Saul's Second Reconciliation

PRAYER.

Almighty God, seeing that we are reconciled to Thee by Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our infinite Saviour, we will be glad in the house of Thy choice, and sing aloud in the quiet sanctuary. Thy mercies surround us like a water of defence, and as streams that nourish the soul’s life. Where they are, no drought can ever be. “We praise Thee for goodness upon goodness, higher than the great mountains; for blessing upon blessing, like the waves of the deep sea. Thou nourishest us, therefore are we strong: Thou watchest as, therefore the enemy is kept at bay. When we sin against Thee, Thou dost weep over us like a grieved parent: and when we do that which is right. Thou beamest upon our hearts more than the sun beameth in his strength. We praise Thee: we love Thee: our love is even deeper than our sin: purify us by the blood of the One Sacrifice, and fill our whole life with the sanctifying power of God the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail. — 1 Saml’el xxvi. 25.

We have spoken of the reconciliation of Saul, and have had some reason to believe from the tender words which Saul said, that he and David would be friends evermore. “Saul lifted up his voice and wept; and he said unto David, Thou art more righteous than I; for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil,” When a man like Saul has wept, and spoken words so morally noble, it is but fair to credit him with sincerity and permanence. I have no hesitation in crediting him with sincerity. At the time of his reconciliation he meant every word he said. Yet in a brief period we find Saul going dosm to the wilderness of Ziph with three thousand chosen men to seek David, who had been reported as hiding himself in the hill of Hachilah. Then came the gush of emotion upon the part of Saul. The weapon which conquered him in the first instance conquered him also in the second. Forbearance was mightier than weapons of war. The sword has slain its countless thousands, but love holds the universe in sweet and glad captivity. Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David; for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.’’ David knew the king better than the king knew himself. He knew too well that Saul was under the dominion of an evil spirit, so he said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul; there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and when it was told Saul that David had escaped to Gath, he sought no more for him. Our business this morning is to read the lessons applicable for ever, in the strange and sorrowful story of human life.

I. It is proved that the deepest and sincebest

EMOTION MAY BE TEANSIENT IN ITS MORAL EFFECTS. We

left Saul reconciled; we find him again in arms. There are two things which are often mistaken for christian feeling: (1) Selfish gratitude for unexpected preservation; (2) Admiration of moral nobleness in others.

See how this is applicable to hearei of the Gospel. Men hear of Jesus Christ s sympathy, love, beneficence, etc.

Feeling may be exhausted.” Past feeling.^’

II. It is shown that self-control is in proportion

TO the estimate formed of the divine ELEMENT THAT

IS IN MAN. How was it that David withheld his hand when Saul was delivered over to him as lawful prey? Human nature said, Strike: another voice said. Forbear! Twice David might have slain Saul, and twice he spared his life. We want to know the secret of this most marvellous self-control. We find it pithily stated in the interview between Abishai and David. Ahishal

Q 2
12S, PULPIT NOTES,

said, “Thine enemy:” Bavid said, “The Lord’s ANOINTED.’^ Two different views of the same man! The one narrow, selfish, superficial; the other profound and true. So it is with every man: he is not to be measured merely by Ms ‘personal relations to ourselves. True, he may be our enemy, yet he may bear another aspect. Pray to see the highest and divinest aspect of every mans character. We shall thus be enabled, (1) to hope something even of the worst; and (2) to do something in the negative work of sparing, even where we cannot do anything in the positive work of reclaiming.

Paul had respect even for a weak man, not because he was weak, but because Christ died for him. By taking the highest view of mauj he was enabled to do many things for the sake of the Christ that was in him.” But when ye so sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.’’^

III. It is shown how much better it is to trust our

INTERESTS TO THE WORKING OUT OF DIVINE LAWS THAN TO’ CARE FOR THEM WITH NARROWNESS OF SPIRIT.” As the

Lord liveth, the Lord shall smite him: or his day shall come to die: or he shall descend into battle and perish.” Why fight with thy own poor weak fist? etc. A^^iy prefer murder to divine retribution? Why narrow down human life to a paltry duel? etc.

SAUrS SECOND RECONCILIATION, 229

The battle is not yours, but Gods. Shall not God

avenge His own elect wbicli cry day and night unto

Him, tliougli He bear long with them? Dearly

beloved avenge not yourselves, but rather give place

unto wrath: for it is written. Vengeance is mine; I

will repay, saith the Lord.

“Kill your enemies? Kill a fool’s head, of your own; They’ll die of themselves if you let them alone.”

If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

lY. It is clearly shown that flight feom dangee

IS PEEFECTLY COMPATIBLE WITH THE HIGHEST COUEAGE.

David was never chargeable with cowardice, yet he escaped like an affrighted man. ^^If they persecute you in one city,^’ etc. There is a time to fight (Goliath); there is a time to fly (Saul). The one was an uncircumcised Philistine, the other was the Lords anointed.

Understand that there are differences of conquest. David conquered Saul as surely as he conquered Goliath.

God sees His own image in us. To recover it, He sent His Son.