The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 540

Yers. 11-20.-Tlie consequences of lcindness. The facts are-1. Pursuing the Amalekites, David finds an Egyptian slave in distress, and administers to him food and drink. 2. On being questioned, the man states that his master, who was one of the force destroying Ziklag, had left him there three da_vs before. 3. On promise of not being delivered up to bis master, be engages to act as guide to the rendezvous of the .Amalekites. 4. On coming upon them in the midst of their revels, David smites them, and recovers all that his force bad lost, and acquires also much spoil. 5. David keeps the captured flocks and herds as his portion of the spoil. The incidents of this section suggest- I. THE DNKNOWN RESULTS OF KINDNESS. Here was a case of a sick, starving foreigner, a poor waif nigh unto death; and the kind attentions of David and his men not only were appreciated by a fellow-creature, but issued in important results which, prior to the act of kindness, were not, perhaps, deemed possible. The feeble man, well used, led on to victory. At the close of that eventful day David must have felt bow useful as well as bow holy a thing it is to act the part of a good Samari- tan. Men are often under temptation to be indifferent to the sorrows of others ; but good always comes out of an exhibition of the law of kindness. No roan ever lost anything by binding up the wounds of another; and often the healer has obtained an inward blessing as a pledge of some still further good that is to flow from hjs deed. The blessing of those ready to perish is worth more than the applause and favour of the rich and strong. By single acts of kindness hard hearts have been touched, and a new and blessed course of life has been entered on. Many a waif, fed and nourished by Cliristian benevolence, has become an honourable and holy member of society, aiding to overthrow an evil power worse than that of the ancient Amalekites. Who can tell the vast and blissful consequences that may ensue if only Christians would care more constantly and wisely for the outcast and degraded? II. THE VALUE OF DF.TAIL IN SCRIPTURE HISTORY. The historian is specific in the account of what was given to this poor slave-" bread,"" water,''" a piece of a cake of figs," and "two clusters of raisins." This occasional detail indicates the pure historic character of the Biblical narrative, and invests the Bible wilh a human interest. This circurnstar,tial character of narrative is esper,ially seen in the Gospel by St. Mark and more or less in every writer. AB a book designed for all degrees of r,ulture, ana'in all ages a1,d climes, the Bible winE its way to the heart and commend& itself to the common ~en,,, of mankind by the , ir of reality with whieh its great CH, XXX. 1-31.] TIIE FinST nouK OF SA".'iluEL. 553