness Cen. 23); fs) The cutting of sauTs robe (ch. 24) t9) Nabal's churl- ishness. and (10) Asigail's kindness (ch. 2s) IL might be well to have one scholar give a summary of each of these events.
 i. David and Abishai, w. 57.-
 Once belore, the Ziphites had in- formed Saul as to David's whereabouts t23191. Learning that Saul evident ly intended to follow him into the will deness ly. 4, David sent spies to learn inc exact location of Saul and the 5000 men under command of Alp ner. Abner was a cousin of Saul, brave man with Q remarkable history. UnWittingly they had placed them selves in Dayid'e power and that for a second time (24:3-S). Like the camp of the Midlanites which Gideon visited Saul and his men were scat tered about sleeping within the place of the wagons" (v. 5 R. VI, with Saul in the center, the spear marking his resting place and the bolster beneath his head. Doubtless Saul trusted Alb nerg nroeeetion, but no arm of flesh can sa9e CT protect a sinful man. From a ueieaboring rock David and his friends could distinguish the spear and fhe outlines Of the camp. David's challenge was directed to both of his cempanlons. AhImelech, the Hittite, declined the summons. whereas Abi- sinai. pavlds nephew who had already proved himself in the affair at the well tII Samuel 23:13-16) and later be came leading figure in Dayid's king dom. accepted the challenge.
 it. David and Saul, w. s-12.-Abishai was quite right that God had deliv- cred saUI into DaYid's hand (y. 8, but he was wrong in his conclusion as to what that meant. God delivered Saul that be might, if possible, save him. 1t was challenge that tested David's mazuanimitg. his sense of honor and also an event wherein he could appeal to saufs honor. Abishais anger is evident from his words, T will not snita him the second time" There was. ample prov0cation, but David rec oenized in this experience the hand of God. nor would he profit by an others hand upraised against the ' ,ord S aroinfed" (y. 3D. A conscience less keen could have found an excuse for allowing another to strike blow to his own profit. Saul was rejected of Jehovah, yet David preferred to let Jehovah execute his own decrees (ch z4:15 ci Ps 105:15).
 fll. David and Abner, w. 13-16.-
 Returning to his vantage point, deubt-ess Che brow of hill on the opposite side of the valley a point of safety David awakened the sleep ing camp hbner replied, Who art thou This cry sounds strangely like the pr nt-day replies to the chal- lsnse of oar David when sleeping camD oe sin is aroused. This call cama g uieh When our King shall reuru bis visi; wiH be unexpected and at night CI Thess. 5:2-4; Rev. 16:15). It would seem like @ humiliation for this proud. haushty general, Abner, to be tauu9d by David (v. 15). As chief officer be was responsible for the kues aaf9ty and his life. David tberegce ueht well reproach and cade hw f5r hls lack of fidelity was worthy of death When Saul was taorou ebiy awake to the fact of Davids visit to his camp and the fact that Ifs life had been spared, he was moved 10 another one of his moments Of repentance tvv. 17-2D-
 ". The Rss9lt, w. 17-25.-David's address 10 Saul, Is a remarkable one He first appeals 10 reason (v. 1S) and desires fo know what if any. fault he has committed He next challenges the motives which impeIled Saul. Was it God who sent him on this journey or was it the evil counsel of men (v. l@2 fl this latter then let God deal with them according to their just deserts And, finally, David uses the two aiwilas of a flea and par tridpe as evidence of his humility, his inonensvenesa, his harmlessness fLuke 14:I).
 Every sinner who fights against God and against his anointed ones plays the fooI and will sooner or later, like Saul. awaken 10 the fact that he has "erred exceedingly"
 David did not undertake his own de Iveranee and the Lord delivered him out of all his troubles" (y. 24; Ps. 1S).
 Dayid'e last message to Saul as he bade them to send for his spear was a declaration of innocence and a prayer that God would give him safety even as saul's life had been spared.
 Sauls final word was a blessing and a prophecy of Dayid's ultimate tri- umDh.