"Let not the king sin against his servant, against David." Doing wrong to man is sinning against God. This authorizes even a son to remonstrate with a father, in a case where the sin is as unquestionable as here. For both son and father are children of God; and in some cases they must both discharge the duties of brethren to each other. But Jonathan, in his pleading, carefully observed the respect, which even in the most extreme cases is always due to a parent from a child. He dwelt not on his father's violence, nor on his breach of faith, nor on his manifest transgression of that Law, which as the king of Israel he was bound especially to uphold. But he pointed out how good the works of David had been towards Saul, how he had exposed his life in his battle with Goliath, and how much Saul himself at the time had rejoiced in his success. And having thus suggested to his father the right feelings he had formerly entertained, he repeated his remonstrance, in the modest form of an enquiry, "Wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?"

Nothing could be more just, nothing more forcible, than this pleading; and, as it at first appeared, nothing more successful. And yet how short a time did the effect of it last! Saul did indeed swear, "As the Lord liveth, he shall not be slain." And Jonathan, who had told David of his danger, now gladly informed him that his peace was made; and "brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as in times past." But no sooner was David again successful against the Philistines, than Saul again grew envious, "and the evil spirit from the Lord" was again upon him, and he sought to smite him to the wall with his javelin, as he was employed in soothing the king's troubled mind. So shortlived are the good purposes of the unstable! So weak with some is even the obligation of an oath! So easily is the memory of benefits received made the food of jealousy and deadly enmity, where it fails to nourish true thankfulness in the heart!

When the father was thus treacherous, we cannot be surprised, that the daughter used deceit to her father's messengers, and direct falsehood to himself. Nor need we wonder that with all her affection to her husband, she scrupled not to accuse him falsely, rather than not justify herself. There is nothing more surely propagated from parents to children than deceitfulness. There is no one point on which parents ought to watch themselves more closely, if they would not have their children false, than to be altogether true themselves. And there is scarcely any mistake more common, than to think that when others practise treachery towards us, we are warranted in being false to them. But if it be our duty to "overcome evil with good," Rom. 12. 21, let us try also to overcome falsehood with truth. Let us baffle, if we can, guile by plain dealing. Or if we cannot, and our truth would expose us to loss, harm, or even death, let us be willing to lose all things, not excepting life itself, rather than forfeit truth.

Saul having pursued David to Naioth, prophesieth there.

18 So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.

19 And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.

20 And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.

sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also. 22 Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah.

23 And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.

24 And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets? LECTURE 483.

21 And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul

That we ought to glorify God purposely with all our might. Whither should David flee in his extremity, but to the presence and protection of the aged Samuel, the prophet of the Lord? Here it might well be thought that Saul would not venture to molest him. Here he might spend his time in safety and in peace, occupied together with the holy company, who studied at Naioth under Samuel's direction, in declaring the praises of that God, who had hitherto delivered him out of all his troubles. And here it is probable that he was led to compose some of his inspired Psalms, which refer most evidently to the persecution of God's faithful servants, and to the mighty arm with which God effects their deliverance. But it was not long that he was allowed to dwell in peace even at Naioth. Saul's messengers, and Saul himself, pursued him even thither. There is no place of perfect rest on earth. Even a society of prophets, or men preparing themselves by the study of God's word for exercising the prophetic office, though it have for its head one so universally respected as the aged Samuel, is liable to be molested by the violent from without, nay, and also by its own members from within. We must wait until another world, and another life, before we can find a place where "the wicked cease from troubling," and "the weary be at rest." Job 3. 17. We must wait to join the company of just men made perfect, as they stand at the right hand of the throne of God; before we can sing ceaseless songs of praise, to the glory of our heavenly King.

But what hardihood was this in Saul, to send messengers, even to Naioth, to take David! to send messengers to Naioth, where Samuel dwelt! What an outrage, to defy the presence of God's venerable prophet, and so much the more to defy God Himself! And when his messengers, instead of taking David captive, were led to prophesy amongst "the company of the prophets," still to send other messengers, and again others, and after all to go himself; what presumptuous daring, what obstinate perseverance in opposition to God's manifested will, was this! And behold the consequence! He who thought to reprove his messengers, did as they did, and prophesied like the rest. He who thought to take David by force, stripped off his arms and kingly robes, and lay down powerless and defenceless, a whole day and night. He who thought to succeed against the commands of God, declared aloud the goodness and the glory of the Lord. For so was God pleased to put to shame the foolishness of this sinful man; and to make manifest, by the forced utterance of his lips, the madness of persevering in resistance to his will. And so will God assuredly be glorified, by every soul of man that He hath made; willingly, if we will, and oh how greatly to our gain and endless joy! but if not willingly, then against our will, and by our endless condemnation.

This constrained prophesying of Saul, this expression of God's praise, drawn forcibly from the lips of one, who was fighting against God's will, may well remind us of another Saul in after times; who was taught by the words of Christ Himself, from heaven, the folly of kicking against the pricks; and who was further constrained, by the marvellous loving kindness of the Lord, to preach "the faith which once he destroyed." Gal. 1. 23. But how different was the preaching of Saul of Tarsus, from the prophesying of Saul the son of Kish! How soon did the king of Israel turn aside from the work of praising God, to a course of conduct most opposite to God's will! How stedfastly did the great apostle of the Gentiles persevere in preaching the Gospel of God, in the name of the Lord Jesus; through evil report, and good report; not by constraint, but with a willing mind; or constrained, if by any thing, only by the love of Christ! See 2 Cor. 5. 14. May we learn, from this comparison, to serve God, and to glorify Him, not grudgingly, or of necessity, but willingly, cheerfully, gladly, thankfully! And may others ever see cause to glorify God in us, not only for our serving Him, but for our serving Him zealously; not only for our glorifying Him, but for our glorifying Him with all our heart, and all our mind, and all our soul!

David consulteth with Jonathan for his safety.

1 And David fled from Naioth notwithstanding, if there be in in Ramah, and came and said me iniquity, slay me thyself; before Jonathan, What have I for why shouldest thou bring me done? what is mine iniquity? to thy father? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life? 2 And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will shew it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so.

17 And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

18 Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty. 19 And when thou hast stayed three days, then thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel.

though I shot at a mark.

21 And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for there is peace to thee, and no hurt; as the LORD liveth.

22 But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for the LORD hath sent thee away. 23 And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the LORD be between thee and me for ever. LECTURE 481.

20 And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as

That we ought to love without selfishness or suspicion.

It is evident that Jonathan knew, by this time that David had been anointed to succeed Saul in the kingdom. For he prays, saying, "The Lord be with thee, as he hath been with my father." And he makes a covenant in behalf of himself and his house, for kindness to be shewed them by David, when the Lord should have "cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth.” And indeed it can hardly be doubted that both Saul and Jonathan must have known of Samuel's anointing David very soon after the time when it was done. So much the more must we admire the stedfast friendship of Jonathan, towards one who was to supplant him in his father's throne. So much the more must we admire also the unreserved confidence, which David put in the faithfulness of his friend; notwithstanding the many reasons which might have led him to suspect, that the son of Saul would be treacherously his enemy. When therefore we see David putting his life in his friend's hands, even when he felt, as he so forcibly said, "there is but a step between me and death," when we see Jonathan agreeing to do whatsoever David desired, when we see them forming a plan for discovering Saul's intentions, and for apprising David of them, which might so easily have been made a snare for putting him in Saul's power, let us learn how stedfastly we ought to love our friends; and also to rely on their stedfastly loving us, even when it might appear most strongly their interest to betray us. Charity "seeketh not her own." Charity "thinketh no evil." Charity"seeketh 1 Cor. 13.5. These things are true of Jonathan and David. Let them be also true of us. Let us neither be selfish, nor suspect our friends of selfishness. Let us have love without dissimulation glowing in our own hearts. And let us ever trust, until we find to the contrary, that it is glowing in their hearts also.