all the more that he was obliged to hide his unwillingness, and to affect a zeal ao-ainst 0 Israel which his heart disowned. See in this story- l. THE ILLUSTRATION Oil" DIVINE PROVIDENCE. While David wrought himself intO" a most critical position, and an apparently fatal embroilment with the Philistines the Lord wrought wonderfully through the very errors of his servant, so as to pre~ serve him in safety, and open his way to a higher destiny. It was well appointed that he. should be out of the land of Israel at this time, so th.at he should neither hasten nor hinder the discomfiture of Saul, and that the Philistines should give him shelter, and yet not involv.e him in the crime of desolating and enslaving his native land. How to escape from the dilemma in which he was caught baffled even David\ ready mind; but the Lord always knows how to deliver. He does so through means and agencies that are natural ; in this case through the very natural jealousy of the Philistine lords, and their proper military prudence, objecting to have the person of the king intrusted to the keeping of 11 band of Israelites, and that band commanded by a skilful and daring captain in the rear of their army, where their defection would be most dangerous. "The lords favour thee not," said Achish. And, like our kings in old times, who durst not disregard the voice of the barons, Achish intimated to David that it was best for him to retire from the army. David was quite acute enough to see the advantage which the Philistine chiefs were unwittingly conferring upon him. They, as his enemies, helped him out of the dilemma in which he had been placed by Achish, his friend. Such things are not infrequent in the providence of God. Often a man's enemies open to him the way out of great difficulty. Disfavour is shown, or a sharp word spoken, and it turns out a great advantage. The wrath of opponents. or rivals may act as so much dynamite to explode a rock of obstruction which friendly hands cannot remove, and so to clear the path of deliverance. ll. THE ILLUSTRATION OF HUMAN Lil'E. See how a man may fall through want of moral firmness into a false position utterly unworthy of his chnracter. It was, as respects David's integrity, unfortunate that he found such favour with the Philistine- king. It is always a misfortune to be successful in the beginning of wrong-doing, for it soothes the conscience and leads one on to compromise himself more deeply. And one false step leads to another. David's unbelief led him into a course of deceit and dissimulation from which he saw no way of escape, and every day drew· him forther into a position which was false and unworthy. It is a story full of ad- monition and warning. One may easily let himself into a trap from which he cannot let himself out. One may take a false step, whieh involves another and another, till there is a course of deflection. An object is gained, but in the success the conscience is soiled ; and then the penalty is that one is compelled to act out the part he has assumed, to go on in the way on which he only meant to venture for a time and for a purpose. He thought to do a questionable thing and then return to his integrity; but lo I he is in a maze, and cannot find the way out. The gain which he sought. turns out to be a loss; the favour which he craftily won proves to be a burden and a danger; and there is no remedy. It is very unsafe to possess great powers of deception. David had them, and they nearly ruined him. But the experience through which he passed taught him to abhor deceit, and to desire, what God desires, truth in the inward parts. For proof of this see Ps. xv. I, 2; xxxi,-. U, 13; Ii. 6. Mark, too, how he appeals to the God of truth, and, ashamed of his own unveracity in certain passages of his early life, puts all his dependence in his later years 011 the veracity and faithfulness of God, who has made with him an "everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure" (see 2 Sam. xxiii. 5; Ps. xxv. 10; xxxi. 5). The security of our salvation rests not on our tenacity of faith, but on the truth of God our Saviour. He cannot lie. The Son of David, our Prince of life, is faithful and true; and he who is our God in Christ Jesus will 1iever fail those who rely on his word. CC Yet he abideth faithful; he cannot de;1y himself. "-F.
NN2 THE FIHST BOOK OF SAMUEL. (en. xxx. 1-31.
EXPOSITION. DAVID RESCUES HIS WIVES FROM THE AMALEKITES (en. xxx.).