1 SAMUEL LESSON 29


     We will begin this lesson in I Samuel 26:1 "And the Ziphites came
unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill
of Hachilah, [which is] before Jeshimon?"

     We see, in this, a striking similarity to the other time the
Ziphites revealed to Saul where David was. I Samuel 23:19  "Then came
up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself
with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which
[is] on the south of Jeshimon?" This does not, however, mean that Saul
kept his oath, that he made to David earlier. Saul had spells when he
was insane. He always showed his madness in hate for David.

     I Samuel 26:2 "Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness
of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek
David in the wilderness of Ziph."

     The three thousand men were the same amount he had with him
before, but that is not unusual. That is the number he kept at
readiness with him all the time.

     I Samuel 26:3 "And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which
[is] before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness,
and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness."

     It appears, from this, that David was in the wilderness. He was
not fleeing from Saul. Probably, David was living in relative safety
at this time. He sent scouts out in every direction for safety. It
appears that, one of them came in, and told David that Saul was
trying, again, to find him and kill him.

     I Samuel 26:4 "David therefore sent out spies, and understood
that Saul was come in very deed."

     When they brought word to David that Saul was in the area, David
sent out spies, to specifically tell him what they were doing, and
where.

     I Samuel 26:5  "And David arose, and came to the place where Saul
had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the
son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and
the people pitched round about him."

     In the first instance Saul had come into the cave, where David
and his men were camped. This time, Saul is in his camp with his men
gathered around him for protection. It seems, the captain of the host,
Abner, was lying very near to Saul. Perhaps, this precaution was
because of the other incident. Saul felt he was safe from harm,
because the 3,000 men were encamped around him.

     I Samuel 26:6 "Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the
Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying,
Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will
go down with thee."

     This would take a very brave man to go down in the middle of 3,
000 men. David asks both, Abishai and Ahilemech to go with him, but
only Abishai volunteers to go. His loyalty to David is above an
ordinary soldier.

     I Samuel 26:7 "So David and Abishai came to the people by night:
and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck
in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about
him."

     We see that David waited, until they were asleep. He and Abishai
slipped by those posted to watch, and even slipped through the circle
of men surrounding Saul. This spear, near the head of Saul, was the
emblem of his authority. This trench he was in should have given some
protection, as well. It is as if the LORD has caused them to be in a
deep sleep.

     I Samuel 26:8 "Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered
thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him,
I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not
[smite] him the second time."

     Abishai thought that the LORD had set this up, so they could kill
Saul and leave. He says to David, "If you do not want to kill him, let
me do it". Abishai thinks with one blow from the spear, he can kill
Saul, and they can get away. The mention of the one blow is
explaining, he would not even have to wake the others, when he kills
Saul.

     I Samuel 26:9 "And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for
who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be
guiltless?"

     Again, David refuses to kill Saul. He has respect for the office
of king, because Saul was ordained of God for that position. He is
saying, the men might not punish you, but you would be guilty before
God.

     I Samuel 26:10 "David said furthermore, [As] the LORD liveth, the
LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall
descend into battle, and perish."

     David is depending upon the LORD to kill him, as He did Nabal.
David expresses, that under no circumstances, will he kill Saul. He is
leaving that entirely up to God. He may die of old age, or he may die
in battle, but it is up to God when he dies.

     I Samuel 26:11 "The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine
hand against the LORD'S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the
spear that [is] at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us
go." I Samuel 26:12 "So David took the spear and the cruse of water
from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw [it], nor
knew [it], neither awaked: for they [were] all asleep; because a deep
sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them."

     We remember, the spear was right by Saul's head. We must, also,
realize the spear was a symbol of Saul's authority. It is as if they
have stripped him of his authority. The sleep, as we said before, was
a deep sleep from the LORD that had fallen on them all. This was the
LORD's way of showing that Saul's authority has been removed.

     I Samuel 26:13  "Then David went over to the other side, and
stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space [being] between
them:" I Samuel 26:14 "And David cried to the people, and to Abner the
son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and
said, Who [art] thou [that] criest to the king?"

     In this particular place, the voice carried for a good way. David
has moved out of the camp to this hill, to speak to Saul and his right
hand man, Abner. When the voice of David rings out from the mountain,
they awake and Abner inquires, who this is that is crying out to Saul?

     I Samuel 26:15 "And David said to Abner, [Art] not thou a
[valiant] man? and who [is] like to thee in Israel? wherefore then
hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people
in to destroy the king thy lord."  I Samuel 26:16 "This thing [is] not
good that thou hast done. [As] the LORD liveth, ye [are] worthy to
die, because ye have not kept your master, the LORD'S anointed. And
now see where the king's spear [is], and the cruse of water that [was]
at his bolster."

     David directs his statement to the negligence of Abner in
protecting the king from harm. Abner was the commander of Saul's army.
He was, supposedly, the greatest of Saul's soldiers. The question is,
if he is that strong and brave, how did David and Abishai slip into
the camp and take the king's spear? Of course, we know that it was the
LORD. Abner cannot answer this.

     I Samuel 26:17 "And Saul knew David's voice, and said, [Is] this
thy voice, my son David? And David said, [It is] my voice, my lord, O
king."

     Saul has heard that voice so many times before. He recognizes the
voice of David. He loves David, when the evil spirit sent from God is
not tormenting him. He even speaks of David as his son, here. Saul is
aware that David could have killed him this second time, and he did
not.

     I Samuel 26:18 "And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue
after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil [is] in mine
hand?" I Samuel 26:19 "Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the
king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up
against me, let him accept an offering: but if [they be] the children
of men, cursed [be] they before the LORD; for they have driven me out
this day from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go,
serve other gods."

     This is a very good question? Why is Saul trying to destroy
David? Certainly, it is not for any harm that David has ever done to
Saul. David has been faithful to Saul. He and Saul have actually had
the same enemy {the Philistines}. David knows that his heart is right
with Saul, and especially, with the LORD. He challenges Saul to
examine what has caused him to be intent on killing David. We know
that it is jealousy, because Saul knows the LORD is taking the
kingship away from him, and giving it to David. David asks Saul to
seek the LORD's will in this. If he has sinned, the LORD will accept
and offering for the sin. David, also, speaks a curse on the people
who influence Saul to do wrong.

     I Samuel 26:20 "Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth
before the face of the LORD: for the king of Israel is come out to
seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains."

     David is saying, here, that his little army of six hundred men
are small compared to this hand- picked army of three thousand of
Saul's men. It is like a hunter with a gun, who goes out in combat
against an animal, who has no weapon. Only the LORD, Himself, has kept
David from death.

     I Samuel 26:21  "Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son
David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious
in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred
exceedingly."

     The return of David, at this point, would have been an
impossibility, because of the women involved. David had taken two
wives, and Saul had torn Micah away and given her to another to wife.
Saul's promises are not to be trusted, either. He had sworn with an
oath before the LORD before, and yet, he came against David, again. At
the moment, he might feel remorse, but his jealousy causes these
outbursts against David. This is, probably, not true repentance on
Saul's part, but an admission of their bungling their attempt to kill
David.

     I Samuel 26:22 "And David answered and said, Behold the king's
spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it."

     The exciting thing, here, is the authority of the king was in
David's hand. He allows this emblem of authority to be returned to
Saul. It is as if it is by David's permission, that Saul's authority
is restored. This really shows that the true power and authority are
in David's hand.

     I Samuel 26:23 "The LORD render to every man his righteousness
and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into [my] hand to
day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S
anointed."

     "Righteousness" is a gift from God. It means the person is in
right standing with the LORD. David recognizes that his power,
strength, righteousness, and faithfulness are of the LORD. It is the
LORD who delivered Saul into the hands of David. In the end, it is the
LORD who is the judge. He it is that brings one down, and lifts
another up. David would not lift his hand against Saul in respect for
the office that the LORD had anointed Saul to. David has tremendous
respect for the LORD.

     I Samuel 26:24 "And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day
in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD,
and let him deliver me out of all tribulation."

     David realizes the divine protection of his life by the LORD.
David had not harmed Saul, because of his spiritual conviction. David
asks the LORD for even more divine protection, because of his
spiritual convictions. David places his safety in the hands of the
LORD. It is the LORD who is the Deliverer of us all.

     I Samuel 26:25 "Then Saul said to David, Blessed [be] thou, my
son David: thou shalt both do great [things], and also shalt still
prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place."

     It is interesting, to me, that even though Saul says all of these
wonderful things, the spirit within David will not allow him to place
himself in the hands of Saul. Saul does, in a sense, speak a blessing
on David. He does not really keep his word, however. Saul is totally
consumed by the evil spirit. His heart would still desire to be rid of
David, so he and his family could remain king.



























                        1 Samuel 29 Questions


1.  Who reported to Saul where David was?
2.  Quote 1 Samuel chapter 23 verse 19.
3.  How many men did Saul have with him?
4.  Where was David, when he realized Saul had come after him?
5.  Who was there to protect Saul?
6.  Where was Saul sleeping?
7.  Who did David ask to go with him into Saul's camp?
8.  Who agreed to go?
9.  When did David come into Saul's camp?
10. Where was Saul's spear?
11. Why did Abishai think he should kill Saul?
12. What was David's answer to Abishai's request to kill him?
13. Why did David not want him killed?
14. Who does David believe will smite Saul?
15. What did David take from Saul?
16. Why did this not wake Saul's men?
17. What did Saul's spear symbolize?
18. What was the LORD showing in the removal of Saul's spear?
19. Where did David go, before he cried out to Saul?
20. Who did David direct his message to?
21. How had Saul recognized David in the dark?
22. What does David ask Saul?
23. Who does David say is to be cursed?
24. Who is Saul's and David's mutual enemy?
25. What does David call himself in verse 20?
26. What does Saul reply to David?
27. What did David tell Saul to do, to get his spear back?
28. "Righteousness" is a _________ from ______.
29. What does it mean?
30. What does David realize in verse 24?
31. Where did they each go, after this meeting?