1 Samuel
21 – 25
This has one of my favorite stories between Saul and David
in Chapter 24. Verse 24:3 has Saul in a compromised position:
When he came to
the sheep shelters beside the road, a cave was there, and Saul went inside to
relieve himself. Unguarded, he was especially vulnerable to attack.
David
and his men are in this same cave. So while Saul is taking a poo, David debates
with his men on if he should kill him. First thing I wonder is most caves I
have been in echoed and I wonder how they could have kept this conversation
from Saul hearing it. First thing I wonder is most caves I have been in echoed
and I wonder how they could have kept this conversation from Saul hearing it. Second
thing is how did they have time for this conversation? I mean there were a
bunch of them and to debate where everyone gets their say would take time, more
than a poo would take.
Anyway
as we read David spares Saul’s life and only cuts a small patch from his gown.
Verses 24:9 & 10 have David return this patch to Saul:
9 My
lord, why do you listen to those who say I plan to harm you? 10 Look!
Today the Eternal One placed you at my mercy in that cave. I could have done
anything to you, and some said I should kill you. But I refused. I said, “I
will not raise my hand against my lord, the Eternal’s anointed king.”
Interestingly
for a brief moment this brings Saul to his senses and he has mercy on David. I
find stories like this interesting since it gives us an example to live by and
shows us how David is following God and not his own desires. A “normal” person
would have killed Saul (since he was trying to kill David) and taken the throne
they were anointed to be on. David is not normal, he knows how to honor God and
follow his ways and not those of the world. He also is learning how to lead,
since his men all want to kill Saul.
What would you do in
this position?
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