1 Samuel 24:1-2 After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.” 2 So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.
In 23, David saves Keilah—Goes to Ziph—Johnathan—God delivers David at the last moment. But when Saul is done with the Philistines, he goes right back to pursuing David.
I think/hope we can all recall some victories God has given us over our spiritual enemies. Things like anger, worry, anxiety, depression, addiction, or the spirit of fear. And sometimes we often believe these are permanent victories. But even when God has delivered us from these enemies, and they seem defeated, they will be back. Saul here represents the enemies that seek to destroy us and they are just as determined and unrelenting as he is.***(1 Peter 5:8)
Luke 4:13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. Let me encourage you, there is a permanent victory coming where spiritual enemies will finally be totally defeated. (Armor)
The En Gedi was a great place for David and his men to hide out. Scouts could easily detect approaching troops. There was plenty of water and wildlife and many caves and defensive positions.
1 Samuel 24:3 He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave.
This is a very large cave, big enough to shelter all or most of David’s 600 men.
Since the Bible is a real book, dealing with real people living real lives, I’m not surprised to see it describe Saul’s attention to his personal needs. But something as basic and common as this was timed and arranged by God, without Saul having any knowledge of God’s timing.
What are the chances? Saul has to relieve himself at the very moment he passes by the very cave where David is hiding. This was no coincidence but arranged by God to test David, to train David, and to display David’s godly heart. (only one)
1 Samuel 24:4-7 The men said, “This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 5 Afterward, David was conscience-stricken (heart troubled) for having cut off a corner of his robe. 6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” 7 With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.
David’s men are excited; they believe this is an opportunity from God to kill Saul. Their lives as fugitives are about to change, and after today, they will serve next to the true king of Israel.
David, after listening to his men and with his sword in hand approaches Saul in the darkness. But instead of using his sword to take Saul out, he cuts off a corner of Saul’s robe.
David decides to spare Saul’s life. Why? God had anointed David king and promised him he would inherit the throne of Israel. David also knows that Saul stood in the way of that promise.
But David also knows that it was God who put Saul in a position of authority and that it was also God’s job to take care of Saul, not his. David believes the promise will be fulfilled–but he refuses to try to fulfill God’s promise through his own desire and disobedience.
God will fulfill every one of His promises, but He will do it His way and, in His time, and more importantly, He will do it righteously. We just need to trust and obey.
Through these events, we get another glimpse of why David was a man after God’s own heart. David is learning how to wait on/for the Lord. And we can learn to wait on the Lord the same way David did, through prayer and supplication, through patience and submission.
David knows better than anyone that Saul is a troubled and corrupt leader.
But, David seems determined that when he sits on the throne of Israel, it won’t be because he took matters into his own hands, or he took Saul out of the way, but because God took Saul out of the way.
1 Samuel 24:8 Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.
David takes what seems to be a huge gamble here, by coming out of the security of the cave and surrendering himself and bowing down prostrate before Saul.
But David recognizes and respects Saul’s God-ordained position when he says: “My Lord the King”. And as we will see David sees this as an opportunity to show Saul his heart towards him.
1 Samuel 24:9-12 He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’? 10 This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 11 See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. 12 May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. (Matthew 12:34)
David shows not only restraint but great kindness to Saul.
Vs10b I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed. This principle is often misunderstood and taken out of context.
Some believe this means: You should never speak out against a pastor, teacher, or a leader. They are above your criticism or rebuke, so just keep quiet.
But when David recognizes that Saul was the LORD’s anointed, he simply refuses to do him harm. But David does humbly confront Saul with his sin, hoping that Saul would have a change of heart. So, it is entirely wrong for people to use this idea/principle to insulate any leader from accountability. (Cult)
May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, David doesn’t need to do anything more to defend himself before Saul; he gives it to the LORD. David would let God plead his case and be his judge.
It is inevitable that Saul would be judged and that he would lose the throne. But it was absolutely God’s business to accomplish that. God’s judgment is God’s business. We put ourselves in a bad place when we make ourselves instruments or see ourselves as tools of God’s judgment.
Romans 12:17-21 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
1 Samuel 24:13-15 As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you.14 “Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? 15 May the Lord be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand.”
‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’: David uses this proverb to make a point. Saul, if I’m really as evil as you think I am, if I really were out to kill you, I would have done that evil act in the cave. But no evil came from me when I had the opportunity, and that proves my heart is not evil towards you.
David tells Saul again: May the Lord be our judge… May he consider my cause and deliver me out of your hand: David is trusting God, trusting that He will deliver him out of Saul’s hand. Instead of finding a way out of his trial in the flesh, David does the harder thing — he trusts in God to deliver him instead of trusting in himself.
(Saul’s Response) 1 Samuel 24:16-19 When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” And he wept aloud. 17 “You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. 18 You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. 19 When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the Lord reward you well for the way you treated me today.
Saul responds very emotionally here because the delusion that fueled Saul’s hatred of David, that he was out to kill him, has been completely shattered.
This is a dramatic change of heart in Saul. Every change David could have hoped for in Saul seems to have happened, and Saul really seems sincere about it.
1 Samuel 24:20-22 I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. 21 Now swear to me by the Lord that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.” 22 So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
Saul wants the same promise from David that he made to Jonathan in (20). In that day, when one royal house replaced another, it was common for the new royal house to kill all the potential rulers from the old royal house.
Saul wants David to promise that his descendants will not kill or mistreat the descendants of Saul. (2 Samuel 21-7 descendants)
David doesn’t go back with Saul to be restored to his home and his place at the palace. Why? Because David knows that, as much as Saul may have meant what he said in that moment, the struggle would be to remain in that place of victory against his spiritual enemy.
There are times when a person repents and claims to recognize their sinful ways, just like Saul does. But the validity of repentance and a changed heart isn’t demonstrated by the emotion or sincerity of a moment.
It’s demonstrated by the ongoing direction of the person’s life. So, David had every right to say, “I’m going to stay in the stronghold until I see the direction of Saul’s life.”
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