Day 84: 1 Samuel 21-24; Psalm 91

There's an event recorded in 1 Samuel 24 which has always interested me. David has been one of the best things that has ever happened to Saul. He is a valiant warrior and a loyal servant of the king. But because of all this, and David's popularity, Saul, in his paranoia, is jealous of him. So, while David continues to fight the Philistines he is also on the run from Saul who is hunting him down and plans to kill him. At one point Saul hears the call of nature and goes into a cave to relieve himself (even kings gotta pee). What he doesn't know is that David and his men are hiding in this same cave. David has the opportunity to kill Saul and end the running and hiding...but, against his men's advice, he doesn't take the opportunity. Instead, after Saul finishes his business and steps out of the cave David reveals himself to Saul with these words:

Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’? This day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the LORD’s anointed.’ See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you. (24:8-13)

I don't know if David is really that honorable or if he's simply a political genius...because this whole thing is going to play well with the public opinion of David. I'm inclined to think that David is both. He has already proven himself honorable a number of times...and this is certainly in keeping with David's character as we've come to know him...but no one would have blamed him for killing Saul...except for his own conscience. I'm not sure that even God would hold this against him because He has already declared that He was taking the throne away from Saul and giving it to David. But then again, I'm not as honorable as David so I could be wrong.

Here is Saul's response:

When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” And he wept aloud. “You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the LORD delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the LORD reward you well for the way you treated me today. I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. Now swear to me by the LORD that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.” (24:16-21)

I'm pretty sure that Saul isn't finished trying to kill David...he has proven himself to be paranoid and completely untrustworthy in this regard. But still:

David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold. (24:22)

I believe we will see a time in David's future when this oath will come into play.