CHAPTER 26

(1060 B.C.)

DAVID SPARES SAULS LIFE AGAIN

¹And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Does not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon? (This is the third time that David would be betrayed by his own countrymen actually twice by the Ziphites. These individuals sought to curry favor with Saul by betraying David.)

²Then 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. (In this Chapter, we see a portrayal of the unregenerate religious man, totally controlled by the Adamic or sin nature. We also witness the regenerate God-called man, even though still retaining the sin nature, nevertheless, not being controlled by it.)

³And 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 would seem from the 24th Chapter, and according to the great display of love that David showed toward Saul, that this man would have ceased his relentless quest to kill Gods anointed. However, we see that the natural man, totally controlled by the sin nature, is the helpless but willing tool of evil. We also see that the spiritual man never accustoms himself to evil, even though at times failing. Saul illustrates the first example; David, the second.)

⁴David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed. (Saul knew that David was Gods chosen king, and that he would certainly reign and, yet, he again and again sought to destroy him. Such is the power of evil! Satan is also the helpless but willing agent of sin; this fact respecting mans fallen nature proves the absolute necessity of a new moral creation.)

⁵And 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. (David illustrates the truth that the spiritual nature can never accustom itself to evil. Mans sinful, unregenerate, wicked nature accustoms itself to evil after a little time, even ceasing to be shocked by its manifestations.)

⁶Then 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 you. (As Ahimelech is mentioned before Abishai, he must have held an honorable place with David, as did subsequently another Hittite, Uriah [II Sam. 11:3].)

⁷So 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 (pillow): but Abner and the people lay round about him.

⁸Then said Abishai to David, God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray you, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time (in other words, Abishai would kill Saul with the first thrust).

⁹And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORDs anointed, and be guiltless? (David forbids the deed, not because of Sauls character, but because of Sauls office; consequently, he leaves him in Jehovahs Hand, even as he should have done.)

¹⁰David said furthermore, As the LORD lives, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish. (Whenever religious man usurps Christs position as Head of the Church, he eagerly will kill Gods anointed, thinking he is doing God a service. However, when the Spirit of Christ reigns, the Headship of Christ is never abrogated.)

¹¹The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth my hand against the LORDs anointed: but, I pray you, take you now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go. (It would seem so natural to the carnal mind, even though a follower of Gods anointed, for one to take advantage of this opportunity; however, Gods Ways are not mans ways. In retrospect, if David had killed Saul, it would have been a black stain on Davids life that would have sullied the title, A man after Gods Own Heart. In Davids actions regarding Saul, we see Gods Own Heart. God is ever seeking the sinner; He is ever showing Mercy; He is ever extending Grace. Gods Hand ever calls, Come unto Me. So, as we view Davids actions regarding Saul, we are viewing the actions of Christ toward even the vilest of sinners who seek to destroy Gods Work.)

¹²So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Sauls bolster; and they got 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. (The Lord would supernaturally protect David; however, had David taken matters into his own hands, as was suggested by his associate, quite possibly this protection by the Lord would not have been forthcoming. We can only expect Gods best, if we go entirely Gods Way.)

DAVID REPROACHES ABNER

¹³Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them (in this world, there is a great space between the spiritual and the natural natures, just as is described in this Verse; these two natures are eternally separated; it is impossible to cultivate the one so that it will develop into the other; many have believed this to be possible; it is known as the doctrine of moral evolution; even though man has tried to bridge this gap with education, culture, religious activity, etc., still, there is a great gulf fixed between these two natures, which makes a transition from the one to the other impossible; hence, the necessity of being created anew in Christ Jesus [Eph. 2:10]):

¹⁴And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answer you not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who are you who cries to the king?

¹⁵And David said to Abner, Are you not a valiant man? and who is like to you in Israel? wherefore then have you not kept your lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king your lord.

¹⁶This thing is not good that you have done. As the LORD lives, you are worthy to die, because you have not kept your master, the LORDs anointed. And now see where the kings spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.

DAVID PLEADS WITH SAUL

¹⁷And Saul knew Davids voice, and said, Is this your voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.

¹⁸And he said, Wherefore does my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in my hand?

¹⁹Now therefore, I pray you, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD has stirred you 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. (In effect, Saul, and those with him, had told David to go serve heathen gods, for there was no room for him in Israel. As the situation then, modern religion follows suit. It will not serve God, and tries to hinder all who would serve the Lord.)

²⁰Now 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 does hunt a partridge in the mountains. (The point of Davids appeal is not that his life may be spared, but that he may not thus be driven far away from the land where Jehovah manifests Himself. As well, David is telling Saul that instead of trying to cause David problems, he should be opposing those who are truly enemies of the Lord; however, like Saul, the institutionalized Church follows suit.)

SAUL ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SIN

²¹Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do you harm, because my soul was precious in your eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly. (While Sauls words are correct, and possibly sincere for the moment, still, self-will would shortly gain the upper hand, as it always did. For the modern Christian, self can only be handled at the Cross. Self-ability must be denied, with Faith placed totally in Christ and what Christ has done for us at the Cross. Only then can the Holy Spirit develop within us His Fruit [Gal. 5:22-23; Lk. 9:23-24].)

²²And David answered and said, Behold the kings spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.

²³The LORD render to every man His Righteousness and His Faithfulness: for the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch forth my hand against the LORDs anointed. (This was the second time that such a situation had been brought about. Much of this was a test originated by the Lord, as it regards David. In fact, every single thing that happens to a Believer is a test. How will we act? How will we react?)

²⁴And, behold, as your life was much set by this day in my eyes, so let my life be much set by in the Eyes of the LORD, and let Him deliver me out of all tribulation. (These words proclaim the fact that it is the Lord Who Alone can truly deliver. We must never forget that!)

²⁵Then Saul said to David, Blessed be you, my son David: you shall both do great things, and also shall still prevail (should have been translated, You shall both do mightily, and you shall surely prevail). So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.