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after, and David married Abigail. David again found Saul and his guards sleeping, and reproved Abner, the captain, for not keeping a better watch on the king's life. David fled with six-hundred men to Achish, king of Gath, and Saul sought him

no more.

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. Evil shall slay the wicked; and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate. The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants; and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate." Psalm xxxiv. 19; 21, 22.

Lesson 52. Saul consults a Witch.

Saul was afraid of the Philistines. He wanted friends to give him counsel, but he had none, and he had slain the priests. He went to a witch at Endor, and desired her to

Samuel made

bring up Samuel. known to him that the Philistines should conquer the Israelites, and that on the morrow he and his sons should die.

Saul was in great trouble, but on account of his disobedience God was not his friend. He asked counsel of the Lord, but the Lord answered him not, because he was not truly sorry for his sins. God however showed his great power by causing the departed prophet, Samuel to appear and declare his approaching death.

Lesson 53. Death of Saul and his Sons.

The Philistines fought against Israel and conquered at Gilboa. Among the slain were three of Saul's sons. Saul was sorely wounded; he fell upon his sword and died. Then the people of Israel forsook their cities. The Philistines exposed the bodies of Saul and his sons at

Bethshan, but the people of Jabeshgilead fetched them away.

The conduct of the men of Jabesh-gilead was a proper expression of gratitude to Saul who had been their deliverer in the early part of his reign when they were oppressed by the Ammonites. There was however, no general lamentation in Israel made for Saul, as there had been for the prophet Samuel.

Lesson 54. David's Lament. He is anointed King.

David mourned greatly for the death of Saul and Jonathan. The Lord commanded David to go up to Hebron, and there he was anointed king by the people of Judah. He blessed the men of Jabesh-gilead for the respect which they had shown to the bodies of Saul and his sons, and said he would requite their kindness.

David mourned for Jonathan because he had lost a beloved friend; for Saul to show that he felt good will and compassion for him without any resentment. He said to the men of Jabesh-gilead, "Blessed be ye of the Lord, that ye have showed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him." II Samuel ii. 5.

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Lesson 55. Ishbosheth Proclaimed.

Abner proclaimed Ishbosheth, the only remaining son of Saul, king. Soon after Abner quarrelled with Ishbosheth, and joined David. Abner was treacherously slain by Joab. Ishbosheth was slain by two of his own captains, who took his head to David. David commanded them to be slain for their wickedness.

David was sincerely grieved for the death of Abner. He said to Joab, "Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth and mourn before Abner." He said to his officers, "Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel ?" And, referring

to his murderers, he said, "the Lord shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness." II Samuel iii. 31; 38, 39.

Lesson 56. The Ark of God.

When David was again anointed he had the ark of God brought up from Kirjath-jearim. God prospered David, and he smote the Philistines, and burned their idols. When the ark was being brought up to Jerusalem, Uzzah was slain for touching it.

It

David then left it in the house of Obed-edom for three months. was afterwards brought up to Jerusalem.

"The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully." Psalm xxiv. 1; 4.

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