2025-04-13 - 1 Samuel 26:1- (3)

1 Samuel 26:1-?

Tonight were going to see that David is in the wilderness around Ziph in Southern Israel.

Courson’s Application Commentary, Old Testament Volume 1 (Genesis–Job) 1 Samuel 26:1, 2

David had already been in Ziph. The men of Ziph had betrayed him once before (chapter 23). So why would he go back to Ziph? Our text gives us no answer as to what David was thinking. But we do have revelation about the state of his heart at this time…

To This, lets Begin Reading:

1 Now the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding in the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon?”

The Hill of Hachilah is in Ziph but its exact location is not definitively known.

The Ziphites lived in Ziph were of the tribe of Judah and once again they betrayed David and told Saul he was there, why?

1. Political reasons, they were afraid of Saul, or thought he was the rightful king. None the less they aligned with him. 2 Then Saul arose and went down to the Wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the Wilderness of Ziph. 3 And Saul encamped in the hill of Hachilah, which is opposite Jeshimon, by the road. But David stayed in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.

Saul

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Psalm 54 “To the Chief Musician. With Contemplation of David When the Ziphites Went and Said to Saul, “Is David Not Hiding with Us?” 1 Save me, O God, by Your name, And vindicate me by Your strength. 2 Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth. 3 For strangers have risen up against me, And oppressors have sought after my life; They have not set God before them. Selah 4 Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is with those who uphold my life. 5 He will repay my enemies for their evil. Cut them off in Your truth. 6 I will freely sacrifice to You; I will praise Your name, O Lord, for it is good. 7 For He has delivered me out of all trouble; And my eye has seen its desire upon my enemies.”

The MacArthur Bible Commentary Outline

54:1 by Your name. In the ancient world, a person’s name was essentially the person himself. Here, God’s name includes His covenant protection. vindicate. David requests that God will execute justice for him, as in a court trial when a defendant is declared not guilty.

54:2 Give Ear, Pay attention

54:7 As David has seen in the past, God will again do here, bring justice to his enemies.

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Back To 1 Samuel 4 David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul had indeed come.

The Moody Bible Commentary 6. David Spares Saul Again (26:1–25)

Interestingly, the roles were reversed here, with David stalking Saul

The Moody Bible Commentary a. Saul Pursues David Again (26:1–5)

David, a wise military leader like Moses and Joshua, sent out scouts to see if Saul was approaching.

5 So David arose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. Now Saul lay within the camp, with the people encamped all around him.

Davids spies did a good job finding where Saul and his camp was. 6 Then David answered, and said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, saying, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.”

They approached the camp and David asked for a volunteer. Stepping forward was Abishai, Davids nephew through Davids sister Asahel. 7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night; and there Saul lay sleeping within the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the people lay all around him.

How did David know it was safe to enter the camp?

Possibly b/c they saw no guard movement

Possibly b/c of complete silence

Perhaps, Divine Assurance: David likely sensed that God’s intervention was at play. He had experienced God’s protection and guidance through his life, why would it be any different now? 8 Then Abishai said to David, “God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him at once with the spear, right to the earth; and I will not have to strike him a second time!”

Abishai was convinced that it was Gods plan for David to take Sauls life. However David having talked things over with God, knew this wasn’t Gods plan. 9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?”

David had already settled the matter in the cave (24:1-6) and there was no need to consider it again. 10 David said furthermore, “As the Lord lives, the Lord shall strike him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall go out to battle and perish.

David was sure that Saul’s life would end at the right time, in God’s time. Weather by natural death, the judgement of God or even right away, but not by his hand. 11 The Lord forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. But please, take now the spear and the jug of water that are by his head, and let us go.” 12 So David took the spear and the jug of water by Saul’s head, and they got away; and no man saw or knew it or awoke. For they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them.

David took Sauls Spear and Jug, just like when David cut off the corner of Sauls garment, as proof they were there.

Weather David sensed God, he was in such tune with God that He trusted God for himself to go into the camp. We don’t always know how God is going to work out our problems, the impossible, but with faith… When God sees our faith, He makes a way, everytime. God can and will work outside the natural laws He created at times, and here we see how he put all of Sauls camp into a deep sleep. 13 Now David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of a hill afar off, a great distance being between them.

STOPPED HERE 04-13-2025

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14 And David called out to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Do you not answer, Abner?” Then Abner answered and said, “Who are you, calling out to the king?”

Its interesting to see the first thing David does is to call out Abner. The idea here is they were still sleeping, so David shouts for Abner, no answer it seems and so David calls out for Him again, finally Abner answers. 15 So David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not guarded your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy your lord the king. Abner, David says, you are the mightiest in all of Israel yet you didn’t protect the king from someone who cam in to destroy the king.

16 This thing that you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, you deserve to die, because you have not guarded your master, the Lord’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is, and the jug of water that was by his head.”

David calls Saul the Lord’s anointed, acknowledging that Saul is still anointed by God and he was going to respect what God has done.

David Says, Abner you and your men deserve to die for not doing your job. This was a very serious situation for them.

In ancient times, particularly in the biblical and Near Eastern context, failing to protect the king—especially if the failure was due to negligence—often resulted in severe punishment, including death. Kings were seen as divinely appointed, and their protection was a matter of great importance.

This is seen in the Code of Hammurabi, the Babylonian legal code, in the Assyrian and Persian Empires as well as the Roman Empire.

A s proof, says David, look I have his spear and jug, we were there but you weren’t doing your job.

—————Pause————— 17 Then Saul knew David’s voice, and said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.”

Although Abner seemingly didn’t know who he was talking to, Saul did, he recognized Davids voice.

Notice Saul calls David “My Son.”

Q&A WHY WOULD YOU FIND THIS INTERESTING? Because Saul had separated David and Michael and Sual gave her to Palti. 18 And he said, “Why does my lord thus pursue his servant? For what have I done, or what evil is in my hand?

David doesn't respond, “My Father,” no, he just answers Why do you my lord pursue me, your servant.

David has asked this before and he is asking it again. 19 Now therefore, please, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If the Lord has stirred you up against me, let Him accept an offering. But if it is the children of men, may they be cursed before the Lord, for they have driven me out this day from sharing in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’

David is saying, if God has sent you after me, then it means I am in the wrong, and I will sacrifice to God, so I can be made right with Him. ON THE FLIP SIDE (See Below, Jon Courson).

Courson’s Application Commentary, Old Testament Volume 1 (Genesis–Job) 1 Samuel 26:19 (b)

“On the other hand,” David continued, “if men have been lying to you about me or stoking the fires within you to feel animosity toward me, let those men be cursed.”…

And a third thing here:

Courson’s Application Commentary, Old Testament Volume 1 (Genesis–Job) 1 Samuel 26:19 (c)

Notice that David’s primary complaint against his enemies was not that they had forced him into exile, but that they had prevented him access to worshiping with His people.

Notice what is said here in agreement to this part of Vs. 19

The MacArthur Bible Commentary 2. Saul’s Life Spared Twice by David (23:1–26:25)

Go, serve other gods. David’s exile from the land was virtually equivalent to forcing him to abandon the worship of the Lord, because there were no sanctuaries devoted to worship of the Lord outside of Israelite territory.

20 So now, do not let my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lord. For the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea, as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”

To seek a flea. The flea represents something that was worthless

The partridge did’t like to fly, so it runs from bush to bush and is practically impossible to catch.

David is saying your wasting your time. And he is also saying, this that your doing is not an activity fit for a king.

What causes and leads to this? Selfishness, Pride, etc. This is demonic, Saul listening to the enemy rather then his God. If satan can take out David, he takes out the lineage of Jesus.

—————Pause————— 21 Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David. For I will harm you no more, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Indeed I have played the fool and erred exceedingly.”

David knew better, every time Saul said something like this he would get paranoid again and he would revert back to his hatred and desire to kill David. 22 And David answered and said, “Here is the king’s spear. Let one of the young men come over and get it.

David chose to not answer Saul's plea to come back, instead he just said here is your spear, send someone to get it.

David chose to keep the water jug it sounded like. This would have been valuable in the desert. 23 May the Lord repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the Lord delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed.

David is saying may God bless me for doing right, not striking you. 24 And indeed, as your life was valued much this day in my eyes, so let my life be valued much in the eyes of the Lord, and let Him deliver me out of all tribulation.”

David is saying I know your life is valued to God as you are his anointed for the time and when I too am anointed for a future time and when it comes, may the Lord value much in his eyes. This is a reminder to Saul, God has a Sovereign plan and your interfereing with it will not change its outcome. 25 Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, my son David! You shall both do great things and also still prevail.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

These are the last recorded words of Saul to David.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary Chapter 26

So far as can be determined Saul became resigned to his fate and never again tried to interfere with the will of God for the kingdom and its next anointed leader

In Conclustion:

Courson’s Application Commentary, Old Testament Volume 1 (Genesis–Job) 1 Samuel 26:22–25

The first time David had a chance to deal with Saul, he touched the hem of his garment, and later was convicted. Now, David’s heart does not smite him because he doesn’t touch Saul at all.

I guarantee before the week is over, you’ll have an opportunity to lop off a head, to snip a garment, or to make a comment. But perhaps the Lord would say to you, “There’s a better. way.” I pray that the power of the Word being heard and received will change us from glory to glory—from a Saul to a David.