Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/271

 death, when  he  heard  the  sad  news  he  wept,  and  forgetting  all the injuries  he  had  received,  he  remembered  only  the  good  qualities of  the  king.

Filled with  sorrow,  he  even  rent  his  garments  and  wept,  and cursed the  mountain  of  Gelboe  whereon  the  king  and  his  three sons had  met  their  death. Then he  lamented  and  made  a dirge over Saul  and  Jonathan:  “How  are  the  valiant  fallen! Tell it  not  in Geth;  publish  it  not  in  the  streets  of  Ascalon. They were  swifter than eagles,  stronger  than  lions. I grieve for  thee,  my  brother Jonathan, exceeding  amiable. As the  mother  loveth  her  only  son, so I did  love  thee.’’

The Justice  of  God. God  protected  the  innocent  David  and  enabled him to  escape  from  the  snares  of  the  bloodthirsty  king. But He  humbled the sin-laden  Saul  by  subjecting  him  to  a humiliating  defeat  and  a premature and  dishonourable  death.

The Wisdom  of  God  decreed  that  many  troubles  should  overtake David, in  order  that  he  might  be  exercised  in  virtue  and  prepared  for his high  position. By the  persecutions  and  privations  to  which  he  was subjected, David  was  confirmed  in  humility  and  confidence  in  God, and experienced  for  himself  how  much  harm  is  caused  by  evil-doing. He saw  from  which  faults  a ruler  should  be  free,  and  was  thus  fitted for the  high  dignity  for  which  God  had  destined  him.

The Fifth  Commandment.  The  story  we  have  just  heard  is  well suited to  explain  and  impress  upon  us  the  precepts  taught  by  the  fifth Commandment. David observed  this  Commandment  most  conscientiously when he  would  not  allow  his  mortal  enemy,  Saul,  to  be  killed,  although he was  in  his  power. The armour-bearer,  Abisai,  on  the  other  hand, did sin  against  the  fifth  Commandment,  because  he  had  the  desire  to murder  Saul  in  his  sleep,  and  would  have  carried  out  his  wicked  project, had David  given  his  consent. By this  sinful  intention  Abisai  also  sinned against the  fourth  Commandment;  for  Saul,  the  anointed  of  the  Lord, was the  representative  of  God. But it  was  Saul  who  sinned  most grievously against  the  fifth  Commandment. He allowed  his  anger  against David to  grow  till  it  turned  to  hatred,  and  from  this  to  bloodthirstiness, which passion  Saul  cherished  in  his  heart  for  a long  time,  and  tried to satisfy  by  his  untiring  persecution  of  David. Each fresh  desire  to get  rid  of  David,  and  each  new  pursuit  of  him  for  that  object  was  a grievous  sin.