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From Eternity Past
Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord’s
anointed; but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster,
and the cruse of water, and let us go... . And no man saw it, nor knew
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it, neither awaked: ... because a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen
upon them.”
When David was at a safe distance from the camp, he cried with a
loud voice to Abner, “Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to
thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for
there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord. This thing
is not good that thou hast done. As the Lord liveth, ye are worthy to
die, because ye have not kept your master, the Lord’s anointed. And
now see where the king’s spear is, and the cruse of water that was at
his bolster. And Saul knew David’s voice, and said, Is this thy voice,
my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king. And
he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for
what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?”
Again King Saul Confesses He Is Wrong
Again the acknowledgment fell from the lips of the king: “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 answered, “Behold the king’s spear! and let one of the young
men come over and fetch it.” Although Saul had made the promise, “I
will no more do thee harm,” David did not place himself in his power.
In parting, Saul exclaimed, “Blessed be thou, my son David: thou
shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail.” But the son of
Jesse had no hope that the king would long continue in this frame of
mind.
David despaired of reconciliation. It seemed that he should at last
fall victim to the malice of the king. With the six hundred men under
his command, he passed over to Achish, the king of Gath.
David’s conclusion that Saul would accomplish his murderous
purpose was formed without the counsel of God. Even while Saul was
plotting his destruction, the Lord was working to secure David the
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kingdom. Looking at appearances, men interpret the trials and tests
that God permits as things that will only work their ruin. David looked