The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 496

ever on the alert, and he watched while others slept (vers. 4, 16). 3. Courage. "Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp?" (ver. 6). Even the brave Hittite dared not accept the challenge, and or,ly Abishai (afterwards David's pre- server-2 Sam. xxi. 17) would accompany him. They went fearlessly (like Jonathan and his armour-bearer) right into the midst of danger. 4. Energy and activity, by which alone he could achieve success. Mental r,nd physical strength is of God, should be ascribed to him and employed for him. "For by thee I can scatter a troop, And by my God do I break down walls ; Who maketh my feet like hinds' feet, And settcth me on my high places ; Who traineth my hands for war, So that mine arms can bend a bow of brass" (Perowne, Ps. xviii 29, 33, 84). II. LOWLY REVERENCE, submission, and obedience. "The Lord j'orbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord's anointed" (ver. 11; eh. xxiv. 6). There was in David (as there should be in others)-!. An unbounded reverence for God as the source of power, justice, order, and all excellence. This was the principle from which his conduct toward Saul proceeded. 2. Profound respect for every authority ordained by God. Saul had been anointed king, and was still openly reigning by Divine permission (his rejection having been only privately declared to him); his person was therefore regarded by David as sacred. "Liable as the Israelite kings were to interference on the part of priest and prophet, they were, by the same Divine power, shielded from the unholy hands of the profane vulgar; and it was at once impiety and rebellion to do injury to the Lord's anointed" (Kitto,' Cyc. of Bib. Lit.'). "He gives two reasons why he would not destroy Saul, nor permit another to do it:- (1) It would be a sinful affront to God's ordinance. (2) It would be a sinful anticipa- tion of God's providence" (M. Henry). 3. Due subordination of the claims of every such authority to the claims of God; which both rulers and subjects, who have proper reverence for him, must observe. 4. Entire subjection of personal impulses, purposes, and aims to the will of God, in the assurance that he wiJJ "render to every man his rig·hteousness and his faithfulness" (ver. 23). "Commit thy way unto the Lord," &c. (Ps. xxxvii. 5-9). III. NOBLE GENEROSITY. "Destroy him not," &c. (vers. 8-11; Ps. !vii., inscrip- tion, Altaschith= Destroy not ; see Hengstenberg). The opportunity of slaying his enemy was again placed in his hands, and in sparing him a second time Davill showed still greater forbearance than before, because of-1. The renewed.persecu- tion to which he was subjected, and the increased hopelessness of turning Saul from his purpose. "I sny not unto thee, Until seven times," &c. (Matt. xviii. 22-35). 2. The peculiar circ;umstances of the case. He was there alone with Abishai in the night, and his companion entreated thnt he might be permitted to give but one stroke (ver. 8). None else would witness the deed. Moral restraint alone preventNl his permission of it. 3. His not entertaining the temptation for a moment ; even the thought of it could find no place in his breast. Recent experience had evidently strengthened his spirit (eh. xxv. 32). 4. His fixed determinntion to leave the matter entirely with God (ver. 10). "It is evident that David's fnith in God was one of the great roots out of which all these fruits of forbearance and compassion grew. He was confident that God would in his own way and in his own time fulfil the promises. which had been made, and, therefore, instead of taking the matter into his own hands, he could rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him" (C. Vince). And he alone who will exercise power in mercy as well as in justice is worthy to have it intrnsted to him. IV. DIVINE APPROVAL. "A deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them" (ver. 12), indicative of the fact that the Lord "favoured David's enterprise." He wall- providentially preserved from harm, and this, along with many other circumstances (all concurring with his eminent personal qualifications), manifested it to be the will of God that he should rule over his people. The sceptre which he had no desire to .-rest from the lmnd of Saul would be given to him by the hand of God, and be " il-  THE FIHST BOOK OF SA:\IUEL. [CH. XXVI. 1-25.