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David was not alone in his
wanderings. Many men came to him to help him; they followed wherever
he went; he was their captain, and they obeyed him. Some of David's
soldiers were very brave men. The Philistines were now fighting
again against Israel; and David and his men used to go, and try to conquer
them. One day, David was very tired and thirsty with long
fighting. The Philistines' camp was then at Bethlehem; and there was
a well of water at Bethlehem; but David and his men were afraid to drink
it, because their enemies were near. When David was so thirsty, he
cried, "Oh! that one would give me to drink of the water of the well
of Bethlehem!" David's soldiers heard what he said; and they
bravely ran in through their enemies, to the well, and drew the water, and
brought it to David. They loved their master so much, that they did
not think about their own danger. Was David glad to drink the
water? No; he saw his friends in danger, and he did not like them to
suffer for him; and when they brought the water to him, he said, "No,
I will not drink it; my brave soldiers have suffered more than I, and they
are thirsty too; this water is too good for me; I will give it to
God." So he poured it out an offering to the Lord. The
Philistines now came to fight against a place named Keilah; and David
asked God if he should go, and try to save it. He was right to ask,
for we ought always to ask God's blessing before we do any thing.
God told David to go, and promised to help him; so David went, and fought
against the Philistines, and saved the people of Keilah. When Saul
heard that David was there, he thought he could kill him, and that he
could not escape. But David again asked help from God, and was
delivered. Wicked people cannot hurt the servants of God without His
permission, and God did not permit Saul to hurt David. David now
wandered about in the woods and deserts, for fear of Saul. It was a
sad life; but he trusted in God, and was peaceful and happy. He
wrote many beautiful psalms when he was wandering and hiding in those wild
places. Where was
Jonathan? Did he ever see his friend David again? Yes,
Jonathan had not forgotten him; and when he heard where David was, he went
to see him secretly in the wood. David and Jonathan were very glad
to meet again for a little time. They had much to say to one
another. Jonathan comforted David in the right way; he told him to
trust in God. He said, "Do not fear; my father cannot hurt
thee, because God has promised to keep thee, and to make thee king; and He
never forgets His promises." Then David and Jonathan prayed
together, and kissed one another for the last time: they never met
again on earth. But now their happy souls are in heaven together;
all their sorrows are ended; they will never weep again.
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