THE KING’S BUSINESS
423
This teaches us plainly what is taught in many other places in the Bible that evil spirits, and even the Devil himself, can do God's work though unwittingly to them selves. All things in the universe are sub servient to the will of God. He makes not only “the wrath of man to praise Him” but the malice and cunning and malignity of the Devil to work out His purposes of love. In the expression, “an evil spirit from Je hovah’” a further truth is hinted at, viz:, that if men will not have the truth and “the good Spirit” then God gives them over to error and evil spirits-(cf. 2 Thess. 2 :10-12). This is a solemn thought, yes, an appalling thought; but it is taught by both Scripture and experience. On a former occasion when “an evil spirit” came upon Saul, he prophesied (ch. 18:10), that is, he went into an ecstatic state where he was under the control of the evil spirit (cf. Acts 16: 16-18; 1 Kings 18:29; 22:12; vs. 20-22). People nowadays speak of “spirit-control” as if all spirit-control was a good thing. It depends entirely upon what spirit is con trolling. There is not only the Holy Spirit who controls men, but evil spirits as well (1 John 4:1-3). And even if a man so controlled that more than natural wisdom is imparted to him, it does not prove that the control is the good Spirit; even evil spirits have more than natural wisdom. We see this same thing in some forms of modern clairvoyance and “inspirational speaking.” In the present instance, the evil spirit manifested his presence by awakening misery and discontent in the heart of Saul. This misery and discontent, instead of lead ing to repentance led to increased anger to ward David. v. 10. “And Saul sought to srnife David even to the wall with his javelin." There is but a step from envy to murder (cf. Matt. 27:18) and Saul took that step. Everyone who envies another is a murderer at heart (cf. 1 John 3:12, IS). There is nothing more utterly ruinous that anyone can give admission to his heart than envy. In murderous hate Saul hurled his javelin
at David, but nowadays the envious man casts his javelin, not at the body, but at the reputation of the man he envies. Any man who surpasses others may expect to be the mark of the poisonous javelins of those he excels. “He slipped away out of Saul’s presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall.” Saul missed his mark, but he was none the less a murderer at heart. Sin lies not in what one accomplishes but in what one wills to accomplish. Saul was just as guilty in the sight of God as if his javelin had pierced the heart of David. God was tak ing care of David and no Saul can hurt the one whom God protects (Ps. 37 :32, 33; Is. 54:17; Luke 4:30; 10:39). v. 11. "Saul also sent messengers unto David’s house to watch him and to slay him in the morning." Saul’s hatred stopped at nothing: it was not for the passing mo ment, but settled. But God still protected David, and used Saul’s own daughter for his deliverance. He put his trust in the Lord and he was safe. “I f thou save not thy life tonight tomor row thou shalt be slain." Michal’s words were true; if David was to escape he must escape at once. The fact that God was pro tecting him was no reason for not using discretion, and also no reason for delay. To the unsaved her words come with great force. There are many who must be saved tonight or never saved. If they wait- until tomorrow they will perish (cf. Prov. 27:1). David’s peril was too imminent to permit of any delay, and the sinner’s peril is too imminent to permit of any delay in seeking salvation. David would have been a great fool if he had said, “I will not go tonight. I will wait until tomorrow,” but he would have been nowhere near so great a fool as the unsaved man who says, “I will not accept Christ tonight. I will have another night of ease and pleasure and will accept Christ tomorrow.” v. 12. "So Michal let David down through the window: and he went and tied to es cape." Was not this very undignified on
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