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No One Sorry, June 8
1 Samuel 22
All of you have conspired against me ... and there is none of you that is
sorry for me.
1 Samuel 22:8
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The spirit of evil was upon Saul. He felt that his doom had been sealed by
the solemn message of his rejection from the throne of Israel. His departure
from the plain requirements of God was bringing its sure results. He did not
turn, and repent, and humble his heart before God, but opened it to receive every
suggestion of the enemy. He listened to every false witness, eagerly receiving
anything that was detrimental to the character of David, hoping that he might
find an excuse for manifesting his increasing envy and hatred of him who had
been anointed to the throne of Israel.
Every rumor was credited, no matter how inconsistent and irreconcilable it
was with the former character and custom of David.
Every evidence that the protecting care of God was over David seemed to
imbitter and deepen his one engrossing and determined purpose. The failure to
accomplish his own designs appeared in marked contrast to the success of the
fugitive in eluding his search, but it only made the determination of the king the
more unrelenting and firm. He was not careful to conceal his designs toward
David, nor scrupulous as to what means should be employed in accomplishing
his purpose.
It was not the man David, who had done him no harm, against whom the
king was contending. He was in controversy with the King of heaven; for when
Satan is permitted to control the mind that will not be ruled by Jehovah, he will
lead it according to his will, until the man who is thus in his power becomes
an efficient agent to carry out his designs. So bitter is the enmity of the great
originator of sin against the purposes of God, so terrible is his power for evil,
that when men disconnect from God, Satan influences them, and their minds are
brought more and more into subjection, until they cast off the fear of God, and
the respect of men, and become bold and avowed enemies of God and of His
people.... God hates all sin, and when man persistently refuses all the counsel of
heaven, he is left to the deceptions of the enemy
[166]
14
The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 2:1019
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171