patriarchs and prophets-第123章

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David　had　decided　not　to　risk　his　life　in　meeting　an　antagonist　in　so
unequal　an　encounter。　But　this　was　far　from　the　thought　of　the　brave　young
man。　When　he　returned　to　Saul　he　begged　permission　to　lay　aside　the　heavy
armor；　saying；　〃I　cannot　go　with　these；　for　I　have　not　proved　them。〃　He　laid
off　the　king's　armor；　and　in　its　stead　took　only　his　staff　in　his　hand；　with
his　shepherd's　scrip　and　a　simple　sling。　Choosing　five　smooth　stones　out　of
the　brook；　he　put　them　in　his　bag；　and；　with　his　sling　in　his　hand；　drew
near　to　the　Philistine。　The　giant　strode　boldly　forward；　expecting　to　meet
the　mightiest　of　the　warriors　of　Israel。　His　armor…bearer　walked　before　him；
and　he　looked　as　if　nothing　could　withstand　him。　As　he　came　nearer　to　David
he　saw　but　a　stripling；　called　a　boy　because　of　his　youth。　David's
countenance　was　ruddy　with　health；　and　his　well…knit　form；　unprotected　by
armor；　was　displayed　to　advantage；　yet　between　its　youthful　outline　and　the
massive　proportions　of　the　Philistine；　there　was　a　marked　contrast。

Goliath　was　filled　with　amazement　and　anger。　〃Am　I　a　dog；〃　he　exclaimed；
〃that　thou　comest　to　me　with　staves？〃　Then　he　poured　upon　David　the　most
terrible　curses　by　all　the　gods　of　his　knowledge。　He　cried　in　derision；
〃Come　to　me；　and　I　will　give　thy　flesh　unto　the　fowls　of　the　air；　and　to　the
beasts　of　the　field。〃

David　did　not　weaken　before　the　champion　of　the　Philistines。　Stepping
forward；　he　said　to　his　antagonist：　〃Thou　comest　to　me　with　a　sword；　and
with　a　spear；　and　with　a　shield：　but　I　come　to　thee　in　the　name　of　the　Lord
of　hosts；　the　God　of　the　armies　of　Israel；　whom　thou　hast　defied。　This　day
will　the　Lord　deliver　thee　into　mine　hand；　and　I　will　smite　thee；　and　take
thine　head　from　thee；　and　I　will　give　the　carcasses　of　the　host　of　the
Philistines　this　day　unto　the　fowls　of　the　air；　and　to　the　wild　beasts　of
the　earth；　that　all　the　earth　may　know　that　there　is　a　God　in　Israel。　And
all　this　assembly　shall　know　that　the　Lord　saveth　not　with　sword　and　spear：
for　the　battle　is　the　Lord's；　and　He　will　give　you　into　our　hands。〃

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There　was　a　ring　of　fearlessness　in　his　tone；　a　look　of　triumph　and
rejoicing　upon　his　fair　countenance。　This　speech；　given　in　a　clear；　musical
voice；　rang　out　on　the　air；　and　was　distinctly　heard　by　the　listening
thousands　marshaled　for　war。　The　anger　of　Goliath　was　roused　to　the　very
highest　heat。　In　his　rage　he　pushed　up　the　helmet　that　protected　his
forehead　and　rushed　forward　to　wreak　vengeance　upon　his　opponent。　The　son　of
Jesse　was　preparing　for　his　foe。　〃And　it　came　to　pass；　when　the　Philistine
arose；　and　came　and　drew　nigh　to　meet　David；　that　David　hasted；　and　ran
toward　the　army　to　meet　the　Philistine。　And　David　put　his　hand　in　his　bag；
and　took　thence　a　stone；　and　slang　it；　and　smote　the　Philistine　in　the
forehead；　that　the　stone　sunk　into　his　forehead；　and　he　fell　upon　his　face
to　the　earth。〃

Amazement　spread　along　the　lines　of　the　two　armies。　They　had　been　confident
that　David　would　be　slain；　but　when　the　stone　went　whizzing　through　the　air；
straight　to　the　mark；　they　saw　the　mighty　warrior　tremble；　and　reach　forth
his　hands；　as　if　he　were　struck　with　sudden　blindness。　The　giant　reeled；　and
staggered；　and　like　a　smitten　oak；　fell　to　the　ground。　David　did　not　wait　an
instant。　He　sprang　upon　the　prostrate　form　of　the　Philistine；　and　with　both
hands　laid　hold　of　Goliath's　heavy　sword。　A　moment　before；　the　giant　had
boasted　that　with　it　he　would　sever　the　youth's　head　from　his　shoulders　and
give　his　body　to　the　fowls　of　the　air。　Now　it　was　lifted　in　the　air；　and
then　the　head　of　the　boaster　rolled　from　his　trunk；　and　a　shout　of
exultation　went　up　from　the　camp　of　Israel。

The　Philistines　were　smitten　with　terror；　and　the　conclusion　which　ensued
resulted　in　a　precipitate　retreat。　The　shouts　of　the　triumphant　Hebrews
echoed　along　the　summits　of　the　mountains；　as　they　rushed　after　their
fleeing　enemies；　and　they　〃pursued　the　Philistines；　until　thou　come　to　the
valley；　and　to　the　gates　of　Ekron。　And　the　wounded　of　the　Philistines　fell
down　by　the　way　to　Shaaraim；　even　unto　Gath；　and　unto　Ekron。　And　the
children　of　Israel　returned　from　chasing　after　the　Philistines；　and　they
spoiled　their　tents。　And　David　took　the　head　of　the　Philistine；　and　brought
it　to　Jerusalem；　but　he　put　his　armor　in　his　tent。〃

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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　64

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　David　a　Fugitive

After　the　slaying　of　Goliath；　Saul　kept　David　with　him；　and　would　not　permit
him　to　return　to　his　father's　house。　And　it　came　to　pass　that　〃the　soul　of
Jonathan　was　knit　with　the　soul　of　David；　and　Jonathan　loved　him　as　his　own
soul。〃　Jonathan　and　David　made　a　covenant　to　be　united　as　brethren；　and　the
king's　son　〃stripped　himself　of　the　robe　that　was　upon　him；　and　gave　it　to
David；　and　his　garments；　even　to　his　sword；　and　to　his　bow；　and　to　his
girdle。〃　David　was　entrusted　with　important　responsibilities；　yet　he
preserved　his　modesty；　and　won　the　affection　of　the　people　as　well　as　the
royal　household。

〃David　went　out　whithersoever　Saul　sent　him；　and　behaved　himself　wisely：　and
Saul　set　him　over　the　men　of　war。〃　David　was　prudent　and　faithful；　and　it
was　evident　that　the　blessing　of　God　was　with　him。　Saul　at　times　realized
his　own　unfitness　for　the　government　of　Israel；　and　he　felt　that　the　kingdom
would　be　more　secure　if　there　could　be　connected　with　him　one　who　received
instruction　from　the　Lord。　Saul　hoped　also　that　his　connection　with　David
would　be　a　safeguard　to　himself。　Since　David　was　favored　and　shielded　by　the
Lord；　his　presence　might　be　a　protection　to　Saul　when　he　went　out　with　him
to　war。

It　was　the　providence　of　God　that　had　connected　David　with　Saul。　David's
position　at　court　would　give　him　a　knowledge　of　affairs；　in　preparation　for
his　future　greatness。　It　would　enable　him　to　gain　the　confidence　of　the
nation。　The　vicissitudes　and　hardships　which　befell　him；　through　the　enmity
of　Saul；　would　lead　him　to　feel　his　dependence　upon　God；　and　to　put　his
whole　trust　in　Him。　And　the　friendship　of　Jonathan　for　David　was　also　of
God's　providence；　to　preserve　the　life　of　the　future　ruler　of　Israel。　In　all
these　things　God　was　working　out　His　gracious　purposes；　both　for　David　and
for　the　people　of　Israel。

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Saul；　however；　did　not　long　remain　friendly　to　David。　When　Saul　and　David
were　returning　from　battle　with　the　Philistines；　〃the　women　came　out　of　all
cities　of　Israel；　singing　and　dancing；　to　meet　King　Saul；　with　tabrets；　with
joy；　and　with　instruments　of　music。〃　One　company　sang；　〃Saul　hath　slain　his
thousands；〃　while　another　company　took　up　the　strain；　and　responded；　〃And
David　his　ten　thousands。〃　The　demon　of　jealousy　entered　the　heart　of　the
king。　He　was　angry　because　David　was　exalted　above　himself　in　the　song　of
the　women　of　Israel。　In　place　of　subduing　these　envious　feelings；　he
displayed　the　weakness　of　his　character；　and　exclaimed。　〃They　have　ascribed
unto　David　ten　thousands；　and　to　me　they　have　ascribed　but　thousands：　and
what　can　he　have　more　but　the　kingdom？〃

One　great　defect　in　the　character　of　Saul　was　his　love　of　approbation。　This
trait　had　had　a　controlling　influence　over　his　actions　and　thoughts；
everything　was　marked　by　his　desire　for　praise　and　self…exaltation。　His
standard　of　right　and　wrong　was　the　low　standard　of　popular　applause。　No　man
is　safe　who　lives　that　he　may　please　men；　and　does　not　seek　first　for　the
approbation　of　God。　It　was　the　ambition　of　Saul　to　be　first　in　the
estimation　of　men；　and　when　this　song　of　praise　was　sung；　a　settled
conviction　entered　the　mind　of　the　king　that　David　would　obtain　the　hearts
of　the　people　and　reign　in　his　stead。

Saul　opened　his　heart　to　the　spirit　of　jealousy　by　which　his　soul　was
poisoned。　Notwithstanding　the　lessons　which　he　had　received　from　the　prophet
Samuel；　instructing　him　that　God　would　accomplish　whatsoever　He　chose；　and
that　no　one　could　hinder　it；　the　king　made　it　evident　that　he　had　no　true
knowledge　of　the　plans　or　power　of　God。　The　monarch　of　Israel　was　opposing
his　will　to　the　will　of　the　Infinite　One。　Saul　had　not　learned；　while　ruling
the　kingdom　of　Israel；　that　he　should　rule　his　own　spirit。　He　allowed　his
impulses　to　control　his　judgment；　until　he　was　plunged　into　a　fury　of
passion。　He　had　paroxysms　of　rage；　when　he　was　ready　to　take　the　life　of　any
who　dared　oppose　his　will。　From　this　frenzy　he　would　pass　into　a　state　of
despondency　and　self…contempt；　and　remorse　would　take　possession　of　his
soul。

He　loved　to　hear　David　play　upon　his　harp；　and　the　evil　spirit　seemed　to　be
charmed　away　for　the　time；　but　one　day　when　the　youth　was　ministering　before
him；　and　bringing　sweet　music　from　his　instrument；　accompanying　his　voice　as
he　sang　the

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praises　of　God；　Saul　suddenly　threw　his　spear　at　the　musician；　for　the
purpose　of　putting　an　end　to　his　life。　David　was　preserved　by　the
interposition　of　God；　and　without　injury　fled　from　the　rage　of　the　maddened
king。

As　Saul's　hatred　of　David　increased；　he　became　more　and　more　watchful　to
find　an　opportunity　to　take　his　life；　but　none　of　his　plans　against　the
anointed　of　the　Lord　were　successful。　Saul　gave　himself　up　to　the　control　of
the　wicked　spirit　that　ruled　over　him；　while　David　trusted　in　Him　who　is
mighty　in　counsel；　and　strong　to　deliver。　〃The　fear　of　the　Lord　is　the
beginning　of　wisdom〃　（Proverbs　9：10）；　and　David's　prayer　was　continually
directed　to　God；　that　he　might　walk　before　Him　in　a　perfect　way。

Desiring　to　be　freed　from　the　presence　of　his　rival；　the　king　〃removed　him
from　him；　and　made　him　his　captain　over　a　thousand。　。　。　。　But　all　Israel　and
Judah　loved　David。〃　The　people　were　not　slow　to　see　that　David　was　a
competent　person；　and　that　the　affairs　entrusted　to　his　hands　were　managed
with　wisdom　and　skill。　The　counsels　of　the　young　man　were　of　a　wise　and
discreet　character；　and　proved　to　be　safe　to　follow；　while　the　judgment　of
Saul　was　at　times　unreliable；　and　his　decisions　were　not　wise。

Though　Saul　was　ever　on　the　alert　for　an　opportunity　to　destroy　David；　he
stood　in　fear　of　him；　since　it　was　evident　that　the　Lord　was　with　him。
David's　blameless　character　aroused　the　wrath　of　the　king；　he　deemed　that
the　very　life　and　presence　of　David　cast　a　reproach　upon　him；　since　by
contrast　it　presented　his　own　character　to　disadvantage。　It　was　envy　that
made　Saul　miserable　and　put　the　humble　subject　of　his　throne　in　jeopardy。
What　untold　mischief　has　this　evil　trait　of　character　worked　in　our　world！
The　same　enmity　existed　in　the　heart　of　Saul　that　stirred　the　heart　of　Cain
against　his　brother　Abel；　because　Abel's　works　were　righteous；　and　God
honored　him；　and　his　own　works　were　evil；　and　the　Lord　could　not　bless　him。
Envy　is　the　offspring　of　pride；　and　if　it　is　entertained　in　the　heart；　it
will　lead　to　hatred；　and　eventually　to　revenge　and　murder。　Satan　displayed
his　own　character　in　exciting　the　fury　of　Saul　against　him　who　had　never
done　him　harm。

The　king　kept　a　strict　watch　upon　David；　hoping　to　find　some　occas