The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-04-27

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.nlone. AT first both court and army
alo MIN honor (ch. 1922, yet he con-
quoted himself with great modesty
'Io: ls, 23). He also obeyed the king
explicitly though he knew fully that
ne was the God-appointed successor
or Saul. Escapes as wonderful and AS
providential as David's occur in the
iiVes OF most Of US if we could but
know them
J.. David and Jonathan, w. 1-3. The
story of the love of David and iona
IMAM is a classic. With such close
FAMILY relations and a son-in-law so
successful at arms 1t Is strange that
Saufs 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 ieal-
ousy, (ch. $3.50 and jealousy is pecu-
l1arly soldiers disease The slave of
jealousy never has peace. AS sin and
d1sobedience 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 a
Javelin, which served as his scepter,
at the harpist (ch 1910. Saul felt
that David was divinely protected and
ne knew that God had departed from
his own life 05:23; 16:14). Saul did
not Keep his grief and rage to himself
for Jonathan and the nation alike
knew all about it, Jonathan gladly
accepted Gods decree, willingly gave
up his rights in the kingdom yet he
was loyal to his father. 1t is a tender
and touching story of Jonathans love
for his friend David, and at the same
time his loyalty to his father Saul
He delighted much In David" ". q,
gave full, explicit warning to David
and also sought to intercede with Saul
II. Saul and Jonathan, w. AT. It
took courage and self-sacrif1ce 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 Jonathan's argu-
ment wv. 4, 81 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 we'll as for his friend. He
called to Saul's memory his former
joy at seeing Jehovah's victory
through David and for the time being
Saul was persuaded w. g. and made
another of those impetuous promises
which proved SO f1eeting. Ushered by
Jonathan Matt. 500 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. 8-12.
SauPs hatred was too deep to be per-
manently overcome. David went out
and won great victory over the Phi
listines and as he followed his courtly
duty, Saul burst out with fresh at
tack (vv. g. 81. David had married
Michal when about twenty-one years
of age and Saul's attacks occurred dur
ing the next three years. The evil
spirit mentioned was a demon OSLO;
Acts 16:16-18; Mark 1:23-26), a mes
senger of Satan permitted by God for
Saul's discipline 0I Cor. 1878. God
70 IN
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.
AID ito be sent from Jehovah"
On the other hand If men will not
have the good spirit, the spirit of
truth, then God gives them over to
error and evil spirits Oh Thess. 2:10-
12). Doubtless David was on his
guard for when his insanity caused
Saul again to attack him he fed ".
100. Messengers were at once dis
patched to his house ". ID and
Michal lowered David from a window
at some unguarded point, and as the
spies escaped from Jericho, and Paul
from Damascus, so he escaped from
his dangerous position There are
suggestions in the Psalms which
would indicate his grief over these
experiences.
Michafs stratagem wv. 1910 was
zone not necessarily sanctioned by
God, though he bore with it for it oc-
Cured at that time of ignorance
which God overlooked. "-Edersheim
~. Summary. All who envy are
murderers at heart Matt, PITS; John
3:12, 15). The present day murderers
hurl their javelins 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 mark when he
assails one of Gods anointed, chosen
ones. Saul could not harm David
though he wished to ever so much
Cps. 1892, SO; lisa. 54:17; Luke 1870;
10:39). Sauls hatred stopped not even
at the threshold of David's house but
invaded the sacred precincts of his
home Envy is blind, \ it assails all
that a man has, spares none with
whom he is connected and colors ev-
roIafior IF Iifo ouoy, to tho