The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 25

solitary life which he lived, tending the flocks apart from them, much of the foundation of his future life was laid. The impress which this period left upon his mind is clearly traceaule in the Psalms (viii., xix., xxiii., xxix., Ixxviii. 70, 72, &c.); and the devotion with which he guarded his sheep 11,t the risk of his own life (1 Som. xvii. 34, 35) was an earnest of the solf-sac1·i1icing spirit in which he would rule over Israel. . It w~uld seem as if David himself remained in ignorance of the meaning of hrn anomtmg by Samuel. No explanation is recorded, and no signs are given, e.s there were to Saul, to confirm the anointing. ,vhen the young Psalmist was summoned to exercise his skill in music on the vexed spirit of the king, he prob- ably never dreamed that he was to succeed him ; and when he went out to risk his life against the giant of Gath, he knew not that he was risking his own king- dom along with it. Still less did Saul know that the stripling before him was his successor; at Samuel's entreaty that had carefully been avoided (eh.xvi. 2). And so much had his mental depression and temporary derangement affected Saul's faculties, that on the battle-field of Ephesdammim he did not recognise the skilful young harper in the slayer of Goliath. " David lost nothing by his encounter with the giant, not even his temper" (Jacox). Let those who think this latter point small praise consider what a trial it is to a high-spirited young man, conscious of strength and activity, to be twitted with his youthfulness as a boy unworthy of notice. He lost nothing, but he gained much; he gained his entrance into an entirely new sphere of life, which was to be his second school of preparation for the throne. The victory over the giant was thus a crisis in his life ; it "took him away from the sheepfolds" and introduced him to court life. His character suffered nothing in consequence; on the contrary, it developed rapidly. His promotion was rapid, but it did not turn his head. He became the king's armour-bearer, the bosom friend of the king's son, the accepted lover of the king's daughter. In the midst of this success, jealousy of his praises, combining with Saul's mental derangement, turned the favour of the king into hatred. Henceforth David's position became one of the utmost delicacy. It was scarcely possil:,le to be loyal at once to Saul, to Michal, and to Jonathan. But David, who as a lad had proved himself to be" prudent in matters" (eh. xvi. 18), in this difficult position also "behaved himself wisely in all his ways" (eh. xviii. 14). He won Michal's hand, he retained the love of Jonathan, and he escaped the murderous frenzy of Saul He bad yet another school to go through before his education for the leadership of God's people was complete-the school of adversity. The faithful shepherd had become the prudent courtier : he must now become the vigilant, active, enduring outlaw. This phase of life helps still further to ripen his character, specially in two directions-chivalrous generosity and reliance upon God. His harp accom- panies him here also, and no doubt shared many a sad hour in the caves of Engedi, or on the slopes of Mahanaim. There is the true spirit of chivalry in his sparing Saul's life twice when others would have taken it, in hi, readinesR for recon- ciliation, in his burning protestation of his own innocence. "J ebovah, my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands; if I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; yea, rather, I have delivered him that without cause is my enemy. Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the es.rth, and make my glory abide in the dust " (Paa,,  JOSHUA TO NEHEMIAH. xxix