patriarchs and prophets-第140部分

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It　is　characterized　by　purity；　tact；　simplicity；　and　usefulness。　It　is
controlled　by　that　unselfish　love　that　sanctifies　the　influence。　It　is　full
of　Christ；　and　leaves　a　track　of　light　wherever　its　possessor　may　go。
Abigail　was　a　wise　reprover　and　counselor。　David's　passion　died　away　under
the　power　of　her　influence　and　reasoning。　He　was　convinced　that　he　had　taken
an　unwise　course　and　had　lost　control　of　his　own　spirit。

With　a　humble　heart　he　received　the　rebuke；　in　harmony　with　his　own　words；
〃Let　the　righteous　smite　me；　it　shall　be　a　kindness：　and　let　him　reprove　me；
it　shall　be　an　excellent　oil。〃　Psalm　141：5。　He　gave　thanks　and　blessings
because　she　advised　him　righteously。　There　are　many　who；　when　they　are
reproved；　think　it　praiseworthy　if　they　receive　the　rebuke　without　becoming
impatient；　but　how　few　take　reproof　with　gratitude　of　heart　and　bless　those
who　seek　to　save　them　from　pursuing　an　evil　course。

When　Abigail　returned　home　she　found　Nabal　and　his　guests　in　the　enjoyment
of　a　great　feast；　which　they　had　converted　into

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a　scene　of　drunken　revelry。　Not　until　the　next　morning　did　she　relate　to　her
husband　what　had　occurred　in　her　interview　with　David。　Nabal　was　a　coward　at
heart；　and　when　he　realized　how　near　his　folly　had　brought　him　to　a　sudden
death；　he　seemed　smitten　with　paralysis。　Fearful　that　David　would　still
pursue　his　purpose　of　revenge；　he　was　filled　with　horror；　and　sank　down　in　a
condition　of　helpless　insensibility。　After　ten　days　he　died。　The　life　that
God　had　given　him　had　been　only　a　curse　to　the　world。　In　the　midst　of　his
rejoicing　and　making　merry；　God　had　said　to　him；　as　He　said　to　the　rich　man
of　the　parable；　〃This　night　thy　soul　shall　be　required　of　thee。〃　Luke　12：20。

David　afterward　married　Abigail。　He　was　already　the　husband　of　one　wife；　but
the　custom　of　the　nations　of　his　time　had　perverted　his　judgment　and
influenced　his　actions。　Even　great　and　good　men　have　erred　in　following　the
practices　of　the　world。　The　bitter　result　of　marrying　many　wives　was　sorely
felt　throughout　all　the　life　of　David。

After　the　death　of　Samuel；　David　was　left　in　peace　for　a　few　months。　Again
he　repaired　to　the　solitude　of　the　Ziphites；　but　these　enemies；　hoping　to
secure　the　favor　of　the　king；　informed　him　of　David's　hiding　place。　This
intelligence　aroused　the　demon　of　passion　that　had　been　slumbering　in　Saul's
breast。　Once　more　he　summoned　his　men　of　arms　and　led　them　out　in　pursuit　of
David。　But　friendly　spies　brought　tidings　to　the　son　of　Jesse　that　Saul　was
again　pursuing　him；　and　with　a　few　of　his　men；　David　started　out　to　learn
the　location　of　his　enemy。　It　was　night　when；　cautiously　advancing；　they
came　upon　the　encampment；　and　saw　before　them　the　tents　of　the　king　and　his
attendants。　They　were　unobserved；　for　the　camp　was　quiet　in　slumber。　David
called　upon　his　friends　to　go　with　him　into　the　very　midst　of　the　foe。　In
answer　to　his　question；　〃Who　will　go　down　with　me　to　Saul　to　the　camp？〃
Abishai　promptly　responded；　〃I　will　go　down　with　thee。〃

Hidden　by　the　deep　shadows　of　the　hills；　David　and　his　attendant　entered　the
encampment　of　the　enemy。　As　they　sought　to　ascertain　the　exact　number　of
their　foes；　they　came　upon　Saul　sleeping；　his　spear　stuck　in　the　ground；　and
a　cruse　of　water　at　his　head。　Beside　him　lay　Abner；　his　chief　commander；　and
all　around　them　were　the　soldiers；　locked　in　slumber。　Abishai　raised　his
spear；　and　said　to　David；　〃God　hath　delivered　thine　enemy　into　thine　hand
this　day：　now　therefore　let　me　smite

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him；　I　pray　thee；　with　the　spear　even　to　the　earth　at　once；　and　I　will　not
smite　him　the　second　time。〃　He　waited　for　the　word　of　permission；　but　there
fell　upon　his　ear　the　whispered　words：　〃Destroy　him　not：　for　who　can　stretch
forth　his　hand　against　the　Lord's　anointed；　and　be　guiltless？　。　。　。　As　the
Lord　liveth；　the　Lord　shall　smite　him；　or　his　day　shall　come　to　die；　or　he
shall　descend　into　battle；　and　perish。　The　Lord　forbid　that　I　should　stretch
forth　mine　hand　against　the　Lord's　anointed：　but；　I　pray　thee；　take　thou　now
the　spear　that　is　at　his　bolster；　and　the　cruse　of　water；　and　let　us　go。　So
David　took　the　spear　and　the　cruse　of　water　from　Saul's　bolster；　and　they
gat　them　away；　and　no　man　saw　it；　nor　knew　it；　neither　awaked：　for　they　were
all　asleep；　because　a　deep　sleep　from　the　Lord　was　fallen　upon　them。〃　How
easily　the　Lord　can　weaken　the　strongest；　remove　prudence　from　the　wisest；
and　baffle　the　skill　of　the　most　watchful！

When　David　was　at　a　safe　distance　from　the　camp　he　stood　on　the　top　of　a
hill　and　cried　with　a　loud　voice　to　the　people　and　to　Abner；　saying；　〃Art
not　thou　a　valiant　man？　and　who　is　like　to　thee　in　Israel？　wherefore　then
hast　thou　not　kept　thy　lord　the　king？　for　there　came　one　of　the　people　in　to
destroy　the　king　thy　lord。　This　thing　is　not　good　that　thou　hast　done。　As
the　Lord　liveth；　ye　are　worthy　to　die；　because　ye　have　not　kept　your　master
the　Lord's　anointed。　And　now　see　where　the　king's　spear　is；　and　the　cruse　of
water　that　was　at　his　bolster。　And　Saul　knew　David's　voice；　and　said；　Is
this　thy　voice；　my　son　David？　And　David　said；　It　is　my　voice；　my　lord；　O
king。　And　he　said；　Wherefore　doth　my　lord　thus　pursue　after　his　servant？　for
what　have　I　done？　or　what　evil　is　in　mine　hand？　Now　therefore；　I　pray　thee；
let　my　lord　the　king　hear　the　words　of　his　servant。〃　Again　the
acknowledgment　fell　from　the　lips　of　the　king；　〃I　have　sinned：　return；　my
son　David；　for　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
exceedingly。　And　David　answered　and　said；　Behold　the　king's　spear！　and　let
one　of　the　young　men　come　over　and　fetch　it。〃　Although　Saul　had　made　the
promise；　〃I　will　no　more　do　thee　harm；〃　David　did　not　place　himself　in　his
power。

The　second　instance　of　David's　respect　for　his　sovereign's　life　made　a　still
deeper　impression　upon　the　mind　of　Saul　and　brought　from　him　a　more　humble
acknowledgment　of　his　fault。

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He　was　astonished　and　subdued　at　the　manifestation　of　such　kindness。　In
parting　from　David；　Saul　exclaimed；　〃Blessed　be　thou；　my　son　David：　thou
shalt　both　do　great　things；　and　also　shalt　still　prevail。〃　But　the　son　of
Jesse　had　no　hope　that　the　king　would　long　continue　in　this　frame　of　mind。

David　despaired　of　a　reconciliation　with　Saul。　It　seemed　inevitable　that　he
should　at　last　fall　a　victim　to　the　malice　of　the　king；　and　he　determined
again　to　seek　refuge　in　the　land　of　the　Philistines。　With　the　six　hundred
men　under　his　command；　he　passed　over　to　Achish；　the　king　of　Gath。

David's　conclusion　that　Saul　would　certainly　accomplish　his　murderous
purpose　was　formed　without　the　counsel　of　God。　Even　while　Saul　was　plotting
and　seeking　to　accomplish　his　destruction；　the　Lord　was　working　to　secure
David　the　kingdom。　God　works　out　His　plans；　though　to　human　eyes　they　are
veiled　in　mystery。　Men　cannot　understand　the　ways　of　God；　and；　looking　at
appearances；　they　interpret　the　trials　and　tests　and　provings　that　God
permits　to　come　upon　them　as　things　that　are　against　them；　and　that　will
only　work　their　ruin。　Thus　David　looked　on　appearances；　and　not　at　the
promises　of　God。　He　doubted　that　he　would　ever　come　to　the　throne。　Long
trials　had　wearied　his　faith　and　exhausted　his　patience。

The　Lord　did　not　send　David　for　protection　to　the　Philistines；　the　most
bitter　foes　of　Israel。　This　very　nation　would　be　among　his　worst　enemies　to
the　last；　and　yet　he　had　fled　to　them　for　help　in　his　time　of　need。　Having
lost　all　confidence　in　Saul　and　in　those　who　served　him；　he　threw　himself
upon　the　mercies　of　the　enemies　of　his　people。　David　was　a　brave　general；
and　had　proved　himself　a　wise　and　successful　warrior；　but　he　was　working
directly　against　his　own　interests　when　he　went　to　the　Philistines。　God　had
appointed　him　to　set　up　his　standard　in　the　land　of　Judah；　and　it　was　want
of　faith　that　led　him　to　forsake　his　post　of　duty　without　a　command　from　the
Lord。

God　was　dishonored　by　David's　unbelief。　The　Philistines　had　feared　David
more　than　they　had　feared　Saul　and　his　armies；　and　by　placing　himself　under
the　protection　of　the　Philistines；　David　discovered　to　them　the　weakness　of
his　own　people。　Thus　he　encouraged　these　relentless　foes　to　oppress　Israel。
David　had　been　anointed　to　stand　in　defense　of　the　people　of　God；　and　the
Lord　would　not　have　His　servants　give　encouragement　to

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the　wicked　by　disclosing　the　weakness　of　His　people　or　by　an　appearance　of
indifference　to　their　welfare。　Furthermore；　the　impression　was　received　by
his　brethren　that　he　had　gone　to　the　heathen　to　serve　their　gods。　By　this
act　he　gave　occasion　for　misconstruing　his　motives；　and　many　were　led　to
hold　prejudice　against　him。　The　very　thing　that　Satan　desired　to　have　him　do
he　was　led　to　do；　for；　in　seeking　refuge　among　the　Philistines；　David　caused
great　exultation　to　the　enemies　of　God　and　His　people。　David　did　not
renounce　his　worship　of　God　nor　cease　his　devotion　to　His　cause；　but　he
sacrificed　his　trust　in　Him　to　his　personal　safety；　and　thus　tarnished　the
upright　and　faithful　character　that　God　requires　His　servants　to　possess。

David　was　cordially　received　by　the　king　of　the　Philistines。　The　warmth　of
this　reception　was　partly　due　to　the　fact　that　the　king　admired　him　and
partly　to　the　fact　that　it　was　flattering　to　his　vanity　to　have　a　Hebrew
seek　his　protection。　David　felt　secure　from　betrayal　in　the　dominions　of
Achish。　He　brought　his　family；　his　household；　and　his　possessions；　as　did
also　his　men；　and　to　all　appearance　he　had　come　to　settle　permanently　in　the
land　of　Philistia。　All　this　was　gratifying　to　Achish；　who　promised　to
protect　the　fugitive　Israelites。

At　David's　request　for　a　residence　in　the　country；　removed　from　the　royal
city；　the　king　graciously　granted　Ziklag　as　a　possession。　David　realized
that　it　would　be　dangerous　for　himself　and　his　men　to　be　under　the　influence
of　idolaters。　In　a　town　wholly　separated　for　their　use　they　might　worship
God　with　more　freedom　than　they　co