1071.] DAVID AT ZIKLAG. 121 follower of Christ; but what shall be said of the professed Christian, who is faithless in matters connected with the spiritual interests of his fellow men, who sacrifices objects in which the honour of his Lord and the souls of others are concerned, under the influence of some earthly or party feeling? David not only found protection, but a quiet abode, where he thought he might live at peace, away from the idolatrous Philistines; but let no one suppose that he will long remain at peace in any course which implies unbelief, or distrust of the Divine promises. Permission was given to David to reside at Ziklag, a small town, not only some distance from Gath, but close to the frontiers of Judah, where he could easily keep up a correspondence with his countrymen. This position was well chosen, for many mighty men came to him at Ziklag from remote parts of Israel: day by day his band increased, till it was a great host. See 1 Chron. xii. David found employment for these men in warring against the remnants of the devoted nations situated to the south of Judea. In these proceedings he was justified by the peculiar warrant for their destruction, given by the Lord, which has been already noticed. But David was not justified in the account of his proceedings which he gave to Achish, who would not have approved these measures against his allies. David's representations were calculated to induce the king of Gath to believe that his inroads had been directed against the southern borders of Judah, when in truth they had been against those who lived south of those borders. An equivocation is in fact a lie, and one lie will bring on another, and lead from evil to evil. Again, observe how this inconsistency was occasioned by connexion with irreligious characters; when once the firm, unshaken reliance of the believer is weakened, it is difficult for him to maintain a secure footing. "Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not," Psa. xvii. 5, should be his constant prayer. M CHAPTER XII. THE PHILISTINES WAR AGAINST ISRAEL-DIFFICULTIES IN WHICH DAVID WAS INVOLVED HE RETURNS TO ZIKLAG, BUT FINDS IT DESTROYED-HE OVERTAKES AND DEFEATS THE AMALEKITES-SAUL AT ENDOR-SERPENT WORSHIP SAUL DEPOSED AND SLAIN-DAVID'S LAMENTATION FOR SAUL AND JONATHAN, SAUL'S conduct weakened his kingdom, especially since the wise administration of Samuel had been lost; and now that David was in alliance with Achish, the Philistines took courage again to invade Israel. Directing their march towards the north-east, they penetrated to the centre of the land. Achish, deceived by David's equivocations, considered that he 1070.] DAVID'S DIFFICULT SITUATION. 123 was committed decidedly against his nation, and therefore called on him to take part in the warfare. Oh, what a tangled web we weave, David found himself involved in new difficulties. Had he refused to go forth with Achish, or had he gone, intending to desert him in battle, he would have acted with ingratitude and treachery; while to have fought against Israel would have been exceedingly sinful. In this dilemma he gave an evasive answer, and accompanied the king of Gath. How rare the character of an Israelite in whom is "no guile !" David with his men marched as a part of the Philistine army, and now appeared to be committed beyond the possibility of escape; yet he must have felt the difficulties of his situation, and doubtless prayed that he might be extricated. He was delivered; but let not this ever induce the believer to trifle with courses he knows to be wrong. It is indeed hard to come near the brink of a sin, and not to fall into it. David must have perceived that he could not extricate himself; but God showed that he could be delivered at once by Him, who turneth the hearts of men as he pleaseth. The Lord delivered David from this snare, by causing the leaders of the Philistines to object to his presence. They recognised the destroyer of Goliath, and demanded that he should be sent back to Ziklag. We may hope that David felt thankful for this deliverance; but he was not yet cured of his equivocations. He still professed a desire to fight in the service of Achish! So infatuating is the spirit of dissimulation which prevails in the world, that David appears to have caught it; he deserved to be made to suffer, and he was chastised. Achish hurried him from the army, with some who had joined him in this march, 1 Chron. xii. 19, 20; but here again was an instance of God's providential care for David; thus he was extricated. 124 DAVID PURSUES THE AMALEKITES. [B. C. When the leader and his band arrived near Ziklag, no children came forth to meet their parents, no signs of welcome were shown. At every step they perceived more clearly that the destroyer had been there. Ziklag was in ruins. The blackness of ashes marked where their dwellings had stood: wives, mothers, and children were gone! Smouldering heaps alone remained to show where an inhabited city had stood. David was greatly distressed. Not only were his own wives carried away, but his people, maddened by their losses, threatened to stone him. It was indeed an hour of darkness for the youthful leader. But he encouraged himself in the Lord his God;" and those who flee to this refuge in their troubles, never will be disappointed. He immediately sought the Divine direction, Abiathar the priest, with the ephod, was present, and David was directed and encouraged to pursue the enemy. Already fatigued with marching, the whole band followed the track of the plunderers ; but part soon became so faint that they could not proceed beyond the river on the borders of the land; the rest crossed the stream, and pressed forward into the desert, faint, yet pursuing. They found a poor Egyptian in their way, sick, and perishing for want of food. Himself a sufferer, David pitied the forlorn youth, relieved his wants, and, in return, obtained the information he needed. God thus directed him in the wilderness to a person able to relate what had occurred; who, though sick and abandoned to perish by an inhuman master, had been kept alive till succour came, when the suffering slave was made the instrument for punishing his cruel owner. He led David to the recesses of the desert, whither the predatory band which plundered Ziklag had retired. David and his men hastened forward with renewed vigour, and came upon the robbers while indulging in revelry and drunkenness; before they had divided the spoil, or had sent any of their captives away for sale. The coming upon the robbers while in this unguarded 1070.] THE PHILISTINES' INVASION. 125 posture, was remarkable. Had they been upon the watch, or even upon their march, a part of the captives would, in all probability, have been carried off by those who fled. But the Amalekites were smitten; all was recovered, not a captive was missing; much spoil taken from other places fell into the hands of the Israelites, and they returned homeward rejoicing. David kindly greeted those who had remained behind from exhaustion. Some covetous spirits would have acted with harshness towards these sufferers, but David interfered, and proceeding upon the general rule given to Israel in the wilderness, Numb. xxxi. 27, he allotted to each party a share of the spoil. All were satisfied; David sent portions of what remained to the principal persons of the districts where he and his band had been accustomed to take refuge. This division of the history of Israel now draws to a close, and we must return to Saul. He went forth with his army to meet the Philistines, but not till they had penetrated across the fertile plains of Jezreel. Saul's position was on the heights of Gilboa, to the south-west of the sea of Tiberias. The wretched king had been struck with fear at this invasion. Samuel was dead, and the best supporters of his throne had been driven from him-David was among his enemies. In this extremity Saul inquired of the Lord, but He answered him not. No prophet was found to unfold the Divine will, declaring, "Thus saith the Lord;" no oracular response was given by the priest; no vision was sent to cheer or to direct the distressed monarch. Even his seeking the Lord was so faint and cold, that in the book of Chronicles it is said, he inquired not; it was at best the effort of an unstable, unbelieving heart. The weakest address, offered with true faith, will not be rejected, but Saul sought not the Lord in faith; he felt a certain and fearful foreboding of evil to come, and in his despair committed his third and crowning offence. He did not cast himself on the Lord, resolved, like Job, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him;" |