David spares Saul
1 Sam 24:1 And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.
Saul, having been called by a messenger to come against the Philistines, leaves the scene moments before he would have captured David. God rescued David through a messenger, perhaps an angel, Saul was not to touch God's chosen king. The devil has his helpers too, telling Saul where David was last sited.
1 Sam 24:2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
Saul with three legions of his best men, go to the area where David was last seen; upon the rocky cliffs where wild goats lived. This would require climbing carefully, without horses.
1 Sam 24:3 And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.
The sheepcotes, or a place large enough to enclose a sheepfold, a large walled area with a cave. A cave large enough to hide 600 men, a cavern. There Saul went to answer the call of nature. He would go into the cave in private.
1 Sam 24:4 And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.
David's men urged him to take advantage of the opportunity. Saul could easily be killed, alone in a dark cave. The LORD had promised to deliver his enemy into his hand.
Psa 143:9 Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.
The LORD had arranged for Saul to be defenseless in his presence. How did David cut off the skirt of Saul's robe without being heard? Perhaps the noise from outside, three thousand men talking would have made it difficult to hear an unexpected visitor. Another possibility would be that Saul had removed his robes and left them behind, to be retrieved on leaving the cave. It is not important. The important thing is David, his heart and respect for God's anointed king, would not allow him to destroy him. David showed grace, unmerited favor, to Saul his tormentor and his king. Just as our Lord Jesus showed grace to his tormentors from the cross. They took his robe too, leaving him naked, wounded and taking our shame. Jesus showed respect unto their souls, giving his life so that sinners might be forgiven. That is grace.
Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
1 Sam 24:5 And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
1 Sam 24:6 And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.
Even this small act against Saul, troubled the heart of David. God chose David because he was a man after God's own heart. Jesus would express God's heart on this subject later. We are not to get even.
Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Sam 24:7 So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
1 Sam 24:8 David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.
David, fearing God more than Saul, wishing to do no bad towards God's anointed, even though the anointing was withdrawn. He called unto Saul and humbled himself, bowing upon the earth before the king, he was not a threat.
1 Sam 24:9 And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?
David was covering Saul's sin by saying that others had been the source of the hatred for David. He was giving Saul grace, allowing him to escape his condemnation. Saul had men who would agree with his own twisted thoughts about David, even though the thoughts were originated within Saul, being demonic, they were still believed. A servant of God must discern truth from God and not agree with another's thoughts, or the thoughts that are of the darkness, especially negative words of hate. Saul was not God's servant.
1 Pet 3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
1 Pet 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
1 Sam 24:10 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD'S anointed.
David would not touch the king, because God had made him king. He would not allow personal interests to destroy the anointed of God. Beware, that you not destroy another by your words or actions. You can destroy another's testimony with wicked self seeking words. You may undo years of labor for the Lord, with false accusations, agreeing with the adversary. Perhaps David remembered the rebellion of Miriam and Aaron against God's anointed, Moses.
Num 12:8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
Num 12:9 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.
Num 12:10 And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.
Num 12:11 And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.
1 Sam 24:11 Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.
1 Sam 24:12 The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
1 Sam 24:13 As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
1 Sam 24:14 After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
1 Sam 24:15 The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.
David calls Saul, my father, he was father by marriage to Saul's daughter. With robe in hand he shows that he could have killed Saul, but did not. Why do you hunt my soul to kill it?
Let the LORD judge and avenge.
Psa 1:6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
1 Sam 24:16 And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
Saul wept at David's voice. Perhaps he saw that David truthfully was threat to him.
1 Sam 24:17 And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.
1 Sam 24:18 And thou hast showed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not.
1 Sam 24:19 For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.
David did not kill, he is more righteous, the LORD reward you. This sounds like a repentant Saul, is it real? His life will show the truth.
1 Sam 24:20 And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.
1 Sam 24:21 Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.
Saul knew that David would be the king. He asks for protection of his family, swearing an oath. David had already swore an oath with Jonathan to protect this family.
1 Sam 24:22 And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.
David staid with his men in the stronghold and Saul went home. David may have been restored into fellowship with Saul, but he is cautious. It is difficult to trust someone who had been so wrong and was not truly following God.
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