693
THE K I N G ' S B U S I NE S S ture. It is human to get even. It is divine to forgive. (Rom. 12:19-21; Eph. 4:32). God expects His children to have the spirit David had. Long-suffer ing, gentleness and meekness are fruit of the divine Spirit. (Gal. 5:22, 23).— Eliott. As David’s way to the throne lay through multiplied difficulties, so does Christ’s, who though the appointed King with undisputed title, yet remains “ meek and lowly” , awaiting the set time.— Sum. Bible. In sparing Saul from death, David spared his own soul from sin.— Cook. In taking revenge a man is hut even with his enemy. In passing it over he is superior, for it is a prince’s part to pardon.— Sel. The man who rewards past injuries invites future injuries upon himself.— Tucker. v. 10. The Lord shall smite him. It is never necessary for us to use ques tionable means to carry out God’s pur pose. If He has appointed us, He will see to it that we get our place.— Pettin- gill. v. 11. The Lord forbid. God gives our enemies into our hands that we may save them, not for us to destroy them. David was entirely content to leave the avenging of his wrongs and the estab lishment of himself in the place which God had appointed him entirely in God’s own hands. (Ps. 94:1, 2, 23; Rom. 12:19).— Torrey. Though Saul’s cru elty and perfidy and general want of right principle had sunk him to a low pitch of degradation, yet that was no reason for David’s imitating him in do ing wrong, besides he was the sovereign and David was the subject.— Jamieson. He recognized that vengeance belongs to God. (1 Cor. 4:4, 5; Rom. 12:9; 2 Thess. 1:8; Is. 34:8; 61:2; 35:4; 59: 17; 63:4).— Haldeman. The Lord’s anointed. Saul held the office by divine appointment, not merely as other kings may be regarded as holding it. For David to remove him would be to inter fere with the divine prerogative. It would be so much the more inexcusable as God had many other ways of remov ing him, any one of which He might readily employ.— Blaikie. v. 12. David took the spear and cruise. God cannot only weaken the strongest but befool the wisest.— Sel. Alas, poor apostate Saul had been de prived before of what these two things mean spiritually. He had lost his wea pon to fight in faith and righteousness; he knew no longer the water which re freshes the soul. The spear and the
water cruise are lost today to nominal, disobedient, apostate Christendom.— Anno. Bible. Thus he got the best kind of a victory by heaping coals of fire on his enemy’s head.— Brown. A deep sleep from the Lord. The Lord who put the resolve into David’s mind co-oper ated in its execution. We are some times led by divine impulse and God will set His seal on our act.—Meyer. v. 13. David went to other side. Da vid, by retiring to a place of safety be fore he called to Abner, seems to have manifested more distrust of Saul than he had done on a former occasion.— Treas. Scrip. Knowledge. v. 14. David cried to the people. In explanation of verse 13 we are told that the air of Palestine enables the voice to be heard at a great distance, (cf. Judges 9 :7 ).— Geary. v. 20. King is come out to seek a flea. David by comparing himself to this insect seems to import that while it would cost Saul much pains to catch him, he would obtain but very little ad vantage from it.— Treas. Scrip. Knowl edge. Hunt a partridge. People in the East in hunting partridge, pursue them until observing them becoming languid and fatigued. Then they rush upon the birds stealthily and knock them down with bludgeons.— Shaw. v. 21. Return, my son David. When David gave such unmistakable evidence of his innocence and affection, Saul was overcome with emotion and confessed that he had played the fool. It is thus that we may win men still. The man who can watch with God, shows that he is possessed of spiritual strength which others must acknowledge.— Devo. Com. I have played the fool. Compare Paul’s words, “ I have fought a good fight.” (2 Tim. 4 :7 ).—K. B. In eternity the bitterest thing the unpardoned sinner will have to endure as he looks back upon the course he has pursued, will be the mocking and continually ’ repeating echo in his soul, “ I have played the fool.”— Haldeman. Nearly all fools are self made. I havej erred exceedingly. There is no power in confessing sin if sin is not forsaken. (Prov. 28:13). Saul had played the fool and he kept right on playing it.—Miller. This is not the first time Saul professed repent ance for the sake of advantage. (1 Sam. 15:30-35.)— Eliott.
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker