The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 393

"Fathei> business" which Christ w~s _commi~sioned to acc~mplish (Luke ii. 49; John xn1. 4-9). But, at all events, 1t 1s certain that our Saviour regarded David's requc~t and the response of the priest as indicative of the subordination of a lower to a_ l!1gher law (M~rk ii. 24-28). To save and sustain_ the life ?f a man,. though a fug1t1ve, was more important than the observance of n ntual. Tins subordination of law runs through all thing_s, till we come up to the l!ighest-thut of supreme love of God. Healt.h, and even life, may have to be set aside for the assertion of a moral principle. Hence the paradox (Matt. x. 39). Class distinctions official relations domestic claims, and private rights may be, in seasons of extrci'ne national peril' entire)y ignored for_ the mai:1te!1ance of public safety. On this principle it is that att~nti~n to the affairs of this hfe, ~hough right and good, is to yield to the. higher obhgahon of regard to eternal tlnngs ; and deference to self-one of the :most irnpoi:ta~t of laws-must gi~e way when Christ claims submission to his yo_ke, the su_bm1~s10n _of _love. '.fhus it_ could be sho~vn _how entire!~ in harmony with the scientific pnnc1ple of mteraction and subordmation of laws 1s the cardinal teaching of the gospel. • II. V.:EAKNESS IN EMBABRA.SSMENT. The embarta~sment o'!- David was great, and not unlike what many fall mto when called to high service for God. He was e,idently under the impression that be was being led by God to some service· for Israel not yet explicitly revealed (cf. eh. xvi. 13; xvii. 26, 45; xix. 18-24; xx. 13-15). At the same time be had neither the will nor the thought to rise in revolt, nor_ would Samuel or Jesse encourage it;_ yet! without home, friend, or covering, ~hither could he flee, and what do? To aid him would be deemed by the enraged kmg as treason. Under these circumstances, as a devout man, be naturally .fled from bis biding-place to the sanctuary at Nob. But the considerations which hin- dered him from compromising Samuel, Jesse, and Jonathan also operated with him to save A.himelech from the cruel suspicion of Saul. Hence, for covering the priest as well as for saving life, be fabricated the falsehood. 1. God's ·service and approval afford us no exemption from embarrassment. No man was ever more truly called to service and more distinctly appro-ed than ,vas David, and it is difficult to find in history a case of more undeserved and painful embarrassment. The Psalm!!; espe• cially vii., x., :x:iii.,xx.xv., Iii., !iv., reveal how keenly he felt bis position. Those who think that the service of God is free from cares and trials know little of history and life. The Apostle Paul had bis full share, though chief of apostles (2 Cor. xi, 23- -28). The purifying fires easily en.kindle in this world. There are materials for.them in domestic affairs, in business, in the developments of private experience. 2. The causes of weakness in embarrassment are often traceable. I£ we fall, as did David, it is because of eitber-(1) Partial consideration of the facts of our posi,tion. We may dwell too much on the difficulties, too little on the Unseen Hand. Peter looked at the waves, and not at Christ, and then began to sink. "Man does not live by bread alone" (Deut. viii. 3). (2) Physi,cal exliaustion conduces to this partial considera- twn, and also renders the action of tlie mind less steady. David was suffering men- tally by the recent suspense, parting from his friend, and long abstinence from food. The inception of many a sin takes place when the flesh is literally weak. Our Saviour recognises this (Matt. :x:xvi. 40, 42). 3. Education may have impaired our moral perceptwn in reference to some actions. Custom does in one age tolerate what in another is abominated. Good men have bought and sold slaves. In David's .time the tongue that lied for bread may have committed only a venial offence. 4. There rriay be too mucli inventiveness in seeking an outlet from embarrassment. It is pos- ~ible to think and scheme too much, not leaving to God that which in our desperate 11i,ed always belongs to him. In this state of mind evil suggestions are sure to arise, and they lay hold of the spirit just in proportion as, in extreme self-reliance, we lose trust in God. Our Saviour seems to have this in view in Matt. vi. 25-34. fi. It is possible that amidst t!ie pressure of life we do not keep near enough to God. r,Jsoibly David had been too hurried and worried by the purely human asp~ct of affairs to have strengthened his faith by fellowship with God. The S?ul, as ID the case of Peter, is weak if it fasts too long, as is the body when bread foils. lll. THE PRESENCE OP AN m;1rn11rnDLY EYE. Doeg the Edomite was present, and David'B conduct was noted. Liti.le sympathy had this proselyte with the lofty aspira- <JH. XXI, 1-15] nm FIHST EOOK OF SA:\[L'EL. 399