1 Samuel Session 6

“I’m not concerned with your liking or disliking me. All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.”—Jackie Robinson

What are some differences between liking and respecting someone?

Why would we show respect to someone we don’t like?

How can Christians respect leaders when we don’t like them or even when we have serious disagreements with them?

Overall, do you think there’s social pressure to respect or disrespect people in positions of authority?

Today we’ll see how David respected the king even when pressured to do otherwise. Because for David he knew that God is ultimately in charge of those who lead.

Respect

God is ultimately in charge of those who lead.

UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT

USE THE FOLLOWING CONTENT TO PREPARE FOR YOUR GROUP TIME.

Because Saul was obsessed with killing David (see 1 Sam. 18:10-17; 19:10; 20:33), David was forced to go into hiding. He and his small army of supporters hid in caves (see 22:1; 24:3), lived in foreign lands (see 27:7), and did whatever was necessary to survive (see 21:1-6). From David’s perspective the whole situation must have been somewhat confusing. He was minding his own business when Samuel anointed him as king (see 16:1-13). He was defending God’s honor when He defeated Goliath (see 17:1-51). He was serving his king when God blessed him with military success (see 18:2,5). God gave him victories, popularity, and success (see vv. 5,14). So why was he on the run?

David’s story speaks to a common misunderstanding. When good things happen, people see them as signs of God’s approval. When bad things happen, people see them as signs of God’s disapproval. That theory is disproved throughout the Bible. Hebrews 11 recounts the stories of multiple people whom God approved for their faith, but they went through difficult times. Difficulty isn’t necessarily a sign of God’s disapproval. In fact, God uses difficulty to mature His people.

While hiding in a cave near En-gedi, David was presented with an opportunity to kill Saul, end the persecution, and seize the throne for himself (see 1 Sam. 24:1-7). But he refused to do so. He would wait for God to remove Saul before making any claim to the throne.

A second opportunity to kill Saul presented itself to David in the Wilderness of Ziph (see 26:7-8). Again, David refused to kill Saul. He could have assumed that these opportunities were his reward for righteous living. After all, logic says, “Don’t miss the same opportunity twice. God is pleased with you. Take your reward.” But faith says, “God’s blessings won’t compromise God’s principles. Circumstances don’t indicate God’s favor or disapproval. God is your reward.”

Think About It

In these passages highlight actions or statements that demonstrate respect.

Record actions or statements that demonstrate humility.

Notice ways respect and humility overlap in this account.

Look for the rationale David gave for his actions. In what way was his respect for people tied to his respect for God?

1 SAMUEL 26:7-12,21-25

7 That night, David and Abishai came to the troops, and Saul was lying there asleep in the inner circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. Abner and the troops were lying around him. 8 Then Abishai said to David, “Today God has handed your enemy over to you. Let me thrust the spear through him into the ground just once. I won’t have to strike him twice!” 9 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him, for who can lift a hand against the LORD’s anointed and be blameless?” 10 David added, “As the LORD lives, the LORD will certainly strike him down: either his day will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 However, because of the LORD, I will never lift my hand against the LORD’s anointed. Instead, take the spear and the water jug by his head, and let’s go.” 12 So David took the spear and the water jug by Saul’s head, and they went their way. No one saw them, no one knew, and no one woke up; they all remained asleep because a deep sleep from the LORD came over them.

21 Saul responded, “I have sinned. Come back, my son David, I will never harm you again because today you considered my life precious. I have been a fool! I’ve committed a grave error.” 22 David answered, “Here is the king’s spear; have one of the young men come over and get it. 23 May the LORD repay every man for his righteousness and his loyalty. I wasn’t willing to lift my hand against the LORD’s anointed, even though the LORD handed you over to me today. 24 Just as I considered your life valuable today, so may the LORD consider my life valuable and rescue me from all trouble.” 25 Saul said to him, “You are blessed, my son David. You will certainly do great things and will also prevail.” Then David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

EXPLORE THE TEXT

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS (1 Samuel 26:7-8)

7That night, David and Abishai came to the troops, and Saul was lying there asleep in the inner circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. Abner and the troops were lying around him. 8Then Abishai said to David, “Today God has handed your enemy over to you. Let me thrust the spear through him into the ground just once. I won’t have to strike him twice!”

It was reported to Saul that David was hiding on the hill of Hachilah opposite Jeshimon (see v. 1). Saul saw an opportunity to kill his rival and secure his crown. He took three thousand of his best men and searched for David in the Wilderness of Ziph (see v. 2).

Just as Saul received information on David’s location, David had spies who knew that Saul had come (see v. 4). When David received the information, he asked two men to go with him to the place where Saul had camped. The first man asked to go was a warrior and mercenary named Ahimelech the Hittite (see v. 6), not to be confused with Ahimelech the priest (see 21:1-9). The second man asked to go was David’s nephew, Abishai. Abishai was the only one who went with David.

When David and Abishai entered the camp, Saul and his men were in a deep sleep brought on by the Lord (see 26:12). David and Abishai were able to move about freely without detection. When they came to the place where Saul was sleeping, they saw his spear stuck in the ground by his head. The spear was Saul’s weapon of choice and a symbol of his royal position. Anxious to get rid of Saul and the impending threat that came with him, Abishai wanted to kill him with his own spear.

The scene is similar to the time when David crept up behind Saul in the cave (see 24:4). In both situations David’s men considered Saul’s defenseless position to be proof that God wanted Saul to die by David’s hand.

Hurried decisions are rarely good decisions. Saul was the sovereign king, and David was his loyal subject. Even though Saul’s kingdom was doomed (see 13:14), it wasn’t David’s place to take matters into his own hands. God’s ultimate plan didn’t require David’s involvement. It’s also possible that David had already learned a lesson about rushing to kill someone. In the previous chapter God had prevented David from vindicating himself against Nabal (see 25:2-38). David had realized that God had sent Abigail to keep him from bloodshed (see vv. 32-33). Whatever the reason, David didn’t harm Saul when it was within his power to do so.

What did Abishai advise David to do?

Why would this have seemed to be wise counsel?

What are the dangers of equating an open door with God’s will?

GODLY RESPECT (1 Samuel 26:9-12)

9But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him, for who can lift a hand against the LORD’s anointed and be blameless?” 10David added, “As the LORD lives, the LORD will certainly strike him down: either his day will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11However, because of the LORD, I will never lift my hand against the LORD’s anointed. Instead, take the spear and the water jug by his head, and let’s go.” 12So David took the spear and the water jug by Saul’s head, and they went their way. No one saw them, no one knew, and no one woke up; they all remained asleep because a deep sleep from the LORD came over them.

While Abishai was willing to kill Saul to help David, David recognized that God had a better way. The earlier encounter with Nabal (see 25:2-38) confirmed the Lord’s sovereign judgment in these matters. If David and his men took matters into their own hands, they would be acting against the Lord’s anointed. David decided to let God handle the situation. Saul’s death would come as a result of the second option David described in 26:10 (see 31:1-6).

David’s respect for Saul may seem illogical from a military perspective, but it was well thought out from a theological perspective. David viewed this situation as an opportunity to use restraint toward one of the Lord’s leaders. It wasn’t David’s place to punish the Lord’s servant.

Instead, David chose to make a point. He ordered Abishai to take the spear and the water jug beside Saul’s head. The spear was a symbol of his power; the water jug was a symbol of life-sustaining resources. In one gesture they symbolically stripped Saul of his power and his life.

The writer didn’t attribute these events to human skill or stealth. Instead, he gave credit to God. God demonstrated His sovereign ability to protect His people and accomplish His purposes.

Why did David refuse to kill an opponent in this situation instead of seizing an opportunity like the one he had against Goliath?

Respect is often seen as something that must be earned. David showed respect to someone who didn’t show respect to him. Why is it hard to respect people who disrespect us? Why should we?

REMORSE (1 Samuel 26:21)

21Saul responded, “I have sinned. Come back, my son David, I will never harm you again because today you considered my life precious. I have been a fool! I’ve committed a grave error.”

When there was distance between them (see v. 13), David shouted to Saul’s troops and to Abner, the commander of Saul’s army (see v. 14), to ask why Abner hadn’t protected the king when someone had come to destroy him (see v. 15). David pointed out that the king’s spear and water jug were missing (see v. 16). By this time Saul recognized David’s voice (see v. 17).

After Saul verified that it was David, David asked Saul why he was pursuing him (see v. 18). David was trying to understand his offense. Recognizing that David spared his life once again, Saul admitted that he had sinned.

Saul’s admission of guilt was different from his admission of guilt recorded in 24:17-21. In chapter 24 Saul had been amazed that David would spare his enemy’s life, and he’d asked David not to cut off his descendants. In 26:21, however, Saul confessed that he’d sinned. He wasn’t just frustrated that his soldiers hadn’t been able to protect him; he was vexed that he had sinned, been a fool, and “committed a grave error.” Saul asked David to come back with him and promised never to harm him again.

How did Saul respond to David’s mercy?

God would establish a lineage through David that would bring mercy for all sinners through Jesus Christ.

TRUST IN GOD (1 Samuel 26:22-25)

22David answered, “Here is the king’s spear; have one of the young men come over and get it. 23May the LORD repay every man for his righteousness and his loyalty. I wasn’t willing to lift my hand against the LORD’s anointed, even though the LORD handed you over to me today. 24Just as I considered your life valuable today, so may the LORD consider my life valuable and rescue me from all trouble.” 25Saul said to him, “You are blessed, my son David. You will certainly do great things and will also prevail.” Then David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

David’s response to Saul’s admission of sin was cautious at best. He offered to return Saul’s spear (a symbol of death), but he chose to keep Saul’s jug (a symbol of life). Even when returning the spear, David was cautious. Saul seemed to relent, but David placed no confidence in Saul’s promise.

David wasn’t willing to lift his hand against the Lord’s anointed. He trusted that the Lord would value his life and rescue him from all trouble. David valued Saul’s life, but he didn’t ask Saul to reciprocate. Instead, he placed his life in God’s hands and prayed for God’s deliverance from all trouble.

Saul, in his final words to David, offered good wishes wrapped in relational overtones. Saul called David son three times (see 1 Sam. 26:17,21,25). He also seemed to recognize that David would be his successor as king.

Sin had been confessed. Remorse had been shown. Questions had been asked. Promises had been made. At this point there was nothing else to be said. David went on his way, and Saul returned home. David and Saul parted ways, and they never saw each other alive again. This was the last recorded conversation between David and Saul.

OBEY THE TEXT

Opportunities must be weighed in light of God’s principles and will. God expects His followers to respect the lives of others, even those who oppose them. God’s timing can be trusted in all matters of life. When Jesus said we are to love our enemies, He was created a high standard for relationships. He proclaimed to the crowds listening to His Sermon on the Mount that they knew they were to love their neighbor because the command to love our neighbor was a law of God (Leviticus 19:18). But Jesus replaced this idea with an even higher standard: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:44-45).

Jesus explained to His followers that they should adhere to the real meaning of God’s law by loving their enemies as well as their neighbors. A Pharisee once asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29). Jesus then told the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Here Jesus taught that His followers must demonstrate love to all kinds of people—no matter what faith, nationality, or personality—enemies included. If you love your enemies and “pray for those who persecute you,” you then truly reveal that Jesus is Lord of your life. David’s patience, integrity, and mercy were expressions of faith.

How can we cultivate expressions of faith to those who are seemingly against us as Christians?

We cannot show the love of Christ if we choose to give into our flesh with things like bitterness, resentment, and choosing to isolate certain people for examples. We must not just be on guard to not do the wrong thing but be aware of the opportunities to do the right thing for the Lord.