patriarchs and prophets-第170章

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Saul　was　at　times　unreliable；　and　his　decisions　were　not　wise。

Though　Saul　was　ever　on　the　alert　for　an　opportunity　to　destroy　David；　he
stood　in　fear　of　him；　since　it　was　evident　that　the　Lord　was　with　him。
David's　blameless　character　aroused　the　wrath　of　the　king；　he　deemed　that
the　very　life　and　presence　of　David　cast　a　reproach　upon　him；　since　by
contrast　it　presented　his　own　character　to　disadvantage。　It　was　envy　that
made　Saul　miserable　and　put　the　humble　subject　of　his　throne　in　jeopardy。
What　untold　mischief　has　this　evil　trait　of　character　worked　in　our　world！
The　same　enmity　existed　in　the　heart　of　Saul　that　stirred　the　heart　of　Cain
against　his　brother　Abel；　because　Abel's　works　were　righteous；　and　God
honored　him；　and　his　own　works　were　evil；　and　the　Lord　could　not　bless　him。
Envy　is　the　offspring　of　pride；　and　if　it　is　entertained　in　the　heart；　it
will　lead　to　hatred；　and　eventually　to　revenge　and　murder。　Satan　displayed
his　own　character　in　exciting　the　fury　of　Saul　against　him　who　had　never
done　him　harm。

The　king　kept　a　strict　watch　upon　David；　hoping　to　find　some　occasion　of
indiscretion　or　rashness　that　might　serve　as　an　excuse　to　bring　him　into
disgrace。　He　felt　that　he　could　not　be　satisfied

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until　he　could　take　the　young　man's　life　and　still　be　justified　before　the
nation　for　his　evil　act。　He　laid　a　snare　for　the　feet　of　David；　urging　him
to　conduct　the　war　against　the　Philistines　with　still　greater　vigor；　and
promising；　as　a　reward　of　his　valor；　an　alliance　with　the　eldest　daughter　of
the　royal　house。　To　this　proposal　David's　modest　answer　was；　〃Who　am　I？　and
what　is　my　life；　or　my　father's　family　in　Israel；　that　I　should　be
son…in…law　to　the　king？〃　The　monarch　manifested　his　insincerity　by　wedding
the　princess　to　another。

An　attachment　for　David　on　the　part　of　Michal；　Saul's　youngest　daughter；
afforded　the　king　another　opportunity　to　plot　against　his　rival。　Michal's
hand　was　offered　the　young　man　on　condition　that　evidence　should　be　given　of
the　defeat　and　slaughter　of　a　specified　number　of　their　national　foes。　〃Saul
thought　to　make　David　fall　by　the　hand　of　the　Philistines；〃　but　God　shielded
His　servant。　David　returned　a　victor　from　the　battle；　to　become　the　king's
son…in…law。　〃Michal　Saul's　daughter　loved　him；〃　and　the　monarch；　enraged；
saw　that　his　plots　had　resulted　in　the　elevation　of　him　whom　he　sought　to
destroy。　He　was　still　more　assured　that　this　was　the　man　whom　the　Lord　had
said　was　better　than　he；　and　who　should　reign　on　the　throne　of　Israel　in　his
place。　Throwing　off　all　disguise；　he　issued　a　command　to　Jonathan　and　to　the
officers　of　the　court　to　take　the　life　of　the　one　he　hated。

Jonathan　revealed　the　king's　intention　to　David　and　bade　him　conceal　himself
while　he　would　plead　with　his　father　to　spare　the　life　of　the　deliverer　of
Israel。　He　presented　before　the　king　what　David　had　done　to　preserve　the
honor　and　even　the　life　of　the　nation；　and　what　terrible　guilt　would　rest
upon　the　murderer　of　the　one　whom　God　had　used　to　scatter　their　enemies。　The
conscience　of　the　king　was　touched；　and　his　heart　was　softened。　〃And　Saul
sware；　As　the　Lord　liveth；　he　shall　not　be　slain。〃　David　was　brought　to
Saul；　and　he　ministered　in　his　presence；　as　he　had　done　in　the　past。

Again　war　was　declared　between　the　Israelites　and　the　Philistines；　and　David
led　the　army　against　their　enemies。　A　great　victory　was　gained　by　the
Hebrews；　and　the　people　of　the　realm　praised　his　wisdom　and　heroism。　This
served　to　stir　up　the　former　bitterness　of　Saul　against　him。　While　the　young
man　was　playing　before　the　king；　filling　the　palace　with　sweet　harmony。

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Saul's　passion　overcame　him；　and　he　hurled　a　javelin　at　David；　thinking　to
pin　the　musician　to　the　wall；　but　the　angel　of　the　Lord　turned　aside　the
deadly　weapon。　David　escaped　and　fled　to　his　own　house。　Saul　sent　spies　that
they　might　take　him　as　he　should　come　out　in　the　morning；　and　put　an　end　to
his　life。

Michal　informed　David　of　the　purpose　of　her　father。　She　urged　him　to　flee
for　his　life；　and　let　him　down　from　the　window；　thus　enabling　him　to　make
his　escape。　He　fled　to　Samuel　at　Ramah；　and　the　prophet；　fearless　of　the
king's　displeasure；　welcomed　the　fugitive。　The　home　of　Samuel　was　a　peaceful
place　in　contrast　with　the　royal　palace。　It　was　here；　amid　the　hills；　that
the　honored　servant　of　the　Lord　continued　his　work。　A　company　of　seers　was
with　him；　and　they　studied　closely　the　will　of　God　and　listened　reverently
to　the　words　of　instruction　that　fell　from　the　lips　of　Samuel。　Precious　were
the　lessons　that　David　learned　from　the　teacher　of　Israel。　David　believed
that　the　troops　of　Saul　would　not　be　ordered　to　invade　this　sacred　place；
but　no　place　seemed　to　be　sacred　to　the　darkened　mind　of　the　desperate　king。
David's　connection　with　Samuel　aroused　the　jealousy　of　the　king；　lest　he　who
was　revered　as　a　prophet　of　God　throughout　all　Israel　should　lend　his
influence　to　the　advancement　of　Saul's　rival。　When　the　king　learned　where
David　was；　he　sent　officers　to　bring　him　to　Gibeah；　where　he　intended　to
carry　out　his　murderous　design。

The　messengers　went　on　their　way；　intent　upon　taking　David's　life；　but　One
greater　than　Saul　controlled　them。　They　were　met　by　unseen　angels；　as　was
Balaam　when　he　was　on　his　way　to　curse　Israel。　They　began　to　utter　prophetic
sayings　of　what　would　occur　in　the　future；　and　proclaimed　the　glory　and
majesty　of　Jehovah。　Thus　God　overruled　the　wrath　of　man　and　manifested　His
power　to　restrain　evil；　while　He　walled　in　His　servant　by　a　guard　of　angels。

The　tidings　reached　Saul　as　he　eagerly　waited　to　have　David　in　his　power；
but　instead　of　feeling　the　rebuke　of　God；　he　was　still　more　exasperated；　and
sent　other　messengers。　These　also　were　overpowered　by　the　Spirit　of　God；　and
united　with　the　first　in　prophesying。　The　third　embassage　was　sent　by　the
king；　but　when　they　came　into　the　company　of　the　prophets；　the　divine
influence　fell　upon　them　also；　and　they　prophesied。　Saul　then　decided　that
he　himself　would　go；　for　his　fierce　enmity　had

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become　uncontrollable。　He　was　determined　to　wait　for　no　further　chance　to
kill　David；　as　soon　as　he　should　come　within　reach　of　him；　he　intended　with
his　own　hand　to　slay　him；　whatever　might　be　the　consequences。

But　an　angel　of　God　met　him　on　the　way　and　controlled　him。　The　Spirit　of　God
held　him　in　Its　power；　and　he　went　forward　uttering　prayers　to　God；
interspersed　with　predictions　and　sacred　melodies。　He　prophesied　of　the
coming　Messiah　as　the　world's　Redeemer。　When　he　came　to　the　prophet's　home
in　Ramah；　he　laid　aside　the　outer　garments　that　betokened　his　rank；　and　all
day　and　all　night　he　lay　before　Samuel　and　his　pupils；　under　the　influence
of　the　divine　Spirit。　The　people　were　drawn　together　to　witness　this　strange
scene；　and　the　experience　of　the　king　was　reported　far　and　wide。　Thus　again；
near　the　close　of　his　reign；　it　became　a　proverb　in　Israel　that　Saul　also
was　among　the　prophets。

Again　the　persecutor　was　defeated　in　his　purpose。　He　assured　David　that　he
was　at　peace　with　him；　but　David　had　little　confidence　in　the　king's
repentance。　He　took　this　opportunity　to　escape；　lest　the　mood　of　the　king
should　change；　as　formerly。　His　heart　was　wounded　within　him；　and　he　longed
to　see　his　friend　Jonathan　once　more。　Conscious　of　his　innocence；　he　sought
the　king's　son　and　made　a　most　touching　appeal。　〃What　have　I　done？〃　he
asked；　〃what　is　mine　iniquity？　and　what　is　my　sin　before　thy　father；　that　he
seeketh　my　life？〃　Jonathan　believed　that　his　father　had　changed　his　purpose
and　no　longer　intended　to　take　the　life　of　David。　And　Jonathan　said　unto
him；　〃God　forbid；　thou　shalt　not　die：　behold；　my　father　will　do　nothing
either　great　or　small；　but　that　he　will　show　it　me：　and　why　should　my　father
hide　this　thing　from　me？　It　is　not　so。〃　After　the　remarkable　exhibition　of
the　power　of　God；　Jonathan　could　not　believe　that　his　father　would　still
harm　David；　since　this　would　be　manifest　rebellion　against　God。　But　David
was　not　convinced。　With　intense　earnestness　he　declared　to　Jonathan；　〃As　the
Lord　live