1 & 2 Samuel

1 Samuel Chapter 24

David Spares Saul's Life

• 1Samuel 24:1  And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi. 
• 2  Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. 
• 3  And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave. 

Some take this to mean that Saul had to relieve himself. We in the west would say he had to go to the bathroom. However the caves were very large and large enough to hold an army so Saul thinking the cave was empty laid down to sleep so perhaps he just had to rest. He was sound asleep when David came upon him. The rest of Saul's men stayed outside I assume to guard him.

• 1Samuel 24:4  And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily. 
• 5  And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. 
• 6  And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD. 
• 7  So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way. 

David had a conscience that outweighed the danger he was in because of Saul. He could not harm Saul. He also kept his own men from harming Saul because of the anointing of the Lord. This shows us that David never once desired to take the place of Saul as king. He was willing to be king only when the Lord made the way possible but he didn't want to just take it by his own strength. David's men though felt this was God's way of delivering Saul into his hand. I'm sure God was with David but God allowed David to do things according to what his conscience dictated.

• 1Samuel 24:8  David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself. 
• 9  And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt? 
• 10  Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD'S anointed.
• 11  Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it. 
• 12  The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. 
• 13  As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. 
• 14  After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea. 
• 15  The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand. 

David surely is merciful and shows that he would have been a faithful armour bearer and servant to Saul if Saul would have overcame his own jealousy. Jealousy in us is a dangerous enemy to have within us. We need to avoid it like a dangerous plague. It kills our very inner soul. We can be free. We don't have to live in jealousy if we trust in the Lord to guide our steps. That is one reason God send Jesus to become human, die for our sins and give us the power of the Holy Spirit of God to overcome the fleshly lusts and dangerous traits that steal, kill and destroy. God through Jesus our Christ gives us the power over sin as well as forgiveness of sin. We still have the will power to resist God's Holy Spirit but we don't have to.

• James 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 
• 8  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 
• 9  Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 

There is power from God if we resist evil and draw close to Him (God). We don't have to allow sin to cause us to do evil.

• 1Samuel 24:16  And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. 
• 17  And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. 
• 18  And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not. 

Saul weeps and repents for his wickedness and threats against David when David was innocent and spared his life even though he could have killed him. Some of David's men must that wondered at this action of David. What an example they had in a leader. David was innocent and did not pursue being king even though the Lord anointed him to become the next king.

I see here also that according to some of David's words there were some that stirred up Saul's jealousy. This has happened many times throughhout history. Someone's evil report, false accusation, and gossip has caused the deaths and persecution of innocent people. We see that today in the news media and among political opponents. I'm one that always dreads election years but it seems that lately this continues on and on past elections. I had to quit listening to the news because I didn't want that hate within my own soul.

• 1Samuel 24:19  For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day. 
• 20  And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand. 

This is what Saul should have said when Samuel first told him he would be replaced because of his disobedience. If Saul had of genuinely repented, who knows but what God might have let him continue to be king until he grew old and died a natural death. We see though that this change of heart does not last for the evil spirit of jealousy gets stirred up again later.

• 1Samuel 24:21  Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house. 
• 22  And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold. 

They part compnay in peace for now and both go their separate ways after agreeing with an oath that after David becomes king, he will not harm the household of Saul. It was a tradition of sorts for new kings to destroy the households of their enemies when they came to power. David refused to do so and really didn't have to make any oath. He had no thought of harming Saul's relatives. This had to be heartbreaking for David for his loved the king and his family.

So we see that David was going to protect his household anyway but he promised with an oath to do so. In fact he takes vengeance upon someone that claimed he had a hand in killing Saul later.
Saul has trouble realizing that we can't fight against God's will. There is no power greater than the power of our creator. DC

1 Samuel Chapter 25