David had great respect for Saul, in spite of the fact that Saul was trying to kill him. Although Saul was sinning and rebelling against God, David still respected the position he held as God’s anointed king. David knew he would one day be king, and he also knew it was not right to strike down the man God had placed on the throne. If he assassinated Saul, he would be setting a precedent for his own opponents to remove him some day.
Romans 13:1–7 teaches that God has placed the government and its leaders in power. We may not know why, but, like David, we are to respect the positions and roles of those to whom God has given authority. There is one exception, however. Because God is our highest authority, we should not allow a leader to pressure us to violate God’s law.
David had prayed in Psalm 54 that the Lord would vindicate him and give him opportunity to prove to Saul that he wasn’t an outlaw who was trying to kill him and seize the throne. After all, Saul was not only David’s king, but he was also his commander and his father-in-law, and regardless of Saul’s evil attitude, David never considered Saul to be his enemy. God answered David’s prayer when Saul and his troops came to find him at Engedi.
- Respect is Challenging Sometimes
(1 Sam. 24:1–4). David and his men were hiding in a large cave, of which there were many in that area, and Saul chose to use that very cave as a place where he could relieve himself. The Law of Moses was very strict when it came to matters of sanitation, especially in the army camp (Deut. 23:12–14). Each soldier was required to leave the camp to relieve himself, and he had to carry a small shovel or trowel among his weapons so he could dig a hole and cover his excrement. This meant that Saul was away from the camp and therefore quite vulnerable. He naturally wanted privacy and he felt that he was not in danger. The fact that he walked right into David’s hiding place not only proved that his spies were incompetent but also that the Lord was still in control.
As David and his men pressed to the walls in the back of the cave, they quietly discussed the meaning of this remarkable occurrence. The men assured David that Saul’s presence in the cave was the fulfillment of a promise God gave him that He would deliver Saul into David’s hands.2 But when did God say this? Were they referring to Samuel’s words to Saul in 1 Samuel 15:26–29, or to God’s message to Samuel in 16:1? Perhaps the idea came from Jonathan’s words in 20:15, which some of the men might have heard personally. It’s likely that the leaders of the 600 men discussed these matters among themselves, for their future was wrapped up in David’s future, and obviously they came to some false conclusions. David never planned to kill Saul, for he was sure that the Lord would remove him from the scene in His own way and His own time (26:9–11).
To David’s men, it seemed providential that Saul was at their mercy (24:4; Ex. 21:13), and both David and Saul agreed with them (1 Sam. 24:10, 18). But that wasn’t the issue. The major question was, “How does the Lord want us to use this occasion?” David’s men saw it as an opportunity for revenge, while David saw it as an opportunity to show mercy and prove that his heart was right. God was giving him an opportunity to answer his own prayer for vindication (Ps. 54:1). David stealthily crept up to the garment that Saul had laid aside, cut off a corner of the robe, and went back into the cave. Saul left the cave not realizing what had happened.
(1 Sam. 24:5–7) David was too wise in the truth of God’s word to interpret this event as a signal for him to kill Saul, for the law says, “You shall not murder” (Ex. 20:13, NIV). Slaying an enemy on the battlefield or an attacker in self-defense was one thing, but to assassinate an unsuspecting king was quite something else. David reminded his men that Saul was the anointed of the Lord, and that no Jew had the right to attack him. The Jews were not even to curse their rulers, let alone kill them, for cursing a ruler was in the same category as blaspheming the name of the Lord (22:28).
However, David’s conscience bothered him because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. His action sent out three messages. First, it was an insolent act of disrespect that humiliated Saul, but it was also a symbolic gesture not unlike what Saul did to Samuel’s robe after the Amalekite fiasco (1 Sam. 15:27–28). By cutting off a part of the royal robe, David was declaring that the kingdom had been transferred to him. Finally, the piece of cloth was proof that David did not intend to kill the king and that the flatterers in the court were all liars. David’s men would have killed Saul in a moment, but their wise captain restrained them. Leaders must know how to interpret events and respond in the right way.
- Respect Those God Has Placed Over Me
(1 Sam. 24:8–15). When Saul was far enough away from the cave that it was safe, David left the cave and called to him. By using the title “my lord the king” and bowing to the earth, David emphasized what he had said to his men and let Saul know that he was not a rebel. Even if you can’t respect the man or woman in office, you must show respect to the office (Rom. 13:1–7; 1 Peter 2:13–17). David showed his respect by calling Saul “my master” (1 Sam. 24:6), “the Lord’s anointed” (vv. 6, 10), “my lord” (vv. 8, 10), “the king” (vv. 8, 14) and “my father” (v. 14). David’s bold public appearance also let Saul and his army know that their official spy system was most ineffective.
Using the piece of Saul’s robe as evidence, David opened his defense by exposing the deception of the courtiers who slandered David to Saul. The logic was irrefutable: David had an opportunity to kill Saul and refused to do so. David even admitted that some of his men urged him to slay the king, but he rebuked them. David was not guilty of any evil against Saul or any transgression against the Lord, but Saul was guilty of trying to kill David. “The Lord will judge between us,” said David, “and prove that your officers are liars, but I will not lift my hand against you.” Saul had hoped that the hand of the Philistines (18:17) or the hands of David’s soldiers (19:20–21) would kill David, but they failed. Ultimately, Saul died by his own hand on the battlefield (31:1–6).
David quoted a familiar proverb5 to prove his point: “Wickedness proceeds from the wicked” (24:13, NKJV), which simply means that character is revealed by conduct. The fact that David did not slay the king indicated that David did not have the character of a rebel or a murderer. But at the same time, David was strongly suggesting that Saul’s character was questionable because he wanted to kill his son-in-law! But what was the king really doing as he pursued David? Only chasing a dead dog and a flea that was jumping from one place to another! (Fleas and dogs go together.) The phrase “dead dog” was a humiliating term of reproach in those days (17:43; 2 Sam. 3:8; 9:8; 16:9), so David was humbling himself before the Lord and the king. David closed his defense by asserting a second time (1 Sam. 24:12, 15) that the Lord was the righteous judge and would plead the cause of His faithful servant (Pss. 35:1; 43:1; see 1 Peter 2:23).
(1 Sam. 24:16–22). King Saul once again revealed his confused mental state by lifting up his voice and calling to David, who had certainly spoken long enough for Saul to discern that it was indeed his son-in-law.6 As for Saul’s weeping, he had manifested temporary emotional reactions like that before, but they never brought about repentance or a change of heart.
Saul described three possible levels of life: the divine level, where we return good for evil; the human level, where we return good for good and evil for evil; and the demonic level, where we return evil for good. Saul admitted that David was a godly man who, by not slaying him, returned good for evil. But Saul was possessed by demonic forces and did evil to the one man who could have destroyed him. Now Saul openly confessed that he knew David would be the next king (23:17) and would consolidate the nation of Israel that Saul had torn apart. Even then, Saul’s major concern was his own name and descendants, not the spiritual welfare of the people; he made David swear that he wouldn’t wipe out his family when he became king. David had made a similar covenant with Jonathan (20:14–17, 42) and he was willing to make the same promise to Saul. How tragic that Saul’s own sins destroyed his family, all but Jonathan’s crippled son, Mephibosheth, whom David adopted (2 Sam. 9).
Because David knew God’s calling and believed God’s promise, he was able to be so bold before Saul and his army. It was indeed a holy boldness that came from a heart that was right with God. The day would come when David and his cause would be vindicated and the Lord would judge those who had opposed him. Saul went back home to Gibeah, but in spite of his tears and emotional speech, he took up his pursuit of David again (1 Sam. 26:2, 21).
David had won many battles, but one of his greatest victories occurred in that cave when he restrained himself and his men from killing Saul. “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city” (Prov. 16:32, NKJV). This is a good example for all of us to follow, but especially those to whom the Lord has entrusted leadership.
- Respect Brings Big Blessings
Some students of the Old Testament have tried to prove that the account in this chapter is merely an adaptation of the one in chapter 24, but the evidence stands against this interpretation. There are differences in locations (a cave in En Gedi; Saul’s camp near Hachilah), times (day; night), activities (Saul came to the cave; David went to the camp), David’s responses (cutting off part of Saul’s robe; taking Saul’s spear and water jug), and David’s words (spoke only to Saul; spoke to Abner and Saul). This second experience with Saul was certainly more daring on David’s part since he was actually in Saul’s camp. David’s recent experience with Nabal and Abigail had reassured him of his future reign and had taught him a profitable lesson about revenge.
(1 Sam. 26:1–4). Like Nabal, the Ziphites were related to Caleb (1 Chron. 2:42), but being members of the tribe of Judah, they should have been loyal to David. Hoping to gain the king’s approval, for a second time they betrayed David to Saul (1 Sam. 23:19ff; see Ps. 54). Saul had learned to appreciate David’s skill as a tactician, so he took his 3,000 soldiers to search for David in the wilderness. But David was already far ahead of him, for his spies had located Saul’s camp, and David was safe in the desert. The Lord kept David safe and delivered him whenever Saul was near. “He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me” (Ps. 18:17, NKJV).
(1 Sam. 26:5–12). The Lord must have instructed David to go to Saul’s camp that night, because He sent a deep sleep upon Saul and his men. Saul and Abner, who was Saul’s captain (14:10) and cousin (v. 50), were sleeping at the heart of the camp, surrounded by the wagons and baggage (“the trench” KJV). Because of the supernatural sleep sent by the Lord, David and his nephew Abishai were able to penetrate to where Saul and Abner lay.4 This is the first mention of Abishai in Scripture. As usual, Saul’s spear was at hand, the symbol of his office and his authority (26:7, 11; 22:6; 18:10; 19:9; 20:33).
Abishai was sure that it was God’s will that he kill Saul and put an end to his selfish rule and his relentless persecution of Israel’s true king, but David stopped him. David had settled this matter in the cave (24:1–6) and there was no need to consider it again. He had also seen what the Lord did to Nabal. David was sure that Saul’s life would end at the right time and in the right way, either by natural death or by a judgment from God, and then the throne would be his. When Abishai looked at Saul, he saw an enemy, but David looked at him and saw “the Lord’s anointed.” Instead of taking Saul’s life, David took his spear and water jug, just so he could prove to Saul a second time that he didn’t have designs on the king’s life. David didn’t let Abishai take the spear lest he be tempted to use it.
It would have been easy to argue that David had been wrong in the cave and that God was giving him a second chance to kill Saul, but David’s decision was based on principle and not circumstances. David knew that it was wrong to lay hands on God’s anointed, even though the king wasn’t serving as God wanted him to serve. David might not have been able to respect the man, but he did respect the office and the God who gave that office to Saul.
(1 Sam. 26:13–16). David and his nephew made their way to the hill opposite Saul’s camp where they were safe and from which they could be heard, and David called back to the soldiers in the camp and especially to Abner, the king’s bodyguard. He was careful not to humiliate Saul in the presence of his men, although Saul couldn’t easily escape the embarrassment of the situation. David didn’t identify himself to Abner but only referred to himself as “one of the people” (v. 15). The absence of the spear and water jug was evidence enough that someone indeed had been close to the king and could have killed him. Abner was guilty and could have been disciplined for not doing his duty.
Dishonesty (vv. 17–25). Saul recognized David’s voice and responded by calling him “my son, David,” but David didn’t call him “my father” as he had before (24:11). His address was only “my lord, O king.” Saul’s daughter Michal was no longer David’s wife (25:44), so David was no longer son-in-law to the king. Furthermore, Saul certainly hadn’t treated David like a son.
Once again, David tried to reason with Saul and show him how wrong he was in his thinking and acting. David wanted to know what his crime was that Saul had to pursue him and seek to kill him. If David had broken one of God’s laws, then he was willing to bring a sacrifice and have his sin forgiven by the Lord. But if Saul was treating David like a criminal because of the lies his officers had told him, then they were the offenders, not David, and they would pay for their sins. Saul and his officers had driven David out of his own land, the very inheritance that the Lord had given his family, and if David moved to other lands, how could he worship Jehovah away from the priesthood and the sanctuary?
But if David wasn’t guilty of any crime or sin, why should Saul invest so much time and energy in pursuing him? The king of Israel was chasing a partridge just for the privilege of shedding its blood! (Partridges don’t like to fly. They run from one cover to another.)
Once again, Saul lapsed into one of his sentimental moods (see 24:17) and confessed that he was a fool and a sinner. He promised that he wouldn’t harm David, but David didn’t believe him. His only reply was, “Behold the king’s spear! Let one of the young men come over and fetch it” (26:22). When David cut Saul’s robe in the cave, he reminded him that his kingdom would be severed from him, but in taking the spear, he humiliated the king and robbed him of the symbol of his authority.
For the second time, David had spared Saul’s life, and David knew that the Lord would reward him for what he had done (Ps. 7:8). But David didn’t expect Saul to value his life as he had valued Saul’s life, because he knew Saul couldn’t be trusted. Rather, he asked that the Lord reward him with protection and safety just as he had protected the king. See Psalm 18:20–27.
The last recorded words of Saul to David are in 1 Samuel 26:25, a statement that affirms the greatness of David’s deeds and the certainty of his kingship. The two men parted, Saul heading for ultimate disgrace and death, and David to ultimate glory and victory. However, David’s unbelief would take him to the land of the Philistines and the city of Ziklag, where he would live for about a year and a half. Soon David’s years of wandering and testing would end and he would be ready to sit on the throne of Israel and rule God’s people. One day David would look back on those difficult years and see in his painful experiences only the goodness, mercy and blessing of the Lord (Ps. 23:6).
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Sources:
Life Application Bible Notes (Tyndale, 2007), 449.
Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Successful, “Be” Commentary Series (Colorado Springs, CO: Victor/Cook Communications, 2001), 127–131 & 140 – 145
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