Evening star., 1927-08-06
Sunday School Lesson

He became familiar with the grieV-
ances of the people and their needs.
He learned how to rule the people and
the best ways of defending them from
the attacks of their enemies through
an intimate knowledge of the country
and a familiarity with the methods of
the nations foes.
One of the greatest benefits of his
exile days came in his victory over
himself, which is revealed in two diff
ferent accounts of Davids sparing
Sauls life that are recorded in
| Samuel While some hold that we
have two versions of the same event
in these accounts, the incidents diff
fer so radically that if we accept the
record as historical we are compelled
to believe that they are different YER
sions of two events that gave David
the opportunity to choose whether he
should exhibit q spirit Of magnanimity
or revenge toward Saul, who in spite
of professions of friendship hunted
him almost continuously.
Reveals Courage and Character.
David observed one night that Saul
was sleeping, surrounded by an army
of 1900 men, who were all asleep. He
knew that the king was within his
power exactly as much as when he
fell asleep in the opening of the cave.
He decided to enter that barricade of
wagons and let Saul know that the
man he was seeking to destroy did
not possess an ounce of hatred against
him. His nephew, Abishai, willingly
went with David and riSlled his life at
his request. There was not man in
the army Of outlaws who would not
have done the same thing. Every
member would have been pleased to
have had an opportunity given them
to demonstrate their loyalty and love
for their leader. Every one would
have been pleased at the chance to
slay Saul. so that David could become
King OF Israel. Not so David. He
pitied tho king with his double person
ality. He loved him as father,
obeyed him as king and honored him
as the Lords annointed."
When. with the skill of an American
Indian, he entered with his companion
the barricaGe surrounding the sleeping
king, David had already chosen that
his actions would not he based upon
self-interest that called for the Staying
of Saul. His nephew proposed to DO
it. but David refused to permit it.
While Providence had again placed
him in his power. and Satan suggested
that this second opportunity proves
clearly that God wants you to become
king, David took the position that his
duty to the Lord demanded that he
obey his conscience, that insisted that
Saul should be spared because He had
annointed the king. Convinced that
God could and would remove Saul in
His own time and in His own way,
David went into the barricade and
said to Abishai: Take the spear that
is at his head and the cruise of water
and let us go.' Instead of Staying his
enemy, he spared him and at the same
time completely disarmed him by TAX
ing the spear with which Saul had
tried to kill both Jonathan and him
self. BY promptly repressing the nat
ural feelings that called for him to get
his revenge, David won a complete
victory over himself and Saul. His
sensitive conscience had obeyed the
will of God, who calls upon us to ''be
not overcome of evil, but overcome
evil with good" In exhibiting the
spirit of magnanimity toward Saul,
David revealed not only courage but
that in his attitude toward the sleep.
ing king he was man after Gods
own heart.
Mastering Saul.
When David had climbed the noun
tain heights. where he was free from
being caught. he aroused the sleeping
forces of Saul by his criticism of Alb
ner, Saul's bodyguard. for his neglect
of duty His voice had disturbed the
kings sleep and he quickly detected
that it was Davids call that had
aroused the camp. BY a concise, com
pact declaration of his loyalty to Saul,
david anparnptIv Touched Suu1'S
heart, for he admitted his folly and