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had been faithful to him. You will find the list of his “ great men” in Chapter 23; all famous, yet each distinguished for some special achievement, and all rewarded. What a gathering it was for those servants who had served him during the days of his rejection! So our David will take us up to reign with Him, and there will be rewards for service. “ Every man’s work shall be tried by fire” (1 Cor. 3:13). (2) DAVID ANOINTED OVER JUDAH, v. 4. He had already been anointed by Samuel. (1 Sam. 16:13.) “ Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day for ward.” The anointing signified his appoint ment by God. Prophets, priests and kings were anointed. (Psa. 18:50.) “ Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and showeth mercy ' to his anointed, to David and to his seed for evermore.” Christ was anointed at the Jordan. Both were God’s anointed. (3) DAVID’S KINDNESS TO SAUL, vs. 5-7. The men of Jabesh-Gilead had buried Saul. (1 Sam. 31:11-13.) Now David acknowledges this act of kindness to his enemy. He prayed for them, and promised to remember them. This has the appearance of diplomacy, but in the light of David’s faithfulness to Saul it seems genuine. He spared Saul’s life. He lamented over his death. He rebuked those who slew Ishbosheth, the son of Saul. (4:8-12.) These men of Jabesh-Gilead had 3howed kindness to Saul. God would show kindness to them. What we sow, we reap. (2 Tim. 1: 16-18.) “ The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus, for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain.
Introduction. After David spared Saul’s life, he feared Saul’s wrath. One might think that the heroic, devotional spirit of David insured a godly life of faith, hut here is where Satan LESSON caught him napping EXPOSITION and snared him. T. C. Horton For over a year David lived in sepa ration from the will of God. He asso ciated himself with God’s enemies and joined himself with a wicked king. He lied and he took service with this wicked king against his own people, and was only saved from the consequences of such an atrocious act by reason of their distrust of him. (1 Sam. 27:2; 30:26.) Saul died by his own hand, and thus God prepared the way for David to ascend the throne. Outline. (1) David Seeks Divine guidance, vs. 1-3. (2) David Anointed Over Judah, v. 4. (3) David’s Kindness to Saul, vs. 6-7. (4) David Anointed Over Isra,el, 5: 1-5. (1) DAYID SEEKS DIVINE GUID ANCE, vs. 1-3. “ Shall I go up?” “Whither?” No tice the definiteness of the direction. God answers prayers in detail. (Prov. 3:5, 6.) “ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” (Psa. 25: 4, 5.) The place appointed was Hebron, an ancient city— Caleb’s inheritance— twenty miles south of Jerusalem. It was centrally located, with the Philis tines on one side and Saul’s followers on the other. Here the spies gathered the grapes of Eshcol. David took with him the men who
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