DAVID SPARES SAUL'S LIFE AGAIN

PROCLAMATION

“So David took the spear and the curse of water from Saul’s bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked; for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from The Lord was fallen upon them.”  1 Samuel 26:12 (KJV)  

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God after the death of the prophet Samuel by Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer.  The Ziphites again went to Saul and told him where David was hiding. (1 Samuel 26:1)  So Saul gathered three thousand men and went down to the wilderness of Ziph to search for David.  When David learned that Saul had followed him there, he set out for the place where Saul had camped. (1 Samuel 26:2-5)  He asked Abishai to go with him into Saul’s camp and he agreed.  They went by night and found Saul sleeping, with Abner, the commander of the army, and the soldiers all around him.  Abishai wanted to kill Saul but David stopped him.  David took the spear and the water jug which was near Saul’s head and they left without being seen. (1 Samuel 26:6-12)  When David was some distance away from the camp, he called out to Abner questioning his protection of the king. (1 Samuel 26:13-16)  Saul recognized David’s voice and responded to him.  David questioned Saul to ascertain why he was pursuing him.  He let Saul know that again he could have killed him but didn’t.  Saul again admitted that he was wrong and had sinned.  He thanked David for again sparing his life and said that he would not harm him.  David told Saul to send one of his young men over to him to get his spear. (1 Samuel 26:17-22)  Then David said, “As surely as I valued your life today, so may The Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble.” (1 Samuel 26:24)

 

APPLICATION

The Bible teaches us saying, “Touch not Mine anointed, and do My prophets no harm.” (1 Chronicles 16:22 and Psalm 105:15)  David knew this (1 Samuel 26:11) and for the second time he had the chance to kill Saul but did not do it.  Again I say, “Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.” (Sherrilyn Kenyon)  When we know that which is the right thing to do, we should do it.  When you “Know better, do better.” (David and Meredith Liben)  This quote was taken from a book teaching the foundations so every child can read by the end of second grade.  I think that it is applicable in a lot more situations, including Christian behavior.  We should do that which we know is right, and avoid that which we know is wrong.