Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1915-05-13

good to them that hate you.-I.uke G:s7.
Professor Beecher gives 1865 B. c..
as the date of this lesson and the
death of Samuel. Saul had been on
the throne 81 years and David was
tw~enty-seven years of age. There are
ten famous episodes between the les.
son of last week and that OF today.
a. David and the shew-bread; t2)
Goliath's sword; (3 David feigns
madness tch. 2l): ll The cave of
Adullam: (5l His care of his par
ents: Co The killing of the priests
(ch. POI: az Wandering in the will
derness tch. 23): 81 The cutting of
Saul's robe tch. PA; 90 Nabal's churl-
ishness. and (l0 Abigail's kindness
(ch. 25). 1t might be well to have
one scholar give a summary OF each Of
these events,
l.. David and kblshaI. w. ST.
Once before. the Ziphites had in
formed Saul as to David's whereabouts
(23:19). Learning that Saul evident
4 ~ lhltllucu W IbIlON HIN llilp tlt W IL
derness ". ~, David sent spies to
learn the exact location Of Saul and
the 5000 men under command Of Alb
ner. Abner was a cousin of Saul, a
brave man with a remarkable history.
Unwittingly they had placed them
selves in David's power, and that for
a second time (24:3-S). Like the
camp of the Midianites which Gideon
visited, Saul and his men were scat
tered about sleeping within the place
In the center, the spear marking his
resting place and the bolster beneath
his head. Doubtless Saul trusted Alb
ner's. protection. but no arm of flesh
can save or protect a sinful a From
a neighbOring rock David and his
friends could distinguish the spear
and the outlines OF the camp. David's
| challenge was directed to both of his
companions. Ahimelech, the Hittite,
declined the summons. whereas Abb.
shat, David's nephew who had already
proved himself in the affair at the
we'll NI Samuel 23:l3-16) and later be-
came a leading figure in David's king
dom, accepted the challenge.
u. David and Saul, w s.12.-Abishai
vas quite right that God had deliv-
cred Saul into David's hand ". 81, but
he was wrong in his conclusion as to
what that meant. God delivered Saul
that he might, if possible, save him.
It was a challenge that tested David's
~magnanimity, his sense of honor and
also an event wherein he could appeal
to Saul's honor. Abishai's anger Is
evident from his words, II will not
smite him the second time" There
was ample provocation, but David rec
ognized in this experience the hand
of God, nor would he profit by an
others hand appraised against the
Lords anointed" ". 81. A conscience
less keen could have found an excuse
for allowing another to strike a blow
to his own profit. Saul was rejected
Of Jehovah, yet David preferred to
, let Jehovah execute his OWL DEGREES
(ch. 24:15 CT. Ps. 1O5:15).
III. David and Abner. w. 13-16.-
Returning to his vantage point,
doubtless the brow of a hill on the
opposite side Of the valley, a point
OF safety. David awakened the sleep
! ing camp. Abner replied, Who art
thou" This cry sounds strangely like
the present-day replies to the chal-
lenge of our David when a sleeping
camp Of sin is aroused. This call
came at night. When our King shall
return his visit will be unexpected and
at night Il Thess. SPA: Rev. 1919.
It would seem like a humiliation for
this proud, naughty general, Abner, to
be tainted by David ". 15). AS chief
officer he was responsible for the
kings safety and his life. David
therefore might well reproach and
chide him. for his lack of fidelity was
worthy of death. When Saul was
thoroughly awake to the fact Of
David's visit to his camp and the fact
| that his life had been spared, he was
moved to another one Of his moments
Of repentance wv. 17-2D.
". The Result, w. 17.25.-David's
address to Saul, is a~remarkable n
He first appeals to reason ". 49, and
desires to know what, II any, fault
he has committed. He next challenges
| the motives which impelled Saul. Was
II God who sen him on this journey
or vas 1t the evil counsel of men
". 19)? II this latter then let God
deal with them according to their
Just deserts. And, finally, David uses
the two SMILES Of a flea and !, par
fridge as evidence Of his humility, his
inoffensiveness, his harmlessness
CLuke 14:11).
Every sinner who fights against God
and against his anointed one plays
the fool and will sooner or later, like
Saul, awaken to the fact that he has
"erred exceedingly"
David did not undertake his own de.
liverance and the Lord delivered him
out OF all his troubles" ". "a: Ps. 1877.
David's last message to Saul as he
babe 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.
Saul's final word was a blessing and