Day 60 – 1 Samuel 24:1-7
Scripture Review
1 Samuel 24:1-7
"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."
(1 Samuel 24:1)
Saul has returned from fighting the Philistines. He has just dealt with the Philistines, but his heart is still fixed on David.
"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."
(1 Samuel 24:2)
These are selected men, picked for strength and battle. Saul is using the best of the nation to chase one man. "the rocks of the wild goats." Is a vivid picture of the land. These were steep cliff areas where wild goats moved, dangerous, rugged places where only the sure footed could travel well.
"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."
(1 Samuel 24:3)
"the sheepcotes." were enclosures or folds for sheep, often built near caves or using caves as shelter. This is a region Shepards are familiar with, which would suite David well. The phrase "to cover his feet." is an older way of speaking about relieving himself or resting in privacy. Saul goes into the cave alone, thinking it is empty. But David and his men are already there, hidden "in the sides of the cave." That means they are back in the inner recesses, deeper in the cave, out of plain sight.
"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."
(1 Samuel 24:4)
David's men interpret the moment for him. To them, Saul is alone, vulnerable, and close enough to touch. They call it God's opportunity.
An important take away here is that men can speak very confidently about what God is doing and still be wrong in what they want done with it. Opportunity is not always permission.
David "cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily." The skirt is the edge or corner of Saul's outer robe. David does not kill Saul, but he secretly cuts a piece from the king's garment.
"And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt."
(1 Samuel 24:5)
"David's heart smote him." Here we witness inward conviction, not because he had murdered Saul, but because he had defaced the robe of the king. David is sensitive, not only about great sins, but about lesser wrongs that others might excuse. David see sin as sin, there is no greater and lesser. He is troubled even by a smaller act that carried disrespect in it.
"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."
(1 Samuel 24:6)
David explains the reason for not killing Saul. "the LORD'S anointed." Saul had been anointed with oil as king over Israel. David knows Saul is failing, rejected, and dangerous, but he also knows Saul still holds the office God gave him until God removes him. "stretch forth mine hand against him" means to strike him, attack him, or lay violent hands on him. David refuses to seize the kingdom by killing the king.
What I find humbling is David calls Saul "my master." Not because Saul is righteous, but because David still recognizes the place God had given him.
This teaches me that a heart after God will not try to fulfill God's promise by violating God's holiness.
"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 Samuel 24:7)
David does more than restrain himself. He restrains others. He "stayed his servants with these words." That means he held them back, checked them, and would not let them act.
It is one thing not to sin alone. It is another thing to stop a whole group from sinning when they are urging you to do it. That is real leadership.
Saul leaves the cave alive and unaware. "went on his way." The man chasing David walks out of the cave because David feared God more than he desired relief.
David's greatest victory in the cave was not over Saul, but over himself. Saul came in with three thousand men outside, yet the real danger in the cave was the temptation to take by force what God had promised to give in His own time. David's men saw a chance to end the problem. David saw the LORD'S anointed.