8. Stooped with his face. His keen spiritual perception and deep love of righteousness prevented David from hating Saul, criticizing him to others, and attacking him at the first opportunity. David had no need of sensing a so-called righteous indignation at the treatment he had received. So far as Saul’s attitude toward him was concerned, he could leave that with God, who doeth all things well. There was a calm confidence in his soul that God was with him, and in his heart there was pity for his king. No one would have been happier than David had Saul crucified his selfishness and humbled his heart before God. In the sincerity of his soul David probably yearned to have Saul experience the same fellowship with God that he had. His obeisance, therefore, was not a formality. He bowed with a heart full of reverence for the office of king and a yearning for the man in that office.
Christ had accepted Judas as one of the twelve. He had sent him out on missions of mercy and intercession. He had seen him gradually change over into the critical, opinionated, egotistical opponent of His whole program. Yet Christ loved him and would have been happy to make him one of the leaders of His church (see DA 294, 295, 717). At last He bowed before Judas with all the yearning of His soul, and in washing his feet, mutely appealed to him to give his heart to the One who came not to be ministered unto but to minister. Paul stood before Agrippa, making a defense of his new way of life. He also had had many evidences of providential care to which he personally might cling. The rulers had done him many injustices. He was not thinking of these. His heart was full of longing for the king, who finally exclaimed, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian” (Acts 26:28).
