26 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 But 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 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?”
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.
1 Samuel 26
Dear God, it is fascinating that we get two such similar stories. You gave David opportunity? Was Satan tempting him? Was this a Job situation where you allowed Satan to put immediate kingship in David’s hands…
Okay, I’m totally distracted by something else this morning, and I might need to come back to this passage tomorrow. I think it’s the last one for this next Bible study anyway. I want to talk about the children in our community. They are suffering. There was an article in our weekly paper yesterday about a local judge for the county who requested $85,000 to handle juvenile court cases and detentions. In 2022, just three years ago, $8,000 was enough! Incredible! Devastating!
What’s really sitting in my craw this morning is the letters to the editor in the same edition of the paper. There is a group from Moms for Liberty who are just hellbent (that seems like the right word in the purest sense of it) on focusing all of their attention on a list of 50 books they want banned from libraries. But where are they on the four vape stores in our town? Where are they on supporting the local organizations that help youth? How much do they donate to Caritas Family Assistance Network, Fredericksburg Academic Boosters, the school district’s foundation, or the Boys & Girls Club? Where are they in being Scout troop leaders? From a spiritual warfare standpoint, it feels like Satan is totally distracting them with this inconsequential issue over here (I doubt any of the children in the juvenile court system have read any of the 50 evil books) while the real work he is doing is over there.
I feel something greatly stirred in me. Is this You, Holy Spirit? Are you calling me to respond in some way?
Father, I need your love, mercy, and wisdom. I need your love for the Mom’s for Liberty parents who, I believe, mostly have beautiful, wonderful hearts (I suspect some at the top intentionally stir up the goodhearted for personal gain). But even for those I suspect have ulterior motives, I want to love and care for them. I want to have mercy and grace because I do believe, at some level, they do, indeed, care for the children. So help me to be your voice in our community. I truly want to see your kingdom come and your will be done here as it is in heaven. So give me this day my daily bread. Forgive me as I forgive others, including these people that I believe are, at least to some extent, misguided. And please protect me from Satan as I step out. I know this is a time when attacks can come. Help me to live through those attacks from Satan. In fact, as I relate this back to the story from 1 Samuel 26, Saul was under attack. And David was under attack. Help me to choose the path of David today.
I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,
Amen
Emails to God 