"He is Saul, )·e remember in glory,--e1·e enor had bent The hroa<l. brow from the daily communion; and still, though much spent Be the life an,l the hearing that front you, the same, God did choose To receiYe what a man may waste, desecrate, novcr quito lose" (Bro~1ing, • Snul '). Many other instances of a similar nature, both in ancient and modern timee 1 have been recorded. One of the most noteworthy is that of Philip V. of Spain, wb o was restored from profoundest melancholy by the magical voice of Farinelli (see Bochart • Durton, 'Anat. of Mel.;' ~itto,' D. B. lllus.;' Jacox,' Script. Texts Illua.;' Bate, 'Cyc'. of Illus. '). "Psalmody 1s the calm of the soul, the repose of the spirit, the arbiter of peace. It silences the wave and conciliates the whirlwind of our passions. It is an engenderer of friendship, a healer of dissension, a reconciler of enemies. It repels the demons, lures the ministry of angels, shields us from nig·htly teJTora, and refreshes us in daily toil" (Basil). III. PERFECTED BY SPECIAL ENDOWMENTS possessed by the musician. David's harp was the accompaniment of bis voice as he sang "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs" (see Josephus), expressive of the sympathy, confidence 1 hope 1 and joy of his soul; "the prelude to the harpings and songs which flowed fro m the harp of the future royal singer." His musical and poetic gifts were great, and they were consecrated (as all such gifts should be) to the glory of God and the good of men. "Did the music banish the demon? Not so. But the high frame of mind into which the king was brought by it sufficed to limit at least the sphere of the opera- tion of the evil spirit within him ; while the full, clear, conscious life of faith on the pint of Saul would have altogether destroyed the power of the wicked one. Besides, the silent intercessions of David sent up to heaven on the wings of the music of his liarp must have contributed not a little to the results with which his melodies were cro,n:1ed" (Krurrimacher). «The Lord was with him" (ver. 18). IV. PARTIAL AND TEMPORARY m ITS WHOLESOME POWER. Saul was not completely cured of his malady. .A breathing-space was afforded him for seeking God, and if he had faithfully anilcd himself of it he might have been permanently preserved from its return. But he failed to do so. On the indulgence of envy, " the evil spirit from God came upon l1im" again ( eh. xviii. 10 ; xix. 10) with greater power than before (Matt. xii. 45), and that wl1ich formerly calmed and gladdened him now ex- cited him to demoniacal frenzy and murderous passion. "It is said that the evil spirit departed, but not that the good spirit rehU"ned. Saul's trouble was allevii\ted, but not removed. The disease was still there. The results of David's harp were negative and superficial. So is it with the sinner still. There are many outward applications which act like spiritual chloroform upon the soul. They soothe and calm and please, but that is all; they do not go below the surface, nor touch the deep- Reated malady within. Our age is full of such appliances, literary end religious, all g-ot up for tl1e purpose of soothing the troubled spirits of men. Excitement, gaiety, balls, theatres, operas, concerts, ecclesiastical music, dresses, performances, what are all these but man's appliances for casting out the evil spirit and healing the soul's l1urt without liaving recourse to God's remedy" (Bonar, 'Thoughts and Themes'). Learn-I. That the excellent gift of music should excite our admiration of the Gi,·er," the First Composer," and our devout thankfulness to him. 2. That it ough♦ not to be perYerted from its proper intention, and employed, as it too frequently is, in the service of sin (Isa. v. 12; .Amos vi. 5). 3. That the soothing and elevating effect of a " concord of sweet sounds " must not be mistaken for the peace and joJ of true religion. 4. That nothing but the gospel of Christ and the power of his Spirit can effect the moral and spiritual renewal of man, and restore him to "his right mind" (:\fark Y. 15).-D.
Vers. 12, 13.-The chosen one. The Lord is never without resource. If Saul foil, the Goel of Israel ~as another and a better man in training for the poet which Saul discrcdited. This new personage now appears on the page of history, and he will ocCUJJY ma!ly pages. It is David, the hero, the musician, the poet, the warrior, the ruler, a many-sided man, a star of the first magnitude. 1. Not clwsen according to the tlionght6 of men. Samuel, who at first hesitated to go to Bethlehem on eo ()II. XVI. 1-23.] THE FinST BOOK OF SAMUEL. /113