David’s Triumph and Saul’s Downfall
The week begins with the war with the Philistines, and passes on to Goliath's challenge, David's triumph over the Philistine, Jonathan's love for David, and Saul's anger and jealousy, the story of David's fleeing from Saul's wrath, from one stronghold in forest and mountain to another; Saul's inconsistent and awful madness; David's going at last to the Philistines to escape Saul's anger; and Saul himself reaching that place of degradation in spiritual things that God leaves him, and he seeks the counsel of one who has a familiar spirit. Then comes that last great, sad battle, in which the hosts of Israel are defeated. Saul himself is slain, and the news is brought to David by one who thought that David would rejoice in that news, but who for all his part in it is slain by the now king of Israel. One wonderful mark of character manifest in David all the way through is his submission to the government that was. Hunted, despised, hated by Saul; himself already anointed as king,—yet he will not lift his hand against the Lord's anointed; he will leave all this judgment with God, who, David knows, in His own time will bring to naught all those who had conspired against him and kept him back from his own right. Very beautiful is the song David composed over Jonathan and Saul.