Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1920-07-15


Kind to His Enemy.
JUNIOR TOPIC-"paying Back"
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Overcoming Evil With Good.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Treatment Of Wrongdoers.
|. Saul In Pursuit Of David (vv. Isl,
Ever since DAVID took his departure
from Jonathan (ch. 20), when that
browning act of friendship was
shown, Saul had been hunting him as
wild animal. He now pursues him
with 1900 chosen men. David fees
from place to place, hiding as an out
law. Sometimes he is In the enemies
country doing disreputable things.
This is the period OF his schooling
which fitted him to he the eminent
king that he was. 1t was bitter
period in his life, but God sent him
| to this school and adapted the In
struction to his needs. David never
could have been the broad man that
he was, had he not been prepared IN
this crucible OF bitter experience. His
wading deeply into trouble adapted
him 10 write psalms suited to all men,
in NIL ages, and under all conditions.
| His life swung through the arc of
human experience, touching the high
! est point Of fame and dipping TO the
depths of sorrow and shame. Then,
| personally, he learned many lessons,
among which may be mentioned:
1. His own weakness. 1t was nee
| essary that he be humbled under the
sense of his infrmities. Unless man
| has learned this lesson, sudden eleva-
ton to power will utterly ruin him.
2. His dependence upon God.
David's many miraculous escapes
caused him to realize that the Lord
had redeemed him out of his adver-
| sity. His hiding places in the rocks
gave him much Of his imagery for the
/ psalms.
8. He learned the country and peo-
pie over which he was to rule. BY
knowing the grieSous affections which
Saul had beaped upon the people he
could sympathize and remove them.
4. He learned the magnanimity OF
self-contro. This a man must know
before he can be true king. He that
ruleth his spirit is better than he that
taketh city prov. 16 :32).
II. Saul In Davd's Hands wv. 4-2O)
1. David sends out spies ". ~
This he did to find out as to whether
Saul was come In very deed.
.. David at Saul's camp wv. 5-l)
He took with him Abishi and went in
the night to where Saul was sleeping
Abishi asked to be allowed to kill
Saul, but David forbade him because
Saul was the Lords anointed
3. David takes Sauls spear and
cruise of water wv. IL, 49,. Once be
fore Mt Engedi (ch. 24) David spared
Saurs life. Now again he was at bis
mercy. This he did that he nigh
show tangible evidence to the king
that he had no evil intent.
4. David taunts Abner, the kings
bodyguard wv. 14-16). He calls t.
Abner and taunts him for his listless
ness-his failure to watch over the
Lords anointed, the evidence of which
is the cruise and the spear IN his
hands.
s. David reasons with Saul wv. II
e2O). When Saul recognized Dayid''
voice, David began to reason witt
him, showing that he had nothing bu
good intentions toward the king. Ht
asked that he would show what wrong
he had done or what evil intent wa!
in his heart. David Is very humble
and begs Saul to relent, for surely i
he had any wicked purpose he woult
not have saved his life twice when thu
Lord had placed Saul wholly at hi
mercy. David had peculiar regard TO
the Lords anointed. He recognized
the fact that the Lord had delivered
Saul into his hands not to kill, but t.
save.
III. Saul's Confession wv. 21-25).
l. He confessed that he had sinned
The sad feature about his confession
Is that it lacked conviction, for h
went right on SHINING. This is tn
great trouble with people They ar
willing to confess that they are sin
ners, but still they go on shining.
2. He confessed that he had playe'
the fool and erred exceedingly w
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