patriarchs and prophets-第173章
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saying； 〃Touch not the anointed of the Lord。〃
David's men were still unwilling to leave Saul in peace； and they reminded
their commander of the words of God； 〃Behold； I will deliver thine enemy
into thine hand； that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee。
Then David arose； and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily。〃 But his
conscience smote him afterward； because he had even marred the garment of
the king。
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Saul rose up the went out of the cave to continue his search； when a voice
fell upon his startled ears； saying； 〃My lord the king。〃 He turned to see
who was addressing him； and lo！ it was the son of Jesse； the man whom he had
so long desired to have in his power that he might kill him。 David bowed
himself to the king； acknowledging him as his master。 Then he addressed Saul
in these words： 〃Wherefore hearest thou men's words； saying； Behold； David
seeketh thy hurt？ Behold； this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord
hath delivered thee today into mine hand in the cave： and some bade me kill
thee； but mine eye spared thee； and I said； I will not put forth mine hand
against my lord； for he is the Lord's anointed。 Moreover； my father； see；
yea； see the skirt of thy robe in my hand： for in that I cut off the skirt
of thy robe； and killed thee not； know thou and see that there is neither
evil nor transgression in mine hand； and I have not sinned against thee； yet
thou huntest my soul to take it。〃
When Saul heard the words of David he was humbled； and could not but admit
their truthfulness。 His feelings were deeply moved as he realized how
completely he had been in the power of the man whose life he sought。 David
stood before him in conscious innocence。 With a softened spirit； Saul
exclaimed； 〃Is this thy voice； my son David？ And Saul lifted up his voice；
and wept。〃 Then he declared to David： 〃Thou art more righteous than I： for
thou hast rewarded me good； whereas I have rewarded thee evil。 。 。 。For if a
man find his enemy； will he let him go well away？ wherefore the Lord reward
thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day。 And now； behold； I know
well that thou shalt surely be king； and that the kingdom of Israel shall be
established in thine hand。〃 And David made a covenant with Saul that when
this should take place he would favorably regard the house of Saul； and not
cut off his name。
Knowing what he did of Saul's past course； David could put no confidence in
the assurances of the king； nor hope that his penitent condition would long
continue。 So when Saul returned to his home David remained in the
strongholds of the mountains。
The enmity that is cherished toward the servants of God by those who have
yielded to the power of Satan changes at times to a feeling of
reconciliation and favor； but the change does not always prove to be
lasting。 After evil…minded men have engaged in doing and saying wicked
things against the Lord's servants；
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the conviction that they have been in the wrong sometimes takes deep hold
upon their minds。 The Spirit of the Lord strives with them； and they humble
their hearts before God； and before those whose influence they have sought
to destroy； and they may change their course toward them。 But as they again
open the door to the suggestions of the evil one； the old doubts are
revived； the old enmity is awakened； and they return to engage in the same
work which they repented of； and for a time abandoned。 Again they speak
evil； accusing and condemning in the bitterest manner the very ones to whom
they made most humble confession。 Satan can use such souls with far greater
power after such a course has been pursued than he could before； because
they have sinned against greater light。
〃And Samuel died； and all the Israelites were gathered together； and
lamented him； and buried him in his house at Ramah。〃 The death of Samuel was
regarded as an irreparable loss by the nation of Israel。 A great and good
prophet and an eminent judge had fallen in death； and the grief of the
people was deep and heartfelt。 From his youth up Samuel had walked before
Israel in the integrity of his heart； although Saul had been the
acknowledged king； Samuel had wielded a more powerful influence than he；
because his record was one of faithfulness； obedience； and devotion。 We read
that he judged Israel all the days of his life。
As the people contrasted the course of Saul with that of Samuel； they saw
what a mistake they had made in desiring a king that they might not be
different from the nations around them。 Many looked with alarm at the
condition of society； fast becoming leavened with irreligion and
godlessness。 The example of their ruler was exerting a widespread influence；
and well might Israel mourn that Samuel； the prophet of the Lord； was dead。
The nation had lost the founder and president of its sacred schools； but
that was not all。 It had lost him to whom the people had been accustomed to
go with their great troubleslost one who had constantly interceded with
God in behalf of the best interests of its people。 The intercession of
Samuel had given a feeling of security； for 〃the effectual fervent prayer of
a righteous man availeth much。〃 James 5：16。 The people felt now that God was
forsaking them。 The king seemed little less than a madman。 Justice was
perverted； and order was turned to confusion。
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It was when the nation was racked with internal strife； when the calm；
God…fearing counsel of Samuel seemed to be most needed； that God gave His
aged servant rest。 Bitter were the reflections of the people as they looked
upon his quiet resting place； and remembered their folly in rejecting him as
their ruler； for he had had so close a connection with Heaven that he seemed
to bind all Israel to the throne of Jehovah。 It was Samuel who had taught
them to love and obey God； but now that he was dead； the people felt that
they were left to the mercies of a king who was joined to Satan； and who
would divorce the people from God and heaven。
David could not be present at the burial of Samuel； but he mourned for him
as deeply and tenderly as a faithful son could mourn for a devoted father。
He knew that Samuel's death had broken another bond of restraint from the
actions of Saul； and he felt less secure than when the prophet lived。 While
the attention of Saul was engaged in mourning for the death of Samuel； David
took the opportunity to seek a place of greater security； so he fled to the
wilderness of Paran。 It was here that he composed the one hundred and
twentieth and twenty…first psalms。 In these desolate wilds； realizing that
the prophet was dead； and the king was his enemy； he sang：
〃My help cometh from the Lord；
Which made heaven and earth。
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved：
He that keepeth thee will not slumber。
Behold； He that keepeth Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep。 。 。 。
The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil：
He shall preserve thy soul。
The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy
coming in
From this time forth； and even forevermore。〃
Psalm 121：2…8。
While David and his men were in the wilderness of Paran； they protected from
the depredations of marauders the flocks and herds of a wealthy man named
Nabal； who had vast possessions in that region。 Nabal was a descendant of
Caleb； but his character was churlish and niggardly。
It was the time of sheepshearing； a season of hospitality。 David and his men
were in sore need of provisions； and in accordance with the custom of the
times； the son of Jesse sent ten young
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men to Nabal； bidding them greet him in their master's name； and he added：
〃Thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity； Peace be both to thee；
and peace be to thine house； and peace be unto all that thou hast。 And now I
have heard that thou hast shearers： now thy shepherds which were with us； we
hurt the
