David Spares Saul’s Life
Introduction:
We are continuing our journey with David who is being pursued by Saul through the wilderness.
1 Samuel 24 NLT
24:1 After Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David had gone into the wilderness of En-gedi. 2 So Saul chose 3,000 elite troops from all Israel and went to search for David and his men near the rocks of the wild goats.
3 At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. But as it happened, David and his men were hiding farther back in that very cave!
4 “Now’s your opportunity!” David’s men whispered to him. “Today the Lord is telling you, ‘I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.’” So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul’s robe.
5 But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe. 6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him.” 7 So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul.
After Saul had left the cave and gone on his way, 8 David came out and shouted after him, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked around, David bowed low before him.
9 Then he shouted to Saul, “Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you? 10 This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn’t true. For the Lord placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, ‘I will never harm the king—he is the Lord’s anointed one.’ 11 Look, my father, at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. This proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me.
12 “May the Lord judge between us. Perhaps the Lord will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you. 13 As that old proverb says, ‘From evil people come evil deeds.’ So you can be sure I will never harm you. 14 Who is the king of Israel trying to catch anyway? Should he spend his time chasing one who is as worthless as a dead dog or a single flea? 15 May the Lord therefore judge which of us is right and punish the guilty one. He is my advocate, and he will rescue me from your power!”
16 When David had finished speaking, Saul called back, “Is that really you, my son David?” Then he began to cry. 17 And he said to David, “You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil. 18 Yes, you have been amazingly kind to me today, for when the Lord put me in a place where you could have killed me, you didn’t do it. 19 Who else would let his enemy get away when he had him in his power? May the Lord reward you well for the kindness you have shown me today. 20 And now I realize that you are surely going to be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will flourish under your rule. 21 Now swear to me by the Lord that when that happens you will not kill my family and destroy my line of descendants!”
22 So David promised this to Saul with an oath. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went back to their stronghold.
Examine the Scriptures
David Spares Saul’s Life
24:1 After Saul returned from fighting the Philistines,
A significant amount of time may have passed between chapter 23 and chapter 24.
he was told that David had gone into the wilderness of En-gedi. 2 So Saul chose 3,000 elite troops from all Israel and went to search for David and his men near the rocks of the wild goats.
3,000 elite troops vs. 600 “men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discounted”.
The odds are 5 to 1 against David and his men.
En-gedi lay near the Dead Sea’s western shore. It is a refreshing oasis with waterfalls, pools, tropical plants, and wild goats.
Psalm 57 or Psalm 142 may be referring to this event.
- David and his men are outnumbered 5 to 1 as Saul searches for them in the wilderness of En-gedi.
3 At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself.
Saul went into the cave to use the restroom.
Since Saul was going into the cave to relieve himself, he went in alone. Under these conditions Saul would not have seen the need to take his personal bodyguard into the cave.
But as it happened, David and his men were hiding farther back in that very cave!
“But as it happened” may not be a good translation of this verse.
This event did not take place “by chance”.
The NIV says:
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.
- It is helpful to use several different translations when doing a Bible study.
4 “Now’s your opportunity!” David’s men whispered to him. “Today the Lord is telling you, ‘I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.’”
Without a question, Saul’s life was in David’s hands.
Scripture does not indicate anywhere else that God had said to David, “I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.”
- It is always important to evaluate the advice of others in the light of God’s Word, even (especially) when they claim to know God’s will.
So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul’s robe.
A king’s hem was especially ornate and identified him as the king. By cutting off this piece of Saul’s robe David was communicating to Saul that he could cut off Saul’s reign just as easily.
This was evidence that David had an opportunity to kill King Saul.
5 But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe.
This act convicted David.
The advice of David’s men may have caused David to do something he felt bad about doing.
6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him.”
David knew that the Lord had anointed Saul to be king and David believed that the judgment and removal of Saul from the position of king had to be left to the Lord.
1 Samuel 26:9 NLT
9 “No!” David said. “Don’t kill him. For who can remain innocent after attacking the Lord’s anointed one?
The scriptures tell us to respect those in authority.
Romans 13:1-5 NLT
Respect for Authority
13:1 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. 4 The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. 5 So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.
1 Peter 2:13-14a NLT
Respecting People in Authority
13 For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, 14 or the officials he has appointed.
- Scripture tells us to submit to those in authority.
- Scripture also tells us to pray for all who are in authority.
1 Timothy 2:1-3 NLT
2:1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleases God our Savior,
7 So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul.
After Saul had left the cave and gone on his way, 8 David came out and shouted after him, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked around, David bowed low before him.
David clearly respected the position of king.
9 Then he shouted to Saul, “Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you?
Saul had thought that David wanted to kill him.
1 Samuel 22:8 &13 NLT
8 Is that why you (Saul’s officers) have conspired against me? For not one of you told me when my own son made a solemn pact with the son of Jesse. You’re not even sorry for me. Think of it! My own son—encouraging him to kill me, as he is trying to do this very day!”
13 “Why have you (Ahimelech) and the son of Jesse conspired against me?” Saul demanded. “Why did you give him food and a sword? Why have you consulted God for him? Why have you encouraged him to kill me, as he is trying to do this very day?”
10 This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn’t true. For the Lord placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, ‘I will never harm the king—he is the Lord’s anointed one.’
- David would not hurt the king, because Saul was the Lord’s anointed king.
11 Look, my father,
Saul was David’s father-in-law.
at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. This proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me.
- David was not Saul’s enemy.
David did have a good reason to kill Saul. Saul was trying to kill David.
12 “May the Lord judge between us.
David called for the Lord to decide the fate of himself and Saul.
Perhaps the Lord will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you. 13 As that old proverb says, ‘From evil people come evil deeds.’
Matthew 7:20 NLT
20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
Psalm 75:7 NLT A psalm of Asaph.
7 It is God alone who judges;
he decides who will rise and who will fall.
So you can be sure I will never harm you. 14 Who is the king of Israel trying to catch anyway? Should he spend his time chasing one who is as worthless as a dead dog or a single flea?
15 May the Lord therefore judge which of us is right and punish the guilty one. He is my advocate, and he will rescue me from your power!”
Again, David called for the Lord to decide the fate of himself and Saul.
- It is God alone who judges; he decides who will rise and who will fall. (Psalm 75:7 NLT)
16 When David had finished speaking, Saul called back, “Is that really you, my son David?” Then he began to cry. 17 And he said to David, “You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil.
1 Peter 3:9 NLT
9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.
Romans 12:17-21 NLT
17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,
“I will take revenge;
I will pay them back,”
says the Lord.
20 Instead,
“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
burning coals of shame on their heads.”
21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
- Don’t repay evil for evil.
18 Yes, you have been amazingly kind to me today, for when the Lord put me in a place where you could have killed me, you didn’t do it. 19 Who else would let his enemy get away when he had him in his power? May the Lord reward you well for the kindness you have shown me today.
- Saul acknowledged David’s righteousness.
20 And now I realize that you are surely going to be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will flourish under your rule.
Saul acknowledged the fact that David would be the next king of Israel and that Israel would flourish under David’s rule.
1 Samuel 13:14 NLT Samuel speaking to Saul
14 But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”
1 Samuel 15:28 NLT
28 And Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to someone else—one who is better than you.
Saul appeals to David.
21 Now swear to me by the Lord that when that happens you will not kill my family and destroy my line of descendants!”
As we mentioned before, it was a common practice at this time for a newly established king to wipe out the entire family of a previous king.
This pledge was fulfilled through Mephibosheth.
22 So David promised this to Saul with an oath. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went back to their stronghold.
- Saul’s remorse may have been genuine, but David had learned that it would probably be only temporary so he went back to his stronghold.
