Chapters 26, 27, and 30 are a story of David's experiences in the land of the Philistines, where he went to avoid Saul. His trustworthiness won the confidence of the king of Gath, but not of the other lords of the Philistines. What David's object was in desiring to go with the Philistines to battle against Israel is not told us, but we can not believe that he would have turned his hand against his own people; for much of his time he was warring against the enemies of Israel.
Chapter 28 is a sad record of the downfall of King Saul. Of course, it began long before the king was forsaken of God. It began when he began to prefer his ways to God's ways and to be restive and rebellious under reproof. When he would not receive His words the Lord must leave him. So He did, and answered no more by Urim or by dreams or by prophets. Then Saul sought an ancient spiritist medium, who brought up a spirit who pretended to be Samuel. See the tract on "Spiritualism," or the Bible-reading in the Signs of March 11. Chapter 31 records the king's death.
Chapter 1 of 2 Samuel is the story of David's receiving the news, his unfeigned grief, and his "Song of the Bow," in remembrance of the great warriors, Saul and Jonathan, the latter of whom is one of the sweetest characters recorded in history.
Chapters 2 to 11 inclusive are records of internal troubles, internecine strifes, incidents connected with the establishment of David's reign, evidences of his generous disposition, David's throne set in Jerusalem, his victories over his enemies, his plan to build a temple for God, his kindness to the house of Saul for Jonathan's sake, and his fearful sin against Uriah the Hittite, recalling God's warning, "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."
But two psalms come into our lesson this week: Psalm 118 expressing thanksgiving for God's loving kindness, and prophetic of Christ; Psalm 119, probably written by Daniel the prophet after some experiences in Babylon. Keep Daniel and his experience in mind as it is read. Note verses 9, 19, 23, 51, 98, 99, 100, etc.