The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 445

Cl1rist makes the invariable condition of being his subjects, and this perverts the jndgrnent. lll. STRONU FAITH IN Goo IS THE PROPER COMPLEMENT OF THE MOST EARNEST F:XliRTION, AND IS A POWER IN DRINGING ADOUT THE DESIRED RESULT. Confining our attention to this narrative, we should conclude that David not only strove with all his energy to avoid a conflict with Saul, but that he was conscious that success rested entirely on his exertions. But there was an unobserved side of David's con- tlnct of which the narrative says not a word. The fifty-fourth Psalm reveals that other side, and we there learn that though he strove to escape as though everything .lepended on his skill and discretion, yet he trusted in God as though hope were alone to be found in him. This double life is well known to every child of God. What- ever metaphysical questions may be started concerning it, as a fact it is unquestion- able. Faith is a power acting in the unseen, spiritual sphere concurrently with our exertions in the visible, material sphere. Both r,re real powers in God's government of man. ,ve are apt to under-estimate faith because we do not see its incidence; or we are disposed to doubt its utility because we cannot trace the intricate operations by which events are brought to pass. It is some aid to our faith to remember that the Divine energy is immanent in every mind and in every ultimate force, and can carry out millions of lines of action concurrently for definite ends as readily as we by concentration can carry out one to a single end. God does rule among the armies of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. His control of men's movements is evidently not a mere general survey of hard, rigid lines of force originally set in motion, but the free exercise of bis personal energy on the deepest springs of human action, so as to insure a concurrence of events at such times and places as may sub- serve some advantage to those whose lives are moving in harmony with his holy purposes. God becomes a reality to us in so far as we believe this and act on tho belief. Our Christian enterprises, private conflicts with sin and sorrow, and daily occupations should he pursued with all zeal, and yet with all faith in the need and certainty of God's help. If we wish men to be moved, money to be raised for Christ's service, hindrances to religion to be overcome, and 6Ve11ts to be brought about for which we have not the adequate means, there is no presumption, but rather there is profound wisdom and piety, in asking God to exercise his boundless power for the glory of his name. "When the Son of man cometh " to visit his Churches, as when once he walked among the seven golden candlesticks (Rev. i. 13-17), " shall he find faith on the earth" 7 (Luke xviii. 8). General considerations :-1. It is worthy of consideration how far the outward life observed by men is a genuine expression of the inner, and to what extent our secrets are holy and lawful. 2. A study of the intellectual and moral causes of un- (,.. 'icf, as manifested by Yarious grades of intellect and during many centuries, would f:1rni6h instruction and warning to the tempted. 3. It is to be feared that the extreme dHelopment of man's activity in all departments of life and the insistence on per- sonal effort have withdrawn the attention of Christians too much from the great part which faith in God is ordained to play in the government of the world and ~alvation of men. HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 13, 14.-Davui's wanderings in the wilderness. "And Saul sought liim every day, but God delivered him not into his hand" (ver. 14). From t~e time of his leaving Gath till his return ( eh. xxvii. 2) David dwelt in the followmg places Muccessively-1. The cave of Adullam. 2. Miz~eh of Moab. 3. The £ores! of Hareth. 4. Keilah. 5. The wilderness of Zipb (Hach1lah, Horesh). 6. The wilderness of Maon. 7. En-gedi. 8. "The hold" ( eh. xxiv. 22). 9. The wilderness of Parun ( cb. :uv. 2). 10. The wilderness of Ziph again .. The period over which his wanderings in tbese places extended is not stated, but 1t was probably upwards of five years; "and the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a year and four mo11ths" (eh. x..xvii. 7). Like tl1e journeyings of the people of Israel (the events of which "were written for our admonition"), they resemble, in some respeclA, the course of all God's servants through the present world to "the everl~sting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Clirist." "Thou tellest my wandermgs: put thou OH. XX Ill. 14--l9.] THE FIRST BOOK OF SA:\IURL. 453 ------------------------------- my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?" (Ps. lvi. 8). Regarded gener- ally they were a scene of-1. Bitter hostility. 11 Saul sought him every day." And so long ns the Rcrvants of the great King are II in the world" they are objects of the hatred and opposition of II the prince of this world" and "the children of diso- bedience" (Ephes. ii. 2; Gal. i. 4), because "they are not of the world." The hostility which is directed against them is unreasonable and unrighteous, but re;iJ and deep ; sometimes fierce and violent, and never ceases. 2. Outward distresa David was hunted like" a partridge on the mountains" (eh. xxvi. 20), ",vandere~ in deserts and mountains and caves of the earth," sometimes (like the Son of mnn) "had not where to lay his head," suffered hunger and thirst and continual hardship, was separated from "lover and friend," and lived in the midst of extreme peril. Others are more highly favoured, but none can escape the ordinary sorrows of life; some are "greatly afflicted," and not a few suffer reproach and persecution for 0hrist's sake. "We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God' {Acts xiv. 22). 3. Inward conflict, temptation, care, depression, grief, and fear, sucb as are described in the psalms which refer to David's wanderings, and are full of imagery derived therefrom. " His sanctified genius did not give forth its perfect fragrance till it was bruised in God's chastening hand. It was the storm of a!Hic- tion that awoke the full harmonies of David's harp" (Binnie). And these are echoed in the experience of the servants of God in every age. 4. Divine protection, •and instruction, by means of providential occurrences, the prophetic word, and the inward teaching of the Holy Spirit. 11 God delivered him not into his hand." 11 Out of these great experiences in David's sorrowful life of the grace and power, wisdom and justice, mercy and goodness of God, was developed in him, and through him in his people, that intelligence of faith and theological knowledge which we see in the Psalms and the prophetical writings" (Erdmann). And still higher privileges than of old are no-v conferred on the people of God. 5. Sacred devotion. His harp was his constant companion in his wanderings, and mingling with its tones in every place, his voice rose up to God in prayer and praise, making every place a temple. " Serene he sits and sweeps the golden lyre, And blends the prophet's with the poet's fire. See with what art he strikes the vocal strings, The God, his theme, inspiring what he sings" (Lowth). "\Vhether it be tne Divine excellences, or the deep-toned voice of penitence, or the longing of the soul after God, the rejoicing in the light of his countenance, or thanks- g·iving for his mercies, in short, every emotion of the renewed heart finds adequate expression in the Book of Psalms" (J. Duncan). It is "tlw poetry of friendship between God and man" (Herder). 6. Active service. For during his wanderings he wat:1 called to render special service (ver. 2), and in the latter part of them continually afforded protection to his people (eh. xxv. 16). "None of ns liveth to himself." We are the Lord's servants, and must serve him in faithful and diligent labour on behalf of others. 7. Necessary preparation for future service, honour, and joy. " Oh spread thy covering wings around, Till all our wanderings cease, And at our Father's loved abode Our souls arrive in peace." D. Vere. 15-18. (HoRESH1 in the wilderness of Zip h. )-The benefit of tr11e friendship. "And Jonathan . . . strengthened his hand in God" (ver. 16). The friendship of JonaLhan for David here stands in contrast not only to the hatred of Saul, but also to the ingratitude of the citizens of Keilah, and the treachery of the Ziphites (ver. 19). The benefit of it, which had been long enjoyed by David, was even more fully than ever experienced by him now, when he left Keilah with his 600 men, wandered hither and thither, and" abode in a mountain (Hachilah) in the wilderness of Ziph." He was exposed to the persecution of Saul, who sought to destroy him by every means in his power (ver. 14). driven from one stronghold to another, able to procure only a precarious subsistence, anxious, fearful, and sometimes ro11dy to sink in doubt and despondency. "Just at this moment Jonathan, as though led by  454 THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. [CH. XXIII. 14-29