28. David and Saul Contrasted—David and Saul stand before us in this history as men widely different in character. The course of David makes manifest the fact that he regarded the fear of the Lord as the beginning of wisdom. But Saul was shorn of his strength, because he failed to make obedience to God’s commandments the rule of his life. It is a fearful thing for a man to set his will against the will of God, as revealed in his specified requirements. All the honor that a man could receive on the throne of a kingdom, would be a poor compensation for the loss of the favor of God through an act of disloyalty to heaven. Disobedience to the commandments of God can only bring disaster and dishonor at last. God has given to every man his work, just as truly as he appointed to Saul the government of Israel; and the practical and important lesson to us is to accomplish our appointed work in such a manner that we may meet our life records with joy, and not with grief (The Signs of the Times, September 7, 1888).{2BC 1018.1}

28. David og Saul stilles op imod hinanden. - David og Saul star foran os i denne historie som vidt forskellige i karakter. Davids handlemåde tydeliggør det faktum at han havde Herrens frygt som begyndelse for visdom. Men Saul blev berøvet sin styrke, fordi han ikke gjorde lydigheden mod Guds bud til sin livsregel. Det er en forfærdelig ting for et menneske at sætte sin vilje op imod Guds vilje, som det er åbenbaret i hans særlige krav. Al den ære som et menneske kan få på et riges trone, vil være en fattig erstatning for at tabe Gudsfrygt igennem en illoyal handling mod himlen. Ulydighed mod Guds bud kan kun bringe katastrofe og vanære til sidst. Gud har givet ethvert menneske sit arbejde, ligeså sandt som han udpegede Saul Israels regering; og den praktiske og vigtige lektie for os er at føre vort bestemte arbejde på en sådan mode at vi kan møde vort livs historie med glæde, og ikke med sorg (ST 7. sept., 1888).