1 Samuel 26:1-25

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?” 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. 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, David sent out spies and learned that Saul had indeed come. 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.

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.” 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. Then Abishai said 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.” 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.

13 Then David went over to the other side and stood far off on the top of the hill, with a great space between them. 14 And David called to the army, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Will you not answer, Abner?” Then Abner answered, “Who are you who calls to the king?” 15 And David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy the king your lord. 16 This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the LORD’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is and the jar of water that was at his head.”

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.

(ESV)

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Once again the Ziphites actively betrayed David to Saul. Saul took three thousand men to look for David. Saul encamped on a hill which provided him strategic advantage and protection. David and his men remained hidden. David sent out spies who confirmed that Saul was indeed after him again. David approached Saul’s camp at night and discovered where Saul lay as well as the location of Abner, the commander of his army. David took Abishai with him into Saul’s camp to where he was sleeping. Saul slept with his spear at the ready near his head but remained asleep. Abishai saw this as a God-given opportunity and requested the honour of killing David’s enemy for him. David responded to Abishai’s theological motivation with a theological answer, no one can lay their hand against the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless. The Lord would deal with him as He saw fit to do. David then told Abishai to take the spear and a jug of water that was at Saul’s head which they could use later. No one woke, not because David and Abishai were extra stealthy, but because the Lord had caused them to fall into a deep sleep.

David moved to another hill and then called out to Abner, the commander of Saul’s army, and accused him of not adequately protecting the king declaring that he deserved to die for his failure. As evidence of his failure, David sent Abner to check for Saul’s spear and water jug.
Saul woke and called out to David similarly to their encounter two chapters earlier. David again asked why Saul was pursuing him. David was open to hearing if he had done something wrong and the Lord had directed Saul to come after him. If that was the case, he prayed that the Lord would accept a freewill offering. But if it was man who was the cause of David’s troubles, then he prayed that the Lord would judge them for their sin. They had driven him from his share in the covenant relationship with the Lord. By keeping David from being able to freely worship God within the Jewish structures God had put in place, David saw them as driving him to serve other gods. Then David asked Saul to look at the situation in perspective. Saul was focusing enormous military energy on one innocent man like looking for a single flea or hunting a partridge in the mountains.

Saul again repented, but his words no longer carried any weight. David didn’t accept Saul’s offer to return but asked that he send one of his young men to come and fetch his spear and jug. David concluded with a reminder of the Biblical concept of sowing and reaping (Gal 6:7). Because he had considered Saul’s life precious and spared him, David humbly trusted that the Lord would look after him and deliver him from his trouble.

Jesus was clear in His teaching that we should treat others’ lives as precious (Mat 7:12; 5:44; 7:2). One might argue that David would have been justified in killing Saul—but God’s ways are higher than our ways. If Jesus calls us to love our enemies and pray for them, how are you doing with treating others the way Jesus expects you to?


Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan

The Parables of the Lost Things: Luke 15-16