EARLY YEARS OF DAVID.
UCH is the account given to Saul of ZDavid, in many respects the most favoured of the ancient Saints. ZDavid is to be accounted the most favoured, first as being the principal type of Christ, next as being the author of great part of the book of Psalms, qfich bave been used as the Church's form of devotion ever since his rime. Besicles, he was a chief instrument of God's providence, both in repressing ido]atry and in preparing for the gospel; and he prot)hesied in an especial manner of tlmt Saviour whom he prefigured and preceded. Moreover, he was the chosen king of Israel, a man after God's own heart, and blessed, hOt only in himself, but in his seed after him. And, further, to the history of his life a greater share is given of the inspired pages than to that of any other of God's favoured servants. Lastly, he displays in his personal character that very retaper of mind in which his nation, or rather human nature itself, is especially deficient, lride and uubelief disgrace the history of the chosen people; the deliberate love of this world, which was the sin of ]3alaam, and the presumptous wilfulness which is exhibited in Saul. ]3ut D,vid is conspicuous for an affectionate, a thankful, a loyal heart towards his God and dcfender, a zeal which was as fervent and as docile as Saul's was sullen, and as keen-sighted and as pure as ]3alaam's was selfish and double-minded. Such was the son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite; he stands midway between Abraham and his predicted seed, Judah and the Shiloh, receiving and transmitting the promises; a figure of the Christ, and an inspired prophet, living in the Church even fo the end of rime, in his office, his history, and his sacred writings. Some remarks on his early life, und on his character, as therein displayed, may profitably engage our attention at the present rime. When Satfl was finally rejected for hot destroying the Anmlekites, Samuel was bid go to Beth-lehem, and anoint, as future king of Israel, one of the sons of Jesse, who should be pointed out to him when he was corne there. Samuel accordingly went thither and held a sacrifice; wheu, at his command, Jesse's seven sons were brought by their fther, one by one, before the prophet; but none of them proved to be the choice of Almighty God. David "«'a the youngest and out of the way, and it seemed to Jesse as unIikely that God's choice shoald fall upon him, as it appeared to Joseph's brethren and to his father, that he and his mother and brethren shou_ld, as his dreams foretold, bow down befi)re him. On Samuel's inquiring, Jesse said, "There,'emaineth yet the you,,gest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep." On Samucl's bidding, he was sent for. "Now he was ruddy," the sacred historian proceeds, " and wiflml of,n beauiful counenance, and goodly o look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him, for this is he." _Al'ter Samucl had anoined him, "he Spirit of Lord came upon David froln that day forward." If is added, "But he,qpirit of the Lord departed from SauL" I)avid's anointing was followed by no other immediate mark of God's favour. He was ried by being sent back again, in spite of the promise, o the care of his sheep, till an unexpected occasion introduced him to Saul's court. The withdrawing of the Spirit of fl,e Lord from Saul was followed by frequent attacks from an evfl spirit, as a judgment npon him. t/is mind was depressed, and a "trouble," as itis called, came upon him, with symptoms very like those which we now refer to derangement. His servants thought that nmsic, such, perhaps, as was used in the schools of the prophets, might soothe and restore him; and I)avid was recolnmended by one of hem for ha purpose, in fl,e words of the text: "13ehold, I have seen a son of Jcsse the Beth-lehemite, that is cunning in pla.ying, and a lnighty valiant ma.n, and a man of wa.r, and prudent in matters, and a comely t)erson, and the Lord is with him." David came in the power of that sacred influence wholn Saul had grieved and rejected. The Spirit which inspired his t.ongue gttided his hand also, and his sacred songs became a medicine to Saul's diseased mind. "When the evil spirit from God was upon Sau],.... David took an harp, and played with his hand; so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him." Thus he is first introduced to us in that character in Mdch he still has praise in the Church, as "the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psahnist of Israel." 1 Saul "loved David greatly, and he became his armour-bearer;" but the first trial of his humility and patience was not over, while many other trials were in store. After a while he was a second rime sent back to his sheep; and though there vas war with the Philistines, and his three eldest brethren were in the army with Saul, and he had ah'eady essayed his l ' strength in defending his fat.tors flocks from wild beasts, and was "a mighty valiant nmn," yet he contentedly stayed at home as u private person, keeping his promise of greatness to himself, till his father bade him go to his brethren to take them a present from him, and report how they fared. An accident, as it appeared fo the world, brought him forward. On his arrival at the army, he heard the challenge of the Philistine champion, Goliath of Gatl I need not relate how he was divinely urged to engage the giant, how he killèd him, and how he x-as, in consequence, agah raised to Smd's favour; who, with an infirmity hot inconsistent with the dera.nged state of his mind, seems to bave altogether forgotten him.:From this time began 13aid's tublic life; but aot yet the fulfilment of the promise ruade to him by 2 Sain. xxiii. 1.
48 tFarly Years of David. Samuel. tIe had a second and severer trial of patience to endure for many years; the trial of "being still" and doing nothing belote God's time, though he had (apparently) the nmaus in his hands of accomplishiIg the promise f«)r himself. It was to this trial that Jeroboam afterwards showed himself unequal. He, too, was 1)romised a kingdom, but he was tempted fo seize upon if in his own way, and so forfeited God's protection. l)avid's victory over Goliath so endeared him to Saul, that he would hot let him go back to his fathe"s house. Jonathan too, Saul's son, at once felt for him a warm affection, wbich deepened into a firm fi'iendship. "" Saul set him over the nen of war, and he was accepted in the sight of a]_l the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants. '' This prosperous fortune however, did hot long continue..A_s Saul passed through the cities from his victo'y over his enemies, the women of Israel came out fo meet him, singing and dancing, and they said, "Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands." Immediatcly the jealous -king was "very wroth, and the sayig disl,leased hin;" his sullenness returned; he fcared David as a rival; and "eyed him ri'oin that day aud forward." On the nm'row, as David was playing before him, as af other rimes, Saul threw his javelin at him..A_fter this, Saul displaced hin ri'oto his situation af his court, and sent him to the war, hoping so to rid himself of him by his falling in battle; but, by God's blcssing, l)avid returned victorious. 1 Sain. xviii. 5.
In a second war with the Philistines, D,vid w,s successfid as belote; and Saul, overcome with gloomy and mulevolent passions, agil cast af him wit.h his javelin, as he plyed belote him, with the hope of kflling him. This rcpeated ttelnpt on his lire drove Dtvid from S,ul's comoE; and for some years after, that is, till S«tul's de,th, he was a wanderer upon the eoE.h, persecuted i1 that country which was,fterw,rds fo be his own kingd,m. Here, as in his victory over çolitth, Ahnighty çlod 1,urposed to show us, thtt if ws His hand which set Dvid m the throle oi" Israel. David conquered his enemy by a sling and stone, i order, as he said ai the rime, tht all..... might know "thag the Lord saveth hot with sword ald spcar; for the battle is the Lord's. '':Now agin, but in a differeng wy, His guiding providence was diplyed. As Dtvid slew Goliath without arms, so now he rcfi'ained himself and used them hot, flough he possessed them. Like Abraham, he tmversed the lmd of promise "as a strange lnd, ''- waiting for God's good tilne.:Nay, f,r more exactly, even than fo Abraham, was it give to Dvid fo act and surfer tlat lire of faith which the Apostle describes, and by which "the elders obtained a good report." ]y faith he wandered about, "being destitute, aiilicted, evil-entreated, in deserts, and h mountains, and in dens, and in caves of the earth." On the other hand, through the saine fnith, he "subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obta.ined promises, waxed valiat i fight, turned to fliht the armies of the aliens." 1 1 Sain. xvii. 47. -" Heb. xl. 9. []
On escaping fronl Saul, he first went to Samuel to ask his advîce. With lim le dwelt solne rime. 1)riven thence 1 W Sml he went to P, ethlehem, his father's city, then to Ahilelech, the high priest, at Nob. Thcnce he flcd, still through fear of Saul, to Achish, the ]'hilistine king of G«th; and finding his lire in dalger t.hcre, he escaped fo Adulla.m, where he was joied by his kindred, ad put himself at the head of an irregular hand of luth, such as, in the unsettled state of the country, might be usefully and lawflflly employed against the remna.nt of the heathen. After this he was driven to t[areth, to Keilab, which he rescued from the l'hilistines, to the wilderness of Ziph among the mountains, to the wilderness of Maon, to tle strongholds of Egedi, to tbe wi]derness of Paran. After a time he again betook himself to Aehi.-_h, king of Gath, who gave him a eity; and there it was that the news was brought hiln of the death of Saul in battle, whieh x'as tlle occasion of his elevation first to the throne of Judah, afterwards fo that of all Israel, aeeordig to the promise of God ruade fo him by Samuel. If need hot be denied that, dtring tlese years of wandering, we find in David's eonduet ilstanees of ilfirmity and incolsistency, and some thilgs whic], without being elearly xï'ong, are yet strange and startling in so favoured a servant of God. Vith these we are hot coneerned, exeept so far as a lesson may be gained froln them for ourselves. We a.re hot at all concerned with them as regards our estimate of David's chamcter. That character s ascertained and sealed by the plain word of Scripture, by the praise of Almighty God, and is no subject for our criticism; and if we find in if traits which we cannot ful]y reconcile with the approbation divinely given to him, we must take it in fuith tobe what itis said fo be, and wait for the future revelations of Him who " overcomes when He is judged." Therefre I dismiss these naatters now, when I ara engaged in exhibiting the eminent obedience and manifold virtues of David. On the whole his situation during these years of trial was certainly that of witness for Almighty ;od, one who does good und suffers for it, nay, sufibrs on ruther tlmn rid himself from suffering by any unlawful act.:Now, then, let us consider what was, as far as we can understand, his especial grace, what is his gift; as fith was Abraham's distinguishing virtue, nmelms. the excellence of Moses, self-mastery the gift especially conspicuous in Joseph. This question may best be answered by considering the purpose for which he was raised up. When Saul was disobedient, Samucl said fo him, "Thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought Him a a fier t[is o.wn hcart, and the Lord hath commanded him fo be captain over His people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee." The office to which first Saul and then David were cal]ed was different from that with which other fuvoured men before them had been intrusted. From the rime of hIoses, when Israel became a nation, God had been the king of Israel, and His chosen servants, not delegates, 1 Sain. xiii. 14.
but mere organs of Ilis will. [oses did not direct the Israelites by his own wisdom, but he spake fo them, as God spake from the piilar of the clou& Joshua, again, wa.s merely a sword in the hand of God. Samuel was but ]Ils minister and interpreter. God acted, the Israelites "stood still and saw" His miracles, then followed. But, when they had rejected Him from leing king over them, then their chief ruler was no longer a mere oran of ][is power and wiil, but had et certain authm'ity entnsted fo him, more or less indepcndent of supernatural direction; and acted, hot so ranch fro God, as for God, and it lhc _place tf God. David, when taken from the sheepfolds "to feed Jacob IIis people and Isracl/Iis inheritance," "fed them," in the words of the Psahn, "with a faithfnl and truc heart; and ruled them t)rudently with ail his power. '' From this account of his office, if is obvions that his very first duty was that of fidclit,j to Almigh@ God in the trust committed to hiln. He had power put into his hands, in a sense in whieh neither lXIoses had if nor Samuel. I[e was ehaNed with a certain office, which he was bound to administer according fo his ability, so as best fo promote the interests of ]lira who appointed him. Saul had negleeted his Master's honour; but David, in this an eminent type of Christ, "came to do God's will" as a viceroy in Israel, and, as being tried and found faiflftfl, he is especiaily called "a man after God's own heart." David's peeuliar excellence, then, is that of fidelily to the trust comwilted to him; a firm, tmcomt)romising Psalm lxxviii. î1-73.
Ear/y Ycars of Z)avid. 53 single-hearted devotion o the cause of his God, and a burning zeal for His honour. This charaeerisie virue is espeeially illusra.ed in he early years of his life which lmve engaged our attention. IIe was tried therein and found faithful; before he was put in power, if was proved wheflmr he could obey. Till he came to the throne, he was like Moses or Sanmel, an iustrmnent in God's hands, bid do what was told him and nothing more;having borne this trial of obedicnce well, in whieh Saul had failed, then at length he was intrusted with a sort of diseretionary poweg to use in his hlaster's seice. Obse'e how David was tried, and what various high qualifies of mind he displayed in the course of the trial. First, the promise of greatness was given him, and Samuel anointed him. Still he stayed in the sheepfolds; and though ealled away by Saul for a rime, yet returned eontentedly when Saul released him from attendanee. How dicult is if for such as know they haye gifts suitable to the Church's need fo refrain themselves, till God makes a way for their use l and the trial would be the more severe David's case, in proportion to the ardour and energy of his nlind; yet he fainted hot under it. Afterwards for seven years, as the rime appears tobe, he withstood the strong temptation, ever before his eyes, of acting without God's guidanee, when he had the means of doing so. Though skilful in arms, popular vith his eountrymen, sneeessful against the enemy, the king's son-in-law, and on the other hand grievously Njured by Saul, who not only continually sought his life, but even suggest, ed fo him a traitor's conduct by accusing him of reason, and whose life was several times in his hands, yet he kept his honour pure and unilnpeachable. He feared Clod and honoured the king; and this ata tilne of life especially exposed to the temptations of ambiti,m. There is a reselnblance between the early history of David and that of Joseph. Both distinguished for piety in youth, the youngest and the desI)ised of their respecrive brethren, they are raised, after a long trial, to a high station, as ministers of God's Providence. Joseph was teml)ted to a dcgradillg adnltery; David was tempted by ambition. ]3oth were tempted tobe traitors to their masters and beneihctors. Joseph's trial was brief; but his conduct under it evidenced settled habits of vilue which he could call to his aid ta moment's notice. A long imlrisonlnent followed, the consequence of his obedience, and borne with meekness and patience; but it was no pa of his temptation, because, when once incun'ed, release was out of his power. David's trial, on the other hand, lasted for years, and ew stronger as rime went on. His toaster, too, far from "putting all that he had into his hand," sought his lffe. Continual oppooEunity of avenging himself incited his passions; self-defence, and the Divine promise, were st)ecious arguments to seduce his reason. Yet he mastered his hearthe was "still;"—he ket)t his hands clean and his lips guileless—he was loyal throughoutand in due time inherited the promise. i Genesis xxxix. 4.
Let us call to mind some of the circumstances of his steadfastness recorded in the history. He was about twenty-three years old when he slew the Philistine; yet, when placed over Satfl's men of war, in the first transport of his victory, we m'e told he "behaved himself wisely." When fortune turned, and Saul became jealous of him, still "David behaved himself wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him." How like is this fo Joseph under diflhrcnt circmnstances! " Wherefore when Saul sav that he behaved himself very xvisely he was afl'aid of him; and ail lsrael and Judah loved David." Again, "And David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of 8aul, so that his naine was lnuch set by." tlere, in shifting fortunes, is evidence of that staid, eomposed ri'ame of mind in his youth, whieh he himsdf deseribes iii the one hundred raid thirty-first Psalm. "My heart is hot haughty, nor mine eyes lofty...... 8urely 1 have bdmved and quieted myself, as a ehild that is weaned of his mother." The saxe modest deportment marks his subsequent eonduet. He eonsistentl, y seeks eounsel of God. When he fled ri'oto 8aù he went to Samuel; aftervm'ds we find him following the directions of the prophet Gad, and afterwards of Abiathar the high priest. Here his eharaeter is in full eontrast to the eharaeter of 8aul. Further, eonsider his behaviour towards 8aul, when he had him in his power; if displays a most striking and admirable union of simple faith and unblemished loyalty. x 1 Sam xviii. 5-80. E Ibid. xxii. 5, 20; xxiii. 6.
Saul, while in pursuit of him, went into a cave in Eng'edi. ])avid surprised hiln there, and his companions advised to seize ]inl, if hot fo take his life. They said, "]lehold the day of whieh the Lord said unto thee." I)avid, in order fo show Smfl how entirely his ]ife had been in his power, arose and cut off a part of his robe privately. After he had done it, his "heart smote ]lim" eveu for this slight freedom, as if it were a disrespeet offered townrds his king and father. "He said unto his nlen, The ].ord forbid that I should do t]ds thhlg unto my nmster, the Lord's anointed, fo stretch forth mine hand a.ga.inst him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord." When Saul ]eft the cave, David followed him and cried, " My Lord the king. And when aul looked behild him, David stooped with his face fo the earth and bowed himself." He hoped that he could now convince Saul of his integrity. "\ïerefore hearest thou men's words," he asked, "saying, hold, David seekéth thy hurt? Behold, t.his day thine eyes have seen how that thc Lord had delivered thee to-day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee..... Moreover, my father, see, yea see skirt of thy rohe in lny ha«d: tbr in that I eut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee hot» k3mw thou and see, that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have hot simled against thee: yet thou huntest my soul to take if. The LoM judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee: but nine hand shl hot be npon thee..... After whom is the king of Israel corne out? after whom dost thou 1 Sain. xxiv. 4.
pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea. The Lord therefore judge.... and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand." Snul was for the rime overcolne; he said, " Is this thy voice, my son David? and SauI lifted up his voice and wept." And he sMd, "Thou art more righteous than I; for thou hast rewarded lne good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil." I[e added, "And now, behold, I know well that thou sha]t surely be king." Af another time David suqMsed Saul in the midst of his camp, and his companion wouht have killed him; but he said, "Destroy him hot, for who can stretch fçrth his hand against the Lord's anointed and be guilt]ess?" 1 Then, as he stood over him, he meditated sorrowfifl]y on his master's future fortunes, while he hilnself refrained from interfering with God's puq)oses. "Surely the Lord shall smite him; or his day shall corne to die; or he shall descend into battle and perish." Duvid retired from the enelny's camp; and when ata safe distance, roused Saul's guards, and blamed them for their negligent watch, which had allowed a stranger to approach the peon of their king. Saul was moved the second tilne; the iniserable nmn, as if waking from a dream which hung about him, sMd, "I have sinned; return, my son David..... behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceeding]y." He added, truth overcoming him "Blessed be thou, my son David; thou slmlt both do eat things, and also shalt still prevail." How beautiflfl are these passages in the history of the chosen king of Israel! How do they draw out 1 1 Sam. xxvi. 9.
58 arly éars of Davicl. hearts owards him, as one whom in lais privae characier if must bave been an ex,reine privilege and a grea deligh o know! urely he blessings of he patriarehs deseended in a united flood upon "flte lion t»f fle tribe of Judah," the ype of the rue edeemer who was to corne. I[e inheris fle promp faith and magnanimity »f Abrahmn; he is simple Isaae; he is hunlble as Jaeob; he has file youth%l wisdom and self- 1,ossessitm, the tenderness, the affeetionateness, and the firmness of Joseph. And, as his own especial gift, he has an overtlowing thankfitlness, an ever-burning devotion, a zealus fidclity to his God, a high unshaken loya.lty towm'ds his king, an heroie bearing in al1 eh'eumstmmes, sueh as the multitude of men see to be great., but emmot understand. Be it our blessedness, mfless the wish be presumptuous, so fo acquit ourselves in troubled times; eheerN1 amid anxieties, eolleeted in dangers, generous towards enemies, patient in pain and sorrow, subdued in good fortune! How manifold are the ways of the Spirit, how various the graees whieh He impmoEs; what depth and width is there in t.hat moral trufl and virtue for whieh we are ereated! Contrast one with another the Seripture Saints; how different are they, yet how alike! how fitted for their respective eireumstanees, yet how unearthly, how settled and composed in the faith and fear of God! As in the Services, so in file patterns of the Chureh, God has met ail our needs, ai1 out fl'ames of mhd. "Is any afflicted? let him pray; is any lnerry? let him sing Psalms." 1 Is any in joy or in sorrow? there are saints at hand James v. 13.
t.o encourage and guide him. There is Abrallam for nobles, Job for men of wealth and merchandise, Moses for patriots, Samucl for rulers, Elijah for reformers, Joseph for those who fise into distinction; thcre is Daniel for the forlorn, Jeremiah for the persecuted, Hannah for the downeast, ltuth for the friendless, the Slmnammite for the marron, Cleb for the soldier, Boaz for the fariner, lIephibosheth for the subject; but none is vouchsafed to us in more varied lights, and with niore abundant and more affecting lessons, whether in his history or in his writings, tlmn he whose eulogy is eontained in the words of the text, as cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and prudent in matters, and comely in person, and favoured by Ahnighty God. May we be taught, as he was, to employ the gifts, in whatever measure given us, to God's honore" and glory, and to the extension of that true and ollly faith which is the salvation of the soul!