1 Samuel 24 – Study

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: 1 Sam 24:1-7

1 After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, ‘David is in the Desert of En Gedi.’ 2 So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.

3 He came to the sheepfolds along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. 4 The men said, ‘This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, “I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.”’ Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

5 Afterwards, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. 6 He said to his men, ‘The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.’ 7 With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.

A. Find Out:

1. What did Saul set out to do? v.2
2. What did David’s men suggest to him? v.4a
3. So what did David do? v.4b
4. What did he feel afterwards? v.5
5. Why? v.6
6. How did he speak to his men? v.7

B. Think:

1. In summary, what opportunity was given David?
2. Read Romans 13:1-5   Why did David not take that opportunity?
3. Read 1 Timothy 2:1,2   Why are we to pray for leaders?

C. Comment:

     In this passage we see something of David’s greatness coming through and something of his awareness of spiritual realities. For a second time Saul comes out against David with an army and gets very close to where David’s men are. When Saul enters the cave for a very human activity David’s men see it as a God-sent opportunity to destroy Saul and take over the kingdom. Without any doubt it is. Anybody in their right mind would take this opportunity!

     But David is a man after God’s heart, and he is more concerned with what the Lord would think about it. Saul is still the man that God anointed for kingship, he is still the visible authority in Israel and as such David will not raise his hand against him.

      David has a very acute awareness of what is right and wrong before God in respect of Saul. He stands out to us, in our age of lawlessness and rebellion against authority, like a blazing torch. He is an example reaching out to us from down the ages. Saul may be a poor leader, but he is still there by God’s appointing and until God chooses to change that he, David, will not move against him. In an age of questionable politics and declining or wavering respect for our royal family, we would do well to heed these things.

D. Application:

1. Pray today for the members of the royal family.
2. Pray today for the members of Parliament.

Passage: 1 Sam 24:8-22

8 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. 9 He said to Saul, ‘Why do you listen when men say, “David is bent on harming you”? 10 This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord gave 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.” 11 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. 12 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. 13 As the old saying goes, “From evildoers come evil deeds,” so my hand will not touch you.

14 ‘Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? 15 May the Lord be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand.’

16 When David finished saying this, Saul asked, ‘Is that your voice, David my son?’ And he wept aloud. 17 ‘You are more righteous than I,’ he said. ‘You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. 18 You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord gave me into your hands, but you did not kill me. 19 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. 20 I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. 21 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.’

22 So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

A. Find Out:

1. How did David speak of Saul? v.8
2. Why had David not killed Saul? v.10
3. Who did David call on to judge between them? v.12
4. How did Saul react when he heard David? v.16
5. What does he say he knows? v.20
6. So what does he make David promise? v.21,22

B. Think:

1. Why do you think David didn’t stay in the cave until Saul went?
2. How was David’s belief in Saul justified?
3. Read Matthew 5:44 How is David’s attitude in line with this?

C. Comment:

     As Saul goes to leave, David calls across the valley to him. He could have simply left him to depart so that Saul would not have known he had been there. Instead he calls out and risks Saul turning back with his army and taking them. Why?

     Well, the answer is not certain but surely David is showing all the signs of a peacemaker who trusts the Lord. David wants to take this opportunity to show Saul that it is not his intention to harm Saul. He wants to convince Saul that his attempts to capture this apparent rebel are needless. David is not out to kill Saul. David does this in several ways.

    First, there is the respect with which he addresses Saul, he esteems him as king.

   Second, he shows how he spared Saul’s life.

   Third, he gives his theological reasoning: Saul is the Lord’s anointed, and he will not raise his hand against the man of God’s choosing.

    Fourth, he appeals to the Lord Himself to judge between them, to see whether he has been speaking the truth.

   These things seem to clearly have impact on Saul who acknowledges the truth of them. Saul knows deep in his heart that David will indeed be king of Israel one day.

D. Application:

1. Speaking the truth righteously and graciously is the sign of a peacemaker. May we be seen as such. (See Matthew 5:9)
2. Pray today for anyone you know who is against you.