The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 377

its vindication, as in case of our Saviour; nevertheless, no means should be left nnuse,1 to assert our innocence and if possible prove it. Tlie subtle powers wlii,:h- threaten our life may be often avoided by observance of laws of health and abRtention from unnecessary risks. Many men commit slow suicide by wilful neglect of fresh air, good and moderate food, and by excessive toil for gain. The peservation of character may often be secured by abstaining from the "appearance of evil," though we shall never rid ourselves of uncharitable defamers. General lessons :-l. We should strive to be free from the narrow suspicions and uncharitable thoughts which tend to injure excellent reputations (1 Cor. xiii. 4-7). 2. If we cannot vindicate onr reputation before men, let us have comfort in God's knowledge of us (Ps. xxxvii. 5, 6; cxxxix. 1-4). 3. Like Jonathan, we should manifest great sympathy with those whose honourable character is defamed or in peril. 4. Our supreme concern should be to live in spirit so as to find acceptance with the holy, all-seeing God. Vera. 11-23.-The spring of self-sacrifice. The facts are-1. Jonathan and David retire from observation to confer further. 2. Jonathan undertakes to do all that David requires, and solemnly pledges himself to let him know the mind of Saul. 8. He pleads with David, in prospect of his elevation to power, that he and his house may receive mercy. 4. In hie eagerness he seeks a renewal of David's promise. 5. They then arrange that, after consulting with Saul, an arrow before or beyond a. certain mark shall reveal safety or danger. 'l'his beautiful narrative brings out the love and confidence of these young men in such a way that one is constrained to ask whether there is not here, not only an exquisite instance of what all our religious friendship should be in spirit and expression, but an historical foreshadowing of the relation of the loving, confiding soul to the true Anointed of the Lord. We know that in the New Testament the promised land is a shadow of the "better country," the" rock" in the wilderness a figure of Christ (1 Cor. x. 4), Zion and Jerusalem a type of the city of God, and David, the king after God's own heart, a pattern of another David, the -0nly begotten of the Father, the eternal King in Zion (Isa. ix. 7; Acts ii. 25-36). .Also in the Psalms (Pa. xiv.) and in Isaiah there are references to the deep interest of the Church in Christ and of Christ in the Church. It is not, then, unwarrantable to regard the devotion of Jonathan to the coming king, and because- he was beloved as the coming king, as, at all events, suggestive of an analogous devotion of the true believer to Christ. The most striking feature of the narrative- before us is the utter self-sacrifice of Jonathan and the deep love from which it sprang. We may notice the main features of the story, and in doing so point out their truth in Christian life. I. There IS A FULL ACQUIESCENCE IN DAVID'S DESIRES so FAR AS THEY ARE EX• PLICITLY KNOWN. Some might regard the retirement of the two into the seclusion of "the field" as suggestive of the private and sacred communion of a believer and Christ; hilt, without dwelling on that, it may be noticed that as soon as privacy was secured Jonathan at once, with solemn and pathetic earnestness, pledges himself to all that David had so far required. How true this is of a believer in Christ I When the "Anointed of the Lord " makes known his request, whether it be to bear witness for him, to remember his death, or to feed and clothe the little ones. the true heart responds with all zeal and delight. It is a mark of a true Christian, that of delight- ing to do his will. His yoke is easy and his burden light. It was a very delicate and difficult business to find out Saul's mind, and involved no little risk to Jonathan; and it is possible that much in which we have to acquiesce involves a strain and tension of feeling, a firmness and endurance, a risk of worldly loss, and a certainty of personal inconvenience; but nevertheless all is welcome, because it is for him who has won our love and is worthy of the best service we can ever render. II. There IS A DISTINCT RECOGNITION OF HIS ENDURING SUPREMACY, AND A CORRE- SPONDING SENSE OF PERSONAL UNWORTHINESS OF SUCH DISTINGUISHED FRIENDSIIIP. It is hard to say in words how refined spiritual minds obtain all their knowledge. They seem to possess an insight, n supersensual instinct, which fakes them straight tluough the present external conditions to the abiding reality. At all events, Jona- than was convinced that his beloved friend was destined to be king in Israel, and h&  '382 THE Frns l' Bd~)i{ OF S.\:IIU~L. [en. xx. 1-23.