The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-07-11

Lessen July IS, I Samuel 26.7- 81
One of the greatest things thai
recommend David to our cousidora-
tlon as y shining example. which
lod him TO D.. characterized hs "a
man OTTER Gods own heart -
that he had the heart to spare III
enemy when that enemy was en-
tirely within his power. D1Nir ih"r
was N refugee from the wrHthuf NIul
hiding out and biding the time when
the Lord should be ready Tor him
TO come into his own, which camo
to him finally when Saul and his
sons were slain and tho throne of
Israel was ready and waiting for
him tu assume it. saul was search.
ina FOR the fugitive with band
OF armed men. ready 10 slay on
sight the man who had been deino-
ly chosen to succeed him
lt-was admirable patience on tho
part OF David thut hc was con.
strained TO bide his time, merely
keeping out of harms way and con.
fiGent that tho Lord would Keep hH
word in his own due time. There wHs
no effort on his part 10 force tho
march Of events and no IN foci.
INK In his heart against tho joal-
Gus king Saul the pursuor, here
lay trapped. asleep ana complete
ly at the mercy OF David Even
the royal guards slept while David
ana his companion came ana re-
moved the Kings spear from his
pillow. TO all human reasoning II
seemed that this was a God given
opportunity for David himself 60
end the strain and settle the con.
trovorsy who among us, under tho
circumstances, when the man who
avowcdly sought to take his llfc was
completely delivered into his power.
would not have felt justified In
putting the aggressor TO death2 II
certainly would be considered juau
fable homicide
but David looked deeper into
Gods purposes than popular con-
ceptions Tho spirit of God was
with him. II was evidently a divine
arrangcmon. OF events 'ha' delivered
tho king in;o his hand. Yet David
would not permit the "Lordf an
nointod," though discredltcd and un-
worthy Of life. TO be dealt the Nio'
lent death which he deserved.
David believed that the LORD was
able to make good his pronisoa
withou, tho shedding OF blood. lie
was content To await the unfolding
OF the divine purpose without taxi
Ing vengeance into his own hands.
The world figures that every man
should take advantage OF what OPP
portunitics come to his hand. In
fact II regards him as fool II ne
does not. The popular conception
II that every man seeks to do" you
ii he cRn gam nny advantage thcrc-
by. therefore II Is only justifinbic
self-protection for you TO do"
him first II you get the chance.
This is the rule IN business, Ia so
cIety, IN politics. and especially In
war This Ia tho line OF reasoning
that led the German emperor TO
preciritntc world war because he
believed tho world was in league
against him and that II behoovod
him to strike first.
David's was the better way. lie
believed that In Gods own time
the divine viii would he accom-
plishcd In the divine way, and that he
was not commissioned as the instru-
incnt toeVrrRk Gods vengeance ON
the incorrigible king. Vengeance 4
exclusively divine prerogativo, and
II Ia not left for man to stain his
hands and blacken his soul with
murder In order to remove an "un-
desirable citizen" even when hc
knew that the man IN hN power
would not hesitate TO XIII him II
the opportunity offered.
hut David was b1t satisfied TO oe
merciful only. Ho lnkvteI on heap-