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Sam 26:1-12 (ESV) Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Is
not David hiding himself on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the east of
Jeshimon?" 2 So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph with
three thousand chosen men of Israel to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. 3
And Saul encamped on the hill of Hachilah, which is beside the road on the
east of Jeshimon. But David remained in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul
came after him into the wilderness, 4 David sent out spies and learned that
Saul had come. 5 Then David rose and came to the place where Saul had
encamped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, with Abner the son of Ner,
the commander of his army. Saul was lying within the encampment, while the army
was encamped around him.
- What about the start of this passage seems familiar?
- This is the second time the Ziphites betray David
- Previous passages: 23:19 -- but an attack by the Philistines saves David
- Why does David even suggest going down into the camp with only one man?
- It is done after seeing the situation (vs 5)
- Apparently he recognizes the fact that everyone is asleep
- NOTE: Saul probably had about 3,000 men to David's 600
- What are some impressions we get about Abishai?
- He is very brave
- He is carnal. He sees things from a worldly perspective. You have to seize your opportunity
- He does not recognized God's anointing as special, or he does not look at the spiritual side of life
- David understands that Saul must die before he can be king or probably even stop hunting him. Yet he sees that God must remove Saul and even suggests how God could do it. What were David's thoughts?
- The Lord will strike him down
- His day will come to die
- He will go down in battle and perish
- They take the spear and the water jar, why?
- The spear was almost like a scepter for Saul, and the water jar would have only been for the King's use
- Three times, Saul had thrown the spear at David
- He needed proof, something that would be unmistakable
- APPLICATION: Do we see ourselves as the primary determiner of our future, or do we trust God? We still need to be prudent. We can't' be lazy, but we also need to trust God for our future
- How do you decide when to act (be prudent) or when to wait upon God? In this passage, when a clear command of God would be violated by action. Or likewise, if God has made it clear to you to wait
- We don't wait just because it is the spiritual thing to do
- We do (or should) ALWAYS pray -- that is the spiritual thing to do
- Why does David call to Abner?
- It really is a rebuke
- Abner should never have fallen asleep
- He was the commander of the Army, it was his responsibility to protect the king
- Although in Abner's defense, the sleep was a supernatural event (verse 12)
- Also, the contrast is that David did what Abner did not -- he protected the king's life
- Saul recognizes David's voice. What is David's argument to Saul?
- David argues that he had done nothing wrong
- If he did something wrong, then at the worst it is sin that can be atoned by sacrifice
- But he has done nothing deserving death
- His life or transgression is not worth a king's attention
- What would be worth a king's attention?
- A usurper -- but what does David's action show? David's actions prove that the king has nothing to fear
- Technically, David has just proved that he will not kill the king (for the second time), therefore he is not a threat. But, his line is a threat, not only to Saul's line, but to all of Benjamin. Therefore, Saul is being pushed by the tribe of Benjamin to eliminate the threat of David, and of their prominence
- 1 Sam 24:21-22 Swear to me therefore by the Lord that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house." 22 And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
- Once again, what is the effect of David upon King Saul?
- Saul confesses his sin
- He repents (temporarily)
- He asks David to come back
- Saul blesses David
- APPLICATION:
- What effect do we have upon others? Do we bring out the best in others? Is our presence in our work place a positive thing?
- Others were pushing Saul, and he was wishy-washy. Unlike David's example later, he was grounded in the word
- Interestingly, David does not seem to believe Saul, why?
- Saul has not held to previous promises
- Trust in God does not mean you can be foolish
- The previous plan does not seem to be working
- Was it God's will for him to go to Philistia?
- The text is surprisingly silent of the mention of God's name. In fact, the implication of verse 1 is that he talked to himself
- Possibly this is a moment of weakness for David. He has tired of playing hide and seek with Saul
- It might explain God not protecting David's camp (later in chapter 30). If so, it is one of a few major failures in David's life. In other words, he wasn't perfect. What made David unique was not that he did everything right (he fails in trust), but that he wanted to do everything right (and technically he did not sin)
- Why the Philistines?
- They are the other dominant power
- Saul can't get to him without defeating the Philistines, which he hasn't done yet
- It does seem unusual since the Philistines epitomize the enemy of God
- Why do the Philistines accept David?
- Possibly because they also recognize Saul's hatred
- APPLICATION: We don't know if it was God's will for David to go to Philistia or not, but it doesn't really matter--what matters is the heart--and David's heart was to know God. How can I develop a heart for God? I think it starts with spending time in God's word on a regular basis
6 Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Joab's brother Abishai the son of Zeruiah, "Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?" And Abishai said, "I will go down with you." 7 So David and Abishai went to the army by night. And there lay Saul sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the army lay around him. 8 Then said Abishai to David, "God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice." 9 But David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the Lord's anointed and be guiltless?" 10 And David said, "As the Lord lives, the Lord will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish. 11 The Lord forbid that I should put out my hand against the Lord's anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go." 12 So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul's head, and they went away. No man saw it or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them.
17 Saul recognized David's voice and said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And David said, "It is my voice, my lord, O king." 18 And he said, "Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What evil is on my hands? 19 Now therefore let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is the Lord who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering, but if it is men, may they be cursed before the Lord, for they have driven me out this day that I should have no share in the heritage of the Lord, saying, 'Go, serve other gods.' 20 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the Lord, for the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains."
21 Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake." 22 And David answered and said, "Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and take it. 23 The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the Lord gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the Lord's anointed. 24 Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the Lord, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation." 25 Then Saul said to David, "Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them." So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.
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