I Samuel Chapters 22-24:
David…..the Suffering, Forsaken, Faithful, Forgiving Fugitive
Lord God, Heavenly Father, throughout the trials and triumphs of David’s life, he had confidence in Your guiding presence and Your gracious control over his life. Give us that same confidence in You, Lord. The confidence to trust You, the confidence to persevere in faith in the midst of all life’s difficult and disappointing circumstances. Remind us that our personal sufferings do not mean that You have forgotten or forsaken us. Instead, use our sufferings to bring us into a more intimate and meaningful relationship with You – particularly as we use our sufferings to reflect upon the truly unjustified sufferings for us of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Send Your Holy Spirit to guide us, Lord, as we now study the sufferings of David, learning from his example as persevered in his faith and confidently placed his destiny in Your hands despite the difficulties and dangers he endured at Saul’s hand while living as a veritable outlaw. This we humbly pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who – along with You and the Holy Spirit, live and rule as the one, true God, now and forever. Amen.
Let’s start this lesson by considering the following imprecatory prayer, offered by David, in the midst of the undeserved persecution that he endured from Saul’s hand:
“Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. 2 Take up shield and armor; arise and come to my aid. 3 Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to me, “I am your salvation.” 4 May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay…..7 Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me, 8 may ruin overtake them by surprise— may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin. 9 Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord and delight in his salvation.” Psalm 35:1-4a, 7-9
Our previous lesson closed with David running for his life from a Saul insanely intent on killing him. In the lesson before us, David, as a fugitive, becomes the leader of an outlaw band of men and their families.
With the exception of David’s brief flight into the land of the Philistines and when he took his parents for their safety to the land of Moab (22:3-4), all of his activities and encampments occurred within the land of Judah: 1) he took refuge in the Cave of Adullam (22:1); 2) He saved the town of Keilah (23:1-13); 3) He stayed at Horesh in the desert of Ziph (23:14-18); 4) David escaped to the desert of Maon; and 5) He camped in the strongholds of En-Gedi (24:1).
Chapter 22: David the Outlaw
1 Samuel 22:1-5 – The King of Moab Grants David and His Family A Safe Haven
David first found refuge in the cave near Adullam, situated in the rugged hill country of Judah. Adullam is a Hebrew word that means “closed in place.” It was a small town about five miles south of Beth-shemesh in the Valley of Sorek on the border between the territorial lands of Judah and Benjamin. Beth-shemesh was sixteen miles southwest of Jerusalem on the highway to the Philistine city of Ashdod , and after that to the Mediterranean.
David’s hometown of Bethlehem was five miles south of Jerusalem. Somehow David got word to his entire family (parents, siblings, uncles and aunts, and cousins) in Bethlehem to immediately join him at Adullam. Not only did his relatives arrive, many kindred-spirit Israelites who felt they had been wronged by Saul’s regime also came in the hope that by joining with David the might be treated better and more fairly. Some were in debt, while others had individual grievances against Saul. They wanted David to be their leader. Altogether nearly four hundred men, plus women and children, gathered themselves around David. Perhaps David was thinking of them as he wrote verse 7 of Psalm 142, whose heading says that David wrote it while in a cave: “Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.”
The conditions in the cave were too difficult for David’s elderly parents. Knowing their fate if they were to fall into Saul’s hands, David led his family and new-found friends on a twelve mile journey from Adullam east into the valley of the Dead Sea, and from there up to the plateau that was the land of Moab – on the eastern side of the Dead Sea. The stopped in Moab at a location called Mizpah…..a place archaeologists have yet to identify. Moab was a safe place for all of these people that Saul was pursuing, because the Moabites and Saul were enemies. Consequently, any assistance the Moabites offered Saul’s opponents benefitted both Moab and these fugitives, and it served to frustrate and harm Saul.
Let’s take note that when David requested safe haven for his parents, he also witnessed to his faith before the unbelieving king of Moab. David confessed that he didn’t know what plans God had for him, but he trusted God with his life. The sanctuary David sought for himself and his family was granted by the king. However, the prophet Gad encouraged David not to stay in Moab, but to return to his tribal land of Judah.
David headed west into the land of Israel, specifically to the forest of Hereth — another unknown site, but likely in the Judean hill country near Adullam. The prophets of God who counseled David during this period as well as during his time as king were Gad and Nathan. According to Jewish tradition, they are considered to be the inspired writers who completed the Book of Samuel after Samuel’s death.
1 Samuel 22:6-10 – “No Good Deed Goes Unpunished”
…..the Sad Story of the Priests of Nob
Saul was presiding over his court seated at his usual place under a tamarisk tree. The court of the king of Israel was quite modest at the beginning of the monarchy….a marked contrast to the ostentatious court of Solomon and his successors. Tamarisks were deciduous trees, growing to a height of 20 feet. They had small feathery leaves and pink flowers in the spring. Abraham planted one at Beersheba (Genesis 21:33) and Saul would eventually be buried under one at Jabesh-Gilead (1 Samuel 31:12-13). The spear in his hand symbolized Saul’s status as king (see 18:10; 19:9; 20:33), just as a crown and scepter symbolize the status of England’s monarch today. None of the Israelites in Saul’s command, not even men from Saul’s own tribe, wanted to betray David. David was admired and respected by everyone, including Saul’s servants (18:5). Saul was well aware of this, and was incensed at their lack of blind loyalty to him. He berated his subjects, including his own relatives, accusing them of conspiring against him. He demanded to know if the “son of Jesse” was going to give them all fields and vineyards and make them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. He reminded his fellow Benjaminites that, in fact, he/Saul had made them rich and given them status, as well as other favors. If David became king, Saul assured them, the benefits they now enjoyed would be given to people from David’s tribe…..and they would be left with nothing.
Of course, Saul couldn’t name a single act of treason of which David was guilty. That certainly helped to demonstrate David’s innocence…..and Saul’s continuing paranoia. Saul even dared to accuse Jonathan of conspiring to turn David against him! (Apparently Saul knew at least the generalities – if not the specifics – of the covenant between Jonathan and David.)
Doeg the Edomite was quite likely the man in charge of Saul’s personal bodyguard. His position suggests that Saul was so paranoid that – rather than have Israelites in his bodyguard, which might make an attempt on his life – Saul felt safer having foreign mercenaries guard him. Remember, Doeg had been at Nob when David arrived asking for help. He was an eye-witness to what occurred…..mostly.
Given his loyalty to Saul, it shouldn’t surprise us that Doeg reported to Saul that Ahimelech had helped David (after David had lied to him, telling Ahimelech that he had come to Nob on a secret mission from Saul). It’s worth noting that Doeg did not relate to Saul the fictitious story David had given to Ahimelech. (It was a story that both David and probably the priest hoped would save the priests at Nob from Saul’s wrath.) It’s also odd that Doeg called the holy “Bread of the Presence” simply “provisions.” (If he had been a convert he would never have referred to the holy bread as “provisions.”) Clearly he didn’t understand the significance of the showbread that Ahimelech gave David. Doeg also reported that the “man consulted the LORD” on David’s behalf, not referring to Ahimelech as a priest, but just as a man.
We have no Scriptural report of Ahimelech consulting God on David’s behalf. And so it’s likely that this was some embellishment (a lie !!!) on Doeg’s part – just to make sure that Ahimelech was declared guilty. That’s because the privilege of consulting God through the urim and thummim was limited to an anointed representative of God such as a high priest, or from the high priest to an ordained leader of the people like Joshua or a king. Ordinary priests and Levites, as well as people from the other tribes of Israel, were not permitted to enjoy this privileged means of communication (Exodus 28:30; Numbers 27:18-21).
Although it is quite unlikely that Ahimelech consulted the LORD for David by using the urim and thummin – as Doeg charged him with doing – Saul’s growing paranoia could have led him to see Ahimelech’s kindness to David as the priest’s acknowledgment that David was Saul’s legitimate successor. Again, there’s no indication in the text that Ahimelech ever consulted (or would have been allowed to consult, if he had tried) the urim and the thummin. Besides, we already know (and will see in the coming chapters) that David was steadfastly loyal to Saul, regarding him as the Lord’s anointed. Period. Nevertheless, as soon as Saul heard Doeg’s report, his mind was made up…..regardless of what the evidence might have shown. The fate of Ahimelech and his fellow priests was sealed. Before ever actually confronting them, Saul had already determined that the priests were guilty of conspiring against him – and so they were going to have to die.
1 Samuel 22:11-17 – Saul’s “60 second trial”
and the Verdict against Ahimelech and the Priests
In the face of Saul’s charges that he had fed David, armed him, and consulted God for him, Ahimelech immediately defended David’s character rather than his own conduct. He pointed out that David was both Saul’s son in law (FAMILY!!!), and that he was trusted enough by Saul to be put in charge of the monarch’s body guard. Few positions in a kingdom require greater loyalty to the king. As for a defense of himself against that charge that he was consulting with the Lord on David’s behalf, Ahimelech answered with a question: “Have I just begun to inquire of God for him [David] today? Certainly not!” In other words, said Ahimelech, “David wouldn’t have asked for this special privilege and I wouldn’t have consented to it if he had.” He finished by stating that Saul didn’t have his facts straight, since Ahimelech and his fellow priests had absolutely no idea at all what was going on between David and Saul.
We should probably notice the commonality of the way Saul addressed both Ahimelech and spoke regarding David. Apparently, when Saul didn’t like someone, rather than use their proper name to identify them, he instead referred to them by their paternal name. In Ahimelech’s case, in verse 12 he called him “the son of Ahitub,” while concerning David, Saul often spoke of him as “the son of Jesse.”
We should also mention that since Ahimelech and Ahijah were both the sons of Ahitub, it’s possible that Ahijah (who was serving as Saul’s chaplain) and Ahimelech (serving at the tabernacle) were acting co-priests. In that case, Ahimelech could have properly made use of the urim and thummim.
With David no longer in the picture as the commander of Saul’s bodyguard, a role now being filled by Doeg, it certainly wasn’t to Doeg’s advantage for David to return to his former position. It’s not difficult to image that Doeg was willing to do whatever it took to continue Saul’s trust in him and beneficence toward him…..including the stretch the truth about the priests and David, if it served to his own (Doeg’s) political advantage.
Finally, since “everyone knew” that David was a brave soldier serving his country, a member of Saul’s household as the king’s son-in-law (through a marriage Saul had arranged), and a clearly loyal and important servant of the king given that he had been the commander of Saul’s bodyguard, why wouldn’t Ahimelech (or any other priest) assist him by giving him food and Goliath’s sword. To have sent David away empty-handed would have been an insult not only to David, but to his king and father-in-law, Saul.
In condemning the priests of Nob to death, Saul had no real justification or evidence upon which to act. His verdict was extremely unjustified before God and over-the-top in its effect.
First, this unjust verdict violated the law of reciprocal punishment (“an eye for an eye”) in that the punishment must not exceed the crime and a man’s family cannot pay the price for his sin.
Second, Saul’s verdict violated the law that required a person could only be found guilty of a crime based on the testimony of two or three witnesses. And that no one could be put to death unless two or three witnesses testified as having witnessed the crime.
Finally, Saul was responsible for subjecting the residents of Nob to “herem,” the curse of total destruction that was only supposed to be inflicted on Israel’s worst enemies, and only upon God’s express command……but never on fellow Israelites.
(See Exodus 21:12; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15; 20:10-18; and 1 Samuel 15:3.)
1 Samuel 22:18-23 – On Saul’s orders,
Doeg Massacres the Priests of Nob and their Families
The Israelite soldiers/servants had refused to harm the priests, but Doeg and his Edomite mercenaries were more than willing to kill the priests, their wives, children and every living thing in the town of Nob. As we noted a few moments ago, Saul had inflicted the ban of herem, the “curse of destruction,” on the priests…..something that only been intended for Israel’s enemies and people who were guilty of of great acts wickedness (like the Amalekites) on God’s own people.
We can see the hand of God at work insofar as one witness did escape the massacre: Ahimelech’s son Abiathar.
The way the text reads, it is likely that Abiathar was the only member of the priests of Nob to survive (and so, the only one of the descendants of Eli). That would suggest that Saul’s chaplain and Ahimelech’s brother Ahijah (14:3, 18) was also murdered that day.
Unwittingly, Saul was fulfilling another part of the prophecy that God has spoke to Eli in I Samuel 2:27-36. (Other fulfillments occurred in I Samuel 4:11, 18). Part of the prophecy in 1 Samuel 2:33 was that the bulk of Eli’s family would die by the sword. This finally had come to pass through the massacre of Eli’s descendants at Nob (since Ahimelech and Ahijah were Eli’s great-grandsons).
It wasn’t so much that David knew for certain that Doeg would inform Saul of his stop at Nob, but that he feared it would happen…..and it did. However, suspecting what Doeg might do was not enough for David to bring himself to kill a man who had not yet committed an act of violence against him or others. Nevertheless, David took responsibility for what happened to Abiathar’s family and gave him sanctuary. Later David would make Abiathar his chaplain and still later – when he became king, Abiathar (a descendant of Aaron’s son Ithamar) would be named by David as co-high priest, along with his distant relative Zadok (a descendant of Aaron’s son Eleazer).
During this period of his life, David’s faith and trust in God were continually tested. David would write in Psalms 54-55 about the pain of being slandered, being relentlessly pursued by his enemies, and being unable to defend his good name.
In Psalm 55:3-4 he wrote: “I am troubled in my thoughts and I groan because of talk from the enemy, because of oppression from the wicked, because they dump evil on me, and in anger they hold a grudge against me. My heart is in anguish within me. The terrors of death fall on me.” But he concluded his prayer (in verse 23) by expressing his trust in God’s providence: “But You, O God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloody and deceitful men will not live half their days. But as for me, I will trust in you.”
Chapter 23: David Continues to Evade Saul
Psalm 142……A Psalm of David when he was in the cave (perhaps Adullam – I Sam 22; or En Gedi – I Sam 24)
1 With my voice I cry out to the Lord. With my voice I call to the Lord for mercy. 2 I pour out my complaint before him. I tell my distress before him. 3 When my spirit grows faint within me, you are the one who knows my course. On the path where I walk they have hidden a snare for me. 4 Look to my right and see. There is no one who recognizes me. There is no escape for me. No one cares about my life. 5 I cry out to you, Lord. I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” 6 Pay attention to my loud cry, because I am very weak. Rescue me from those who pursue me, because they are too strong for me. 7 Set me free from my prison, so I can give thanks to your name. Then the righteous will gather around me, because you have accomplished your purpose for me.
1 Samuel 23:1-6 – David saves the town of Keilah from the Philistines
(or, “No Good Deed Goes UnPunished”)
Verse 6 tells us that when Abiathar escaped the massacre at Nob he managed to bring with him the high priest’s ephod that contained the urim and thummim (see Exodus 28:6-30; 39:8-21). The word “ephod” was used previously to refer to the various ways any article of clothing, textile, or image was used in association with the worship of the LORD…..or was involved in a profane practice such as Gideon’s sin in Judges 8:27. In this instance, however, the term Ephod refers to the specially designed sacred garment – made from the same fabric as the temple curtain (suggesting the high priest’s closeness to the LORD) – that the high priest wore along with his other vestments (Exodus 28-39). The priestly ephod was made of finely woven linen embroidered with gold, blue, red and purple threads. It had two straps that each fit over a shoulder, along with a waistband that was tied around the waist of the high priest, appearing to be something of an apron-like garment. A doubled over and embroidered linen piece in the same colors was used in the ephod. It was covered by twelve precious and semi-precious stones in four rows. These adorned the “breastplate of judgment” that was attached to the front of the ephod on the high priest’s chest. The “breastplate of judgment” held the urim and thummim (Ex 28:23-30). The ephod was worn over the priest’s blue robe that, in turn, was worn over his white linen tunic.
What made Abiathar’s bringing the Ephod to David so significant was that it meant that David not only had the support of the people and Israel’s military, he also had the support of the priesthood (or what was left of it at this time). It also provided him with the God-given means of contacting the LORD through the designated descendant of Aaron, the high priest. It marked another milestone in both David’s and Saul’s lives, since it meant that the priesthood and priestly counsel of the urim and thummim had been transferred by the LORD from Saul to David.
When David heard that the inhabitants of Keilah, a walled town located about eight and a half miles northwest of Hebron in the territory of Judah (Joshua 5:44; 1 Chronicles 4:19) were under siege by the Philistines, he consulted with the LORD through the urim and thummim, asking if he should go and rescue the Israelite town. God told David to go and liberate the town. However, David’s own men were afraid that he would not succeed.
The fighting men with David were probably not properly armed and most likely were not that well-trained to serve as soldiers. They might also have been afraid that people from David’s own tribe would betray them and turn them over to Saul. To reassure his men, David consulted the LORD a second time (verse 4). The answer was the same as before, but with one addition: God made it clear to David that He would give David and his men victory over the Philistines. Without further hesitation David and his men marched on Keilah and, with God on their side, they defeated the Philistines and carried off the Philistines’ animals and supplies (used during the siege of Keilah), which David’s people probably desperately needed.
1 Samuel 23:7-14 – Saul plans to attack David at Keilah
Note that, unlike Saul who preferred to make his own decisions (see 14:18-19), David continually sought God’s will before he took action. Also note that David had good intelligence coming from inside Saul’s court regarding Saul’s actions and intentions. We’ll talk more about this later.
Keilah was a walled town, and after their victory David and his men were staying within the town. Saul heard where David was. If his army could surprise David and surround the town with David inside, he was confident that the townspeople would not risk having their town destroyed like Nob and would give David up.
When David learned that Saul was en route to Keliah, he again inquired of the LORD about the possibility of Saul besieging the town and the town’s elders handing him and his men over to Saul. The LORD told him that Saul was coming and that the town elders would definitely betray him.
So, David and his men escaped just in the nick of time. They took refuge in the mountainous wilderness region of Ziph in the southern territory of the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:24). Ziph was a region that was west of the southern end of the Dead Sea in the eastern Negeb.
While David had four hundred men who came to support him while he was hiding in the cave of Adullam, he now had added 200 more to that number. And so his fighting forces now totaled 600 men.
1 Samuel 23:15-18 – Jonathan visits David at Horesh
David and Jonathan had somehow maintained at least minimal communication between themselves. Now Jonathan risked his life in order to visit David in his stronghold at Horesh. It was the last time they would ever be together on earth. Horesh means “forest” and is believed to have been located just southeast of Hebron.
Since Jonathan was on David’s side, one might wonder why he didn’t join David’s band of outcasts. Clearly someone inside Saul’s camp (perhaps Jonathan ?) was an ally of David’s, given that David was routinely receiving information on Saul’s plans…… Three times in this chapter David received warnings that Saul was planning a trap for him or was coming after him. (See 23:9, 15, and 25). First David was warned that Saul knew he was at Keilah and planned to trap him there. Then David was told that Saul was planning to trap him at Horesh. Later David was warned that Saul was coming after him when he was in the desert of Maon.
After arriving, Jonathan realized that his friend was feeling overwhelmed with his many struggles and worries not only about his own safety, but about the safety of the men who had joined their destinies to his. So Jonathan encouraged David, telling him not to be afraid; that Saul won’t capture him. He also told David that he was destined to be Israel’s king and he would support David when he eventually became king. Finally, Jonathan renewed his covenant with David as a sign of his loyalty.
Often we, too, need a good friend to pick us up emotionally when we are down…..someone who can not only provide us with assurances of his/her personal support, but who can point us to the essential and encouraging truth that God loves us in Christ, and that He is in control of all things for our good.
1 Samuel 23:19-28 – Saul’s Tries to Trap David at Horesh
Some men from the city of Ziph, south of Hebron, came to Saul with an offer to betray David, and even to assist in capturing him. While this was happening, David and his band of followers came down from the mountainous wilderness of Ziph and were on their way to Maon (which was probably a location about twelve and a half miles south of Hebron.)
Moan means “dwelling” or “refuge.” It was a personal name as well as a place name (Joshua 15:55; 1 Samuel 25:2; 1 Chronicles 2:45). A man named Maon was one of a number of descendants of Caleb (tribe of Judah). All of the names of Caleb’s descendants were also place names; they probably gave their names to the cities they founded. (See Mareshah, Ziph, Hebron, Bethzur and Moan [1 Chronicles 2:42-50]). In the Bible, the most well-known resident of Maon was Nabal whose life came to a sorry end because he treated David disrespectfully (1 Samuel 25:2-42).
At Moan David ended up having a very close call with disaster. Saul and his army were on one side of a gorge while he and his people were on the other side. Once again, Divine providence intervened to deliver David. “Out of the blue” Saul received urgent news that the Philistines were attacking elsewhere, and so he had to break of his pursuit of David.
David wrote about this experience in Psalm 54…..”For the choir director. With stringed instruments. A maskil by David. When the Ziphites went and said to Saul, ‘Isn’t David hiding himself with us?’ 1 God, save me by Your name. By Your power judge me justly. 2 God, hear my prayer. Turn Your ear to the words of my mouth. 3 For strangers have risen up against me. Ruthless men seek my life. They pay no attention to God. 4 Indeed, God is my Helper. The Lord is the One Who preserves my life. 5 Let evil return on those who oppress me. In Your faithfulness destroy them. 6 I will sacrifice willingly to You. I will praise Your name, O Lord, because it is good. 7 Surely, from all my distress He has delivered me. My eyes have looked down on my enemies.”
Chapter 24: David Graciously Spares Saul’s Life
1 Turn Your ear to my prayer, O God. Do not hide from my plea for mercy. 2 Pay attention to me and answer me. I am troubled in my thoughts and I groan 3 because of talk from the enemy, because of oppression from the wicked, because they dump evil on me, and in anger they hold a grudge against me. 4 My heart is in anguish within me. The terrors of death fall on me. 5 Fear and trembling come over me. Horror covers me…….15 Let deadly destruction come on them. Let them go down to the grave alive, because evil is at home in their hearts. 16 As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me. 17 Evening, morning, and noon I cry out and I sigh, and He hears my voice. 18 In peace He redeems my life from the assault against me, even when many are against me. 19 God will hear, and He will punish them— yes, He is seated on His throne from eternity! —because they never change, and they do not fear God. (Psalm 55)
1 Samuel 24:1-8 – David Has Saul’s Life in His Hands….and Spares Him
David and his men were hiding out in the limestone caves near En-Gedi. It was an important oasis with fresh water and hot springs on the west shore of the Dead Sea, about eighteen miles southeast of Hebron. En-Gedi means “spring of the young goat.” The site was part of the allotment given to the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:62). En-Gedi is just south of Qumran where the initial Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in eleven limestone caves in 1947-48. It is also mentioned in Song of Songs (Solomon) 1:14 as well as in Ecclesiastes 24:14.
We should probably take notice here that, by and large David has restricted his movements to the tribal territory of Judah – the tribe from which he came.
Saul received word that David had sought refuge near En-Gedi and brought three thousand soldiers with him to capture David and his men. Unbeknown to Saul, he actually had David trapped. While David and his men were hiding from Saul in the back of a cave, the king entered the same cave – alone. Why? Well, the Hebrew says he went inside “to cover his feet,” which is a euphemism meaning “to relieve oneself by answering the call of nature.”
As far as David’s men were concerned, this was an act of God. Divine providence had delivered David’s sworn enemy, Saul, squarely into his hands. It was God’s will that David should seize the opportunity to kill Saul on the spot…..at least that’s what David’s men felt.
Yes, God had put Saul’s life into David’s hands. But the purpose was not so that David could kill Saul. David could have killed Saul and assumed the throne of Israel on his own terms, but something more important was happening. God was testing David’s faith in Him to be the One Who would not only safeguard him and his men, but Who would – in His own good time – lift David up to the kingship.
David’s godly character showed itself. He not only didn’t lay a hand on Saul – let alone take the king’s life – he chose to disappoint his men who were encouraging him to act….rather than murder the “Lord’s anointed.” He refused to allow his men harm Saul either. While David didn’t kill Saul, he did surreptitiously cut off a portion of the hem of Saul’s garment/cloak. Afterward he was full of remorse – not because of the risk he took in having come so close to Saul, but – because his conscience told David he had shown disrespect to the One God had anointed as king over Israel, and to whom David still owed his loyalty……regardless of what Saul tried to do to him.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful of your conscience and mine operated as keenly as David’s does here? He knew what the right thing to do was, and he would not allow himself to be driven by feelings of revenge, nor would he be pressured by the opinions of his peers into doing what was clearly wrong in God’s sight.
1 Samuel 24:9-16 – David Challenges Saul, and Expresses His Loyalty to His King
David attempted to convince Saul that he was not his enemy by providing evidence that he could have killed him and by addressing him with the affectionate term “father.” David followed that by quoting a proverb (not recorded in the book of proverbs). He wanted to make the point that those who had been speaking against him were the ones who were wicked, while – in contrast – his actions had consistently been righteous in his dealings with his king.
What David meant when he said that Saul was on the trail of a dead dog or a flea was not intended to insult Saul, but to indicate that he (David) was not worth all the effort the king was putting into hunting him down. David understood what Saul kept failing to recognize in his unreasonable rage against his son-in-law: namely, that Saul had far greater matters to direct his attention than to chase David, who was unimportant and meant him absolutely no harm. Saul had nothing to gain by pursuing the worthless and insignificant “dead dog and flea” that David was.
In verse 16 David told Saul, “May the Lord, therefore, be the Judge Who renders a verdict between you and me. May He examine my case, plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.” In saying this David was indicating that he knew we was not going to receive real justice from Saul, and that he consequently was making his appeal to the diving King and Judge to vindicate him from Saul’s oppression.
1 Samuel 24:17-23 – Saul’s “Epiphany Moment” Toward David….(but it wouldn’t last)
David’s speech moved Saul emotionally. He recalled the affection that he once had had for David. We want to take note that for the first time since I Samuel 16:19 Saul used David’s given name, instead of calling him the “son of Jesse.” Whether Saul’s tears were poured out due to genuine remorse over his repeated attempts to kill an innocent, virtuous man in David, or whether they flowed from a sense of self-pity and shame, we cannot say. But Saul’s acknowledgment that David was righteous and that he was not highlights the foundation for Saul’s attitude and behavior: He was not godly.
In verses 17-23, Saul says to David: “You are more righteous than I, for you have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. 18 You have made it clear today how you have been good to me, because when the Lord delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me. 19 If a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? May the Lord reward you with good for what you have done for me today. 20 Now I know without a doubt that you will become king, and that the kingship over Israel will be established in your hand. 21 So swear to me now by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s house.”
Saul even acknowledged that David would one day be king of Israel. He then asked David to swear an oath that could not possibly be of any benefit to David. He asked David not to prevent his heirs from inheriting his throne. So, why did David bind himself to an oath that was going to put him even farther away from kingship over Israel? David had already come to the resolve that the throne of Israel was not his to take, but that it belonged to God, and that the people of Israel would give it to him when the time was right.
David’s proving to Saul that he spared his life and having promised that he would not prevent Saul’s sons from ascending the throne (or to kill them) led to Saul giving up the campaign to capture David. Saul returned to his fortress at Gibeah, while David and his men remained in the stronghold near En-Gedi. David knew that despite Saul’s withdrawal that he could not safely return to and remain in his home of Bethlehem. After all, Saul had gone back on his sworn oath not to harm David in the past (19:6); he would revert to his hateful ways soon enough.
In Psalm 25 shows us the heart of David: “15 My eyes are always on the Lord, because He frees my feet from the net. 16
Turn toward me and be gracious to me, because I am lonely and afflicted. 17 The distress of my heart increases. Bring me out of my anguish. 18 See my affliction and my trouble, and take away all my sins. 19 See my enemies—how they have increased, and how violently they hate me! 20 Guard my life and rescue me. Do not let me be put to shame, for I have taken refuge in You. 21 May integrity and uprightness protect me, because I wait for You. 22 Redeem Israel, O God, from all its distress!”
As a final matter of consideration as we end this section of study, why do you think that God continually tested David and gave him such difficult trials if he was God’s anointed? Similarly, why does God allow Christians to experience trials? (See James 1:12-15 and 1Peter 1:6-9)