DAVID IN THE PALACE. LESSON. 1 Sam. xviii. 1-16. I SAMUEL, XVIII. 14. GOLDEN TEXT. "And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him." SELDOM in history has one in public position appeared to greater advantage than did David in the palace of Saul. Not Sir Walter Raleigh, or John Milton, or Sir Matthew Hale displayed so eminent virtues under circumstances not unlike. The life of a courtier is not conducive to virtue, and consequently we gaze with surprise and admiration on the spectacle presented in our lesson of a character of spotless excellence developing amid temptations to corruption commonly overpowering. "I have found David," was God's own testimony, "a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil my will." In this brief life of ours, in which we are called on so generally, in church and state, in social life and business relations, to assume offices of public trust, we shall do well to study the example of David under like circumstances. Our theme, then, is this: The conduct obligatory on one in public position. "And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways." What was the wisdom David showed ? I. In taking responsibilities, he followed the guidance of Providence. His simple rule was to meet the present duty as it came. He was sent to feed the sheep. He did it well, delivering them from the lion and the bear. He was called to be anointed as the future king. He received his anointing, and as God opened the way no further, he went back, without complaint, to his simple shepherd life. Summoned to be Saul's minstrel, he performed the menial task, and when no longer needed, retired to his father's farm. The war with the Philistines opened. Jesse's elder sons were permitted the exciting life of the camp, but David was needed at home; and though he might have plead his ability in war (1 Sam. xvi. 18), his position as royal armorbearer, his future kingship, he submissively remained at Bethlehem. But at last his patience was rewarded; his opportunity came. Sent on a message to the camp, the way opened for a deed which won the applause of the people and the notice of the king. He was immediately appointed to the colonelcy of a regiment, and afterwards, as the king's son-in-law, he became, it is supposed, commander of the royal body-guard. These honors David neither sought nor declined. Whatever a divine Providence laid on him he cheerfully undertook. He did not urge his claims. He was not troubled that his merits for a while should go unrecognized. He had no anxiety to precipitate the promotion divinely promised. He was content to wait God's time. A rare quality in human nature! How few have that calmness of faith, and that forgetfulness of self, which enable them to abide patiently in obscurity till God summons them to public service! God's method is to lead us on, step by step. Fidelity in one stage introduces us to another, till the end is reached. Whatever we have to do, let us not fail to do it, for we know not, when we have passed through this narrow and dismal passage-way of the present, what doors of entrance into some brilliant hall may swing apart at our approach. Let us not seek to advance ourselves otherwise than God appoints. David must be shepherd before he can be king. Growth in inferior stations must fit one for positions of publicity. But David wisely shunned an evil in the opposite direction. He did not shirk responsibility. When a divine Providence plainly opened the way, he would not decline to enter. It is not for us rashly and unsought to venture on responsibilities, but when they are urged on us by others, whose interests are at stake, why should we hesitate to test our ability by a trial? David had a modest and praiseworthy ambition to equal the demands made on him. Some men fail in life because too timid or self-depreciatory to take positions for which they are well fitted, and to which others invite them. David never ran from responsibilities. If wild beasts attacked his sheep, he met them. If Goliath of Gath shook his ponderous spear over cowering Israel, David, when others failed, faced the insolent Philistine. If Saul appointed him a military chief, and challenged him to dangerous expeditions, he would not refuse. We need in this age men of like heroic sort. When a good man is called to office, let him, though selfdistrustful, though at personal disadvantage, take the place. If God appoints him to it (and he may know God's will), he has no right to decline. Otherwise has our land no hope. If in any church, officers or Sabbath-school teachers are needed, let those selected recognize the wish of fellow-Christians as the probable expression of God's will, and meet the responsibility. It is easy to find excuses in inexperience, or a sense of unfitness, or a pressure of other duties; but before a resolute purpose to carry faithfully whatever burdens God appoints, such excuses are swept away as the dust flies from the passing train. One of the greatest difficulties in church work lies just here. None are willing to assume responsibilities which some must carry. Who shall take them? Not one of us but is in some respects unfit. And yet, with these dulled, crudely shaped instruments, God chooses to do his work. We must then do our best, and leave the results to him who uses us. II. David, in his public position, was wise in performing his duties faithfully. He had enlisted in the king's service; he was, therefore, obedient to the king's command, and "went out whithersoever Saul sent him." What lesson is more difficult or important than that of obedience to rightful authority? No man can govern others unless he can submit to government. Saul's palace was David's training school. David, as king, would scarcely venture on excesses under which he had smarted as a subject. A period of subjection is needful to fit one for stations of rule. So far as others have a rightful supremacy let us keep our wills in abeyance. Our wills should be related to each other as are the orbs of night, which move swiftly through space without collision, each in its own path, each receiving and sending forth an influence which holds all in their place. Too much have we a chaos, these wills clashing in wild confusion, each striving for the mastery, each reluctant to yield a proper submission to the rest. He is wise indeed who holds his will firmly to its own orbit, directing his course carefully between servility and obstinacy, maintaining his independence, and yet yielding where obedience is due. We must be self-poised, able first of all to control ourselves. David did his duty well, in that he did it unselfishly. The public man, deputed to represent the people, must not neglect their interests that he may use his position to reap a harvest for himself. When the gangrene of corruption. eats into the national heart, there is no hope for the national life. Fortunate was Saul to have a servant who met his duty without a selfish eagerness to advance himself. How many in David's place would have leaped to the throne over the dead body of the king! The histories of ancient empires are dreary catalogues of such bloody usurpations. Goaded by Saul's cowardly attacks upon his life, David might naturally have found justification in the deed. Did not Saul's wretched misgovernment call for interference? Was not David popular? had he not military authority? was he not divinely anointed as the king's successor? Why not anticipate a little, rid the country of a tyrant, and further his own interests? But such conduct was impossible to David. He was too unselfish, and too true to principle, to advance himself by deeds of wrong. But perhaps most noticeable was his unflinching fidelity. He stood in his lot till God permitted him to retire. It was not pleasant to be brought in daily contact with one whose distempered brain was plotting him mischief, and whose swift javelin might any moment drink his blood. It was not easy to bear the cruel wrong without a swift revenge; and if revenge were forbidden, either by prudence or piety, he was, at least one would think, at liberty to withdraw. But David would not cowardly flee from his responsibilities. It must first be plain beyond mistake that there was no recovery for the insane king, and that not mere momentary bursts of passion sought him harm, |