Let’s read it – 1 Sam 26:1-25.
I think you have the feeling that you have read this before. This encounter is very similar to the one in chapter 24 when he was in En Gedi’s cave.
• David got so close to Saul that he was able to cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. In this chapter, he took Saul’s spear and water jar.
• Both times, David could have easily put himself out of his misery by taking Saul out, but he didn’t.
It was a CHOICE you made. He was not forced to do it. It was a deliberate decision on his part.
• The guiding principle is clear – this is not God’s will. He says, “He doesn’t want to raise his hand against the Lord’s anointed.” (cf. 24:6)
MAKE DECISIONS THAT REFLECT GOD’S WILL
If David can do that, we can do it. By the grace of God, he chooses to do the will of God. He not only glorifies God, but he will bless you.
The Ziphites informed Saul that David was hiding nearby and he came with 3,000 men to search the area.
• He had been leading his huge army in pursuit of David. This is really sad.
• David took 600 men to fight his true enemy, the Philistines and defend Keilah (1 Sam 23) but Saul took 3000 men to hunt down one of his own.
David received news that Saul had come and camped nearby. Here’s the interesting part: he decided to infiltrate the camp.
• He took one of his men, ABISHAI, and sneaked into Saul’s camp during the night.
• Everyone was fast asleep and Abishai said: “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with a blow of my spear; I won’t hit him twice.” (26:8)
‘I will do a clean and tidy job. This is a God-given opportunity.’
• We can’t blame him; this is the natural impulse in all of us.
• David has SIX reasons for killing Saul that night: (1) Saul is to blame (David is a victim of unfair treatment), (2) he has a good chance, (3) he has the necessary weapon, (4) he has the man to do it, (5) has the support of his comrades, (6) has a high chance of success.
Everything screams JUST DO IT. Nike’s call.
• But that is all that comes from the FLESH, the desires of the flesh.
• Gal 5:16 says DO NOT FULFILL the desires of the flesh. WALK by the Spirit.
TRUST IN THE GUIDANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
David was against it. He wasn’t there for this! This is not his goal, nor is this God’s will! He listens to what he says (he feels the tone, it’s a reprimand):
• 26:9-11 “9 But David said to Abishai: “Do not destroy it! Who can lay his hand on Jehovah’s anointed and be blameless? 11 But Jehovah save me from laying my hand on Jehovah’s anointed.
This is similar to what he said in chapter 24 when he cut off a corner of Saul’s robe, which pricked his conscience (24:5), and he rebuked his men for such a thought (24:7).
Clearly, killing Saul was not his goal. He gave two reasons:
• (1) It was not his place. “ ;Who can lay his hand on Jehovah’s anointed and be free from guilt? The answer is: NOBODY.
• Even if Saul is wicked or corrupt, he is still God is anointed and no one can take his life without guilt.
• (2) It was not the right time. “Jehovah himself will smite him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go to battle and perish. But Jehovah save me from laying my hand on Jehovah’s anointed.”
• I don’t know WHEN and HOW God will do it, but one thing is for sure, it is not MY JOB.
It is not our place to take revenge, even if we are wronged.
• We cannot be sure WHAT is considered a RIGHT trial or WHEN is the RIGHT time.
• This explains why God does not want us to take revenge.
• Leave that to Him. He is perfectly capable of correcting the mistakes that have been made to us, in his way and in his time.
Instead, David asked Abishai to take Saul’s spear and water jar.
• Picture this, Abishai must be thinking, “Yeah, right. We have come all this way, through all the dangers, just to steal your water bottle!”
• Why do you think David takes such a risk when killing Saul is not his goal?
David has something else in mind. They crossed back to the other side of the valley and yelled at them to wake them up!
• David woke up Abner first, he is Saul’s commander.
• Paraphrase 26:14-16: “You are a lousy guard. You fell asleep when you were supposed to protect the king. What were you doing? You and all your men deserve to die. Just look around. Where is the king’s spear? Where is his water pitcher?”
Twice Saul could have died, once in the cave and now in this camp.
• His men were unable to protect him. How ironic! The one who can – David, a fervent supporter and faithful defender of Saul – is now his enemy.
• Saul wants to kill whoever is most capable of protecting him!
• What a fool. Foolishness marks the one who has no fear of God in his heart.
Then David spoke with Saul. This is the CLIMAX and the HEART of this chapter.
• David WANTS to talk to Saul. Listen to what he says in 26:18-20.
• “Why does my lord persecute his servant? What have I done and of what evil am I guilty? 19 Now let my lord the king listen to the words of his servant. If the LORD has stirred you up against me, may He accept an offering. However, if men have done it, cursed are they before the LORD! Now they have cast me out of the LORD’s inheritance and have said, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 20 Now do not let my blood fall on the ground far from the presence of the LORD. The king of Israel has gone out looking for a flea, like someone hunting a partridge on the mountains.”
After all these years (4 years?), David still doesn’t understand WHY Saul hated him so much. He has not wronged Saul.
• We do not always suffer for our own sin. Sometimes we suffer because others have sinned, and most of the time, for no apparent reason. We just don’t know.
• David (26:19b): “If the LORD has instigated you against me, then He will accept an offering.”
• Meaning: “If I am guilty of some wrongdoing and God is using you to discipline me, then I am willing to confess my sin and offer a sacrifice to God.”
• And “Yet if men have done it, cursed are they before the Lord!”
TRUST GOD FOR THE UNKNOWN
There is no simple answer for david He doesn’t have the answers to all the WHY’s.
• But one thing David is sure of. 26:23 “The Lord rewards each one for his righteousness and faithfulness.”
• We trust that God knows what he is doing, and will reward us according to our justice and faithfulness.
One thing is clear in all these years of career, David did not lose faith in God.
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• Stays righteous and stays true to God. He did not take matters into his own hands. He let God be God.
David’s trust in God makes all the difference. EXPECT God to carry out his plan, even if it means running for his life. The same experience that the apostle Paul had.
• There will be some UNKNOWN in life, but we know they are NOT unknown to God. That’s where trust comes in. God will reward the righteous and faithful.
Saul was touched by David’s kindness. ‘I have sin. Come back, David, my son.” (26:21)
• Was he sincere? Did he really mean it? We are not sure. But Saul stopped his pursuit of David after this. This was to be his last meeting.
Let me end with this thought. David entered the camp with a purpose in mind.
• It was different from chapter 24 when Saul entered the cave by chance. Sneaking into the camp was deliberate and planned.
• BECAUSE? Not to kill Saul, obviously. We have already established it.
• Was it to prove that he could have killed Saul but didn’t? Possible but quite unlikely, because he had already done it in the cave. Why would she risk his life to prove the same point?
David has something on his mind, and it sounds to me like he’s looking for an opportunity to talk to Saul. He wants to unload something in his heart.
• And that is manifested in his words, best summed up in the last sentence he said to Saul: “I valued your life today…”
I don’t think it means, “You see, I didn’t kill you today…” The meaning is that David wants Saul to know that he really cares about him. She is NOT his enemy.
• “You are important to me. Your life matters to me…” In short, David loves Saul!
• He risked his life to find the opportunity to MAKE THIS POINT.
• You want Saul to know that despite everything he’s been through, you still love him.
Did Saul get it? We can’t be sure. But Saul’s words to David here are the most tender words we have heard from him so far.
• This “son of Jesse” has become “David, my son.” David’s love changed him!
David loves his enemy. That is the love of Christ. And that is a CHOICE we make.
CHOOSE TO LET YOUR LOVE FLOW
David gave us a great example.
• How often do we go out of our way to tell someone we care?
• How willing are we to show grace and do good to those who offend us?
• 1 Peter 3:9 “Do not repay evil for evil or insult for insult. On the contrary, return evil with blessing, because to this you were called to inherit blessing.”
Is there someone you should love today?