patriarchs and prophets-第128章

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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　could　if　they　remained　in　Gath；　where　the
heathen　rites　could　not　but　prove　a　source　of　evil　and　annoyance。

While　dwelling　in　this　isolated　town　David　made　war　upon　the　Geshurites；　the
Gezrites；　and　the　Amalekites；　and　he　left　none　alive　to　bring　tidings　to
Gath。　When　he　returned　from　battle　he　gave　Achish　to　understand　that　he　had
been　warring　against　those　of　his　own　nation；　the　men　of　Judah。　By　this
dissembling　he　was　the　means　of　strengthening　the　hand　of　the　Philistines；
for　the　king　said；　〃He　hath　made　his　people　Israel　utterly　to　abhor　him；
therefore　he　shall　be　my　servant　forever。〃　David　knew　that　it　was　the　will
of　God　that　those　heathen　tribes　should　be　destroyed；　and　he　knew　that　he
was　appointed　to　do　this　work；　but　he　was　not　walking　in　the　counsel　of　God
when　he　practiced　deception。

674


〃And　it　came　to　pass　in　those　days；　that　the　Philistines　gathered　their
armies　together　for　warfare；　to　fight　with　Israel。　And　Achish　said　unto
David；　Know　thou　assuredly；　that　thou　shalt　go　out　with　me　to　battle；　thou
and　thy　men。〃　David　had　no　intention　of　lifting　his　hand　against　his　people；
but　he　was　not　certain　as　to　what　course　he　would　pursue；　until
circumstances　should　indicate　his　duty。　He　answered　the　king　evasively；　and
said；　〃Surely　thou　shalt　know　what　thy　servant　can　do。〃　Achish　understood
these　words　as　a　promise　of　assistance　in　the　approaching　war；　and　pledged
his　word　to　bestow　upon　David　great　honor；　and　give　him　a　high　position　at
the　Philistine　court。

But　although　David's　faith　had　staggered　somewhat　at　the　promises　of　God；　he
still　remembered　that　Samuel　had　anointed　him　king　of　Israel。　He　recalled
the　victories　that　God　had　given　him　over　his　enemies　in　the　past。　He
reviewed　the　great　mercy　of　God　in　preserving　him　from　the　hand　of　Saul；　and
determined　not　to　betray　a　sacred　trust。　Even　though　the　king　of　Israel　had
sought　his　life；　he　would　not　join　his　forces　with　the　enemies　of　his
people。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　66

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Death　of　Saul


Again　war　was　declared　between　Israel　and　the　Philistines。　〃The　Philistines
gathered　themselves　together；　and　came　and　pitched　in　Shunem；〃　on　the
northern　edge　of　the　plain　of　Jezreel；　while　Saul　and　his　forces　encamped
but　a　few　miles　distant；　at　the　foot　of　Mount　Gilboa；　on　the　southern　border
of　the　plain。　It　was　on　this　plain　that　Gideon；　with　three　hundred　men；　had
put　to　flight　the　hosts　of　Midian。　But　the　spirit　that　inspired　Israel's
deliverer　was　widely　different　from　that　which　now　stirred　the　heart　of　the
king。　Gideon　went　forth　strong　in　faith　in　the　mighty　God　of　Jacob；　but　Saul
felt　himself　to　be　alone　and　defenseless；　because　God　had　forsaken　him。　As
he　looked　abroad　upon　the　Philistine　host；　〃he　was　afraid；　and　his　heart
greatly　trembled。〃

Saul　had　learned　that　David　and　his　force　were　with　the　Philistines；　and　he
expected　that　the　son　of　Jesse　would　take　this　opportunity　to　revenge　the
wrongs　he　had　suffered。　The　king　was　in　sore　distress。　It　was　his　own
unreasoning　passion；　spurring　him　on　to　destroy　the　chosen　of　God；　that　had
involved　the　nation　in　so　great　peril。　While　he　had　been　engrossed　in
pursuing　David　he　had　neglected　the　defense　of　his　kingdom。　The　Philistines；
taking　advantage　of　its　unguarded　condition；　had　penetrated　into　the　very
heart　of　the　country。　Thus　while　Satan　had　been　urging　Saul　to　employ　every
energy　in　hunting　David；　that　he　might　destroy　him；　the　same　malignant
spirit　had　inspired　the　Philistines　to　seize　their　opportunity　to　work
Saul's　ruin　and　overthrow　the　people　of　God。　How　often　is　the　same　policy
still　employed　by　the　archenemy！　He　moves　upon　some　unconsecrated　heart　to
kindle　envy　and　strife　in　the　church；　and　then；　taking　advantage　of　the
divided　condition　of　God's　people；　he　stirs　up　his　agents　to　work　their
ruin。

On　the　morrow　Saul　must　engage　the　Philistines　in　battle。　The　shadows　of
impending　doom　gathered　dark　about　him；　he

676

longed　for　help　and　guidance。　But　it　was　in　vain　that　he　sought　counsel　from
God。　〃The　Lord　answered　him　not；　neither　by　dreams；　nor　by　Urim；　nor　by
prophets。〃　The　Lord　never　turned　away　a　soul　that　came　to　Him　in　sincerity
and　humility。　Why　did　he　turn　Saul　away　unanswered？　The　king　had　by　his　own
act　forfeited　the　benefits　of　all　the　methods　of　inquiring　of　God。　He　had
rejected　the　counsel　of　Samuel　the　prophet；　he　had　exiled　David；　the　chosen
of　God；　he　had　slain　the　priests　of　the　Lord。　Could　he　expect　to　be　answered
by　God　when　he　had　cut　off　the　channels　of　communication　that　Heaven　had
ordained？　He　had　sinned　away　the　Spirit　of　grace；　and　could　he　be　answered
by　dreams　and　revelations　from　the　Lord？　Saul　did　not　turn　to　God　with
humility　and　repentance。　It　was　not　pardon　for　sin　and　reconciliation　with
God；　that　he　sought；　but　deliverance　from　his　foes。　By　his　own　stubbornness
and　rebellion　he　had　cut　himself　off　from　God。　There　could　be　no　return　but
by　the　way　of　penitence　and　contrition；　but　the　proud　monarch；　in　his
anguish　and　despair；　determined　to　seek　help　from　another　source。

〃Then　said　Saul　unto　his　servants；　Seek　me　a　woman　that　hath　a　familiar
spirit；　that　I　may　go　to　her；　and　inquire　of　her。〃　Saul　had　a　full　knowledge
of　the　character　of　necromancy。　If　had　been　expressly　forbidden　by　the　Lord；
and　the　sentence　of　death　was　pronounced　against　all　who　practiced　its
unholy　arts。　During　the　life　of　Samuel；　Saul　had　commanded　that　all　wizards
and　those　that　had　familiar　spirits　should　be　put　to　death；　but　now；　in　the
rashness　of　desperation；　he　had　recourse　to　that　oracle　which　he　had
condemned　as　an　abomination。

It　was　told　the　king　that　a　woman　who　had　a　familiar　spirit　was　living　in
concealment　at　Endor。　This　woman　had　entered　into　covenant　with　Satan　to
yield　herself　to　his　control；　to　fulfill　his　purposes；　and　in　return；　the
prince　of　evil　wrought　wonders　for　her　and　revealed　secret　things　to　her。

Disguising　himself；　Saul　went　forth　by　night　with　but　two　attendants；　to
seek　the　retreat　of　the　sorceress。　Oh；　pitiable　sight！　the　king　of　Israel
led　captive　by　Satan　at　his　will！　What　path　so　dark　for　human　feet　to　tread
as　that　chosen　by　one　who　has　persisted　in　having　his　own　way；　resisting　the
holy　influences　of　the　Spirit　of　God！　What　bondage　so　terrible　as　that　of
him　who　is　given　over　to　the　control　of　the　worst　of　tyrantshimself！　Trust

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in　God　and　obedience　to　His　will　were　the　only　conditions　upon　which　Saul
could　be　king　of　Israel。　Had　he　complied　with　these　conditions　throughout
his　reign；　his　kingdom　would　have　been　secure；　God　would　have　been　his
guide；　the　Omnipotent　his　shield。　God　had　borne　long　with　Saul；　and　although
his　rebellion　and　obstinacy　had　well…nigh　silenced　the　divine　voice　in　the
soul；　there　was　still　opportunity　for　repentance。　But　when　in　his　peril　he
turned　from　God　to　obtain　light　from　a　confederate　of　Satan；　he　had　cut　the
last　tie　that　bound　him　to　his　Maker；　he　had　placed　himself　fully　under　the
control　of　that　demoniac　power　which　for　years　had　been　exercised　upon　him；
and　which　had　brought　him　to　the　verge　of　destruction。

Under　the　cover　of　darkness　Saul　and　his　attendants　made　their　way　across
the　plain；　and；　safely　passing　the　Philistine　host；　they　crossed　the
mountain　ridge；　to　the　lonely　home　of　the　sorceress　of　Endor。　Here　the　woman
with　a　familiar　spirit　had　hidden　herself　away　that　she　might　secretly
continue　her　profane　incantations。　Disguised　as　he　was；　Saul's　lofty　stature
and　kingly　port　declared　that　he　was　no　common　soldier。　The　woman　suspected
that　her　visitor　was　Saul；　and　his　rich　gifts　strengthened　her　suspicions。
To　his　request；　〃I　pray　thee；　divine　unto　me　by　the　familiar　spirit；　and
bring　me　him　up；　whom　I　shall　name　unto　thee；〃　the　woman　answered；　〃Behold；
thou　knowest　what　Saul　hath　done；　how　he　hath　cut　off　those　that　have
familiar　spirits；　and　the　wizards；　out　of　the　land：　wherefore　then　layest
thou　a　snare　for　my　life；　t