Day 61 – 1 Samuel 24:8-15
Scripture Review
1 Samuel 24:8-15
"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."
(1 Samuel 24:8)
David came out of the cave after Saul had gone left. He does not attack from behind. He calls out openly: "My lord the king." David "stooped... and bowed himself." He lowered himself to the ground in humility and respect. Even though Saul is hunting him, David still honors God's anointed.
"And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?"
(1 Samuel 24:9)
Saul has been listening to lies. The phrase "seeketh thy hurt" means seeking Saul's harm, ruin, or injury. David is asking, "Why do you keep listening to people who tell you I want to destroy you?"
"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."
(1 Samuel 24:10)
David points out proof for Saul to see "thine eyes have seen." Saul has evidence. David says, "some bade me kill thee." His men urged him to strike. But David says, "mine eye spared thee." That means he chose mercy when vengeance was within reach. Again the reason is clear: "he is the LORD'S anointed." David would not grab God's promise by violating God's order.
"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 Samuel 24:11)
David says "my father." respectfully, likely because Saul is his father-in-law and king. He is not speaking like an enemy. "see... the skirt of thy robe." David holds the piece of cloth as proof that Saul was truly in his power. David says there is "neither evil nor transgression in mine hand." In other words, his hand is clean of rebellion and violence against Saul. Yet Saul is still hunting "my soul," meaning Saul is seeking David's life.
"The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee."
(1 Samuel 24:12)
David placed the whole case in God's courtroom. "The LORD judge between me and thee" I see him hear saying, "Let God decide who is right." Then he says, "the LORD avenge me of thee." David is not asking permission for personal revenge. He is handing justice over to God. He believes God sees the wrong and will deal with it rightly. David will not be the one to strike. "but mine hand shall not be upon thee."
"As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee."
(1 Samuel 24:13)
David quotes an old saying, a wise proverb already known among the people. "Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked." David's point is clear. If he were truly wicked, he would have killed Saul in the cave. The fact that he spared him proves the Spirit he is living by.
"After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea."
(1 Samuel 24:14)
A "dead dog" was an image of something despised, weak, and worthless. A "flea"is tiny and hardly worth chasing. I feel like David is saying, "Why is the king of Israel spending all this strength chasing someone as small and insignificant as me?" This is David showing Saul how unreasonable and pointless his desire to kill David has become.
"The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand."
(1 Samuel 24:15)
He repeats, "The LORD therefore be judge." He wants God to look, God to decide, and God to act. "plead my cause" means to take up my case like an advocate, to defend me as the one in the right. And "deliver me out of thine hand" means rescue me from Saul's power.
David is humble, but not weak. He is bold, but not rebellious. He tells the truth, shows the evidence, refuses revenge, and leaves it all in God's hands.