598
Patriarchs and Prophets
robe privily.” But his conscience smote him afterward, because he had
even marred the garment of the king.
[662]
Saul rose up the went out of the cave to continue his search, when a
voice fell upon his startled ears, saying, “My lord the king.” He turned
to see who was addressing him, and lo! it was the son of Jesse, the
man whom he had so long desired to have in his power that he might
kill him. David bowed himself to the king, acknowledging him as his
master. Then he addressed Saul in these words: “Wherefore hearest
thou men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt? Behold,
this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord hath delivered thee
today into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee; but
mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against
my lord; for he is the Lord’s anointed. Moreover, my father, see, yea,
see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy
robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil
nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet
thou huntest my soul to take it.”
When Saul heard the words of David he was humbled, and could
not but admit their truthfulness. His feelings were deeply moved as he
realized how completely he had been in the power of the man whose
life he sought. David stood before him in conscious innocence. With a
softened spirit, Saul exclaimed, “Is this thy voice, my son David? And
Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.” Then he declared to David: “Thou
art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas
I have rewarded thee evil.... For if a man find his enemy, will he let
him go well away? wherefore the Lord reward thee good for that thou
hast done unto me this day. And now, behold, I know well that thou
shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established
in thine hand.” And David made a covenant with Saul that when this
should take place he would favorably regard the house of Saul, and
not cut off his name.
Knowing what he did of Saul’s past course, David could put no
confidence in the assurances of the king, nor hope that his penitent
condition would long continue. So when Saul returned to his home
David remained in the strongholds of the mountains.
The enmity that is cherished toward the servants of God by those
who have yielded to the power of Satan changes at times to a feeling
of reconciliation and favor, but the change does not always prove to