David exercised independent thought. He was above taking any living man as his criterion for conduct. He had developed his philosophy of life, not from tradition, but from the principles laid down in divine revelation. Among the precepts of the Mosaic law, with which David had familiarized himself, was the following: “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people” (Ex. 22:28, RSV). David possessed keen spiritual discernment and understood this law to prohibit such action against the king as Abishai advocated. David’s spiritual interpretation of the Mosaic regulations was far advanced over that of the Jewish leaders in Christ’s day, who tried to maintain the letter of the law while violating its spirit! David’s ability correctly to interpret Scripture was aided by the guidance given him through

 (1) the prophets,

 (2) the Urim and Thummim,

 (3) the mileposts of providential protection that, for many years now, had been erected in his life,

 (4) the historical evidences of God’s power during the past centuries as rehearsed at the feet of Samuel in the schools of the prophets,

 (5) the inspiration received through his association with kindred souls filled with the same spiritual discernment, and

 (6) the gift of the Holy Spirit that enabled him to speak by inspiration (see 2 Sam. 23:2).