patriarchs and prophets-第149节

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throbbed　with　more　fervent　adoration　and　gratitude；　his　voice　rang　out　in　a
richer　melody；　his　harp　was　swept　with　more　exultant　joy；　and　the　shepherd
boy　proceeded　from　strength　to　strength；　from　knowledge　to　knowledge；　for
the　Spirit　of　the　Lord　was　upon　him。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　63

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　David　and　Goliath


When　King　Saul　realized　that　he　had　been　rejected　by　God；　and　when　he　felt
the　force　of　the　words　of　denunciation　that　had　been　addressed　to　him　by　the
prophet；　he　was　filled　with　bitter　rebellion　and　despair。　It　was　not　true
repentance　that　had　bowed　the　proud　head　of　the　king。　He　had　no　clear
perception　of　the　offensive　character　of　his　sin；　and　did　not　arouse　to　the
work　of　reforming　his　life；　but　brooded　over　what　he　thought　was　the
injustice　of　God　in　depriving　him　of　the　throne　of　Israel　and　in　taking　the
succession　away　from　his　posterity。　He　was　ever　occupied　in　the　anticipating
the　ruin　that　had　been　brought　upon　his　house。　He　felt　that　the　valor　which
he　had　displayed　in　encountering　his　enemies　should　offset　his　sin　of
disobedience。　He　did　not　accept　with　meekness　the　chastisement　of　God；　but
his　haughty　spirit　became　desperate；　until　he　was　on　the　verge　of　losing　his
reason。　His　counselors　advised　him　to　seek　for　the　services　of　a　skillful
musician；　in　the　hope　that　the　soothing　notes　of　a　sweet　instrument　might
calm　his　troubled　spirit。　In　the　providence　of　God；　David；　as　a　skillful
performer　upon　the　harp；　was　brought　before　the　king。　His　lofty　and
heaven…inspired　strains　had　the　desired　effect。　The　brooding　melancholy　that
had　settled　like　a　dark　cloud　over　the　mind　of　Saul　was　charmed　away。

When　his　services　were　not　required　at　the　court　of　Saul；　David　returned　to
his　flocks　among　the　hills　and　continued　to　maintain　his　simplicity　of
spirit　and　demeanor。　Whenever　it　was　necessary；　he　was　recalled　to　minister
before　the　king；　to　soothe　the　mind　of　the　troubled　monarch　till　the　evil
spirit　should　depart　from　him。　But　although　Saul　expressed　delight　in　David
and　his　music；　the　young　shepherd　went　from　the　king's　house　to　the　fields
and　hills　of　his　pasture　with　a　sense　of　relief　and　gladness。

David　was　growing　in　favor　with　God　and　a　man。　He　had　been　instructed　in　the
way　of　the　Lord；　and　he　now　set　his　heart

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more　fully　to　do　the　will　of　God　than　every　before。　He　had　new　themes　for
thought。　He　had　been　in　the　court　of　the　king　and　had　seen　the
responsibilities　of　royalty。　He　had　discovered　some　of　the　temptations　that
beset　the　soul　of　Saul　and　had　penetrated　some　of　the　mysteries　in　the
character　and　dealings　of　Israel's　first　king。　He　had　seen　the　glory　of
royalty　shadowed　with　a　dark　cloud　of　sorrow；　and　he　knew　that　the　household
of　Saul；　in　their　private　life；　were　far　from　happy。　All　these　things　served
to　bring　troubled　thoughts　to　him　who　had　been　anointed　to　be　king　over
Israel。　But　while　he　was　absorbed　in　deep　meditation；　and　harassed　by
thoughts　of　anxiety；　he　turned　to　his　harp；　and　called　forth　strains　that
elevated　his　mind　to　the　Author　of　every　good；　and　the　dark　clouds　that
seemed　to　shadow　the　horizon　of　the　future　were　dispelled。

God　was　teaching　David　lessons　of　trust。　As　Moses　was　trained　for　his　work；
so　the　Lord　was　fitting　the　son　of　Jesse　to　become　the　guide　of　His　chosen
people。　In　his　watchcare　for　his　flocks；　he　was　gaining　an　appreciation　of
the　care　that　the　Great　Shepherd　has　for　the　sheep　of　His　pasture。

The　lonely　hills　and　the　wild　ravines　where　David　wandered　with　his　flocks
were　the　lurking　place　of　beasts　of　prey。　Not　infrequently　the　lion　from　the
thickets　by　the　Jordan；　or　the　bear　from　his　lair　among　the　hills；　came；
fierce　with　hunger；　to　attack　the　flocks。　According　to　the　custom　of　his
time；　David　was　armed　only　with　his　sling　and　shepherd's　staff；　yet　he　early
gave　proof　of　his　strength　and　courage　in　protecting　his　charge。　Afterward
describing　these　encounters；　he　said：　〃When　there　came　a　lion；　or　a　bear；
and　took　a　lamb　out　of　the　flock；　I　went　out　after　him；　and　smote　him；　and
delivered　it　out　of　his　mouth：　and　when　he　arose　against　me；　I　caught　him　by
his　beard；　and　smote　him；　and　slew　him。〃　1　Samuel　17：34；　35；　R。V。　His
experience　in　these　matters　proved　the　heart　of　David　and　developed　in　him
courage　and　fortitude　and　faith。

Even　before　he　was　summoned　to　the　court　of　Saul；　David　had　distinguished
himself　by　deeds　of　valor。　The　officer　who　brought　him　to　the　notice　of　the
king　declared　him　to　be　〃a　mighty　valiant　man；　and　a　man　of　war；　and　prudent
in　matters；〃　and　he　said；　〃The　Lord　is　with　him。〃

When　war　was　declared　by　Israel　against　the　Philistines；　three　of　the　sons
of　Jesse　joined　the　army　under　Saul；　but　David

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remained　at　home。　After　a　time；　however；　he　went　to　visit　the　camp　of　Saul。
By　his　father's　direction　he　was　to　carry　a　message　and　a　gift　to　his　elder
brothers　and　to　learn　if　they　were　still　in　safety　and　health。　But；　unknown
to　Jesse；　the　youthful　shepherd　had　been　entrusted　with　a　higher　mission。
The　armies　of　Israel　were　in　peril；　and　David　had　been　directed　by　an　angel
to　save　his　people。

As　David　drew　near　to　the　army；　he　heard　the　sound　of　commotion；　as　if　an
engagement　was　about　to　begin。　And　〃the　host　was　going　forth　to　the　fight；
and　shouted　for　the　battle。〃　Israel　and　the　Philistines　were　drawn　up　in
array；　army　against　army。　David　ran　to　the　army；　and　came　and　saluted　his
brothers。　While　he　was　talking　with　them；　Goliath；　the　champion　of　the
Philistines；　came　forth；　and　with　insulting　language　defied　Israel　and
challenged　them　to　provide　a　man　from　their　ranks　who　would　meet　him　in
single　combat。　He　repeated　his　challenge；　and　when　David　saw　that　all　Israel
were　filled　with　fear；　and　learned　that　the　Philistine's　defiance　was　hurled
at　them　day　after　day；　without　arousing　a　champion　to　silence　the　boaster；
his　spirit　was　stirred　within　him。　He　was　fired　with　zeal　to　preserve　the
honor　of　the　living　God　and　the　credit　of　His　people。

The　armies　of　Israel　were　depressed。　Their　courage　failed。　They　said　one　to
another；　〃Have　ye　seen　this　man　that　is　come　up？　surely　to　defy　Israel　is　he
come　up。〃　In　shame　and　indignation；　David　exclaimed；　〃Who　is　this
uncircumcised　Philistine；　that　he　should　defy　the　armies　of　the　living　God？〃

Eliab；　David's　eldest　brother；　when　he　heard　these　words；　knew　well　the
feelings　that　were　stirring　the　young　man's　soul。　Even　as　a　shepherd；　David
had　manifested　daring；　courage；　and　strength　but　rarely　witnessed；　and　the
mysterious　visit　of　Samuel　to　their　father's　house；　and　his　silent
departure；　had　awakened　in　the　minds　of　the　brothers　suspicions　of　the　real
object　of　his　visit。　Their　jealousy　had　been　aroused　as　they　saw　David
honored　above　them；　and　they　did　not　regard　him　with　the　respect　and　love
due　to　his　integrity　and　brotherly　tenderness。　They　looked　upon　him　as
merely　a　stripling　shepherd；　and　now　the　question　which　he　asked　was
regarded　by　Eliab　as　a　censure　upon　his　own　cowardice　in　making　no　attempt
to　silence　the　giant　of　the　Philistines。　The　elder　brother　exclaimed
angrily；　〃Why　camest　thou　down　hither？

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and　with　whom　hast　thou　left　those　few　sheep　in　the　wilderness？　I　know　thy
pride；　and　the　naughtiness　of　thine　heart；　for　thou　art　come　down　that　thou
mightest　see　the　battle。〃　David's　answer　was　respectful　but　decided：　〃What
have　I　now　done？　Is　there　not　a　cause？〃

The　words　of　David　were　repeated　to　the　king；　who　summoned　the　youth　before
him。　Saul　listened　with　astonishment　to　the　words　of　the　shepherd；　as　he
said；　〃Let　no　man's　heart　fail　because　of　him；　thy　servant　will　go　and　fight
with　this　Philistine。〃　Saul　strove　to　turn　David　from　his　purpose；　but　the
young　man　was　not　to　be　moved。　He　replied　in　a　simple；　unassuming　way；
relating　his　experiences　while　guarding　his　father's　flocks。　And　he　said；
〃The　Lord　that　delivered　me　out　of　the　paw　of　the　lion；　and　out　of　the　paw
of　the　bear；　He　will　deliver　me　out　of　the　hand　of　this　Philistine。　And　Saul
said　unto　David；　Go；　and　the　Lord　be　with　thee。〃

For　forty　days　the　host　of　Israel　had　trembled　before　the　haughty　challenge
of　the　Philistine　giant。　Their　hearts　failed　within　them　as　they　looked　upon
his　massive　form；　in　height　measuring　six　cubits　and　a　span。　Upon　his　head
was　a　helmet　of　brass；　he　was　clothed　with　a　coat　of　mail　that　weighed　five
thousand　shekels；　and　he　had　greaves　of　brass　upon　his　legs。　The　coat　was
made　of　plates　of　brass　that　overlaid　one　another；　like　the　scales　of　a
fish；　and　they　were　so　closely　joined　that　no　dart　or　arrow　could　possibly
penetrate　the　armor。　At　his　back　the　giant　bore　a　huge　javelin；　or　lance；
also　of　brass。　〃The　staff　of　his　spear　was　like　a　weaver's　beam；　and　his
spear's　head　weighed　six　hundred　shekels　of　iron；　and　one　bearing　a　shield
went　before　him。〃

Morning　and　evening　Goliath　had　approached　the　camp　of　Israel；　saying　with　a
loud　voice；　〃Why　are　ye　come　out　to　set　your　battle　in　array？　am　not　I　a
Philistine；　and　ye　servants　to　Saul？　choo