David Practices Truth And Grace

 1 Samuel 26:1–25                                                                                          by Kevin E. Jesmer                                Key verse 26: 9-11a                                                                                        4-21-15

“But David said to Abishai, ‘Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? ¹⁰ As surely as the Lord lives,’ he said, ‘the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. ¹¹ But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. …’”  (NIV)

In this passage we find Saul heading up a search and destroy party.  He set out with 3000 men to find and kill David. But David showed great restraint and closely follows the wisdom and leading of the Lord. Though this was a second time he had a chance to kill Saul. David would not be seduced by opportunity to act against his principles and violate his conscience. He would not touch the Lord’s anointed. In full view of all the elite army, David made a decisive move. Saul recognized David and was moved by David’s restraint, and promised not to harm him. David made it clear that it was for the Lord’s sake that he had spared Saul. He valued Saul’s life because he was the Lord’s anointed. We can see the importance of following the truth of God and not our negative emotions, like revenge or anger. We can see the importance of following the wisdom of God, displaying his grace and truth. This is much more fruitful than revenge and blood letting. God works through those who trust him and follow his ways, as David did. Let’s learn more….

Part 1: Follow The Lord And Not Our Negative Emotions  (1-11)

God did not allow David much of a respite. Saul began to pursue David again. Look at verses 1–3a, “The Ziphites went to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which faces Jeshimon?”  ² So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph, with his three thousand chosen men of Israel, to search there for David. ³ Saul made his camp beside the road on the hill of Hakilah facing Jeshimon, but David stayed in the desert….” The Ziphites again betrayed David to Saul, who was in his palace in Gibeah at the time. With this updated information, Saul took 3,000 of his of his best troops in order to find David and kill him once and for all. (So he thought.) David and his supporters could find no rest. He was hard pressed at every quarter. David and his people were getting a crash course in faith and trust.

As we live by faith, we may seek rest, but it may not come to us. God may have different plans. But we need to trust that God’s plans for us are redemptive. He wants to train us spiritually and grow us in faith. Yes there may be periods of rest, but these are not guaranteed. We will experience peace as we rest in Jesus in the midst of our storms. We will definitely find peace and rest at the resurrection. In the meantime we trust the Lord for Romans 8:28 reads, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  (NIV) David trusted the Lord.

Saul’s tenacity in trying to kill David is an exact representation of the devil himself.  The devil is prowling around like a roaring lion waiting for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8) Because of that, Christians must be alert and of sober mind. They need to be ready for an assault at any time. But we must always remember one fact; Jesus’ power to save is greater than the devil’s power to deceive. But we still must keep up our spiritual guard, donning the full armor of God. (Eph 6)

To be certain it was a critical moment for David and his people. At this critical moment, it is interesting to note how David responded and who he took with him?  Look at verses 3b–6, “When he saw that Saul had followed him there, he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived. Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of the army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the camp, with the army encamped around him. 6 David then asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?” “I’ll go with you,” said Abishai.” (NIV) David was proactive. He didn’t wait around until he was attacked. Saul’s army was huge, but David knew that God would show him the way and open the door to do something. He was confident that God would give him victory. And so he went to investigate the enemy camp first. He also trusted God by taking only one man. He also respected the men’s choices, asking for a volunteer. Abishai showed great courage when he volunteered to go into Saul’s camp with David. There is something about working with volunteers. They are there because they want to be and not because they have to be. God had made David into an excellent military leader.

With his preemptive move, David discovered Saul’s camp and did something very wise. Look at verse 7, “So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.”  Seeking Saul’s camp at night, just the two of them, Saul’s forces would not expect it as they crept to the place where Saul was sleeping.

At this time, there was a great temptation. For the second time he had a chance to kill Saul. It was then that Abishai made a tempting request. Look at verse 8, “Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t strike him twice.” In the heat of emotion, Abishai wanted to kill Saul. Abishai saw this as a God-given opportunity to destroy their enemy. But it was actually not God’s will. He was prayer-less. He was acting rashly, following his feelings of hatred. God could not bless this rash act. Yet despite of this temptation, God did not leave David and Abishai alone. He was right there with them and guiding their heart to make the right decision.

David followed the wisdom of God and his feeling of hate. He restrained Abishai and set out to teach him a very important lesson.  Look at verses 9–11a, “But David said to Abishai, ‘Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? ¹⁰ As surely as the Lord lives,’ he said, ‘the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. ¹¹ But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. …’”  David could not hurt Saul because of his respect for Saul’s authority and position as God’s anointed king. He valued Saul’s life because he was the Lord’s anointed. He knew that God raised up Saul for a purpose and when God wanted him gone from the kingship, then God would take him from that position, and not an assassination from David and his men. He would not compromise his beliefs even when his partner and the circumstances around him, seemed to paved the way to go ahead and assassinate Saul. Who would blame him anyway? But David would not be seduced by opportunity to act against his principles and violate his conscience. He would not lay the foundations of his kingdom with an ungodly bloodletting. David did not trust Saul, but he loved and feared God and entrust all judgment to God.

David has a certain conviction concerning delivering God’s justice with his own might.  David left Saul’s destiny in God’s hands. Where did he learn that the principle, “the Lord himself will strike him.”? Could it have been through his recent experience with Nabal? Remember in the last passage, that it was the Lord, who struck down Nabal. David must have learned a very important life lesson. Psalm 54:4 reads, “Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.” This truth helped David be patient and wait on the Lord.

Abishai may have disagreed with David, but he also respected the one in authority over him. He calmed down, reined his feelings of anger, learning from his leader, David. Eventually he became a great warrior in David’s army. See what he became in 2 Samuel 23:18-19, “Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. 19 Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them.”  God is gracious to those who change their minds and obey the Lord from their hearts.

Part 2: David Controls The Field With Wisdom And Grace (12-25)

God continued to guide David into another set of brilliant moves, moves that are better than killing Saul. First, he took some evidence to prove that he was right there, standing next to Saul as he slept. Look at verses 11b–12, “…Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go. ¹² So David took the spear and water jug near Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the LORD had put them into a deep sleep.” David was about to make this encounter very public. He took Saul’s spear and water jar and he stood on a high hill. In a loud voice, before all of Saul’s men, he made the point that he had great respect for God’s anointed king and that is why he held back his spear. He proved his respect by showing Saul’s personal items. His actions had a significant impact as we will see.

David continued by publically rebuking General Abner, Saul’s commanding officer, in verses 13-16, “ Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them. ¹⁴ He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, “Aren’t you going to answer me, Abner?” Abner replied, “Who are you who calls to the king?” ¹⁵ David said, “You’re a man, aren’t you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn’t you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. ¹⁶ What you have done is not good. As surely as the LORD lives, you and your men deserve to die, because you did not guard your master, the LORD’s anointed. Look around you. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were near his head?” David showed no fear in rebuking Abner. He took control of the whole situation with his speech.

Then David made his public appeal to Saul in verses 17-20, “Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is that your voice, David my son?”  David replied, “Yes it is, my lord the king.” ¹⁸ And he added, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of? ¹⁹ Now let my lord the king listen to his servant’s words. If the LORD has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. If, however, men have done it, may they be cursed before the LORD! They have now driven me from my share in the LORD’s inheritance and have said, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ ²⁰ Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the LORD. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea—as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.” David made it clear that it was for the Lord’s sake that he had spared Saul. He also made it clear that it was wrong for Saul to pursue him. It was an unjust pursuit for David had done nothing wrong. It was also a pursuit using too much force. Everything about it was wrong and the all the men heard David speak about it.

Saul was moved by David’s meekness. All he could do was confess his sin publically in verse 21, “Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have erred greatly.” He promised that he would not try to harm David again. (But he would not be able to keep this promise.) David was so strong, brave and wise. All of this was from the Lord. But it is amazing that a person with such power could also be so meek. Meekness is not weakness; rather, it is power under constraint. David was exhibiting meekness. Jesus said that the meek will inherit the earth. (Matt 5) In this passage we see that the meek will inherit the kingdom, for David would inherit the thrown.

David did not fall for Saul’s promise. Though he had every reason not to, he respected Saul, saying “Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of your young men come over and get it.”  David didn’t trust Saul but there was one he did trust. It was the Lord. Look at verses 23-24, “The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. The LORD delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed. ²⁴ As surely as I valued your life today, so may the LORD value my life and deliver me from all trouble.”

Saul could see who the better man was. Though he had set out to kill David, now he blessed him. Look at verse 25, “Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, my son David; you will do great things and surely triumph.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.” Saul knew that all of his struggles were in vain and that God was on David’s side. God had appointed David to become the king of Israel and was protecting him. He can also see that David was a better man than he. He felt humiliated. He conceded by calling David his son. This would have defused Saul’s elite army who was tightly wound for a fight. They enjoyed a one more day of peace because of God’s grace and David’s faith.

Key verse 26: 9-11a

“But David said to Abishai, ‘Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? ¹⁰ As surely as the Lord lives,’ he said, ‘the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. ¹¹ But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. …’”  (NIV)

1. How did Saul begin to pursue David again? (1–3a) How did David respond, and

whom did he take with him? (3b–6)

2. What did Abishai ask David to let him do? (7–8) What did David teach him? (9–11a)

What conviction did David have? How did this conviction help him to be patient?

(Ps 54:4)

3. What did David take? (11b–12) How did he rebuke Abner? (13–16)

4. How did he appeal his cause to Saul? (17–20) What did Saul realize and promise?

(21)

5. What did David believe about God, and how did he base his life and future on this

faith? (22–24) How did Saul bless him? (25)