The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 464

-i!l icars. S~ eYil was for the time O\'ercomc by good. David was helped to this JH>hlc hchav10nr at Engcdi by his recent meeting with Jonathan in the forest of Z1ph. At and through that meeting he had been encouraged in God. So in the hour of temptation he abstained from revenge, confided to God the vindication of J,is innocence and the presen·ation of his life, would not lift n. hand, or let one of his officers lift hand, against the king. \\Tith what tlrnnkfulness and joy must Jonathan. have heard of the sparing of his father'.s life by his friend I Their meeting had 'borne fruit nry soon. Their prayers were heard. Perhaps we have a happy meeting with a ~riend, or a strengthening and refreshing service at church, and the reason why 1s not at once apparent; but soon we fall into some temptation or danger, and then we are helped by the recent confirmation of our faith to endure with patience. Our "good time" in the wood of Ziph is meant to prepare us for the hour of temptation in the cave of Engedi. I. l'ilARK THE RESTRAINT OF Gon UPON TIIE PERSECUTOR. Saul seemed to have <'\·ery facility for gaining his object. No one disputed his will. Armed men by thousands followed him in pursuit of David; and Saul knew how to lead men, and how to fight. He had spies to track out the fugitive. The country was small, and the inhabitants, both at Keilah and at Ziph, showed their readiness to help the king. Yet he could never reach David to arrest or to smite him. More than once he had thrown the javelin at him, but missed. In the highlands of Judah he was more than -once close upon his steps, but still missed him. He went on one side of a hill while Dand moved round the other side. He had almost caught him when he was called off to repel a sudden inroad by the Philistines. He actually entered the cave in which Da,id and his men lay hid, and did not see them. This was no mere luck. It '\Vas God 'IV ho preserved David and baffled the malice of Saul. And in the tragical history of persecution the restraining hand of God has often been shown. As Saul "\Vas allowed to kill the priests but not to kill David, so has the Lord allowed many a tyrant to go so far, but no farther. Jezebel could make away with Naboth, but not with Elijah. Herod could kill St. James, but not St. Peter. '£he Roman Catholic persecutors could burn Huss, but not Wickliffe; George Wishart, bnt not John :Knox. There has been a cord of Divine control round every oppressor, and when- -ever God saw meet he has simply drawn that cord, and so has restrained the remainder of wrath, defeated the devices of cruelty. II. DrsTI!WUISH BETWEEN A RELENTING MOOD AND A REPENTING HEART. Ai:: evil- -doer may be thro"m into a fit of shame and grief over his own misconduct, promise amendment with tears, and yet never truly repent. The generous conduct and ·appeal of his son-in-law overwhelmed the king with confusion, and woke lingering echoes of good feeling in his troubled breast. He even wept before all, and, with the hot tears pouring from his eyes, confessed that he was in the wrong, praised the noble forbearance of David, acknowledged that the young captain was destined to -fill the throne, and even asked him to swear that on his accession he would not exter- minate the royal family. David swore, and they parted. Saul went home, but David did not attend him, for he was too shrewd to trust to the altered mood of the 'king. Well for him that he was so cautious, for Saul had only relented for a little while, not really repented of his malignant purpose. Softened feeling is one thing, repentance in mind and purpose another thing. This is familiar to those who try to reclaim criminals. They find them melt under kind words, bewail their misconduct, promise to lead lives of honesty and sobriety, and yet after all this fall vuy soon under temptation, and not only renew, but increase, their wickedness. It is because they have only a gush of feeling, not a grasp of principle, and are sorry for them- selns, but not penitent towards God. It is often illustrated in persons who have -succumbed to the infatuation for strong drink. Ono has allowed this vice to grow insensibly, and does not know how far it has mastered him, till at last there co~es an exposure of drunkenness which covers him with shame. A friend speaks to him a hout it seriously and kindly, and tears come promptly to his eyes, expressions of poign- ant regret and promises of the utmost caution flow from his lips. He is quite surprise_d that he should have been so foolish, hopes that no more will be said about it, and_1s quite sure that nothing of the kind will ever happen again. But there is little ~IS• turbance of conscience, no grave sense of sin, no humbling of self before God with <CH. XXV. 1-44.] 'fIIE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. 476