I Samuel 24:1-15
When a Michigan deer hunter found a 100-pound
buck struggling to get out of a mud-bog in which it
was hopelessly stuck, the hunter couldn’t bring
himself to squeeze the trigger. Instead, he and his
hunting partner snared the animal with a rope and
pulled it out of the mud. The deer then bolted to
freedom.
The hunter later recalled, “When you see a deer
like that, eyeball to eyeball, it’s a little different. I
think the eyes did it, that longing look, as if to say,
‘What are you going to do?’”
Last week David narrowly escaped Saul because God sent
the Philistines to distract Saul. David made his way to
Engedi. Today we are going to see David show Saul
kindness.
I Samuel 24:1-7
Allow me a few moments to set the scene.
David has now fled to the strongholds of Engedi.
What do we know about Engedi?
Engedi was an oasis in the middle of the desert.
There was lush grass, palm trees, fountains of water,
streams and waterfalls and many caves.
Today there is a nature preserve and a botanical garden.
It’s a tourist destination. (Show picture of Engedi)
While David was there he found a cave. This was one of
many in the area. Shepherds used the caves to protect
their sheep at night.
David’s Opportunity
Saul goes into a cave to relieve himself, and it just so
happens (God’s Providence) to be the exact same cave
that David and his 600 men were hiding in. They were at
the very back of the cave so Saul didn’t notice that
anyone was there.
Saul was quite vulnerable, he had no weapon, just a
spade so he could bury his excrement. He was also alone.
None of his men accompanied him for his bowel
movement.
David definitely had the upper hand.
He recognized Saul and David’s men encouraged him to
seize the opportunity to kill his enemy.
They even pretend to quote Scripture to David, telling
him that God has given his enemy into his hand. There is
no Scripture that can be found to support what David’s
men are telling him.
Even though Saul viewed David as an enemy, David
didn’t see Saul that way. More on that shortly.
God was testing David’s character when He providentially
brought Saul in the cave where he was hiding. God
wanted to see David act with mercy and prove to be a
man after God’s own heart.
David had choices.
He could listen to the voices of his men and act with
common sense and eliminate the one who had been
seeking his life for quite some time.
He could listen to the voice of God and love his enemies.
Warren Wiersbe
“The major question was, “How does the Lord want
us to use this occasion?” David’s men saw it as an
opportunity for revenge, while David saw it as an
opportunity to show mercy and prove that his heart
was right.”
David stealthily approaches Saul and cuts off a corner of
his robe. Imagine how quiet he must have been. And
imagine how sharp his knife must have been for Saul not
to notice.
The Bible doesn’t share what David was thinking as he
cut off the corner of Saul’s robe, but it does tell us what
he thought afterwards.
Verse 5 tells us David’s heart struck him.
That means he felt conviction for what he did.
David’s Conviction
We can all relate to the feeling of conviction after we
have sinned, or even while we are in the process of
sinning.
David tells his men that he sensed God did NOT want him
to kill Saul. Notice how David calls Saul God’s anointed,
even though he has been anointed by Samuel back in
chapter 16 to be the next king of Israel.
He is respectful of God’s timing and of Saul’s position as
Israel’s current king. He doesn’t see Saul as his enemy
even though Saul sees David as his.
David then persuaded his men not to harm Saul and Saul
left the cave. What a great example of leadership here on
David’s part. He didn’t let man’s way get in the way of
God’s plan.
I Samuel 24:8-15
David’s Respect
Many people would have handled the conversation with
Saul differently than David.
Most would have been gloating that they had the upper
hand and chose not to kill the person.
Actually, most would have just followed the advice of
their friends and taken the opportunity to kill their
enemy.
Not David.
Notice how he addresses Saul.
My lord the king!
When Saul turned to look at David, he bowed his face to
the ground and paid homage.
That is a symbol of respect towards royalty or God.
David wasn’t worshiping Saul. He was showing him
respect.
David’s Defense
Then David asks Saul a question.
Why do you believe your men who say I am trying to kill
you?
Then David tells Saul to look where he is standing, at the
entrance to the cave where Saul just left after relieving
himself.
He was showing Saul that he had the perfect opportunity
to kill him but he didn’t.
Matthew Henry – David followed Saul out of the
cave, and, though he would not take the
opportunity to slay him, yet he wisely took the
opportunity, if possible, to slay his enmity, by
convincing him that he was not such a man as he
took him for.
David even tells Saul that his men advised him to kill
him, but he didn’t because he is the Lord’s anointed.
David understood the truth that vengeance belongs to
the Lord. Paul wrote this to the church at Rome.
“Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do
what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so
far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to
the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is
mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ To the contrary,
‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by
so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with
good.” Romans 12:17-21
David’s Evidence
David shows Saul the corner of his robe that he cut off.
He had the chance to do to Saul what Saul wanted to do
to him. But David chose grace instead of vengeance.
He tells Saul he has not sinned against him even though
he is hunting him and trying to kill him.
Notice how David calls him father. He is in fact still his
father in law.
But David reminds Saul that God will judge between
them who is acting according to God’s will.
Remember the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and
the Spirit of the Lord came upon David. Cf chapter 16
David is being led by the Spirit and Saul is being led by
his flesh and his jealousy of David.
David assures Saul that he has done no harm against him
and that God will deliver him from Saul’s hand.
God has chosen David to be the next king and they both
know it.
Next week we will look at Saul’s response to this
situation, but for now, let’s consider what God wants to
teach us this morning.
APPLICATION
Recognize God’s Providence
David didn’t mistake the circumstances for God’s
providence as his men encouraged him to do. He realized
that God was in control of the situation. He remembered
God’s promise that he would be the next king and didn’t
need to take matters into his own hands.
Sometimes the best course of action is patience and
waiting on God’s timing. It’s not easy, but it’s what God
wants from us.