Last time we learnt about the anger of David who wanted to kill the wicked Nabal. Fortunately, Abigail prevented him from shedding blood.
David had another opportunity to kill Saul, but he did not. Was Abigail instrumental in preventing David from doing this. Do you have a spouse preventing you to act retaliating? If that is the case thank God for such a wife and keep on listening to her.
DAVID’S BIOGRAPHER WROTE:
1 Sam 26:7 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.
1Sa 26:8 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!”
1Sa 26:9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD’s anointed, and be guiltless?”
1Sa 26:10 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.
1Sa 26:11 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.”
1Sa 26:12 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.
1Sa 26:13 Now David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of a hill afar off, a great distance being between them.
1Sa 26:14 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?”
1Sa 26:15 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.
1Sa 26:16 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.”
1Sa 26:17 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.”
1Sa 26:18 And he said, “Why does my lord thus pursue his servant? For what have I done, or what evil is in my hand?
1Sa 26:19 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.’
1Sa 26:20 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.”
1Sa 26:21 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.”
1Sa 26:22 And David answered and said, “Here is the king’s spear. Let one of the young men come over and get it.
1Sa 26:23 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.
1Sa 26:24 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.”
1Sa 26:25 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.
I waited for the word of permission to kill my archenemy; but there fell upon my ear the whispered words: “Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?
So I carefully took the spear and the jug of water by Saul’s head, and we left. Not one of them saw us and no one awoke. For they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.
How easily the Lord can weaken the strongest, remove prudence from the wisest, and baffle the skill of the most watchful!
When I was at a safe distance from the camp I stood on the top of a hill and cried with a loud voice to the people and to Abner, saying,
And I 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?”
So I 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 my dear friend 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.”
For a moment there is silence and then I heard that familiar hypocritical voice of Saul that brings back many bad memories.
“Is that your voice, my son David?” and I replied with tears in my voice, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.” And then I gave vent to my feelings and accused him: “Why does my lord thus pursue his servant? For what have I done, or what evil is in my hand? “
And then came the usual nauseous reply: “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.”
I told the king to send one of the young men come over and fetch the spear that was taken from him. He could have been killed by his own spear. At that stage I was unaware of the sad event om Mount Gilboa when his used that spear to take his life.
Although Saul had made the promise, “I will no more do thee harm,” I did not place myself in his power.
Thinking back of that day I recall my last words ever spoken to my potential murderer:
May the LORD repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness king Saul; for the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed.
And then with deep pathos I said to the pathetic old monarch: “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.”
The second instance of my respect for his sovereign’s life made a still deeper impression upon the mind of Saul and brought from him a humbler acknowledgment of his fault. He was astonished and subdued at the manifestation of such kindness.
In parting from me, Saul exclaimed, “May you be blessed, my son David! You shall both do great things and also still prevail.”
So I went on way, and Saul returned to his place.
DISPONDENT
Have you ever become despondent? This is what happened to me. I have lost all hope that Saul would change. I was getting of being a refugee in my own country.
I despaired of a reconciliation with Saul. It seemed inevitable that I should at last fall a victim to the malice of the king, and I determined again to seek refuge in the land of the Philistines. With the six hundred men under my command, I passed over to Achish, the king of Gath.
I am so sorry for becoming desponded. My conclusion that Saul would certainly accomplish his murderous purpose was formed without the counsel of God. Even while Saul was plotting and seeking to accomplish my destruction, the Lord was working to secure me the kingdom.
God works out His plans, though to human eyes they are veiled in mystery. Men cannot understand the ways of God; and, looking at appearances, they interpret the trials and tests that God permits to come upon them as things that are against them, and that will only work their ruin.
Thus, I looked on appearances, and not at the promises of God. I doubted that I would ever come to the throne. Long trials had wearied my faith and exhausted my patience.
My dear friends are you at the emotional level that I experienced? Please don’t give up. Learn from my mistakes and trust and believe God’s promises.
The Lord did not send me for protection to the Philistines, the most bitter foes of Israel. This very nation would be among my worst enemies to the last, and yet I had fled to them for help in his time of need.
Having lost all confidence in Saul and in those who served him, he threw himself upon the mercies of the enemies of his people. David was a brave general and had proved himself a wise and successful warrior; but I was working directly against my own interests when I went to the Philistines.
God had appointed me to set up his standard in the land of Judah, and it was want of faith that led me to forsake my post of duty without a command from the Lord.
God was dishonoured by my unbelief. The Philistines had feared me more than they had feared Saul and his armies; and by placing myself under the protection of the Philistines, I disclosed to them the weakness of my own people.
Thus I encouraged these relentless foes to oppress Israel. I had been anointed to stand in defence of the people of God; and the Lord would not have His servants give encouragement to the wicked by disclosing the weakness of His people or by an appearance of indifference to their welfare.
Furthermore, the impression was received by my brothers that I had gone to the heathen to serve their gods. By this act I gave occasion for misconstruing my motives, and many were led to hold prejudice against me.
The very thing that Satan desired to have me do I was led to do. For, in seeking refuge among the Philistines, I caused great jubilation to the enemies of God. I did not renounce my worship of God nor cease my devotion to His cause.
But sacrificed my trust in Him to my personal safety, and thus tarnished the upright and faithful character that God requires His servants to possess.
I was cordially received by the king of the Philistines. The warmth of this reception was partly since the king admired me and partly to the fact that it was flattering to his vanity to have a Hebrew seek his protection.
I felt secure from betrayal in the dominions of Achish. I brought my family, my household, and my possessions, as did also my men; and to all appearance I had come to settle permanently in the land of Philistia. All this was gratifying to Achish, who promised to protect me, the fugitive Israelites.
At my request for a residence in the country, removed from the royal city, the king graciously granted Ziklag as a possession. I realized that it would be dangerous for myself and my men to be under the influence of idolaters.
In a town wholly separated for our use we might worship God with more freedom than they could if they remained in Gath, where the heathen rites could not but prove a source of evil and annoyance.
While dwelling in this isolated town I made war upon the Geshurites, th e Gezrites, and the Amalekites, and I left nonalive to bring tidings to Gath. When I returned from battle, I gave Achish to understand that I had been warring against those of my own nation, the men of Judah. By this dissembling he was the means of strengthening the hand of the Philistines; for the king said,
“He has made his people Israel utterly abhor him; therefore, he will be my servant forever.”
I knew that it was the will of God that those heathen tribes should be destroyed, and I knew that I was appointed to do this work; but I was not walking in the counsel of God when he practiced deception.
NEXT TIME
Have you ever such stupid decisions in your life than I did? I had no idea how to get out of this complicated mess. I am so glad for the loving God we serve. He is so kind and so forgiving and he got this sinner out of his entangled mess. Come and listen how He saved me.