Tuesday, June 11 – 1 Samuel 26, 27 – Additional reading, Patriarchs and Prophets Chapter 64, “David a Fugitive “
1. Who accompanied David to Saul’s camp? (1 Samuel 26:7)
2. What was David’s primary reason for not killing Saul when they found him asleep in the camp? (1 Samuel 26:9)
3. What did David instruct Abishai to take from where Saul was sleeping? (1 Samuel 26:11)
4. What decision did David make to avoid being killed by Saul? (1 Samuel 27:2)
Commentary and Reflection
Today’s reading emphasizes David’s decision to spare Saul’s life. The narrative recounts how David entered Saul’s camp, where the king and his 3,000 men slept. Saul was surrounded by his soldiers when David and Abishai approached.
Upon noticing Saul’s spear stuck in the ground near him, Abishai urged David, saying, “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!” (1 Samuel 26:8). Notice Abishai’s use of religious language.
David could have felt flattered or even pressured by this suggestion. It would have been easy to accept. “Here, finally, is the answer to our prayers and the psalms composed while fleeing,” he might have thought. “Here is the solution we’ve been longing for. The Lord authorizes me to act now because He chose me as king.” However, David was uncomfortable killing Saul; his conscience told him it was wrong.
“David exercised independent thought. He was above taking any living man as his criterion for conduct. He had developed his philosophy of life, not from tradition, but from the principles laid down in divine revelation. Among the precepts of the Mosaic law, with which David had familiarized himself, was the following: “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people” (Ex. 22:28, RSV).” (SDABC, 1 Samuel 26:9).
Thus, he told the soldier who had faithfully risked his life by accompanying him, “Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?” (1 Samuel 26:9).
We can draw lessons from David’s actions in this situation:
- We should be guided by principle, not convenience.
- We should not allow ourselves to be manipulated by evil, even if our adversary acts wrongly.
- The Lord has his timing to fulfill his promise; we must be patient. He does not require our assistance.
- We are not judges or executioners. We owe respect to those chosen by the Lord, who can defend our cause and His.
We can also learn from the tact with which David spoke to Saul once they were at a distance. He did not accuse him or take advantage to state “the truth.” First, he showed himself willing to take responsibility; then, he assumed that Saul’s advisers might be misleading him. He referred to himself as “a flea” or “a partridge.”
” It requires tact to administer rebuke so as to achieve a changed attitude on the part of the one in error. David’s effort accomplished all that might be expected from one so hardened as Saul (see v. 21)” (SDABC, 1 Samuel 26:18).
May the Lord grant you prudence and wisdom like David’s in conducting your life.