Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-07-17

BY REV. HUGH r. STEVENSON.

partridge upon the mountains as ne
wandered in the wilderness of Judea,
which piles up on the western
shore OF the Dead sea. so that it
has been called "ffteen miles of
chaos" The FIVE intervening chapters
between last weeks lesson and to-
days tell the story of David's dark
days when he was living as an out
law. They record how his life was
marred by carnal methods and crook
ed conduct. He deceived Ahim elech'
the priest. to obtain bread and the
sword of Goliath. He feigned m
sanity before Achish. the King OIL
Gath. when he saw that his life was was
in danger. He planned TO brutails
punish Nabal because he did not rec
ognize his Indebtedness to David TOT
protecting his focks. r.
Against the dark background oil
sin there is portrayed a better "a
vid. who in his sinfulness found God
as He is revealed in the life of the
Christ. the friend of publicans ana
sinners The outlaw chief praised
God for protecting him in the cav
of Aduliam. where a loya! panu %
400 men iocked TO his ieadersh,p.
He revealed great executive po"er
by Che way he led this heroic band
who. driven by their adversely or the
desperate social condition of Israel
had Joined David. He guided them
over the tossed and broken. bare
and silent hills" where the valleys
filled with caves enabled him TO play
hide and seek with Saul. who sought
him relentlessly. except when he was
forced to turn aside to battle with
the PhiHstines.
David provided for the care of his
parents in Moab. where they would
he free from the hand of Saul. He
maintained his forcs in section that
WAS almost destitute of resources IN
a manner that tested his character
and capability as an executive. ne
transformed by his personality the
men who had rallied in their distress
debt and discomfort. into courageous
and conQuering force that unoer ms
skillful leadership and strategy sue
ceeded in protecting many OF nis
countrymen from their enemies rms
caused the nation to recognize tnat
David was Jehovah's favorite. SO
that they commenced to look upon
him as the coming king. This served
to increase the animosity of saul
who was made to increase mis- YIN
dictiveness by some members OF ms
court. so that on two occasions David
spared the kings life. when he could
have easily destroyed Saul. who was
seeking to destroy David.
Insanity alone will not explain how
the king with venomous jealousy pur-
sued the outlaw chief. whose victories
had saved the kingdom from the
hands of its enemies When holly
hunted BY the king and overtaken in
a cave near Engedi, on the Dead sea.
saul fell asleep in the cave where
David and his followers were in hid
ing seeking protection from their re-
lentless foe. Yet the one who Saul
pursued had spared his life Saul
knew that it was to Davids advan-
tage to have destroyed him. The
scepter of Israel was within his grasp.
the splendors of the royal palace
the power for doing good were Da-
Wits if he would have plunged his
dagger into Saul, when he cut on
part of the kings garment. The spir-
it of the age would have approved his
Staying Saul. The desire of his fol-
lowers demanded it Saul recognized
all this and broke down when David
pressed home his loyalty and prom
ised that he would never seek his life
again. 1t must have been that some
persons. thinking to personally pront
by the kings enmity. had urged him
TO destroy the outlaw.
THE Ziphites. who occupied that sec
ton of Palestine. which is southeast
of Hebron. notified Saul of the pres
moved rapidly across their country.
payment for the protec-
tion that he gave them against Be
douin tribes They either desired to
escape paying David's demands or
they may have been moved by the re-
cent Phiiistine. invasions to request
protection from the king. Saul well
coined the message and with a band
Of three thousand fastened by rapid
to Hachlilah. where he
pitched his tent and was soon in a
heavy sleep.
David was warned by his spies of
the coming of the king and of the
location of the camp. where they had
drawn baggage wagons around the
tents to serve as protection from
sleeping sovereign was in the hands
of David. who if he had followed the
spirit of warfare and of his times.
would have sought to destroy Saufs
life. Determined to leave him in Gods
hands, David called for volunteers
who offered to go expected without
doubt to share in the spoils of con-
quest.
David was not moved by any low
motives or the desire to take the life
of the Lords anointed. Although he
had killed more than one man in
battle. he would not secure the throne
by murder He was not afraid of
either Saul or his army when he
sought assistance from his two trust
ed followers: When he and Abishai
entered within the wagon barricade ii
was easy for them to pick out Sauls
tent. 1t was in the center and against
IL was the tall spear which Saul had
used in his efforts to kill David. With
one blow either David or Abishai.
could have destroyed Saul. David
took the kings spear and the cruise
of water, which had been placed near
the sleeping sovereign. so that he
could prove to Saul that once more
he. had power to destroy the one who
HI hut hnt ha "a ae1rn
because he wished to regain Saurs
affection David sought to conquer
the king through love not force.
David knew every goat path in that
valley. Climbing up one of them he
and Abishai were soon on the oppo-
site side of the valley. where from
the lofty summit they could wake up
Saurs army by their cry of warning
to the king against the lack OF pro-
lection. which his followers were Civ
ing to him. The clear air and atmos-
phere of Palestine carries voice
easily over a long distance. The ironi-
cal protest of David against the in
efficient protection given to the king
quickly aroused the whole camp. The
singing charge of dereliction of duty
did not fll Abner with any comfort,
when David proclaimed to the whole
camp their failure and exhibited the
evidence which proved that for the
second time the outlaw had saved
the kings life.
Saul recognized the voice of David
He was stirred by the magnanimity
of the one whom he had pursued with
bitter hatred. He acknowledged his
sin against God and David. whose
spirit of love finally conquered Saul.
During the last few years we have
boasted, and rightly so, of the heroism
that the men of our Army and Navy
exhib On the battlefelds of the
world war as we have tried to de-
veIop the heroic spirit of the nation.