Twice
Saul, his enemy, was in his power. What a temptation to him to kill
Saul, rid himself of his tormentor, and perhaps get the kingdom at
once! But no. He felt: "This Saul is a wicked, devil-tormented
murderer, a cruel tyrant and oppressor; but the same God who chose me
to be king next, chose him to be king now. He is the Lord's
anointed. God put him where he is, and leaves him there for some
good purpose; and when God has done with him, God will take him away,
and free this poor oppressed people; and in the meantime, I, as a
private man, have no right to touch him. I must not do evil that
good may come. If I am to be a true king, a true man at all
hereafter, I must keep true now; if I am to be a righteous lawgiver
hereafter, I must respect and obey law myself now. The Lord be judge
between me and Saul; for He is Judge, and He will right me better
than I can ever right myself." And thus did trust in God bring out
in David that true respect for law, without which a king, let him be
as kind-hearted as he will, is but too likely to become at last a
tyrant and an oppressor.
But another thing which strikes any thinking man in David's psalms,
is his strong feeling for the poor, and the afflicted, and the
oppressed.
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