Lessons from King David: Reconciliation with Saul

Time has passed since David cut a piece of Saul’s robe and once again Saul is out to kill David.

Saul did not know he was in David’s cave

David discovers Saul is out to kill him and sends scouts out to determine where Saul’s located.

” Then David set out and came to the place where Saul had set up camp and saw for himself where Saul and Abner, son of Ner, his general, were staying. Saul was safely inside the camp, encircled by the army.” {1 Samuel 26:4-5}

David and Abishai enter Sauls’ camp at night. “Saul, stretched out asleep at the center of the camp, his spear stuck in the ground near his head, with Abner and the troops sound asleep on all sides.” {1 Samuel 26:7}

Saul later went in search of David again

David discovers Saul sound asleep with his spear by his side. Once again, David is presented with an opportunity. He could have easily taken the spear and killed King Saul and his men, but he didn’t.

Abishai encourages him to kill Saul, but David responds ““Don’t you dare hurt him! Who could lay a hand on God’s anointed and even think of getting away with it?”” {1 Samuel 26:9}

Once again, David refuses to go against the Lord and to hurt King Saul.

He went on, “As God lives, either God will strike him, or his time will come and he’ll die in bed, or he’ll fall in battle, but God forbid that I should lay a finger on God’s anointed. Now, grab the spear at his head and the water jug and let’s get out of here.” {1 Samuel 26:10-11}

David announces that he will allow God to strike down Saul in his time and his way. However, he declares that he will not harm Saul.

The men leave camp and “no one wokeup! They all slept through the whole thing.” {1 Samuel 26:12}

Once again, David makes it to safety. He makes it to the top of a mountain far away. Only then does he call out to the king’s body guard. He holds up the spear and water jug saying, “Why are you after me, hunting me down? What have I done? What crime have I committed? Oh, my master, my king, listen to this from your servant: If God has stirred you up against me, then I gladly offer my life as a sacrifice. But if it’s men who have done it, let them be banished from God’s presence!… But you’re not getting rid of me that easily; you’ll not separate me from God in life or death.” {1 Samuel 26:17-20}

David approached Saul

David once again defers the entire situation to God and not to himself.

Saul confessed “I won’t hurt you anymore. You’ve honored me this day, treating my life as most precious. And I’ve acted the fool—a moral dunce, a real clown.” {1 Samuel 26:21}

Saul sees his foolishness and even if it is for this short moment, the two are reconciled. Most scholars seem to agree that the two men never saw one another after this

David answered, “See what I have here? The king’s spear. Let one of your servants come and get it. It’s God’s business to decide what to do with each of us in regard to what’s right and who’s loyal. God put your life in my hands today, but I wasn’t willing to lift a finger against God’s anointed. Just as I honored your life today, may God honor my life and rescue me from all trouble.” {1 Samuel 26:22-24}

David showed reverence to Saul

David actually gives the spear back. He could have kept it as a trophy, but he didn’t. He has someone come and get it.

Once again, he calls for a blessing from the Lord.

When times are difficult, David leaned on the Lord and sought to do what was right in the Lord’s sight.

Do you long to do right in the Lord’s sight when you are tested? Do you honor the Lord when times are difficult?

 

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**Photos from FreeBibleImages.org

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