Saul compasseth David, but turneth away to meet the Philistines.

16 And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.

17 And he said unto him, Fear not for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth. 18 And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.

19 Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?

20 Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand.

21 And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me.

22 Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly.

23 See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with

the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.

24 And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.

25 Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. 26 And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.

27 But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.

28 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Sela-hammahlekoth.

29 And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at En-gedi.

LECTURE 490.

The blessedness of being prevented from committing sin. We might be apt to think that Jonathan did wrong towards his father, in making a covenant with David, if we were not certain that his father did wrong in hating David. Moreover it is here expressly written, that when "Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David in the wood," he "strengthened his hand in God." They were religious motives which weighed with him to go. They

were religious motives, by which he urged his friend to persevere, in enduring the persecution to which he was exposed. He charged David not to fear; encouraged him to trust that the hand of Saul would not be able to find him; reminded him of the certainty that he would live, according to God's promise, to reign over Israel; and told him that Saul knew this also. So much the more manifestly did Saul do wrong, in seeking to take David's life. So much the more surely did Jonathan do right, in making a covenant with David "before the Lord." It was but honouring God in preference to his father; where he could not please both at once. It was but acting on the spirit of words afterwards spoken by our blessed Lord: "He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me." Matt. 10. 37.

But Saul has now met with subjects, more willing than his son, to minister to his deadly enmity against David. The Ziphites offer to "deliver him into the king's hand." And he gives them his blessing for it in the name of the Lord, he thanks them as having had compassion on him, he instructs them to be very careful in obtaining sure information; and having sent them forward, he soon follows with his host, and pursues David so closely, as to be on the other side of the same mountain, nay, to compass "David and his men round about to take them." Does not this seem most determined obstinacy in resisting God's will, when he knew all the while, as Jonathan told David, that David was to succeed him under God as king? And does it not remind us of cases, in which we have felt inclined to persevere in disobedience, though we have clearly known that it was disobeying God? Have we not in past times been used to thank those who helped or countenanced us in evil doing? Have we not thought those unkind who resisted us therein?

Let us hope that the time past has sufficed for this perversity. Let us take care that we now give no harbour to any, who would suggest to us the way of doing wrong. And if, like Saul, we are summoned back by some sudden dispensation of God's providence, when just upon the point of compassing some sin we had set our hearts upon, let us fall down upon our knees, and thank Him for his goodness, in thus saving us from the guilt of wilful disobedience. Some such instances of deliverance we can probably call to mind. And perhaps at the time we were ill pleased to be thwarted, when upon the point of enjoying what we longed for. But when we look back, what blessing now seems greater than a sin escaped? Oh that we may henceforth be enabled not merely to escape the commission of sin, but to renounce all inclination to commit it! Oh that we may ever hereafter have occasion to thank God, not only for having withheld opportunities of doing evil, but for having implanted in our hearts the love of doing good!

David at En-gedi spareth Saul's life.

1 And it came to pass, when ed with his face to the earth, Saul was returned from follow- and bowed himself. ing the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi. 2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.

17 And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.

18 And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not.

19 For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.

20 And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.

21 Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.

22 And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.

LECTURE 491.

Glory to God for his mercy in sparing us.

We have already seen that Saul was much governed by the impulse of strong feelings. David, who must have been well acquainted with his character, seems to try, in the affecting instance before us, to work upon those feelings for good. "Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept." Here is evidence, that David was not altogether unsuccessful. And he said to David, "Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil." Here is proof, that when the heart is touched, the mind is at the same time enlightened; and the sinner can see the evil of his doings, which before passed for right in his eyes. Hence therefore let us derive encouragement in forgiving our enemies, in blessing them which curse us, and in praying for such as despitefully use and persecute us. It will be our way to move their hearts. It will be our way to open their eyes to the wrong which they are doing us. And though we may not be always able to overcome in them evil with good, it is our sure way to obtain for ourselves the praise of God in this behalf, that we have done what we could. And further let us learn hence, how much it redounds to God's glory, that He has thus kindly treated us, and mercifully dealt with us, when we have deserved far otherwise at his hands. How many times, O God, how many times, hast Thou rewarded us with good, whereas we have rewarded Thee with evil! Oh how infinitely more righteous, in this thing, and in every thing, art Thou than we! Glory be to Thee, for saving us when we were lost, for sparing our lives, when we were in the way to perish for ever! Glory be to Thee, for not rewarding us according to our iniquities, nor dealing with us after our sins, but after the abundance of thy goodness and longsuffering, according to the riches of thy mercy in Christ Jesus! Glory be to Thee, O God, heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord!