1 Samuel 24.pdf - Biblicalcounselingonline.org

I. Introduction.
David Refuses to take take Revenge on Saul. I Samuel 24 12/7/08 #28
A. There is a saying, ‘revenge is sweet’ (not in the Bible).
1. Whole webpage: revenge Movies (not that I’ve seen all): Westerns: Unforgiven; 9
to 5: sexist boss; movie advertised: woman gets even w/all her old boyfriends.
2. Real life: San Jose a few weeks ago: fired employee shot & killed boss/supervisor,
When in Saudi (80s): Computer specialist fired: big company: left electronic
timebomb > when on way back to UK: wiped out data, called for backups.
3. Most of us: been hurt: face temptation to take vengeance. Big & small.
B. No more dramatic opportunity for revenge than I Samuel 24: after Saul has been
chasing David, trying to murder: David gets a golden opportunity: take out Saul.
1. Context: right after narrow escape: Ziph: Saul seemed to have David cornered
> called away: fight Philistines.
2. Saul resumes chase: falls into David’s hands.
3. Actually first of 3 chapters in which David has to resist the temptation to take his
own revenge (twice Saul, once Nabal): Leave room for God’s wrath.
C. Bigger picture.
1. Temptation to take out Saul: temptation to end life of exile/suffering and gain his
crown - prematurely. Greatness of David: devoted to the LORD, honors the
anointed: refuses to seize the throne by violence.
2. Same temptation faced: Jesus, Son of David: tempted by Satan: Crown w/o cross.
Necessary: obedience and suffering before glory:
3. Also sets an example for us: respect authority, not take revenge, wait on the Lord.
II. David spares Saul’s life in the cave near Engedi. 24:1-7 Very similar Chpt. 26
A. Saul again pursues David. v. 1-2
1. No word about how fight with Philistines went. Not Saul’s main concern.
2. Again: intelligence network: WWW reveals David’s whereabouts.
3. Saul brings 3000 chosen men. Outnumbers David 5 to 1;
a. Chosen: Best of the best: Rangers, Seals, Marines.
B. David has his golden opportunity to kill Saul. v. 3-5
1. Saul is an extremely vulnerable position. v. 3 Judg. 3:24 I Ki. 18:27
another passage probably not appropriate for a vegitales episode.
a. Funny: Caught w/pants down (no throne back then) Rare:Bible: Eglon
Elijah: Prophets: Baal: perhaps occupied bathroom I Ki. 18:27
b. Only time: Saul completely alone: unguarded: euphemism: had to go to the
restroom > goes into a cave: Privacy. Sets aside armor/spear.
c. Out of the 100s/1000s of caves: picked the very cave where David and his men
are hiding. > God’s sovereign providence: bodily functions, choice bathrooms.
d. Saul comes in out of the bright desert sun: huge cavern > can’t see: David &
men: eyes adjusted to dim light: Can’t believe their eyes.
2. David’s men are sure the LORD has given him this chance to kill Saul. v. 4a
a. Someone speaks up: whispers what everyone else is thinking.
1

. Couch their advice in theological language. 23:7 (as Saul)
c. Refer to some prophecy: about which we don’t know. Priest? Gad?
d. They are right the LORD has delivered Saul into David’s hand: but that
doesn’t mean the LORD wants David to take advantage.
3. Why does David cut off the edge of Saul’s robe? v. 4b 15:27f 18:4 I Ki. 11:30ff
a. Tricky maneuver: Saul right there: need a sharp sword & a sure hand.
b. Obvious reason: Token/proof he could have killed Saul > show him later.
c. Robe: Symbolizes royal authority: 15:27f Tears Samuel’s robe > kingdom will
be torn: him; Jon gives: D; Solomon: kingdom torn: next generation: cloak.
d. Symbolically laying claim: Kingdom: You aren’t in control of your own
destiny. Your crown is abut to be taken away from you.
e. Hebrew word: Cut: v. 21 used cut off family; cut a covenant.
4. David is conscience stricken over what he did. v. 5b II Sam. 24:10
a. An assault upon the garments > assault upon his royal person: disrespect.
b. Inappropriate grasping: kingdom: shortcut.
c. Contrast Saul’s hardened conscience. Would have cut much more than D’s robe
C. David will not let harm come to Saul. v. 6-7
1. He refuses to stretch out his hand against the LORD’s anointed. v. 6 10:6,10
16:13 26:11 Ex. 22:28 Anointed key word: Chpt. 24,26 7x
a. The LORD had consecrated him: set apart to be king:
b. It is the LORD’s job to remove him.
2. David forcefully restrains his men from rising up against Saul. v. 7a
a. Imagine how men feel: this affect them: hiding in caves, being chased.
b. If Saul every catches David, they too will die (Nob).
c. Kill Saul > their lives will be greatly improved: promoted: David’s nobles.
d. You know what Saul would do to you/us if he had the chance...
e. Language: NAS David persuaded > literally tore apart.
f. Heated exchange: hushed whispers in cave w/Saul few feet away.
3. David lets Saul escape unharmed. v. 7b
III. David proclaims his innocence to Saul. v. 8-15 long speech. 16:18 good at it.
A. David shows respect to Saul. v. 8,11 26:17f Pr. 24:21 still professes to be a loyal
servant in spite of everything! Calls father (father in law)
B. David makes his defense. v. 9-11,13-14 Pr. 25:15,21-22
1. Don’t listen to evil advisors who falsely accuse me of treason. v. 9 26:19 Pr. 29:12
diplomatic? If a ruler pays attention to falsehood all his ministers become wicked.
2. I had mercy upon you when I could have easily killed you. v. 10
a. Good thing for you that I don’t listen to bad advice!
b. Literally: My eye looked upon you w/compassion.
3. I have physical proof of my innocence. v. 11a Torn robe
4. I have restrained myself in spite of all the evil you have done against me. v. 11b
Spears thrown, Months of chase.
2

5. My actions prove that there is no wickedness in me. v. 13 Mark 7:20-23 Is.
32:6ff
a. Old proverb: What one does reflects what one is.
b. Jesus: out of the heart comes all kinds of sin.
c. Implicit conclusion: why, o Saul, is wickedness coming out of you?
6. Why waste your time chasing someone who is no threat to you? v. 14 26:20
II Sam. 9:9 16:9 II Ki. 8:13
a. Humility: What glory is there is catching a flea?
b. Dead dogs don’t bite.
C. David asks LORD to judge between him and Saul. v. 12,15 Pr. 14:26 In the fear of
the LORD there is strong confidence and his children will have refuge.
1. David refuses to take revenge, but trusts the LORD to deal with Saul. v. 12 14:24
25:31 Lev. 19:18 Dt. 32:43 Is. 1:24 You shall not take revenge, nor bear any grudge
against the sons of yoru people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself... He
will avenge the blood of His servants & will render vengeance on His adversaries.
a. I will not judge you. v. 12b
b. May the LORD judge between us and take vengeance on you. v. 12a
c. Contrast Saul: Often speaks of being personally avenged.
2. David will continue to trust the LORD to plead his case and protect him. v. 15
25:39 Pr. 22:23 The LORD will be my advocate/lawyer. He will deliver me.
3. David trusts that he will receive the promised crown without taking shortcuts.
IV. Saul acknowledges David’s righteousness. v. 16-22
A. Saul is deeply moved by David’s mercy. v. 16-19a Ps. 37:6 David’s heaping of
burning coals on his head: brought conviction: moment of temporary sanity.
1. He calls David his son. v. 16 Uses name ‘David’ instead of ‘son of Jesse’ Son in
law? Gave daughter to another man!
2. Saul admits David’s righteousness and his own wickedness. v. 17-19 Gen. 38:26
a. More righteous? What? Saul, you are not righteous at all.
b. You did good to me and I have done evil to you. Ps. 3:30 w/o cause.
B. Saul acknowledges that David will be king. v. 19b-20 23:17 13:14 15:28
1. Admits what he has known for a long time. He can’t win. All along: fears David.
2. You are the better man. I know God’s promise will be fulfilled in you.
3. May God reward you. Ruth 2:12
4. Saul has become an Ichobad figure: the glory has departed. 4:19ff 16:14
C. Saul pleads with David to swear that he will not wipe out his descendants when he
rules. 20:14-17 31:2 II Sam. 21:7-9 9:7ff I Ki. 25:28ff 16:11 II Ki. 10:11ff
1. Same plea Jonathan had made.
2. Common practice: new king wipe out enemies: As Saul had priests: Nob.
3. Self focused: No promise in return:
4. David keeps: Punishes those who assassinate Isbosheth; blesses Mephibosheth.
D. Saul’s remorse does not last. 26:1ff
3

1. This is not the only time Saul appears to have a conscience. 15:24,30 19:1ff
a. Ro. 1:32 Everyone has a conscience: some harden.
b. Saul’s reasonable rational moments are neither regular nor extended.
c. Soon he will resume the chase: Same scene repeated 26.
2. Evil men can have remorse over their sin without actually repenting. Ex. 9:27
Mt. 27:3-4 Heb. 12:16-17 M. Henry: Conviction but not conversion.
a. Pharaoh admits I have sinned > Later hardens his heart.
b. Judas: I have sinned against innocent blood.
c. Esau: regrets having given away his birthright:
3. There are many tragic Saul-like characters in our day. 26:21 shallow spirituality
a. Never could a man be more sweetly & winsomely evangelized than Saul was that
day by David.
b. Prison: many feel guilty: Plan to turn over a new leaf: religious experience.
c. Drunkard/abuser: pattern after episode: remorse: often tears: but goes back.
Listen carefully: often upset < consequences, or want to think better of self; or
proud: I will change myself. little of God. No sense of dependence.
d. Person goes to religious meeting: gets emotional. Perhaps comes forward.
4. What is the difference between worldly sorrow and true repentance. II Co. 7:10ff
a. Saying you are sorry, expressing remorse doesn’t make you repentant.
b. True repentance produces a transformation of life and character.
5. Don’t be like Saul! Jesus offers you a way of escape from sin. Ps. 95:7-8 Mt. 11:28
He invites those burdened by conscience: come for cleansing relief.:
a. Some of you like Saul: Seen the goodness of God; witness of Xn family/friends
b. Many opportunities to repent.
c. Turn to God today! Don’t harden your heart!
V. How does this passage point to Christ?
A. Like David, Jesus refused to grasp the crown before the cross. Heb. 5:4 Mt. 4:1-11
1. David was tempted to take a shortcut to the kingdom which had been promised.
Book: Off the Wall: deaths Yosemite: Majority dwn fst
2. David won a great victory when he chose to wait on the LORD.
3. Jesus faced the same temptation. Mt. 4:1-11
a. Jesus, like David, had been promised a crown. Ps. 2:6-9 God’s determined
purpose: Anointed Son reign over the nations.
b. Satan offered him a shortcut by which he could avoid the cross. Mt. 4:8-9
c. This is the same test which the first Adam failed - a shortcut to glory. Gen. 3:5
4. Jesus’ disciples, like David’s men, tried to encourage him to take the shortcut.
Mark 8:31-33
5. Jesus, like David, was absolutely determined to gain His glorious kingdom
according to the Father’s plan. How could the Jews have been so blind!
B. Jesus refused to retaliate against those who did evil to Him. Mt. 12:53-54 John 18:11
I Pe. 2:21-24 Do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father & He will at once put
at my disposal more than 12 legions of angels? How then will the Scriptures be
fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way...Put the sword into the sheath, the cup
which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?
4

C. Jesus did good to his enemies. Luke 23:34 Rom. 5:10
1. Prayed, Father forgive them.
2. Died for His enemies: Punished in our place!
D. Jesus, after completing His suffering, entered into the fulness of His glory.
I Co. 15:25 Heb. 12:2 Just as David finally enters into his kingdom.
E. Even Jesus’ enemies will acknowledge His Lordship. 24:19b-20 Phil. 2:9-11
1. As Saul confessed David’s righteousness.
VI. How does David (and Jesus) set an example for us? Many virtues:
A. We need to be very careful about reading God’s will into the circumstances of our
lives. v. 4a Prov. 3:5-6
1. Many professing Christians are dangerously mystical about ‘open doors’.
a. Job opportunity, marriage proposal.
b. Just because sudden & surprising doesn’t’ mean God’s will.
c. Pagans believe in omens: We must evaluate. David is aware that opportunity
alone is not evidence of God’s purposes.
2. Only through Scripture can you evaluate an open door to know whether it is an
opportunity or a temptation. II Tim. 3:16-17
a. Desire marriage: attractive unbeliever shows interest: dangerous shortcuts.
3. You must be able to stand up to well meaning friends who may even couch their
advice in religious terms. Pr. 29:25
a. Hard to resist: They also were affected by David’s refusal to take Saul out.
b. They spoke in religious/theological terms.
c. Contrast Saul: Gives in to mob. 15:24
4. Beware of dangerous shortcuts.
B. God wants us to respect those He has placed in authority over us, even if they seem
unworthy. v. 6b,8b
1. Government authority. Rom. 13:1-7 I Pe. 2:13-17
a. Gut check for some of us: (bailouts) Even if you don’t like them. How speak.
b. At every level: Police, mayor, judges
2. Family authority. Eph. 5:22-24 6:1-3 I Pe. 3:1-7
a. Respect: husband/father: position for the LORD’s sake. Despite faults.
b. Husbands are also supposed to respect their wives: Fellow heirs.
3. Authority in the workplace. Eph. 6:5-8
4. Authority in the local church. I Th. 5:12-13 Heb. 13:17 I Pe. 5:5
a. Don’t run: return calls.
5. We ought to respect every believer. II Co. 1:20-21 I Pe. 3:7
C. It is not our place to take our own revenge. v. 6,15 Rom. 12:17-21 For those who
have been deeply hurt: injustice: unfair teacher, judge, spouse, abusive church leaders
1. We are able to deal with injustice by remembering that God will judge the
wicked and vindicate His people. v. 15 Rom. 12:19 He will make all things right.
a. Not our place: punish: abortionists (bomb clinic), sexually immoral.
b. Other churches/leaders.
2. We have to go against the conventional worldly counsel. 24:4 Pr. 29:25
3. As those who have received much grace, we need to show grace to those who
5

wrong us. Eph. 4:32 Ro. 5:8,10
a. Married a long time: Have lots of ammo: know faults/past failings/buttons.
We use the swords of our tongues. Pr. 12:18 gossip, criticize, cut down.
b. Tempted to want to get even: wife beg/grovel: doghouse: penance.
D. Jesus calls us to imitate Him by loving our enemies. Mt. 5:43ff Ro. 12:20f
1. Great opportunity to be Christlike.
2. David showed kindness to Saul: even defended from men who wanted: kill.
3. We were enemies for whom God did great good: gave son.
4. Our attitude: sexually immoral, get abortions.
5. Christmas: not just give gifts to those who love you. Shock someone!
E. Is it wrong for us to appeal to the LORD to bring justice? v. 12a Ro. 12:19 Ps.
35:1 43:1 94:1-3 Rev. 6:9-11 Contend O LORD with those who contend with me.
Fight against those who fight against me... Vindicate me, O God & plead my case
against an ungodly nation. O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man... O LORD,
God of vengeance. God of vengeance shine forth! Rise up, O judge of the earth. Render
recompense to the proud... How lon9 shall the wicked exult.... How long Lord Holy and
true will you refrain from avenging our blood.
1. Not that all vengeance is wrong. just not our office.
2. God will punish: Drunk driver, devious boss, wicked rulers:
F. Don’t cut corners: Expect a cross before the crown. Mark 8:34ff I Pe. 4:12ff
1. Some false preachers advertise an easy life now. LIE. That’s the option David
and Jesus both rejected.
2. We want the glory now. Resist suffering. Grasp for our rights. Phil. 2:5-11
3. God’s plan for you probably involves some suffering.
a. Suffering is part of God’s plan/means to bring us into His glory.
b. Story: Oswald Sanders: young man: preaching one of his first sermons:
overheard 2 old ladies: What did you think? Not bad! He will be much better
when he has suffered.
4. Our best life is the life to come.
G. We shall reign with Christ as kings and priests. I Tim. 2:12a Rev. 5:10 20:6 22:5
We will reign with Him.
Discussion questions
1. How can you evaluate an open door to know if it is a great opportunity from the LORD or
a temptation?
2. What shortcuts are you tempted to take in life?
3. How does God use suffering in your life to prepare you for glory?
4. In what situations in your life must you simply rely upon God’s justice instead of taking
matters into your own hands?
5. To which authorities in your life do you have the hardest time showing respect? 6. Why
was it right for David to kill Philistines, but wrong for him to kill Saul?
7. Is it right for us to pray that God will punish the wicked who harm us?
8. What is the difference between worldly sorrow and true repentance?
9. How does David serve as a type of Christ in this passage?
10. What good do you plan to do for an enemy this Christmas?
Geneva Bible: Conscience. Ro. 2:14-15 I Ti. 4:2 judge self: May be dull or over scrupulous.
6

Ro. 14:1ff I Co. 8:7,12 Our consciences are cleansed by Jesus’ blood.
7