Ep. 91 - David Spares Saul

Last we left our story, Saul had just killed Ahimelech and all the priests from Nob. While David and his 400 men had been jumping from place to place, a frustrated Saul had pulled together his servants to find out who was warning David when Saul was coming. Of course, in reality nobody was telling David anything…it was God who was keeping David safe. But then Doeg the Edomite told Saul that he’d happened to see the Ahimelech (the high priest) helping David. So Saul called the high priest to him and asked Ahimelech if that was true. Which of course it was…because Ahimelech had no idea that David and Saul weren’t getting along anymore. And in a fit of rage, Saul had Ahimelech and all the priests of the tabernacle killed. And not only that, but Doeg went to Nob and killed all the women and children of the priests too. Absolutely horrible. Saul was determined to catch and kill David. Would the determined Saul eventually catch up with David? Or would God keep protecting David…and keep him just out of Saul’s reach? Well, let’s find out.

Well, as it turns out, while Saul was busy wiping out an Israelite city, David was busy protecting an Israelite city. Not too long after Saul had destroyed Nob, the Philistines decided to attack a border town called Keilah. It was right around harvest time, and probably seeing that King Saul was super distracted trying to catch David, the Philistines took the opportunity to attack the Israelite city and take their harvest. Hearing that the city was in trouble, David wanted to do something about it. But, having learned not to depend on his own wisdom and decisions, David decided to ask God about it. And God answered David, and said, “Go and attack the Philistines, and save Keilah.” (23:2) Now while David was rearing to go save the city, David’s 400 men weren’t quite as excited about it. They were basically like…yah know…we have quite enough enemies already thank you very much…are you sure we want to make new ones? And that was a fair point. And so, David asked God about it again. And sure enough, God told David again to go and save the Israelite city. So off to Keilah they went. And indeed, they did save the city. As the Bible says, David “fought with the Philistines, struck them with a mighty blow, and took away their livestock. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.” (23:5)

But even though David had done the right thing, and even though God had told David what to do, saving the city really caused David a lot of trouble. Because of course King Saul heard about the battle and immediately began marching a huge army towards Keilah. Of course, God warned David that Saul was coming. And before Saul could get to Keilah, David and his men fled into the wilderness of Ziph. And so began a dangerous game of cat and mouse. When Saul heard that David was in the Wilderness of Ziph, Saul went to Ziph. But before Saul got to Ziph, David escaped to the Wilderness of Moan. When Saul heard that David was in the Wilderness of Moan, Saul went to Moan. But before Saul got to Moan, David went on the other side of a mountain. And so Saul tracked David and carefully followed him from one side of that mountain. Until finally, Saul eventually found a way to completely encircle David and his men. But just as Saul was closing his trap…wouldn’t you know it, the Philistines decided to attack again. A messenger came to Saul with news that a huge Philistine invasion was underway. And Saul had no choice but to turn and confront the Philistines. And this allowed David escape to yet another remote place…this time the Wilderness of En Gedi. God was certainly watching out for David, and had allowed David and his men to escape by the skin of their teeth.

And it wouldn’t be the last time either. Because as soon as Saul was done scaring off the Philistines, he went right back to chasing David again. This time Saul took three thousand of his best soldiers and headed to David’s new hiding place – En Gedi. Now one of the reasons why David kept going from wilderness to wilderness was because there were tons of places to hide. Everywhere you looked, there were little nooks and crannies where David and his men could safely stay out of sight. In the Wilderness of En Gedi, like many other places David went, there were tons of caves. And so, while they were running from Saul‘s army…just staying out of reach of the jealous king…David and his men decided to pull into one of these many caves to hide. Hopefully, Saul and his men would just walk by the cave and allow them to come out later and go in a different direction. And not too long after they’d gone into the cave, Saul’s and his army caught up to the cave and began walking by. And you can just imagine David and his men hiding there in the darkness of the cave. They could hear the soldiers going by. They couldn’t probably see some of them going by the cave entrance. Everyone would have been super still and super quiet…hardly daring to breathe. Because they all knew that if they were discovered they would all be dead.

And just as David and his men were sitting there on pins and needles, their worst fears seemed to come to pass. All of a sudden, King Saul himself appeared at the entrance of the cave. Uh oh! Had Saul found them? Did Saul know somehow that they were there? What was a little strange was that Saul was all by himself. Where were the other soldiers? Why didn’t Saul have any anyone with him? But David and his men didn’t have to wonder about that for very long. Because while they watched, the craziest thing happened – King Saul kinda strolled farther into the cave…and kinda looked around a little bit…and then…to everyone’s surprise…Saul started…going to the bathroom! Apparently, when Saul had seen this particular cave, he realized that he really needed to go. And boy that cave looked like the perfect place to get some privacy. So in he went and started doing his thing.

And it didn’t take long for David’s men to realize what was happening and realize how lucky they were. And they turned to David, and said, “This is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.’” (24:4) Now, how in the world David and his men were able to have this conversation without Saul hearing, is a bit of a mystery. Maybe they quickly snuck farther into the cave to talk…maybe the cave had tons of little rooms in it where sounds couldn’t be heard at the entrance…maybe they all knew some kind of sign language…who knows. But David understood what his men were saying. All of their problems came from this one man – King Saul. If it wasn’t for Saul, no one would be chasing them. The next person in line to be king, Jonathan, definitely wouldn’t be doing this to them. So if Saul were dead, well then life would get a lot easier for David and his men. And in the moment, David agreed. And taking a knife in his hand, began to slowly creep his way towards Saul…intending to take his life.

But as David got closer and closer to King Saul, the more and more David felt like this was wrong. Don’t forget, David and Saul knew each other well. David had served under Saul for many years. They’d had many victories together…many memories together. And when Saul had been in his darkest moments, David had been there to play the harp for him. In some ways, ever since David had come to the king’s court as a young “ruddy and good looking” boy, Saul had been something like a father to him. A moody and sometimes jealous father…but a father nonetheless. And even though at that moment Saul and David were enemies, that didn’t erase all those memories. And as David kept creeping closer and closer to Saul, another thought came to him. You know what…this man is God’s anointed! No matter what Saul had done…no matter how far Saul had gone astray, at the end of the day, God had set him aside as someone special. And who was David to kill a man that God had anointed. And so, just as David was getting close enough to kill Saul, David changed his mind. And instead, David bent down, cut off just a tiny corner of Saul’s robe…and then quickly snuck back into the depths of the cave.

Of course, David’s men couldn’t believe that David had hesitated. Didn’t David know that God had given them this chance? Why wasn’t David taking advantage of this? Why was David looking a gift horse in the mouth? And David’s men tried to convince David to let them kill Saul instead. But David stopped them. And holding up the corner of Saul’s robe, David said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing that he is the anointed of the Lord.” (24:6) No. David wasn’t going to harm Saul at all. In fact, David even felt bad just for cutting off the tiny corner of the king’s robe.

Eventually, once Saul had finished what he’d come to do, he got up and left the cave, rejoining his men to continue the search. And not too long after Saul left, David decided to take a huge risk…he decided that right then and there…he was going to confront his old king. And in the full view of Saul and all his men, David stepped out of the cave, and called to Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” (24:8) Of course, as soon as Saul heard that voice, he knew exactly who it was. And he turned to see where David was. And lo and behold, there was David…standing in front of the cave that Saul had just come out of. And before Saul had a chance to realize what just happened, David continued and said, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Indeed David seeks your harm’? Look, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’” (24:9-10) So basically what David is saying to Saul is…look I could have killed you in the cave…but I didn’t…for who am I to kill the Lord’s anointed. And just in case David standing in front of the very cave Saul had just come out of wasn’t enough, he held up corner of Saul’s robe in his hand for all to see, and said, “Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Let the Lord judge between you and me, and let the Lord avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you.” (24:11-12)

Seeing what was in David’s hand, no doubt Saul quickly checked the edges of his robe. And sure enough…right on the one edge…a piece of his robe was missing. A piece which just so happened to match the exact size, shape, and colour of the piece David was holding in his hand. And then it all came crashing down like a ton of bricks - David could have killed him…but he didn’t. And whatever Saul might have said to himself about how bad David was or what David had done to deserve being killed…suddenly disappeared…and all became clear. And with tears in his eyes, and genuine tenderness in his voice, Saul replied to David, and said, “You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil. And you have shown this day how you have dealt well with me; for when the Lord delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me. For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him get away safely? Therefore may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day.” (24:17-19) Basically, Saul is telling David that that he is the better man. That Saul was in the wrong. And that if there was a bad guy in this fight between him and David…it was him. Then, in a moment of humility and realness, and in front of all his soldiers…Saul continued and said, “And now I know indeed that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.” (24:20) In this moment of clarity, Saul realizes that David would indeed be the next king. And that he deserved to be King.

After this heart-to-heart was over, Saul and his men left and went home. And David and his men…well…they all knew that Saul could change his mind on a dime. So, instead of going home, they stayed in the Wilderness of En Gedi, and holed themselves up in a stronghold…probably just some place in the mountains where they could easily defend themselves if needed…while they waited to see what Saul would do next. Had Saul really changed his mind about David? Was this the turning point? Was David’s trial over? Well, we will find out all about it…next time.