The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 433

be]iev~ what.we wish, and to see evil where. we. cherish ill:will: A very pure, Jo,inl! soul will avoid errors where others of supenor intellect will fail ; for purity and Jorn will hold the will back from judgment on uncertain data, and will also, by a sort of moral-intuition, recognise goodness where less spiritual natures would not discriminate. Ill. That THE Ev1LB INCIDENT TO MISINTERPRETATIONS AND MISCALCULATIONS ARE OF llOTH SHORT AND LONG DURATION. The evils are twofold-those affecting the injured and those attaching to the wrong-doer. David and Saul suffered by Saul's errors. It is true some of the evils affect both for tho same time, such as the mutual distrusts, the alienations, the loss of co-operation which inevitably attend the mis- reading of character and conduct; and it is impossible to estimate the grievous loss to the world arising from this source. But in instances such as that of David and our Saviour, and of all truly good, the injury on their side is soon removed; for Providence so orders event~ that what was hidden becomes revealed, and their right- eousness shines forth as the light, and their judgment as the noon-day (Ps. xxxvii. 28-40). The day of judgment will, to many, be a day for lifting up their head with joy. On the other hand, in so far as we are governed by the tendencies which induce wrong judgments, so far and so long our whole nature is impaired and debased. Indeed, the sum total of our mental and moral wealth is lessened for ever by the indulgence in wrong habits of this class; for we can never become the intellectually and morally perfect beings we should be had no energy, no faculty been perverted and abused. No amount of growth and development, after years of defective mental action, can overtake the position due to a healthful advance from the first. But especially will the evils be of long duration in the case of those who, by persistent, persecuting, false judgments, seek to harass and wound the children of God. The shame and the remorse of having bruised a tender heart or misjudged a holy cha- racter cannot easily die out. Saul's anguish of spirit consequent on his sin against David survived David's injury, General lessons:-1. If we would escape undesirable judgrnents we should avoid, as much as possible, ambiguous actions and the appearance of evil. 2. Nevertheless, in the.cause of humanity we ought to be ready to act, even though men, not knowing our feelings, may misinterpret us. 3. We should hold our judgment in strong reserve when but partial knowledge is within reach, even though plausible reasons appear to urge a critici~m. 4. Proper weight should always be allowed for the modifying influences of education, habit, and range of experience. 5. \Ve may take consolation in the knowledge that God weighs conduct in reference to its intention, and that he rules events so as to vindicate the just. 6. If ever we have wronged another by harsh and wicked judgment, we are bound to make some amend by word or deed. Unde·veloped tendencies. The second topic suggested by this section is evidently that in,olved in the predicted conduct of the men of Keilah under the circumstances specified in the inquiry of David. The service rendered by David to Keilah was such as g·ave him a just claim to their gratitude. No doubt zeal was abundant in expressing their obligation to him, and judging from appearances one might suppose that the men would be quite prepared to befrienrl him in case of need. In the early ovorfl.owings of gratitude for favours received men are wont to be strong and lavish in the expression of personal attachment and readiness to return kindness for kindness; and most certainly the men of Keiluh, had they then been questioned as to the possibility of their ever casting aside one who had so generously befriended them in a time of sore distress, would each have felt inclined to say, "Is thy servant a dog, that he should do this thing?" But there was more in their complex human nature than they themselves imagined, and the sentiments ruling their will just then and creating agreeable words and kind intentions might, under new conditions, subside and give scope for the play of u different set of tendencies, kept by the present auspicious events in abeyance. David appears to have surmised the exist- ence within their hearts of weaknesses which would not bear the strain of the tests that must be created by his sojourn in their city, and hence, not to be misled in so important a matter, he calls for the priest and makes special inquiry as to whether, in case Saul should come against the city, these men, now so grateful anrl devoted, would deliver him up. The answer which David received from the Search 'r of hearts  THE FIHST BOOK OJ." SAMUEL. [cu. xxm. 1-13,