Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 May 1915 — “TOUCH NOT MINE ANOINTED” [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

“TOUCH NOT MINE ANOINTED”

1 Samuel 26.—Slay 16. King David’s Trying Experiences—Ths Cave of Adullam— King David’s Nephews Water From Bethlehem. David Twice Spared King Saul’s Life. Lessons of the Hour. "Love your enemies, do food to them that hate you.”—Luke 6:21. OUTLAWED ain| hunted by King Saul, David was joined by unfortunates ostracized from society, and soon found himself at the head of a company of about four hundred men, more or less armed. It was a great training for his future kingdom work. Amongst these were three of David’s nephews. One was Joab, who became captain of the host Ablshal and Asahel were the others, who afterward became renowned. For a time David and his company occupied the cave of Adullam. It is

greatly to his credit that he refused to plunge his nation into civil war, as he would have been abundantly able to do. But he remembered that the Lord, through the Prophet Samuel, had anointed him to be king; and that it was for him to abide God’s time for overthrowing

Saul and making him his successor. It was because David was thus full of faith in God and possessed the spirit of obedience to Him that he was called a man after God’s own heart—not that he was perfect, but that the Lord's will was his real heart’s desire, and whenever through weakness he took a different course, he promptly repented on seeing the mistake, Implored Divine forgiveness and changed his course. While sojourning at the cave of Adullam, David, In a fit of homesickness, referred to the fine well-water of his Bethlehem home, intimating how much he would relish It. Thereupon three of his followers undertook the perilous journey, unknown to David. They were outlaws, and Bethlehem was In the hands of the Philistines; yet these brave men obtained a waterskin from the favored well. When they presented It to David, he declared that the water was gotten at too great a cost to be lightly used. Then he poured It upon the earth as a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Lord for the blessings they enjoyed and for the support of such loyal associates. Surely David’s devotion to the Lord and his faith were well manifested! Training For Kingdom Work. When David and his followers w’ere at Nob, Ahlmelech the priest showed him kindness. King Saul, learning of this through a spy, slaughtered the priests of that place and their lineage. This brought to David one of Ahlmelech’s sons with the priestly ephod. A prophet had also joined David. All this convinced King Saul the more that God’s favor was departed from him. Nevertheless he continued to fight against the Divine Program. On one occasion David and his company were occupying a cave on the west side of the Dead Sea, when King Saul and his men entered the cave for rest and refreshment David and his associates were further back in the cave; and when Saul’s company entered, David’s band desired that Saul be killed, that thus their trying experiences might be ended. But David would not consent. However, he cut a piece from Saul’s robe as a demonstration that he could have killed the king had he been disloyal. After the king and his company had gone a certain distance, David and his men showed themselves and protested that Saul was not appreciative of their

loyalty and sought their lives when they would not take his. Saul’s better nature was aroused; and he wept, saying, “Thou art more righteous than I.” For the time the hunting of David was abandoned. Nevertheless, there was a similar experience later.

On this occasion, David and his nephew entered Saul’s camp and took from beside his head his spear and his water-bottle. Then from an opposite hill, a ravine between, David pointed out to the king that he was not only more vigilant than Saul’s soldiers, but more loyal to the king’s Interests; and that to pursue him was a mistake. A Profitable Lesson. David’s explanation of his unwillingness to take his enemy’s life was that Saul’s was the Lord’s anointed, and that to assault the king was to attack the Almighty's arrangements. This he could not conscientiously do. “Touch not Mine anointed.” It Is well to have this principle in mind. We are not to think of the kings of today as the Lord’s anointed, however. They are their own anointed. Their kingdoms are kingdoms of this world. On the contrary, Israel was God’s special kingdom, under a special covenant arrangement. By Divine authority King Saul bad been anointed with the special anointing oil, typifying the Holy Spirit. David’s anointing with the samp oil was not to give him a right to Interfere with the Lord’s anointing previously accomplished in Saul, but to assure him” that he was to be Saul’s successor. /

David Spares King Saul.

Saul Spared In the Cave.