The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-05-15

good to them that hate you.-Luke s:F.
Professor Beecher gives 1865 Bs5 G..
as the date Of this lesson and Il the
death OF Samuel. Saul had been on
the throne 81 years and David was
twenty-seyen years Of age. Thereta
ten famous episodes between the les
son OF last week and that ofstoday.
:(1) David and the shew:bread; t2l.
Goliath's sword; (s) David feigns
madness (ch. 21)!T (4) The cave Of
Adullam; t5) His care OF his par
ents; (6) The killing Of the priests.
(ch. 22); "a Wandering in the will:
derness Och. 23); ts) The cutting Of
saul's robe tch. "a; tsl Nsbal's churl.
ishness, and (1ol Abigail's kindness
(ch. 25). It might be well to have
one scholar give summary Of each Of
these events.
]. David and Ahtst1aI, w. b.
Once before, the Ziphttes had In
formed saul as to DayId's whereabouts
(23:19). Learning that Saul evident
~ intended to foIloEt him into the VII.
derness ". n, David sent spies to
learn the exact location Of Saul and
the 5000 men under command Of Abb
ner. Abner was cousin Of Saul, q
brave man. with remarkable history.
Unwittingly they had placed them
selves in Davtd's power, and that for
d second time (24:3,s1. Like the
camp of the Mtdiapites which Gideon
visited, Saul and his men were scat
tered about /. ,eping within the place
of the wagons" wi R. W, with Saul
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 man. From
neighboring rock David and his
friends could distinguish the spear
and the outlines Of the camp. Dayid'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
well III Samuel 2s:1s-16) and later be.
came a leading figure in Dayid's king
dom, accepted the challenge.
IN. David and Saul, w. s-12. -Abishai
was quite right that God had deltv.
cred Saul into payid's hand ". 3, but
!: he was wrong in his conclusion as to
what that meant God delivered Saul
that he might, II possible. save him.
It was challenge that tested Davies
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, Il 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. Aconscience
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 DEGREES
(ch. 24:15 CT, Ps. 105:15).
iii. David and Abner, w. 1916
Returning to his vantage point,
doubtless the brow Of hill on the
opposite side OF the valley, point
of safety, David awakened the sleep
ing camp. Abner repliea1T~"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 II Thess. SPA; Rev. 16:16).
It would seem like humiliation for
this proud, naughty general, Abners to
be tainted by David ". 15l. AS chief
officer he was responsible for the
kings safety and his life David
therefore might we'll 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. 17-2I.
~. The Result, w. 17.25.-Davtd's
address to Saul, is a remarkable one.
He first appeals to reason ". 49, and
desires to know what, It any. fault
he has committed. He next challenges
the motives which impelled Saul. Was
it God who sent him on this journey
or was 1t the evil counsel OF men
". 19)? If this latter then let God
deal with them according to their
Just deserts. And. finally, David uses
the two SMILES Of tlea and nar-
fridge as evidence Of his humill, lis
inoffensiveness, his harmlessness
(Luke 14:11).
Every sinner who fights against God
and against his anointed ones plays
the foolH and will sooner or later like
Saul, awaken to the fact that he has
5'erred exceedingly"
Y, David did not undertake his own de.
tliverance and "the Lord delivered him
out OF ali his troubles" ". "a; Pc. 49,.
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.
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