I Samuel 24
Friday, 11th August 2023
Joanna Liu
V1-2 ‘Now it happened, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, “Take note! David is in the Wilderness of En Gedi.” Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the Rocks of the Wild Goats.’ Saul led 3000 chosen men, and David only had 600 followers. His followers were those who had no where to go, whereas Saul’s men were chosen from many, best out of the best. It’s so easy for us to judge what’s right in front of us and get scared before we even take the first step. What are we afraid of? We should have the fear and trembling for God, He is the Almighty God and He can save us from the most impossible situations!
V3 ‘So he came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to attend to his needs. (David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave.)’ Saul was right outside David’s cave, but God protected him. Danger might be right outside our door, we might not see a way out, but God’s salvation will come in the last minute if we have faith. Do we wait for God’s timing?
V4 ‘Then the men of David said to him, “This is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.’ ” And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.’ As followers, what is our faith? Can we support those who lead us, or are we always complying and dragging them down? What David did was different to what followers suggested. When we hear the advice from our followers, do we also seek God?
V5-6 ‘Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe. And he said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.”’ David explained to his followers why he made the decision and how he felt. Do not be afraid to open ourselves but always exalt God in our sharing.
V8-10 ‘David also arose afterward, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed down. 9 And David said to Saul: “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Indeed David seeks your harm’? 10 Look, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’’ David must have been seeking God all his time, he was brave to confront Saul, and he was able to speak humble words. He put behind all his anger and sadness to speak calmly to Saul.
V16-20 ‘So it was, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. Then he said to David: “You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil. And you have shown this day how you have dealt well with me; for when the Lord delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me. For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him get away safely? Therefore may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. And now I know indeed that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.’ Saul was touched by David’s words. He even knew that David was to become the king. Precariously we come to know that Saul had the gift of prophesying. He might have felt the anointing of David and saw God’s Will in his life. When we receive God’s revelation do we keep on seeking God? Saul used this gift to make David swear by the Lord to protect himself and his children, but David didn’t ask Saul to do the same. What’s different between these two people? Saul was afraid of people and David had the fear in the Lord. Therefore at the end, Saul’s life was taken by his enemy and David still became the king.
V21 ‘Therefore swear now to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s house.”’ At the end of this chapter nobody died. Let us also learn to turn to God, we don’t need to be afraid of people or situations around us, but have the fear and trembling in God!