than his victory over Goliath. St. Chrysostom says of him: “Women did not come to meet him, singing the praises of this victory, but the choirs of angels, full of admiration, sang the praises of his magnanimity.” Learn then how beautiful and praiseworthy it is to overcome yourself and forgive those who have injured you.
Love until death. David loved Saul and Jonathan till they died, and bitterly mourned their death. True love lasts beyond the grave, and we should preserve our love for those dear unto us after they are dead. You should pray for the souls of your departed parents, friends and relations.
Resistance to grace. Learn from the case of Saul how low a man can fall when he forsakes God, resists grace and gives himself over to his passions. If you give the devil one finger, he will want to have your whole hand and your whole self. Saul was originally humble, and God was with him and gave him many graces; but his victories made him proud and disobedient to God. His pride could not endure that David should be so highly honoured and esteemed, and therefore he was envious and jealous of him. Envy embittered his life and made him ungrateful towards David, and this led further to hatred of him and desire for his death. Thus Saul became more and more unworthy of the divine assistance. Quite forsaken by God, he was defeated by the Philistines in spite of his valour, and ended his life by suicide. What a sad end for a man chosen out by God from among all men!
Application. What do you do when anyone injures you by word or deed? Do you cherish a grudge against him in your heart? Do you wish evil to any of your companions? Do you speak evil of him to others? “Forgive and forget!”
Chapter LIV.
DAVID’S PIETY.— HIS ZEAL FOR GOD’S GLORY.
[2 Kings 5 — 6.]
After the death of Saul David was chosen king. He established his court in Jerusalem [1], where he became renowned for his great valour. He defeated the Philistines and many other
- ↑ Jerusalem. This, the House of Peace, is the Salem of earlier times, of which in the days of Abraham Melchisedech was king. The town was divided into two parts, the upper town and the lower town. The lower town had been for some time in the possession of the Israelites, but the upper town, which was built on Mount Sion, still belonged to the heathen Jebusites, who had fortified it so strongly that hitherto no one had been able to conquer it. David now took possession of it and fortified it even more strongly than it had been before. He built himself a palace there and called it the City of David. From henceforward Jerusalem was the capital of the kingdom (Fig. 41).
