Scripture: 1 Samuel 26:1-25 (NKJV)
1 Now the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding in the
hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon?” 2 Then Saul arose and went down to the
Wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to
seek David in the Wilderness of Ziph. 3 And Saul encamped in the hill of
Hachilah, which is opposite Jeshimon, by the road. But David stayed in the
wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness. 4 David
therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul had indeed come. 5 So David
arose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place
where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. Now Saul
lay within the camp, with the people encamped all around him.
6 Then David answered, and said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai the son
of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, saying, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the
camp?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.” 7 So David and Abishai came
to the people by night; and there Saul lay sleeping within the camp, with his
spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the people lay all around
him. 8 Then Abishai said to David, “God has delivered your enemy into your hand
this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him at once with the spear,
right to the earth; and I will not have to strike him a second time!” 9 And
David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand
against the LORD’s anointed, and be guiltless?” 10 David said furthermore, “As
the LORD lives, the LORD shall strike him, or his day shall come to die, or he
shall go out to battle and perish. 11 The LORD forbid that I should stretch out
my hand against the LORD’s anointed. But please, take now the spear and the jug
of water that are by his head, and let us go.” 12 So David took the spear and
the jug of water by Saul’s head, and they got away; and no man saw it or knew
it or awoke. For they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had
fallen on them.
13 Now David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of a hill afar
off, a great distance being between them. 14 And David called out to the people
and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Do you not answer, Abner?” Then Abner
answered and said, “Who are you, calling out to the king?” 15 So David said to
Abner, “Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not
guarded your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy your lord
the king. 16 This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, you
deserve to die, because you have not guarded your master, the LORD’s anointed.
And now see where the king’s spear is, and the jug of water that was by his
head.” 17 Then Saul knew David’s voice, and said, “Is that your voice, my son
David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.” 18 And he said, “Why
does my lord thus pursue his servant? For what have I done, or what evil is in
my hand? 19 Now therefore, please, let my lord the king hear the words of his
servant: If the LORD has stirred you up against me, let Him accept an offering.
But if it is the children of men, may they be cursed before the LORD, for they
have driven me out this day from sharing in the inheritance of the LORD,
saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 20 So now, do not let my blood fall to the
earth before the face of the LORD. For the king of Israel has come out to seek
a flea, as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”
21 Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David. For I will harm you no
more, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Indeed I have played
the fool and erred exceedingly.” 22 And David answered and said, “Here is the
king’s spear. Let one of the young men come over and get it. 23 May the LORD
repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD
delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against
the LORD’s anointed. 24 And indeed, as your life was valued much this day in my
eyes, so let my life be valued much in the eyes of the LORD, and let Him
deliver me out of all tribulation.” 25 Then Saul said to David, “May you be
blessed, my son David! You shall both do great things and also still prevail.”
So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.
Devotion
In our reading, David once again spared Saul’s life. He would not assassinate
the king, even though Saul had repeatedly shown great wickedness towards him.
David was both faithful and merciful.
These are the characteristics of strength from God. Strength and power are not
just seen in the destruction of one’s enemies, but in how righteousness is
shown to those enemies. There are times where God establishes the authorities
in order to bear the sword and punish criminals, but there are other times
where He sends His messengers with the power of His Word. And those messengers
do not come to kill or punish, but to exhort and convince those who act
godlessly so that they are mercifully given the opportunity to repent of their
evil.
The omnipotent Lord Who made Heaven and Earth would have no fault in pinning us
to the ground and letting us die in our wicked pursuits. But He shows the world
that the greater part of His strength is in love and mercy. “God demonstrates
His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for
us.” (Rom.5:8). We are saved from the wrath that our sinful treachery should
bring upon us. His Only-Begotten Son was nailed to the cross and a spear was
driven into Him so that we might be justified by faith in His blood, which was
shed so that we would have peace with God.
May the Lord keep us steadfast by His Spirit in that faith that clings to the
cross and lives by His blood, and may He always protect us by His merciful
strength. Amen.
Posted by The Reverend Jeffrey A. Ahonen on behalf of the Evangelical Lutheran
Diocese of North America, publisher of the Lutheran Herald.
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