Sparing Saul

Introduction

1 Samuel 24:1-22

1 Samuel 24:1–22 NIV

1 After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.” 2 So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats. 3 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. 4 The men said, “This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’ ” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 5 Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. 6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” 7 With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way. 8 Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. 9 He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’? 10 This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 11 See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. 12 May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. 13 As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you. 14 “Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? 15 May the Lord be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand.” 16 When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” And he wept aloud. 17 “You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. 18 You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. 19 When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the Lord reward you well for the way you treated me today. 20 I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. 21 Now swear to me by the Lord that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.” 22 So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

Pray

Trivia for you Saul is the first anti-Christ in the Bible. He is anointed = a Christ or a Messiah, then he fails test after test and God removes his anointing and Saul then goes after David the new Anointed or Christ. Therefore, Saul is an anti-christ.

David here will pass a test that God has put before him

Saul has been out pursuing the Philistines and he was told that David was in the desert west of En Gedi

Saul know the general area David is in, So he sets out with 3000 chosen men. That outnumbers David’s men about 5 to 1. David is in the desert hiding in a cave with an army 5 times large with Saul’s top fighting men.

Wonder why he felt like he was at the pit of sheol

While on his search Saul goes inside a cave in search of privacy. Got to cover his feet, which is an idiom.

Unknown to Saul, David and is men are far back in that very cave. David hear has the perfect opportunity to eliminate his enemy.

It don’t get any better than this. Saul is separated from this huge army. He is unprotected thinking he is safe so his guard is down. Its dark probably some light from torches and what not but still lots of shadows to move around in.

David is able to creep right up behind him unnoticed and cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. Apparently David is part ninja too.

But because of David’s loyalty to the kingship to God’s anointing and putting a person in power, David will not kill Saul, Even though common sense and him men tell him that it’s the right thing to do.

After Saul left the cave David emerges and called out to Saul. And tell him of his innocents and Saul knows that his life has been spared.

Saul response remorsefully.

You are more righteous

You will be king. Just don’t hurt my son. When someone becomes king it is not uncommon in history for the new king to kill off all the old kings family. That way you didn’t have any rivals with claims to the thrown.

Saul knows he has lost and he is on the way out. But just wants to protect his family.

Having Secured David’s oath Saul returns to Gibeah. David distrust Saul and therefore retreats to his “stronghold”.

What Would You Do?

I want you to put yourself in David’s shoes. We are studying him after all

What would you do?

You have killed many times before so that’s not an issue. You can kill him it wouldn’t be seen as murder. In fact you have killed so many in battle that you have lost track starting with Goliath the giant champion.

What would you do?

Do you kill your enemy?

To kill him you become king and will then be free from this prison that you find yourself in.

I think this would be really tempting and the natural reaction of the USA. Bomb us we are going to put our boot up your ...

Hopefully you never find yourself in the situation where you are killing people and tempted to kill.

But everyone in here has been hurt.

There has been time where you have been rejected, where you have been ignored, where you have been hurt. Some of you even have people that you would consider enemies. You don’t get along and whenever you are together things happen to… well if you have an enemy you know.

We all have times in which we have every good reason to get back at someone.

You have been hurt

You have been wronged

Your rights have been wronged

What will you do?

Options we can either pay it back

Or we can love

And many of us can think of times where we have acted both ways

What will you do?

Pay it back, Get your revenge

Or love?

Love does not mean you let a child molester go, or that person to keep hurting you. Boundaries are God given and so is justice. We have a system in place even if it is imperfect, we must work with it.

David’s choice shows us something here.

It shows us something about Forgiveness. That isn’t the full about what this passage is about but it shows us something about what we need to do especially to our fellow anointed. We are not responsible for caring our punishment. As hard as that may seem we are not responsible for that. Forgiveness is letting go of that need to stab that person in the back while they have their pants down, because they have brought shame on them self in sinning against YHWH.

This passage is about a test. How do you fight the snake to use the imagery of Genesis 3, when the snake is your brother?

Sit Patiently and wait through the suffering and that is the true victory. Which fly’s in the face of what we think of victory. This is the same pattern we see in Isaiah with the suffering servant and the same pattern we see in Jesus.

Next Steps

Release that need to get your own way all the time

release that need to get revenge

Seek Justice not punishment - Meditate on the difference

Pray