DAVID DURING SAUL'S REIGN

As Samuel had been instrumental in the appointment of Saul to be king so he was called upon to anoint Saul's successor. There was danger in doing this while Saul lived, but he could, in part at least, prevent a widespread knowledge of the real purpose of his visit to Bethlehem by making his visit the occasion of a public sacrifice there. When the sons of Jesse appeared before Samuel even he was inclined to select a king according to his physical pre- eminence again, but God would show him and Israel that his king would perform his work by God's aid, not by his own superior prowess. The great thing demanded now was a heart inclined to obey Jehovah.

It is not known how old David was when he was anointed, but he must have been quite young. He seems to have been strikingly fair of countenance. By the act of anointing he was formally recognized as the divinely chosen king. Of course those who witnessed the act must have understood its significance. David, however, did not suppose that he was to displace Saul. He would be king when Saul was dead, not before.

2. An opportunity soon offered itself for David to be brought to the court of Saul. The malady of the king led his officers to suggest that a skillful player on the harp might be able to give relief. David was chosen for the task, and he succeeded. He did not remain with Saul, but came to him as he was needed. Saul perhaps cared little who it was playing before him, for afterward when David offered to fight against Goliath neither Saul nor his leading general knew who he was. After his victory over the giant, Saul kept David with him, and Jonathan loved him as he loved himself.

It is not clear how Saul could have been so ignorant about David if he had already been his armor-bearer according to the statement of the text as we now have it. Some think that the accounts have been transposed, that he had killed the giant before he was sent for to play before Saul. But it would still be difficult to understand the account. The Hebrew text of the books of Samuel contains very many errors, and it may be that this account has been changed at some time in copying

3. David soon gained the praises of the people. The women sang of his victories, and placed him even above the king in honor. This made Saul jealous of David, who was now exposed to the danger of death from the king. David acted very discreetly, however, and gained the esteem of all the people. Saul removed him from his immediate presence and put him over a company of soldiers, thinking he would be more likely to be slain, but this only served as a better opportunity for David to show to the people his ability as a warrior. This was of service to him afterward when the people looked to him as their king. Each attempt of Saul to harm David but added to the evidence that the Lord was with him.

4. During the next stage of David's career he was in Judah, whither he had fled to escape Saul. He first went to Samuel, then after visiting the tabernacle at Nob and securing the sword of Goliath he went to Gath, but as the Philistines recognized him as their enemy he returned to the cave of Adullam in Judah. While here as an outlaw in Judah, Saul repeatedly attempted to take him and failed. The conflict between the two began to assume national importance; a large number of men joined themselves to the fortunes of David, and they seem to have been engaged, a part of the time at least, in defending the interests of their tribe. The incident recorded about Nabal would indicate this. While David may be called an outlaw at this time, he was such only in the view of Saul. He was not only interested in de fending his people, but he was careful not to harm in any way the king himself. He would not presume to do violence to the anointed of Jehovah. While David was in Judah Samuel died. He had befriended David and to some extent controlled Saul, and now David sees that it will be all the more dangerous for him to remain where Saul can reach him.

5. In the last stage of this part of David's career he was in Ziklag, the city that Achish had given to him when he came to make his abode among the Philistines, Saul's enemies. This course of David in going among the enemies of his people has been regarded as open to censure, but it was the safest course for him to take, and he does not seem to have given any aid whatever to the Philistines. He was employing the force that was with him in subduing those tribes that had been hostile to the Israelites dwelling on their southern border. He came near getting into a greater difficulty when he started with the Philistines in their war against the Israelites; but we can only conjecture what he would have done if he had not been prevented from going on by the lords of the Philistines.

6. The character of David manifested during this part of his life exhibits some most admirable traits. In spite of the cruel persecution by Saul, for which there was no cause but the king's jealousy, David controlled himself and re fused to resent the injustice. He was aware that Jehovah had chosen him to be king over his people, but he did not attempt to hasten the time when he could rule. His lament for Saul as well as Jonathan shows a most magnanimous spirit. When the Amalekite brought the news of Saul's death to David, he was himself put to death for presuming to harm the anointed of Jehovah. We may not be perfectly sure which of the psalms of David were produced during this period, but there are some of them which accurately express his circumstances at this time.

Says Stanley: “It is a period which has left on David's character marks never afterward effaced. . . Hence sprang that sagacity natural to one who had so long moved with his life in his hand. . . But yet more in these psalms we ob serve the growth of his dependence on God, nurtured by his hair-breadth escapes. The summary of this whole period is that of one who knows that for some great purpose he has been drawn up from the darkest abyss of danger and distress. . . It was the exodus, though of a single human soul, yet of a soul which reflected the whole nation. It was the giving of a second law, though through the living tablets of a heart, deeper and vaster than the whole legislation of Moses. It was the beginning of a new dispensation.” (“Jewish Church,” Second Series, pp. 79-81.)

SUMMARY.

1. David anointed by Samuel. The significance of this.

2. Brought to the court of Saul. Difficulties in the account.

3. David's advancement. Saul's hatred of him, and attempts to kill him.

4. David an outlaw in Judah; his course while there. Saul's failure to take him.

5. David among the Philistines. His destruction of Israel's enemies.

6. Character of David at this time. His regard for the king. Stanley's estimate of this period,