1 & 2 Samuel

1 Samuel Chapter 26

David Spares Saul Again

1Samuel 26:1 And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?
2 Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.
3 And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.

Here we go again. The same Saul who repented the first time David spared his life, he now allows that same evil spirit to control him again. David is betrayed again by those that spy for Saul. Sometimes I think the only one we can trust in is God. Perhaps it was out of fear that Saul would kill them if he finds out they knew where David was and didn't tell him, but perhaps like many others, they hoped to get in good with the king for other reasons.

Saul felt that he needed 1000 men but what is that if God is on the side of the one he has chosen to be the next king. If God was for David, all the armies of every nation in the world could not defeat him.

The story of Saul is a sad one but we do see that God gives him every chance to accept His will and not harm David. God could have caused Saul to die immediately at the time Samuel first told him that God was going to remove him as king. He gave Saul many chances to change and resist the evil spirit that came upon him. The bad ending was his own fault.

1Samuel 26:4 David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.

David used spies too but only to protect himself not to take the kingdom from Saul. He was satisfied to allow God to place him as king at His timing and not take it by force or vengeance.

1Samuel 26:5 And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him.

No doubt God helped David by putting Saul and his men into a deep sleep. David didn't flee away and he could have. This time he boldly confronted Saul.

1Samuel 26:6 Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.
7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.
8 Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.

The man with David was willing to go in and kill Saul realizing that God had put them to sleep and they would overcome Saul easily.

1Samuel 26:9 And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless?
10 David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.
11 The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.
12 So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.

David still refused to allow anyone to kill Saul because the Lord had once anointed Saul to be king and the Lord is the only one that is to bring judgment upon Saul. In fact David actually predicted that Saul would die in battle. He refused to lay a hand upon him but left judgment up to God. I believe David would have allowed Saul to kill him rather than bring harm to Saul in self defense because of the Lord's anointing upon Saul. No way was David ever trying to take the kingdom from Saul. He was willing to serve Saul and wait for God's timing to become king.

I sometimes think about why so many people throughout the years will plot, destroy reputations, plant false evidence, and even kill to obtain the throne of a king, the office of a president, or any high position of authority. They will cheat, lie, and use every means posible to destroy their opponent. In the end, it is all for nothing. Reading the story of David and King Saul is a good example of how all this evil ends up badly. If not in this life, in eternity they face the judgment of God. There is only one reason someone should have the desire to rule. That is to help the people one rules over. Help their well being. Grant them independence to work, raise their children, make decisions and live in freedom. Not do it for them by a controlling government but help them live in freedom. Governments are to stop people from destroying each other and doing each other harm. They are not supposed to control their every move. The judgment of those in authority will be more severe than others who have no say in what happens to them but are victims of cruel dictators.

1Samuel 26:13 Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them:
14 And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king?
15 And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.

David waited until he and his men were far enough away so that if Abner and Saul's men started a fight, David's own men might end up killing Saul. From a safe distance he let it be known that he was nearby.

1Samuel 26:16 This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the LORD'S anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.

He cried out to Abner accusing him of not protecting Saul as he was supposed to do. His own men could have easily killed Saul and stopped Saul then and there.

1Samuel 26:17 And Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.
18 And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?
19 Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the LORD; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods.
20 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.

So we see just like before in previous chapters, David defends himself and tries hard to assure Saul that he has done nothing wrong against Saul to deserve his wrath against him. Not once would David have ever harmed Saul or his family. David would have given his own life to help Saul if someone would have come against Saul to take the kingdom from him ahead of God's timing. David never once meant any evil toward Saul. Looks like some of Saul's men wanted David to be gone and even go serve other gods in the process.

1Samuel 26:21 Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

This was genuine repentance this time. He recognized David could have killed him and took the kingdom by force but he did not. He finally realized David was not a threat to him.

1 Samuel 26:22 And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.
23 The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed.
24 And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.
25 Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

They never again saw each other after this. It was in God's hands and in God's timing. David would become king and both his sons and Saul would die in battle. Not by David's hand but by the Philistines. DC

1 Samuel Chapter 27