1 Samuel 26 – 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 26:1-12

1 The Ziphites went to Saul at Gibeah and said, ‘Is not David hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which faces Jeshimon?’

2 So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph, with his three thousand select Israelite troops, to search there for David. 3 Saul made his camp beside the road on the hill of Hakilah facing Jeshimon, but David stayed in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul had followed him there, 4 he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.

5 Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of the army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the camp, with the army camped around him.

6 David then asked Ahimelek the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, ‘Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?’

‘I’ll go with you,’ said Abishai.

7 So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying round him.

8 Abishai said to David, ‘Today God has given your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t strike him twice.’

9 But David said to Abishai, ‘Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? 10 As surely as the Lord lives,’ he said, ‘the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.’

12 So David took the spear and water jug near Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep.

A. Find Out:    

1. How did David learn that Saul had definitely arrived? v.4
2. Instead of running what did David do? v.5
3. When they arrived what did he do? v.6,7
4. What did Abishai want to do? v.9
5. Why did David refuse? v.9,11
6. What did David say would happen? v.10

B. Think:

1. How is this occasion different from the previous one where David was chased by Saul?
2. What was similar about this account to the previous one?
3. What is the lesson we should learn again from David’s example?

C. Comment:

      Yet again the Ziphites betray David to Saul but what happens after that has certain differences from the previous time when David was pursued. This time David is not cornered in a cave. This time when he hears that Saul is coming he actually goes to meet him. David’s scouting and intelligence service was working well. He has become a good commando. They arrive in the night and David and one of his men creep down into the camp. Saul and his army seem so sure of themselves that they have left no guards on duty and so David gets right up to where Saul is sleeping. Abishai sees this as a golden opportunity to destroy Saul.

     Again David declares Saul to be the Lord’s anointed and refuses to touch him. This time however he explains why: he is quite happy to leave it to the Lord to remove Saul by whatever means He will. There is this powerful message coming from David: you must not raise your hand against the authority that God has raised up, even when it is now moving out of God’s will. You MUST leave it to God to deal with it. How godless we sometimes are in the church when we don’t like our leadership, church or national!

D. Application:

1. Unsure about your leadership? Pray, pray and pray!
2. 1 Timothy 2:1,2 & 1 Peter 2:13-15 are essential reading.

Passage: 1 Sam 26:13-25

13 Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them. 14 He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, ‘Aren’t you going to answer me, Abner?’

Abner replied, ‘Who are you who calls to the king?’

15 David said, ‘You’re a man, aren’t you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn’t you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. 16 What you have done is not good. As surely as the Lord lives, you and your men must die, because you did not guard your master, the Lord’s anointed. Look around you. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were near his head?’

17 Saul recognised David’s voice and said, ‘Is that your voice, David my son?’

David replied, ‘Yes it is, my lord the king.’ 18 And he added, ‘Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of? 19 Now let my lord the king listen to his servant’s words. If the Lord has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. If, however, people have done it, may they be cursed before the Lord! They have driven me today from my share in the Lord’s inheritance and have said, “Go, serve other gods.” 20 Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the Lord. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea – as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.’

21 Then Saul said, ‘I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have been terribly wrong.’

22 ‘Here is the king’s spear,’ David answered. ‘Let one of your young men come over and get it. 23 The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord gave you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. 24 As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble.’

25 Then Saul said to David, ‘May you be blessed, David my son; you will do great things and surely triumph.’

So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

A. Find Out:

1. Who does David rebuke? v.14
2. For what cause? v.15,16
3. What does David ask Saul? v.18
4. What two possibilities and solutions does David suggest? v.19
5. What does Saul acknowledge? v.21
6. What does Saul eventually declare? v.25

B. Think:

1. How was David acting and speaking righteously?
2. What effect did that have on Saul?
3. How particularly was the truth declared because of it?

C. Comment:

     This is the last time David encounters Saul and in this encounter we see yet again David’s righteous attitude towards him. David could have just walked away from this situation and escaped without Saul knowing that he was there, but instead he uses the opportunity to speak to Saul and confront the unrighteousness of his position, but in a very indirect way, as he chides Abner and reveals what he could have done because of Abner’s carelessness. The result of him doing this is that Saul acknowledges the truth of the situation in a number of ways and departs.

      There are several lessons here: first that peacemakers take the opportunity that is given to bring peace. Very often we shy away from difficult situations and simply hope they will clear up on their own. David took the opportunity to bring change. The second lesson is that when we do seek to speak righteously, it will not be attacking others, but seeking for their welfare. Third, righteousness on our behalf will be blessed by God and will result in the truth of the situation being revealed so that peace can come.

D. Application:

1. Do we fail to bring peace to situations by simply shying away from them instead of getting God’s grace for them?
2. In facing situations are we righteous in thought, word and deed and look for the well-being of the other person?