887.] 
Stay in Garenganze. 
195 
and if the wife be at fault the present must be returned; if 
the husband has ill-treated his wife, then he has driven her from 
him, so there is no one to blame but himself In disputes among 
themselves, the people undoubtedly receive fair justice at the 
hands of Msidi, and he is ready to listen to all who come. 
NEW year's reflections. 
January^ 1887. — A New Year has come round again; the past 
one has been a blank to me, so far as home and the outer 
world are concerned, the last letters I have received being dated 
November, 1885. 
What all the four seasons brought round with them to all 
at home I cannot possibly surmise, but doubtless all is well. 
" He led them by a right way." 
While at the Lukuruwe I was a good deal occupied in 
studying the life of David, and his early wanderings. On New 
Year's-day these words of Amasai came very forcibly to me, and 
my prayer is that they may indeed be my motto for this year. 
"Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse." 
(i Chron. xii. 18.) Thine — to be with Thee ; thine — to be where 
Thou, Lord, dost lead me ; in hold or in war. 
How sincerely David prepared his heart always to wait the 
Lord's time ! This was most honouring to God, most convincing 
to his friends of his divine appointment to the throne of Israel, 
and most disastrous to his enemies. What a contrast to Saul, 
who " forced himself" to sacrifice at Gilgal, and who enquired of 
a familiar spirit, because Samuel and God seemed to him in those 
two cases to be behindhand ! 
In regard to humility also the contrast is beautiful. Saul was 
willing to confess that he had sinned, and to humble himself 
before the Lord and Samuel, but he said at the same time, 
" Honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, 
and before Israel." But David in his sorrow and humility " lay 
all night upon the earth," and on another occasion could stay the 
hands of his followers by saying that the Lord had said to 
Shimei, "Curse David." Surely this must ever be the test of 
the reality of our confession and humility before God, even 
our wilhngness to acknowledge our sin and humble ourselves 
before men. So also love to our brethren is the touchstone of 
o 2 
