patriarchs and prophets-第180章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
on divine power； had faltered and turned aside from the path of strict
integrity； it was still the purpose of his heart to be true to God。 While
Satan and his host were busy helping the adversaries of God and of Israel to
plan against a king who had forsaken God； and the angels of the Lord were
working to deliver David from the peril into which he had fallen。 Heavenly
messengers moved upon the Philistine princes to protest against the presence
of David and his force with the army in the approaching conflict。
691
〃What do these Hebrews here？〃 cried the Philistine lords； pressing about
Achish。 The latter； unwilling to part with so important an ally； answered；
〃Is not this David； the servant of Saul the king of Israel； which hath been
with me these days； or these years； and I have found no fault in him since
he fell unto me unto this day？〃
But the princes angrily persisted in their demand： 〃Make this fellow return；
that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him； and let him
not go down with us to battle； lest in the battle he be an adversary to us：
for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master？ should it not be
with the heads of these men？ Is not this David； of whom they sang one to
another in dances； saying； Saul slew his thousands； and David his ten
thousands？〃 The slaughter of their famed champion and the triumph of Israel
upon that occasion were still fresh in the memory of the Philistine lords。
They did not believe that David would fight against his own people； and
should he； in the heat of battle； take sides with them； he could inflict
greater harm on the Philistines than would the whole of Saul's army。
Thus Achish was forced to yield； and calling David； said unto him； 〃Surely
as Jehovah liveth； thou hast been upright； and thy going out and thy coming
in with me in the host is good in my sight： for I have not found evil in
thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day。 Nevertheless the
lords favor thee not。 Wherefore now return； and go in peace； that thou
displease not the lords of the Philistines。〃
David； fearing to betray his real feelings； answered； 〃But what have I done？
and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee
unto this day； that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the
king？〃
The reply of Achish must have sent a thrill of shame and remorse through
David's heart； as he thought how unworthy of a servant of Jehovah were the
deceptions to which he had stooped。 〃I know that thou art good in my sight；
as an angel of God；〃 said the king： 〃notwithstanding； the princes of the
Philistines have said； He shall not go up with us to the battle。 Wherefore
now rise up early in the morning with thy master's servants that are come
with thee： and as soon as ye be up early in the morning； and have light；
depart。〃 Thus the snare in which David had become entangled was broken； and
he was set free。
692
After three days' travel David and his band of six hundred men reached
Ziklag； their Philistine home。 But a scene of desolation met their view。 The
Amalekites； taking advantage of David's absence； with his force； had avenged
themselves for his incursions into their territory。 They had surprised the
city while it was left unguarded； and having sacked and burned it； had
departed； taking all the women and children as captives； with much spoil。
Dumb with horror and amazement； David and his men for a little time gazed in
silence upon the blackened and smoldering ruins。 Then as a sense of their
terrible desolation burst upon them； those battle…scarred warriors 〃lifted
up their voice and wept； until they had no more power to weep。〃
Here again David was chastened for the lack of faith that had led him to
place himself among the Philistines。 He had opportunity to see how much
safety could be found among the foes of God and His people。 David's
followers turned upon him as the cause of their calamities。 He had provoked
the vengeance of the Amalekites by his attack upon them； yet； too confident
of security in the midst of his enemies； he had left the city unguarded。
Maddened with grief and rage； his soldiers were now ready for any desperate
measures； and they threatened even to stone their leader。
David seemed to be cut off from every human support。 All that he held dear
on earth had been swept from him。 Saul had driven him from his country； the
Philistines had driven him from the camp； the Amalekites had plundered his
city； his wives and children had been made prisoners； and his own familiar
friends had banded against him； and threatened him even with death。 In this
hour of utmost extremity David； instead of permitting his mind to dwell upon
these painful circumstances； looked earnestly to God for help。 He
〃encouraged himself in the Lord。〃 He reviewed his past eventful life。
Wherein had the Lord ever forsaken him？ His soul was refreshed in recalling
the many evidences of God's favor。 The followers of David； by their
discontent and impatience； made their affliction doubly grievous； but the
man of God； having even greater cause for grief； bore himself with
fortitude。 〃What time I am afraid； I will trust in Thee〃 （Psalm 56：3）； was
the language of his heart。 Though he himself
693
could not discern a way out of the difficulty； God could see it； and would
teach him what to do。
Sending for Abiathar the priest； the son of Ahimelech； 〃David inquired of
the Lord； saying； If I pursue after this troop； shall I overtake them？〃 The
answer was； 〃Pursue： for thou shalt surely overtake them； and shalt without
fail recover all。〃 1 Samuel 30：8； R。V。
At these words the tumult of grief and passion ceased。 David and his
soldiers at once set out in pursuit of their fleeing foe。 So rapid was their
march； that upon reaching the brook Besor； which empties near Gaza into the
Mediterranean Sea； two hundred of the band were compelled by exhaustion to
remain behind。 But David with the remaining four hundred pressed forward；
nothing daunted。
Advancing； they came upon an Egyptian slave apparently about to perish from
weariness and hunger。 Upon receiving food and drink； however； he revived；
and they learned that he had been left to die by his cruel master； an
Amalekite belonging to the invading force。 He told the story of the raid and
pillage； and then； having exacted a promise that he should not be slain or
delivered to his master； he consented to lead David's company to the camp of
their enemies。
As they came in sight of the encampment a scene of revelry met their gaze。
The victorious host were holding high festival。 〃They were spread abroad
upon all the earth； eating and drinking； and dancing； because of all the
great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines； and out
of the land of Judah。〃 An immediate attack was ordered； and the pursuers
rushed fiercely upon their prey。 The Amalekites were surprised and thrown
into confusion。 The battle was continued all that night and the following
day； until nearly the entire host was slain。 Only a band of four hundred
men； mounted upon camels； succeeded in making their escape。 The word of the
Lord was fulfilled。 〃David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried
away： and David rescued his two wives。 And there was nothing lacking to
them； neither small nor great； neither sons nor daughters； neither spoil；
nor anything that they had taken to them： David recovered all。〃
When David had invaded the territory of the Amalekites； he had put to the
sword all the inhabitants that fell into his hands。
694
But for the restraining power of God the Amalekites would have retaliated by
destroying the people of Ziklag。 They decided to spare the captives；
desiring to heighten the honor of the triumph by leading home a large number
of prisoners； and intending afterward to sell them as slaves。 Thus；
unwittingly； they fulfilled God's purpose； keeping the prisoners unharmed；
to be restored to their husbands and fathers。
All earthly powers are under the control of the Infin
