tions of the·' anointer];" great l,is pleasure in revealing to Saul anything gratify- ing to his wicked malice. The lesson is obvious. Thi, servants of God Jive in the midst of a" perverse generation," o.nd any inconsistencies in their conduct flre sure to be used o.guinst them. Some men take unusual delight in detecting the frailties of professing Christians, as though these were an excuse for their own habits. Deeds which attract no attention in other men become conspicuous in Christians, because of the utter contrast with their holy profession (1 Tim. vi. 1; Titus ii. 4-8). IV. A PARALLEL AND A CONTRAST. There is fl singular parallel in many of the ,circumstances of David's life at this period and those of our Saviour's. David, the .anointed, was destined to work out a great issue for Israel, but fur years carried tr,e ,secret in his own breast, and was now despised, persecuted, unsustained openly by any in authority, without food, shelter, and visible means of defence, and, moreover, -exposed to strong temptations arising out of his sorrows. And so the" Anointed of the Lord," later on, kept for a long while the purpose of his life in his own heart, and only by degrees unfolded it to men. He also was despised and rejected of men ; un- recognised by the authorities; cruelly persecuted, being charged with motives and intentions most base; not knowing " where to lay his head; " without means of defence against physical injury; and not unacquainted with hunger and weariness. No wonder if the Psalms which assert the" righteousness" of David (Acts ii. 29-31 ; 2 Pet. i. 21) shadow forth the" righteousness" of the" Holy One" (Acts ii. 27) and his more glorious triumph. But the contrast is manifest. David in poverty and distress trusts in God, but not perfectly. He proves his frailty in common with all others. He knows the shame and bitterness of sin. Not so the Christ. He would have no recourse to expedients for obtaining bread or relief from apprehension (Matt. iv. 2-4; x.xvi. 38, 39, 50). "Ofthepeopletherewasnonewith him." "He trod the winepress alone." But in all things he was "holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate fr.:>m sinners." In the deepest sense, therefore, do we see the appropriate- ness of the reference of the Psalms to him in all ascriptions of right and dominion by virtue of purity and righteousness (Ps. xxiv. 3-10). Not in David, but in Christ is the solution of the grandest language of the Psalms. How impossible of solution are the problems ·when men eliminate the inspiration of the Holy Ghost from the Old Testament 1 General lessons :-1. We should be careful to avoid such a rigid adherence to useful and approved ordinances and arrangements as might deprive the poor and needy of spiritual nourishment. This danger attends some Church regulations. 2. It should be laid down as a rigid rule that no embarrassment, no perils from men, 1!hould ever justify even the thought of deception or wTOng. Such a principle •engrained into the soul will be a " breastplate of righteousness." 3. The prime con- sideration in times of peril is to commit our way to God, and be willing if need be to suffer and die. 4. We are justly inrlebted even to the failures of good men; for, -0_ut of the bitter review of their sins, they have borne testimony to the value of righteousness and the blessedness of trusting in God. Hence many of the Psalms. 5. We s~ould guard against partiality in judging of the weakness of good men ; for an occas10nal falsehood may be shocking to a man who thinks little of his own habit of backbiting or self-righteous censoriousness. 6. It requires many righteous dee~e to remove the bad impression cre1Lted on unfriendly observers by one indis- cretion.
Vers. 10-15.-Uncertain light. The facts are-1. In continued fear of Saul, David flees to the king of Gllth. 2. Being recognised !LS the conqueror of Goliath, he fears the consequences. 3. To esco.pe vengeance he feigns madness. 4 . .Acbish the king thereupon refuses' to have him in his service. '!'here is no evidence thut David received any Divine direction through the high priest, but the reverse (eh. x.xii. 15). He appears to h1Lve been left to the exercise of his own judgment !LS to a future place of refuge. To be a.lone, unable to remain in one's own land, a hunted _fugitive, on religious principle averse to resistance by sword or concerted revolt (eh. xxiv. 6), with no guide but such as the judgment unhlnged by conflicting thoughts could afford-this was certainly being "desolate" and "afflicted." 'l'he result was • determination to seek shelter among the enemies of his God and country, a step 400 THE FIRST BOOK OF SA!llUEL. [en. xx1. 1--15.