The Crown – Episode 8 – David Spares Saul

Continue in 1 Samuel – just a couple of episodes left. Today, we will be looking at events from 1 Samuel 23-29 – really more about David than Saul but we see such a contrast between the two.

Twice David Spares Saul’s Life

Saul has been chasing David but on two occasion David could have taken Saul’s life and ascended to the throne (remember he’s already been privately anointed by Samuel)

The first is in chapter 24.

David is hiding out in a cave and Samuel comes in to relieve himself. David’s men urge him to kill Saul but David resists. He does cut off a corner of Saul’s robe and later will confront Saul with the evidence. David pleads his case that he is innocent and means no harm to Saul.

1 Samuel 24:8–10 (NIV) — 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.’

A second opportunity is in chapter 26

David and his men sneak into Saul’s camp at night. Saul is sleeping like a baby. Again, David’s men urge him to take Saul out but David again resists. He does however take Sau’s spear and water jug and will use that as evidenced again that he means Saul no harm.

1 Samuel 26:22–23 (NIV) — 22 “Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of your young men come over and get it. 23The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. The Lorddelivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed.

The lesson:

David waits for God’s will to play out and does not do something unrighteous to hurry God.

What are you waiting for? What are you wanting to God to do? Don’t do something foolish to try to make that happen in your time.

You want that promotion – don’t resort to backstabbing or spreading rumors about aa fellow employee. You may honestly believe it God’s will for you to have that job but don’t do something foolish to make it happen.

You really want that relationship – don’t compromise your purity to prove to that person that you love them or to convince them to go further in that relationship.

You really want to close that deal at work – don’t cheat or cut corners to make that happen.

You really want that car or that house – don’t go about your negotiations dishonestly.

We can convince ourselves to do wrong because we think it will bring about God’s will. David shows that is just not right. Even when you are dealing with Saul’s in your life. Don’t stoop to their level.

Perhaps the most common way we take matters into our own hands is through bald compromise. We feel we deserve more money than we have so we hedge on our taxes or fudge our time sheets. “Stealing from a faceless corporation isn’t really stealing anyway, is it?” We feel we deserve romantic satisfaction so we lower our dating standards. “Being with the ‘wrong’ guy is better than being alone anyway, right?” We feel we deserve approval and respect for our work so we exaggerate our accomplishments and minimize our failures. “Sure, this may be a little deceptive, but it’s not outright lying, so that’s something, isn’t it?” Behind it all is the urge to bend on what we know to be right, to sacrifice integrity on the altar of an immediate perceived happiness. The tragedy is that the happiness always fails to deliver, usually to our surprise, and in the meantime we have done immense damage to our soul.

Greear, J. D., & Thomas, H. A. (2016). Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Samuel (p. 155). Holman Reference.

David wrote many of the Psalms and it’s so enlightening to know David’s life as it brings deeper meaning to those Psalms.

Psalm 37:7–8 (NIV) — 7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. 8Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.

Psalm 27:14 (NIV) — 14 Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 40:1 (NIV) — 1 I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.

Psalm 130:5 (NIV) — 5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.

David may very well be thinking of these events when he wrote these Psalms.

Two other interesting events take place in this section – again I urge you to read the whole stories.

Two times David is kept from doing something that I think he would have regretted

First instance is in chapter 25.

David asks a man named Nabal, a very wealthy man, to help him out with some supplies or food. David reasons that all this time David and his men have never mistreated Nabal’s shepherd. Nabal refuses. David is outraged and is ready to kill this man. Enter Abigail, Nabal’s wife. She intervenes and sends David some food and supplies and begs him not to act harshly. Abigail gives this long speech ending like this:

1 Samuel 25:30–31 (NIV) — 30 When the Lordhas fulfilled for my lord every good thing he promised concerning him and has appointed him ruler over Israel, 31my lord will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself. And when the Lord your God has brought my lord success, remember your servant.”

David is kept from doing something really foolish. He is willing to listen to others.

The second occasion is in chapter 29.

Oddly enough David allies himself with the Philistines. Not a big deal since he is fighting enemies that both the Philistines and the Jews have in common. But it happens that the Philistines are now wanting to attack Saul and David is willing to fight with them against his own people. But, the Philistine commanders won’t let him.

1 Samuel 29:9–10 (NIV) — 9 Achish answered, “I know that you have been as pleasing in my eyes as an angel of God; nevertheless, the Philistine commanders have said, ‘He must not go up with us into battle.’ 10 Now get up early, along with your master’s servants who have come with you, and leave in the morning as soon as it is light.”

I think David would have really regretted going into battle against Saul. Once again, David is kept from doing something foolish.

The lesson:

David is willing to listen to the counsel of other people and is kept from doing something really foolish.

And even though this is not expressly stated in the text, I have a feeling that God sends people like that to keep us from doing foolish things. Even though David thought it would be good to take out Nabal, God didn’t let him do it. Even though David thought it would be a good move to fight for the Philistines, God didn’t let him do it. I think God wants to do that in our lives – to keep us from doing something foolish or at least something that is not the best for us – even when we think it is best for us.

I’m going to switch from preaching to testifying because I suspect God has done something like this in my life.

I was engaged before I met Henriann. One day she told me she didn’t want to be engaged anymore. This was difficult. I wasn’t going to get what I wanted. But I can honestly say that I am grateful I didn’t get what I wanted because God had something better for me. That relationship may have worked out fine or it may have been a disaster. I’ll never know. What I do know is that as nice as a girl she was she is no Henriann. Did God keep me from doing something that wasn’t best for me? I suspect he did.

After Henriann and I were married I was looking for preaching jobs. I interviewed at a church in New Jersey (Freehold). Thought I was a lock. Didn’t get the job. I didn’t get what I wanted. I interviewed at a church in Maryland (Hagerstown). I nailed the sermon and the class. They didn’t hire me. I didn’t get what I wanted. I don’t know how those jobs would have worked out. They may have worked out just fine or may have been a total disaster. I’ll never know. What I do know that as good as a church those churches may have been, they are no Park Avenue. Did God keep me from doing something that wasn’t best for me? I suspect he did.

We may think that the worst thing to happen to us is that God doesn’t give us what we want. Perhaps what is worse is that God gives us everything we want. We have to trust that God knows better.

I thought about this phrase form the Lord’s Prayer:

Matthew 6:13 (NIV) — 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

Do we pray this? It seems like God wants to keep us from temptation. That he wants to deliver us from the evil one. Do we pray, “God, keep me from doing something that is really foolish or is not the best for me.” And are we willing to let him and are we willing to give him credit for doing that?

May God be merciful to us and give us all ears to hear the Abigails in our lives.

Greear, J. D., & Thomas, H. A. (2016). Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Samuel (p. 165). Holman Reference.

It may be that when God didn’t give you what you wanted he was keeping you from doing something you would have later regretted.

I think one of the sources of Saul’s downfall was he never listened to God and he never listened to people who wanted to give him good advice. He didn’t really listen to Samuel! Saul did what Saul wanted and that was his ruin.

Who are you listening to? Who are you asking for advice? Do you roll through life just doing whatever you want regardless of what other people are telling you? God wants to lead you. God has put good people in your life to advise you. We may thing we know what we want but sometimes our “wanter” is broken. We are deceived. And when we don’t listen to God we make ourselves god. Sometimes we just have to let God be God and trust him.

Maybe there is something in your life that you are waiting on and you’re tired of waiting and you want to take action even though you know it’s not right. Don’t do it. Wait on God.

Maybe there’s something that you want so bad and just don’t see it happening. Maybe God is protecting you from something bad. Maybe God has something better in store for you. Trust him.

Saul is headed for a really bad ending. His story has been written but you and God are still writing your story. Is there something in your life that you have to submit to God? Do it. Have you refused to give your life to God? Here him calling you today.