704 has delivered your enemy into your hand.” David drew his sword, stepped down to where Saul lay and cut off the skirts of his garment. His men doubt less wondered why he had not brought the king’s head back in his hand instead of the fragment of his robe. It is a mark of true greatness to show mercy. WEDNESDAY, July 14. 1 Sam. 24: 16-22. David Puts Saul to Shame. What must Saul’s feelings have been when he rose up and saw David whom he was hunting to death, standing with his sword in one hand and the skirt of Saul’s robe in the other! David said to Saul, “ See the skirt of thy robe in my hand, and know that though some bade me kill thee, mine eye spared thee. For I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.” Saul replied, “My son David, thou art more righteous than I, for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.” Thus in court and camp, in the caves of Engedi and Adullam, all hearts good and bad are open in David’s presence. He enlarged, enriched, warmed and lighted up every heart that he came in contact with. It was his power of sym pathy and love. It was Christ in David long before Christ came. THURSDAY, July 15. 1 Sam. 26:13- 25. David Reproves Saul. On another occasion when David had entered the cave where Saul was sleep ing, he refrained from doing him harm, only taking the spear beside his pillow and the cruse of water by his side. Then hailing the camp across the val ley, he bantered the guard for thè care ful watch of the king, showing at the same time the spear and pitcher as proof that he had been there. When Saul heard his voice, he was deeply moved and said, “ I have sinned; return my son David. I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day. Behold, I have played the fool and have erred exceed ingly.” David’s response was a renewal of his appeal to God. Saul parted from him with a benediction, “ Blessed be thou, my son David; thou shalt both do great things and also shalt still prevail.” This was the last meeting between Saul and David. It is gratifying to know that after all that had occurred, Saul’s
THE K I N G ' S BUS I NE S S last utterance to him was one of bene diction, at the same time a vindication of David’s conduct in the past and a forecast of his glory in the future. “ When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” FRIDAY, July 16. Matt. 5:38-48. Love Your Eenemies. This commandment of our Lord ex presses the climax of Christian duty and is the distinguishing mark of Christian morality. It has been called the impos sible commandment. ft has been a stumbling block and rock of offense in every age. Christianity has been de rided because of this teaching, as tend ing to effeminacy and cowardice. Others have regarded it as a beautiful dream, visionary and impracticable in this evil world. When we know what human na ture is, we have to admit its impossibil ity. When we know what Christ is, we have to admit its possibility. That is to say, Christ who loved His enemies, can love them again and keep on loving them in and through that human heart in which He has taken up His abode. John 14:23, and 17:26. Instead of try ing to do that which is not only hard but utterly beyond our power, we have only to let Christ in to live out His own life in us. Then it becomes not only easy but inevitable. SATURDAY, July 17. Matt. 26:47-56. Jesus and His Enemies. Jesus lived the doctrine that He preached. On one occasion two of His disciples, disgusted by the lack of hos pitality in a certain Samaritan village, asked permission of Jesus to call down fire from heaven and burn it up. His only reply was, “ You do not know My spirit. I am not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” Judas comes to Him in the garden and imprints a kiss upon his cheek. Why did He not hurl the traitor off as one would spurn a viper? He did not smite him with a sword. He struck him only with a glance of His loving eyes. “ Judas, be- trayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss?” When the brutal soldiers drove the nails through His quivering hands, He only said, “ Father, forgive them; they know not what they do.” Let no one say that Christianity is not prac ticable and has never been lived upon this earth. It has been lived and its every doctrine has been exemplified.
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