(1 Samuel 18.)

David had wrought with God in secret first. Afterwards he wrought with God in public for the deliverance and blessing of God's people. Jonathan saw this, and recognized it. The numbers also that sing his praises increase:" Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands." To one who has read the whole history, from the first moment David appeared until this chapter, it is very lovely to see his graces develop little by little. But while the notes of praise are being sung by many on that account, it provokes envy in Saul. He "was very wroth" and he " eyed David" and he "became David's enemy continually." What a difference in the effects produced by the activities of God's grace! In one it excites the flesh, and shows what it can do if allowed:in the other, what the Holy Spirit leads to do. As soon as David gets his public place, and is recognized according to his own personal worth, he is envied. This exposes him to special temptation, and to the attacks of Satan; but in all these he continues steadily with God:he "behaved himself wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him." "David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by " (margin, precious).

It is not now the lion's roar that he needed to dread, but rather the craft of the serpent in times of favor and acceptance. He had overcome both the lion and the bear under other circumstances early in life. Now that favor abounds on the one hand, and envy eyes him on the other, he needs no less the power of God to acquit himself well. He realized this, and kept on with God; so he "behaved himself wisely." At first he walked with God, and so overcame both the lion and the bear. Afterward he walked with God and easily defeated Goliath; and when the more difficult and complicated circumstances came, and found him still walking with God, he was an overcomer then too, and therefore his name was much set by. As we read again this lovely history, may our cry during the present year be, "Lord, keep Thy servants everywhere, at all times, under all circumstances, in the secret of Thy presence, as was David in this beautiful part of his history. Keep them so that whether there be prosperity or adversity, success or repulse; whether some may encourage, or others, moved
with jealous thoughts, become jealous, we may behave ourselves wisely, and seek to walk with the Lord as did David." A. E. B.