1 Samuel 24
Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on
WHEN David ran away from Saul, he was obliged to leave his dear friend Jonathan. David and Jonathan kissed each other, and shed many tears when they parted: but Jonathan chose to stay with his father, king Saul. Where did David hide himself? There were very high hills in Canaan, and there were large holes in these hills called caves.
Very few people lived among these hills; but sheep fed upon the fresh grass that grew on them, and goats leaped and sported on the tops of the hills.
David was not alone. His brothers came to him, besides a great many poor people. These people liked to be with David, to help him, because Saul had ordered his servants to kill David. But these people were friends to David. David had God for his friend, too.
David and his friends lived together in a large cave: for some caves are very large, and will hold many people.
How did poor David and his friends get food? Kind people gave them food; for God made some people love David, and be kind to him. Saul was very angry when he heard that anyone was kind to David. Saul used often to tell people that David was wicked, and that David wished to kill him. Was that true? No. Some people believed what Saul said, and thought that David was really wicked; and mocked and abused David when they saw him.
Poor David! It made him sad to think that people believed that he wanted to kill Saul. But it was a comfort to David to think that God knew that he did not want to kill Saul. So David used to comfort himself by praying to God. He sometimes asked God to look into his heart, to see whether he wished to kill Saul. David had his harp with him in the cave: he often sang psalms, and praised God for keeping him from being hurt, though so many people were watching to kill him. God allowed David to have these trials, to teach him to trust God. But God did not let Saul hurt him.
David did not always live in the same cave, lest wicked people should tell Saul where he was hid. So David sometimes hid himself among the thick trees in the wood, and sometimes in one cave, and sometimes in another.
Saul took a great many solders, and came to look for David among the hills, but God did not let Saul find him. Saul said to the people he met, 'Have you seen David and his men? If you love me, you will tell me where he is, for David wants to kill me.' Then some people would tell Saul, 'He is in the cave in that hill': but when Saul got to the place he could not find David: for David heard that Saul was looking for him, and he was gone to another cave.
Saul was almost tired of looking for David, when something happened which you will like to hear.
Are caves dark inside, or light? Very dark. Because, though there is a hole to go in at, there are no windows to let in the light. One day David was in a very large cave with his men, when Saul and his men passed that way. Saul did not know that David was in the cave. If he had known it, he and his soldiers would have killed David and all his friends. But Saul saw the cave, and he wished to go into it to sleep for a little while: so he left his men outside, and came in quite alone. David and his men saw him come in, but Saul did not see David and his men, because they were in the dark parts of the cave.
How surprised David was to see Saul! David and his men remained quite quiet, and Saul lay down to rest himself. Then David's men said to him in a low voice, 'Now you can kill Saul, if you wish it.' Would David kill Saul? 'No,' said David, 'I will not hurt the man whom God made king.' And David would not let his men hurt Saul: but he went gently up to Saul as he lay asleep, and cut off a piece of his clothes.
Why did he do this? You will soon find out the reason.
After a little while Saul rose up, and went out of the cave; and he and his men went on looking for David among the hills. Then David came out of the cave, and called in a loud voice after Saul, 'My lord the king.' Then Saul looked behind him, and David bowed himself down to the ground. How surprised Saul must now have been to have seen David! Then David spoke very gently to Saul, and said, 'Why do you think that I wish to kill you? You came into the cave where I was, and some people advised me to kill you; but I would not do it.' Then David held up the piece of Saul's clothes that lie had cut off. 'Look, my father,' said David, `at this; I cut it off. Could I not have killed you? Yes, I could; but I would not Why, then, do you hunt after me? The Lord will keep me safe, and will not let you hurt me.'
When David had done speaking, Saul said, 'Is that your voice, my son David?' and Saul began to weep. He had once loved David, and when he saw how good David was, he felt that he had been wicked; but he did not feel sorry that he had offended God.
`Yes,' said Saul, 'I see that you are much better than I am, and that you do not wish to kill me: and I know that you will be king one day.'
So Saul did not try to kill David that day, and he left off looking for David, and went home with his men to his own house.
But David did not go and live with Saul, for he could not trust him. Once before, Saul had promised Jonathan that he would not try to kill David again, and yet he had broken his promise, and David knew that perhaps he would soon try to kill him again. So David went back to his cave.
Saul was not sorry that he had offended God by his wickedness: Saul did not ask God to forgive him, and to give him the Holy Spirit: so he was sure to do wicked things again.
Now, my dear children, if you have been naughty, will you pray to God to forgive you, and will you ask Him to put His Spirit in you?
Where wild goats sport among the rocks,
Where shepherds love to lead their flocks,
And find the freshest grass:
There David and his soldiers brave,
Within a deep and darksome cave,
Have found a hiding-place.
And now they hear the sound of feet,
And to the cave's dark sides retreat,
And there in silence stand:
But who is this that comes alone,
And in the cave awhile lies down,
Nor sees the warlike band?
Full well, young David knows that face,
'Tis his, who goes from place to place
Seeking his blood to shed.
And shall he now unsheathe his sword?
O no, the holy oil was pour'd
Upon that kingly head.
This is the hour that David may
His faithfulness to Saul display,—
So cuts the kingly skirt:
This skirt will prove that he was near,
Yet neither lifted sword nor spear
To do his monarch hurt.
Child
Jesus, my Lord, thus gently Thou
Didst deal with wicked men below,
Who sought Thy blood to spill;
Nor may I let my anger burn,
But kindness ever should return,
To those who do me ill.
Questions on Lesson 11
Where did David hide himself?
Who went with David?
What did Saul tell people that David wanted to do?
What was David's comfort in his trouble? Why could not Saul see David in the cave, when he came in one day by accident?
Why could David and his men see Saul?
Why did David cut off a piece of Saul's clothes? Why would not David kill Saul?
How did Saul behave when David had come out of the cave, and had spoken to him?
Why did not David go and live with Saul again?