Friday, October 2, 2015

I Samuel 24: Saul In David's Hands

What would you do if God put your worst enemy into your hands?

This happened to David.  While Saul is pursuing him in the wilderness of En-gedi with three thousand troops, the king goes into a cave to "relieve himself."  Who should be further back in that very cave but David and his men!

David's allies urge him, "Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it seems good to you'" (vs. 4).  Their implication is that now is the time for David to assassinate Saul and take his place as king.

David creeps up on Saul, perhaps to do just that.  But instead of killing the king, David merely cuts off a corner of his cloak as proof that Saul had unknowingly fallen into his hands and escaped unscathed.  Even this action is enough to cause David remorse.  He forbids his men from doing anything more to Saul, stating that neither he nor they shall lift their hand against the Lord's anointed (vs. 6).

When Saul leaves the cave, David makes himself known.  He boldly shows the king the evidence that he could have killed Saul had he wished.  David states that it is God who will judge between them and that even though Saul has been treating him wickedly, he will not repay evil in kind.  As he says, "I have not sinned against you though you are hunting me to take my life" (vs. 11).

Saul weeps at this profession of loyalty in return for evil, and recognizes that David is in the right and he is in the wrong (vs. 17).  After extracting a pledge that David will not harm his descendants, Saul returns home and David goes back into hiding.

Would any of us have treated an enemy with such grace and forebearance?  Not likely.  As Saul says, "For who has ever found an enemy, and sent the enemy safely away?" (vs. 19)  But David was that special kind of guy, a man after God's own heart.

You might think that this would finally settle the issue between Saul and David, but you'd be wrong...

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