conscience.

Let us pray that our consciences may be

"Quick as the apple of an eye,

The slightest touch of sin to feel."

4. Opportunity for sin is no justification of it.-Opportunity for sin is often a strong temptation to it. Satan would fain persuade us that it is designed that we should do wrong when the means of doing it easily are placed in our power. See how David resisted the temptation.

5. Contrast the characters of Saul and David, the former seeking the latter's life, the latter sparing the life of the former. Was it natural to

David to act so? Let Saul answer the question by another: "if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away?". It was the grace of God that enabled David to let his enemy "go well away." Notice how Saul trusts David's word, the testimony that bears to David's goodness. Which are you more like, Saul or David?

QUESTIONS.-Where was the wilderness of Engedi? Describe the cave in which David was hidden. Who entered it? Did he know of David's presence? What advice was given to David? How did he act? How did he reply to the advice given? What happened as soon as Saul had left the cave? Give the substance of David's speech? Of Saul's reply? How did they part!

66

66

a golden Psalm," expressing the high estimate formed of the Psalm. Altaschith means destroy not." It seems to refer to David's reply to those who urged him to kill his foe, 1 Sam. xxiv. 6. The second of these Psalms is generally attributed to the same period. It was, doubtless, written in the same place.

But

PSALM LVII.-begins with complaint and prayer; at ver. 7, the strain is changed to praise and triumph. As it was composed in similar circumstances, this Psalm bears an obvious resemblance to the other Psalms which have been the texts of our Lessons. little explanation is required. The metaphor of ver. 1 is the same as that of Ps. xvii. 8, only here the hen or eagle is represented as covering her brood from a heavy rain-storm. So God should protect David till the tempest of calamities that threatened him was overpast. Ver. 3; so certain was David of deliverance, that he looked for direct, even miraculous, interposition of Providence, when there was no other way of escape. Ver. 4, speaks of the malice and power of David's enemies. The figures of ver. 6 are all taken from the mode of capturing wild beasts; compare Ps.

xvii. 11. My glory,-i.e., the highest powers of the soul raised to the highest pitch. Among the people, the Israelites. Among the nations,-the Gentiles. For Thy mercy is great, etc.,-far above our measurement or comprehension.

PSALM LXIII.-Here David rises even higher than in the former song. He has almost forgotten his privations and dangers. This Psalm is the breathing of a devout soul after God, of one who is in the enjoyment of God's favour after a yet more abundant manifestation of it. In a dry and thirsty land, etc.,-his soul longed after the means of grace, as much as the parched wilderness needed water. I will lift up my hands, etc.,-make supplication in the most solemn, eager and expressive manner, even though I cannot worship in the tabernacle. But those that seek, etc., they shall die, their bodies shall be left unburied, a prey to the jackals. This was fulfilled literally by the destruction of Saul's forces at the battle of Gilboa. The king, David might speak thus from his perfect confidence in his future dignity. Every one that sweareth by Him,-i.e., by God.

These Psalms afford fresh illustrations of David's danger, gratitude to Jehovah for past deliverances, and implicit trust in Him for future triumph. Repeated troubles could not

shake his confidence.

His faith bore not merely heavy, but successive blows. Mark, too, that these songs of praise came from the very midst of tribulation. It is easy to thank God when a trial is over, but David had learned with Paul to rejoice IN his sufferings, Col. i. 24.

OCTOBER 18.--NABAL, THE THE DEATH OF SAMUEL.-V. 1. And Samuel died,-being nearly one hundred years old, having served God from his youth up. The respect his countrymen had for him was evidenced by the large gathering at his funeral, and the sincere lamentations with which he was buried. The longest life must end. Let us so order our lives that our loss may be regretted; above all, that we may obtain the approval of God. Samuel's peaceful death and honoured memory afford encouragement to early piety. His course was steadfast. Some persons seem to think a converted child is sure to fall away. same God Who kept Samuel can keep you. On hearing of his friend's decease, David removed to the wilderness of Paran, the northern portion of the desert of Arabia. He felt less safe now that his counsellor was gone.

But the

NABAL, THE CHURL.-V. 2-13, Maon,- -see ch. xxiii. 24. Carmel,ch. xv. 12, and note. At Maon there

111

goodness was always in David's mind.Ps. lvii. 8 tells that David would give the early morning to God's praise; Ps. lxiii. 6 shows how he spent the wakeful hours of the night. So Bishop Ken:

"If in the night I sleepless lie,

My soul with heavenly thoughts supply." 4. David's earnest pursuit of God. "My soul followeth hard after Thee;" like the Canaanitish woman after Christ, like Jacob after the retreating Angel, like the miner in diligent search after gold, who strains every nerve, and does not give way to weariness.

CHURL.-1 Samuel xxv. 1-13.

dwelt a very rich man, who owned land at Carmel. The man was known by the name of Nabal,-i.e., fool. It is not likely that this was his real name; it had been given him by his neighbours on account of his disposition, he was churlish,―ill-tempered, niggardly, Isai. xxxii. 5, 7. Evil in his doings,-explains "churlish." Of the house of Caleb,-descended from the great Caleb. Who was he? His wife, Abigail, was of another character. This Lesson treats of Nabal's conduct; in our next we shall hear more of Abigail. The rich man's vast flock was being shorn. At such a time there would be an unusual abundance of provisions. David sends a respectful message to Nabal, greeting him, reminding him that all the while his shepherds were in the neighbourhood of David's band, they missed nothing. To rob the flock would be no small temptation to armed men with no regular means of subsistence. Nay more, David had

defended Nabal's sheep against the attacks of the Arabs. So David begs a present of food in return for the service rendered. The request was reasonable in itself; moreover, such gifts were customary: "on such a festive occasion as a sheep-shearing, near a town or village, an Arab Sheikh of the neighbouring desert would hardly fail to put in a word, either in person or by message; and his message would be a transcript of that of David to Nabal."-Robinson. The men spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased, - they added nothing to, and omitted nothing from the message; having delivered it faithfully and politely, they waited for the answer. The churl replies with a blank and insulting refusal. He pretends not to know who this David is, but betrays his knowledge by his sarcasm, there be many servants, etc. Should he bestow what belonged to him upon such people? Mark the repetition of the pronoun, "my bread, and my water, and my flesh," as though their value was enhanced by the fact that so great a man owned them. The contemptuous words are reported to David. Instantly he orders his men to arm themselves; about four hundred march against Nabal, two hundred remain to protect the encampment. Was David's intention right? Certainly not. He was taking the law into his own hands. He had been

wronged and insulted, but vengeance should have been left to God. How differently he had acted towards Saul in the cave! David obeyed the impulse of the moment; the command was issued without thought and prayer; so he sinned. See the danger of impulsiveness; the necessity of reflection. Because we have resisted one temptation, it does not follow that we may not be overtaken by another. The best men need the restraining grace of God. See, too, the necessity of watchfulness. Let Nabal's conduct and character serve as a warning to us. He had not grown churlish all at once. God helping him, he might have fought and conquered his evil temper when he was young. He indulged it, it grew stronger and stronger. "Be courteous;" civility costs nothing. Even inferiors should be addressed with due regard to their feelings. Note, again, Nabal's assertion that his property was his own, his forgetfulness that he was responsible to God for the use of it. Compare Luke xii. 17-20.

QUESTIONS.-Whose death is recorded in this Lesson? Where was he buried? How did Israel feel at his loss? Whither did David remove? why? Where were Paran? Maon? Carmel? Who lived at Maon? What does "Nabal" mean? What sort of a man was he? How did David come into communication with him? What message did David send? How did Nabal answer? Was David's request unreasonable? Why, then, did Nabal refuse it? What action did David take? Was he justified? why not?

ABIGAIL, THE PRUDENT.-V. 14-20. Where did our last Lesson leave David? What was he about to do? why? While David is preparing mischief against Nabal, Abigail is devising means to avert it. One of the servants had told her of her husband's treatment of David's messengers, and that the claim they had made was just. The servants judge that David will not pass over such an insult, they will be involved in the punishment; can Abigail find means to appease the chieftain's anger? She decides promptly, David's demands must be satisfied. The present was

ample; larger than would be expected. What was it? Measures,-each containing rather more than an English peck. When Abigail meets him, David has already begun his march.

ABIGAIL'S REMONSTRANCE.-V. 23— 33. She greets David with the utmost respect, and then pleads, Upon me, etc.-She takes the fault upon herself, in the hope that David will more readily pardon her, a female, than her husband. Her arguments are,-first, Nabal is beneath David's notice, he is a fool; second, her meeting David so opportunely, before he had had time

to wreak his vengeance, was evidently Providential. God was thus keeping him from sin; punishment would certainly come upon Nabal from God, her best wish for David was that all his enemies might in that respect be as Nabal. Then she refers to her presentblessing, the error has been repaired. She speaks of David's sure advancement, the Lord is with him, has preserved him from Saul, will yet preserve him. Bound in the bundle of life,-in perfect safety. See Illustrations. The reference is to this world and the next. Shall He sling out-the very opposite to being "bound in the bundle of life." When David ascends the throne, it would be a grief to him that he had acted so rashly; if he spares Nabal and his innocent household, he will then have naught to reproach himself with. So positive is Abigail of David's ultimate triumph, that she prays, When the Lord shall have dealt, etc.-Could argument so respectful, so cogent, so right, fail of its effect? At once David grants her prayer, and thanks God and her that by her remonstrance he has been kept from sin.

113

2. Read Psalm xix. 13.- God restrained David by means of Abigail. He often uses circumstances, the advice of others, to keep us back from wilful sin. Let us recognise and pray for God's "restraining grace."

3. Note how David yields to Abigail's argument, and thanks her for her remonstrance, and blesses God for it.Let us be grateful to those who warn us against sin. Let us heed their words. Let us be thankful to God Whose agents they are.

4. Romans xii. 19; Prov. xx. 22.What other illustration of these texts have we studied recently?

5. Repeat the verses for repetition. Let us strive so to act, that we can look back upon our lives without remorse or shame.-A moment of passion may see a deed done that will be a life-long grief to the doer.

6. The perfect safety of God's people in this world and in the world to come. --They are "bound in the bundle of life with the Lord."

QUESTIONS.-How did Abigail know what had occurred? What action did she take? Describe the present. Where did she meet David? What did she say to him? Explain "bound in the bundle of life." How did David answer?

II.