759 - David Spares Saul Again

David Spares Saul Again


Some men, from Ziph, came to Saul, at Gibeah, to tell him, 


“David is hiding, on the hill of Hakilah, which overlooks Jeshimon.” 


So, Saul took 3,000 …of Israel’s elite troops, and went to hunt David down, in the wilderness of Ziph. 


Saul camped along the road, beside the hill of Hakilah, near Jeshimon, where David was hiding. 


When David learned, that Saul had come after him, into the wilderness, he sent out spies, to verify the report, of Saul’s arrival. 


David slipped over, to Saul’s camp, one night, to look around. 


Saul and Abner, son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, were sleeping, inside a ring, formed by the slumbering warriors. 


“Who will volunteer, to go in there with me?” David asked Ahimelech, the Hittite, and Abishai, son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother. 


“I’ll go with you,” Abishai replied. 


So, David and Abishai went, right into Saul’s camp …and found him asleep, with his spear… stuck in the ground, beside his head. 


Abner and the soldiers were lying, asleep around him. 


“God has surely handed your enemy over to you this time!” Abishai whispered to David. 


“Let me pin him to the ground, with one thrust of the spear; 

I won’t need to strike twice!” 


“No!” David said. “Don’t kill him. 


For, who can remain innocent, after attacking the Lord’s anointed one? 


Surely, the Lord will strike Saul down, someday, or he will die of old age …or in battle. 


The Lord forbid, that I should kill the one, whom He has anointed! 


But, take his spear …and that jug of water, beside his head, and then, let’s get out of here!” 


So, David took the spear …and the jug of water, that were near Saul’s head. 


Then, he and Abishai got away, without anyone seeing them …or even waking up, because the Lord had put Saul’s men into a deep sleep. 


David climbed the hill, opposite the camp, until he was at a safe distance. 


Then, he shouted down, to the soldiers …and to Abner son of Ner, “Wake up, Abner!” 


“Who is it?” Abner demanded. 


“Well, Abner, you’re a great man, aren’t you?” David taunted. 


“Where, in all Israel, is there anyone as mighty? 


So, why haven’t you guarded your master, the king, when someone came to kill him? 


This isn’t good at all! 


I swear, by the Lord, that you, and your men, deserve to die, because you failed to protect your master, the Lord’s anointed! 


Look around! 


Where are the king’s spear… and the jug of water, that were beside his head?” 


Saul recognized David’s voice, and called out, 


“Is that you, my son David?” 


And David replied, 

“Yes, my lord the king. 


Why are you chasing me? 


What have I done? 


What is my crime? 


But now, let my lord, the king, listen, to his servant. 


If the Lord has stirred you up against me, then let him accept my offering. 


But, if this is simply a human scheme, then may those involved …be cursed by the Lord. 


For they have driven me from my home, so I can no longer live among the Lord’s people, and they have said, 


‘Go, worship pagan gods.’ 


Must I die on foreign soil, far from the presence of the Lord? 


Why has the king of Israel come out, to search for a single flea? 


Why does he hunt me down like a partridge, on the mountains?” 


Then, Saul confessed, 

“I have sinned. 


Come back home, my son, and I will no longer try to harm you, for you valued my life today. 


I have been a fool …and very, very wrong.” 


“Here is your spear, O king,” David replied. 


“Let one of your young men come over and get it. 


The Lord gives his own reward, for doing good …and for being loyal, and I refused to kill you, even when the Lord placed you in my power, for you are the Lord’s anointed one. 


Now, may the Lord value my life, even as I have valued yours today. 


May he rescue me, from all my troubles.” 


And Saul said to David, 

“Blessings on you, my son David. 


You will do many heroic deeds, and you will surely succeed.” 


Then, David went away, and Saul returned home. 


1 Samuel 26:1–25 (NLT)


Praise be to God!


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