February 4

FEBRUARY 4.—“Then came David to Nob.”—1 Samuel 21:1.

WHAT an extraordinary character was David! How large a portion of the sacred history do his memoirs occupy. And how profitable are they for “doctrine, and reproof, and correction, and instruction in righteousness.”

He was now informed by Jonathan of Saul’s determination to kill him. He is therefore compelled to flee for safety. The tabernacle being at Nob, he repairs thither, in his confusion and distress, both to take an affectionate leave of the house of God, which he despaired of seeing again for a long time; and also to obtain succour. He asks Ahimelech the priest whether he can give him any food for his hunger, or weapon for his defence. With regard to the former of these, Ahimelech told him he had nothing under his hand but the sacred loaves. These, however, he gave him; and our Saviour fully justifies the action: “Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungered, he, and they that were with him? How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the showbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?” Teaching us—that the ceremonies of religion are to give place to the substance; that positive institutions are to yield to moral obligations; that God requireth mercy and not sacrifice. Upon the same principle, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath, though the Pharisees condemned our Saviour for healing on this day: and we have known some who have opposed Sunday schools as breaking in upon the command of God.”

With regard to the latter, Ahimelech told him that he had nothing but the sword of Goliath, which was wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. What a curiosity was here! How highly it was prized we may learn from the preservation of it in such a place and with such care! Nothing could have been more welcome to David than this weapon—“Give it me,” says he; “there is none like it.” It had been drawn against himself, and had been taken by his own hand—no one therefore seemed to have a greater title to it than David. It would strengthen his faith more than his arm. It would call to remembrance his former victory, and encourage afresh his confidence in God, being able now to add, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear,” and—“from the uncircumcised Philistine,” will deliver me from every evil work. So he ought to have reasoned always, and so he sometimes did reason: but, alas! two things occurred here worthy of our remark.

First, the manner of application was blamable. For, to obtain these supplies, he dissembled, affirming that he was employed by the king in a business that required haste. Is this to be justified because it came from a good man? It is the more to be censured. He should have maintained the character of an Israelite indeed in whom is no guile, and who is always to choose suffering rather than sin. But we see how well afflictions are called trials, and how difficult it is to act consistently in some conditions. How becoming is candour in judging others! Who knows that he should have acted better under the same pressure of circumstances! How necessary the prayer, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”