patriarchs and prophets-第124章

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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　occasion　of
indiscretion　or　rashness　that　might　serve　as　an　excuse　to　bring　him　into
disgrace。　He　felt　that　he　could　not　be　satisfied

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until　he　could　take　the　young　man's　life　and　still　be　justified　before　the
nation　for　his　evil　act。　He　laid　a　snare　for　the　feet　of　David；　urging　him
to　conduct　the　war　against　the　Philistines　with　still　greater　vigor；　and
promising；　as　a　reward　of　his　valor；　an　alliance　with　the　eldest　daughter　of
the　royal　house。　To　this　proposal　David's　modest　answer　was；　〃Who　am　I？　and
what　is　my　life；　or　my　father's　family　in　Israel；　that　I　should　be
son…in…law　to　the　king？〃　The　monarch　manifested　his　insincerity　by　wedding
the　princess　to　another。

An　attachment　for　David　on　the　part　of　Michal；　Saul's　youngest　daughter；
afforded　the　king　another　opportunity　to　plot　against　his　rival。　Michal's
hand　was　offered　the　young　man　on　condition　that　evidence　should　be　given　of
the　defeat　and　slaughter　of　a　specified　number　of　their　national　foes。　〃Saul
thought　to　make　David　fall　by　the　hand　of　the　Philistines；〃　but　God　shielded
His　servant。　David　returned　a　victor　from　the　battle；　to　become　the　king's
son…in…law。　〃Michal　Saul's　daughter　loved　him；〃　and　the　monarch；　enraged；
saw　that　his　plots　had　resulted　in　the　elevation　of　him　whom　he　sought　to
destroy。　He　was　still　more　assured　that　this　was　the　man　whom　the　Lord　had
said　was　better　than　he；　and　who　should　reign　on　the　throne　of　Israel　in　his
place。　Throwing　off　all　disguise；　he　issued　a　command　to　Jonathan　and　to　the
officers　of　the　court　to　take　the　life　of　the　one　he　hated。

Jonathan　revealed　the　king's　intention　to　David　and　bade　him　conceal　himself
while　he　would　plead　with　his　father　to　spare　the　life　of　the　deliverer　of
Israel。　He　presented　before　the　king　what　David　had　done　to　preserve　the
honor　and　even　the　life　of　the　nation；　and　what　terrible　guilt　would　rest
upon　the　murderer　of　the　one　whom　God　had　used　to　scatter　their　enemies。　The
conscience　of　the　king　was　touched；　and　his　heart　was　softened。　〃And　Saul
sware；　As　the　Lord　liveth；　he　shall　not　be　slain。〃　David　was　brought　to
Saul；　and　he　ministered　in　his　presence；　as　he　had　done　in　the　past。

Again　war　was　declared　between　the　Israelites　and　the　Philistines；　and　David
led　the　army　against　their　enemies。　A　great　victory　was　gained　by　the
Hebrews；　and　the　people　of　the　realm　praised　his　wisdom　and　heroism。　This
served　to　stir　up　the　former　bitterness　of　Saul　against　him。　While　the　young
man　was　playing　before　the　king；　filling　the　palace　with　sweet　harmony。

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Saul's　passion　overcame　him；　and　he　hurled　a　javelin　at　David；　thinking　to
pin　the　musician　to　the　wall；　but　the　angel　of　the　Lord　turned　aside　the
deadly　weapon。　David　escaped　and　fled　to　his　own　house。　Saul　sent　spies　that
they　might　take　him　as　he　should　come　out　in　the　morning；　and　put　an　end　to
his　life。

Michal　informed　David　of　the　purpose　of　her　father。　She　urged　him　to　flee
for　his　life；　and　let　him　down　from　the　window；　thus　enabling　him　to　make
his　escape。　He　fled　to　Samuel　at　Ramah；　and　the　prophet；　fearless　of　the
king's　displeasure；　welcomed　the　fugitive。　The　home　of　Samuel　was　a　peaceful
place　in　contrast　with　the　royal　palace。　It　was　here；　amid　the　hills；　that
the　honored　servant　of　the　Lord　continued　his　work。　A　company　of　seers　was
with　him；　and　they　studied　closely　the　will　of　God　and　listened　reverently
to　the　words　of　instruction　that　fell　from　the　lips　of　Samuel。　Precious　were
the　lessons　that　David　learned　from　the　teacher　of　Israel。　David　believed
that　the　troops　of　Saul　would　not　be　ordered　to　invade　this　sacred　place；
but　no　place　seemed　to　be　sacred　to　the　darkened　mind　of　the　desperate　king。
David's　connection　with　Samuel　aroused　the　jealousy　of　the　king；　lest　he　who
was　revered　as　a　prophet　of　God　throughout　all　Israel　should　lend　his
influence　to　the　advancement　of　Saul's　rival。　When　the　king　learned　where
David　was；　he　sent　officers　to　bring　him　to　Gibeah；　where　he　intended　to
carry　out　his　murderous　design。

The　messengers　went　on　their　way；　intent　upon　taking　David's　life；　but　One
greater　than　Saul　controlled　them。　They　were　met　by　unseen　angels；　as　was
Balaam　when　he　was　on　his　way　to　curse　Israel。　They　began　to　utter　prophetic
sayings　of　what　would　occur　in　the　future；　and　proclaimed　the　glory　and
majesty　of　Jehovah。　Thus　God　overruled　the　wrath　of　man　and　manifested　His
power　to　restrain　evil；　while　He　walled　in　His　servant　by　a　guard　of　angels。

The　tidings　reached　Saul　as　he　eagerly　waited　to　have　David　in　his　power；
but　instead　of　feeling　the　rebuke　of　God；　he　was　still　more　exasperated；　and
sent　other　messengers。　These　also　were　overpowered　by　the　Spirit　of　God；　and
united　with　the　first　in　prophesying。　The　third　embassage　was　sent　by　the
king；　but　when　they　came　into　the　company　of　the　prophets；　the　divine
influence　fell　upon　them　also；　and　they　prophesied。　Saul　then　decided　that
he　himself　would　go；　for　his　fierce　enmity　had

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become　uncontrollable。　He　was　determined　to　wait　for　no　further　chance　to
kill　David；　as　soon　as　he　should　come　within　reach　of　him；　he　intended　with
his　own　hand　to　slay　him；　whatever　might　be　the　consequences。

But　an　angel　of　God　met　him　on　the　way　and　controlled　him。　The　Spirit　of　God
held　him　in　Its　power；　and　he　went　forward　uttering　prayers　to　God；
interspersed　with　predictions　and　sacred　melodies。　He　prophesied　of　the
coming　Messiah　as　the　world's　Redeemer。　When　he　came　to　the　prophet's　home
in　Ramah；　he　laid　aside　the　outer　garments　that　betokened　his　rank；　and　all
day　and　all　night　he　lay　before　Samuel　and　his　pupils；　under　the　influence
of　the　divine　Spirit。　The　people　were　drawn　together　to　witness　this　strange
scene；　and　the　experience　of　the　king　was　reported　far　and　wide。　Thus　again；
near　the　close　of　his　reign；　it　became　a　proverb　in　Israel　that　Saul　also
was　among　the　prophets。

Again　the　persecutor　was　defeated　in　his　purpose。　He　assured　David　that　he
was　at　peace　with　him；　but　David　had　little　confidence　in　the　king's
repentance。　He　took　this　opportunity　to　escape；　lest　the　mood　of　the　king
should　change；　as　formerly。　His　heart　was　wounded　within　him；　and　he　longed
to　see　his　friend　Jonathan　once　more。　Conscious　of　his　innocence；　he　sought
the　king's　son　and　made　a　most　touching　appeal。　〃What　have　I　done？〃　he
asked；　〃what　is　mine　iniquity？　and　what　is　my　sin　before　thy　father；　that　he
seeketh　my　life？〃　Jonathan　believed　that　his　father　had　changed　his　purpose
and　no　longer　intended　to　take　the　life　of　David。　And　Jonathan　said　unto
him；　〃God　forbid；　thou　shalt　not　die：　behold；　my　father　will　do　nothing
either　great　or　small；　but　that　he　will　show　it　me：　and　why　should　my　father
hide　this　thing　from　me？　It　is　not　so。〃　After　the　remarkable　exhibition　of
the　power　of　God；　Jonathan　could　not　believe　that　his　father　would　still
harm　David；　since　this　would　be　manifest　rebellion　against　God。　But　David
was　not　convinced。　With　intense　earnestness　he　declared　to　Jonathan；　〃As　the
Lord　liveth；　and　as　thy　soul　liveth；　there　is　but　a　step　between　me　and
death。〃

At　the　time　of　the　new　moon　a　sacred　festival　was　celebrated　in　Israel。　This
festival　recurred　upon　the　day　following　the　interview　between　David　and
Jonathan。　At　this　feast　it　was　expected　that　both　the　young　men　would　appear
at　the　king's　table；　but　David　feared　to　be　present；　and　it　was　arranged
that

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he　should　visit　his　brothers　in　Bethlehem。　On　his　return　he　was　to　hide
himself　in　a　field　not　far　from　the　banqueting　hall；　for　three　days
absenting　himself　from　the　presence　of　the　king；　and　Jonathan　would　note　the
effect　upon　Saul。　If　inquiry　should　be　made　as　to　the　whereabouts　of　the　son
of　Jesse；　Jonathan　was　to　say　that　he　had　gone　home　to　attend　the　sacrifice
offered　by　his　father's　household。　If　no　angry　demonstrations　were　made　by
the　king；　but　he　should　answer；　〃It　is　well；〃　then　it　would　be　safe　for
David　to　return　to　the　court。　But　if　he　should　become　enraged　at　his
absence；　it　would　decide　the　matter　of　David's　flight。

On　the　first　day　of　the　feast　the　king　made　no　inquiry　concerning　the
absence　of　David；　but　when　his　place　was　vacant　the　second　day；　he
questioned；　〃Wherefore　cometh　not　the　son　of　Jesse　to　meat；　neither
yesterday　nor　today？　And　Jonathan　answered　Saul；　David　earnestly　asked　leave
of　me　to　go　to　Bethlehem：　and　he　said；　Let　me　go；　I　pray　thee；　for　our
family　hath　a　sacrifice　in　the　city；　and　my　brother；　he　hath　commanded　me　to
be　there：　and　now；　if　I　have　found　favor　in　thine　eyes；　let　me　get　away；　I
pray　thee；　and　see　my　brethren。　Therefore　he　cometh　not　unto　the　king's
table。〃　When　Saul　heard　these　words；　his　anger　was　ungovernable。　He　declared
that　as　long　as　David　lived；　Jonathan　could　not　come　to　the　throne　of
Israel；　and　he　demanded　that　David　should　be　sent　for　immediately；　that　he
might　be　put　to　death。　Jonathan　again　made　intercession　for　his　friend；
pleading；　〃Wherefore　shall　he　be　slain？　what　hath　he　done？〃　This　appeal　to
the　king　only　made　him　more　satanic　in　his　fury；　and　the　spear　which　he　had
intended　for　David　he　now　hurled　at　his　own　son。

The　prince　was　grieved　and　indignant；　and　leaving　the　royal　presence；　he　was
no　more　a　guest　at　the　feast。　His　soul　was　bowed　down　with　sorrow　as　he
repaired　at　the　appointed　time　to　the　spot　where　David　was　to　learn　the
king's　intentions　toward　him。　Each　fell　upon　the　other's　neck；　and　they　wept
bitterly。　The　dark　passion　of　the　king　cast　its　shadow　upon　the　life　of　the
young　men；　and　their　grief　was　too　intense　for　expression。　Jonathan's　last
words　fell　upon　the　ear　of　David　as　they　separated　to　pursue　their　different
paths；　〃Go　in　peace；　forasmuch　as　we　have　sworn　both　of　us　in　the　name　of
the　Lord；　saying；　The　Lord　be　between　me　and　thee；　and　between　my　seed　and
thy　seed　forever。〃

The　king's　son　returned　to　Gibeah；　and　David　hastened　to

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reach　Nob；　a　city　but　a　few　miles　distant；　and　also　belonging　to　the　tribe
of　Benjamin。　The　tabernacle　had　been　taken　to　this　place　from　Shiloh；　and
here　Ahimelech　the　high　priest　ministered。　David　knew　not　whither　to　flee
for　refuge；　except　to　the　servant　of　God。　The　priest　looked　upon　him　with
astonishment；　as　he　came　in　haste　and　apparently　alone；　with　a　countenance
marked　by　anxiety　and　sorrow。　He　inquired　what　had　brought　him　there。　The
young　man　was　in　constant　fear　of　discovery；　and　in　his　extremity　he
resorted　to　deception。　David　told　the　priest　that　he　had　been　sent　by　the
king　on　a　secret　errand；　one　which　required　the　utmost　expedition。　Here　he
manifested　a　want　of　faith　in　God；　and　his　sin　resulted　in　causing　the　death
of　the　high　priest。　Had　the　facts　been　plainly　stated；　Ahimelech　would　have
known　what　course　to　pursue　to　preserve　his　life。　God　requires　that
truthfulness　shall　mark　His　people；　even　in　the　greatest　peril。　David　asked
the　priest　for　five　loaves　of　bread。　There　was　nothing　but　hallowed　bread　in
the　po