David, Pt. 5: "For Better and Not Worse" (1 Sam 24)

FOR BETTER AND NOT WORSE (1 SAMUEL 24:1-22)
One day Francis was speaking with a member of Assisi’s nobility. The count was bewailing the chaos and scandals that were spreading throughout the region. “Your lordship need not grieve for these things,” replied the saint, “for there is a remedy for these problems.”

The count quizzically asked, “What remedy can there be for such evils?”

Francis said, “It’s actually simple. You and I must first be what we ought to be, then we shall have cured what concerns we have. Let each individual do the same and the reform will be effectual. The worst is that everyone talks of reforming others, without trying to correct one’s own area of chaos and scandal. In this way evil remains as disorder everywhere.” (Appleseeds.org)

When David was on his own, he had the opportunity to make a fresh start, chart a new course, distinguish himself in leadership and distinct himself from Saul. David assumed responsibility for his brothers and parents and the outcasts of society (1 Sam 22:1-2). Everyone saw and knew that David was different from Saul. David treated society’s downtroddden and rejects like friends and family, but how would he treat his equal or his opponent? He offered nothing less than the best of his knowledge and ability. The title of this message centers on the Hebrew word for “good” that looms large and appears five times in the passage (vv 4, 17, 18, 19, 19).

How do you treat others when you have the upper hand? What would you do to your enemies, rivals and critics given a chance to prove them wrong?

Use Your Better Judgment
24:1 After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.” 2 So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats. 3 He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. 4 The men said, “This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 5 Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. 6 He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD.” 7 With these words David rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way. (1 Sam 24:1-7)

A man who complained that he had been libeled by a newspaper sought the advice of Edward Everett, the great American orator and statesman of the 19th century. The aggrieved man asked the great statesman what action, strategy and attitude to take.

Everett told the man not to worry and gave the man this reliable formula: “Do nothing! Half the people who bought the paper never saw the article. Half of those who saw it did not read it. Half of those who read it did not understand it. Half of those who understood it did not believe it. Half of those who believed it are of no account anyway.”

Bob Dole in his eulogy to Richard Nixon, quoted from the fallen leader who sought to rehabilitate his damaged reputation. The former president said, “I just get up everyday to confound my enemies.”

Saul’s and David’s obsession about what others said couldn’t be any more different. The king welcomed a false and evil report concerning David from Doeg (1 Sam 22:9), but David weighed the pros and cons of his men’s advice (v 4). Saul was obsessed with the thought of killing David, but David was troubled by the idea of killing Saul. At the first word of David’s whereabouts Saul stopped everything he did. He sent 3,000 men, not just regular soldiers but chosen men, to hunt down David and his men that grew from 400 to 600 men (1 Sam 22:2, 23:13). The unnecessary danger of cliffs, the sacrifice of lives and the waste of time, staff and resources did not bother the king. Saul was as foolish and reckless as the wild goats (v 2) that brave the cliffs when he risked the lives of his choicest men and best fighters to hunt and kill not the Philistines, but fellow Israelites.

On the other hand, when David had the opportunity to get rid of Saul once and for all he used his better judgment to restrain his men, to reject their argument and to resist their actions. The men quoted a verse out of context to persuade David to lay his hands on Saul. The original promise that God gave to David in 1 Samuel 23:4 was “I am going to give THE PHILISTINES into your hand,” but David’s men generalized and broadened the warranty to say “I will give YOUR ENEMY into your hands” and included the next line - “for you to deal with as you wish.” They did not make the suggestion so bad and evil that David would reject it outright, but they made it appear that David still had a choice of what to do to an enemy like Saul. In fact, the tempting option offered in Hebrew was “that you may do to him as it seems GOOD in your eyes” (v 4).

David’s conscience, however, (v 5) not only disallowed him from hurting Saul, it forbade him from disrespecting, degrading or diminishing the king and his office. The God that prevented David from falling into Saul’s hands (1 Sam 23:14) also stopped him from following into Saul’s steps. His conscience struck him even though he did not touch the king. The Hebrew translation is “David’s heart smote him.” David’s heart seized and pounded him, not just offended or chastened him. His conscience did not bite, nibble or even tugged at him, but cut him like a knife, pierced him like a dagger and flogged him like a whip. He was a fugitive and an outlaw, but not a murderer or a criminal. This is the only Hebrew reference to the heart raining blows on a man’s conscience, although Job did accuse men of using to strike or smote him (Job 16:10). David’s heart convicted him. Anger was as good as murder (Matt. 5:21-22) and infringing on the king’s garment was as good as infringing on the office. Harboring hateful thoughts and feelings is akin to planning murder in one’s heart, mind and soul. Three times David called Saul the Lord’s anointed (vv 6, 6, 10), even though Saul was never mentioned as the Lord’s anointed in the Bible. David was the one specified as the Lord’s anointed (1 Sam 12:3, 5); Saul was just the king. David was the anointed for all time; Saul was just the appointment of the moment.

Act in Good Faith
8 Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. 9 He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’? 10 This day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my master, because he is the LORD’s anointed.’ 11 See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. Now understand and recognize that I am not guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. 12 May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. 13 As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you. 14 “Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? 15 May the LORD be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand.” (1 Sam 24:8-15)

Abraham Lincoln’s Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, was angered by an army officer who accused him of favoritism. Stanton complained to Lincoln, who suggested that Stanton write the officer a sharp letter. Stanton did just that, and showed the strongly worded critical letter to the President. “What are you going to do with it now?” Lincoln asked.

Surprised, Stanton replied, “I’m going to send it to him.”

Lincoln shook his head. “You don’t want to send that letter,” he said. “Put it in the stove over there. That’s what I do when I’ve written a letter when I’m angry or bitter. Even letters I’ve written to you. It’s a good letter and you had a good time writing it, and feel better now. Go ahead, burn it, and write another letter with less sharp edges.”

David did not kill Saul when he had a chance, but he did challenge Saul on his conspiracy theories (1 Sam 22:8), selective hearing (1 Sam 24:9), fixed mindset (1 Sam 24:10), and confronted the king famous for his needless and unfounded anger (1 Sam 18:8), jealousy (1 Sam 18:9) and fear (1 Sam 18:12).

David acted in good faith before the king by announcing his presence, bowing his face and showing his hospitality, hideout and hand. He let the king know he was armed but not dangerous, able but not willing, apprehensive but not afraid. David had the upper hand, but he took the high ground. He had a clear edge, view and chance, but he did not gloat, grin, or glory in his advantage. The king was caught with his pants down and his back turned, parted from his men and surrounded by David’s men.

With Saul dead, David and his men needed not run, hide or fear, but David had a different idea. He had 600 men with him but he chose to meet the king alone. Even though Saul had left the cave (v 7), David wanted a chance to tell his part, to respond to charges and to converse with Saul. Saul had never been honest, frank or direct with him. Previously, Saul spoke through his servants (1 Sam 18:22) and to his son (1 Sam 19:1), but never to David except about marriage (1 Sam 18:17). Jonathan was David’s spokesman (1 Sam 19:4, 20:28) since the king was out of his mind and not in the right mind. David showed proof in his hand that he had respect for the rightful king and his office and reverence for the True Judge and His Sovereignty.

Find the Best Resolution
16 When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” And he wept aloud. 17 “You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. 18 You have just now told me of the good you did to me; the LORD delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. 19 When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the LORD reward you well for the way you treated me today. 20 I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. 21 Now swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.” 22 So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold. (1 Sam 24:16-22)

A renowned surgeon was invited to a dinner party, and the host began to carve up a gorgeous roast duckling, keeping up a running commentary as he carved: “How am I doing, Doc? Do you like my technique? I’d make a pretty good surgeon, don’t you think?”

The surgeon took the comments in silence, waiting until the entire duck was sliced neatly on the serving platter. At last he spoke up. “Anybody can take them apart - let’s see you put it back together.”

Saul wept non-stop (v 16) because he realized how irrational, desperate and extreme he had been. David and Saul couldn’t be any more different. Saul would burn all bridges, take no prisoners and even shoot the fence-sitters, but David was the type that would that would bind the wounds, call off hostilities and mend the fences. The king was cruel, ruthless and barbaric. No sacrifice was too big for him, no travel was too far for him and no one was safe from him. He terrorized people from Gibeah (1 Sam 22:6) to Keilah (1 Sam 23:7), executed priests and commoners, women and infants, people and animals of the city of Nob (1 Sam 22:19), tracking David through forest (1 Sam 22:5), deserts and hills (1 Sam 23:15, 25), cliffs and caves (1 Sam 24:2-3).

Saul left an odious name behind. His name was synonymous with madness, mayhem and massacre, but David was known for his righteousness, goodness (v 17) and simplemindedness. The contrast couldn’t be any more different. Saul was feared for his godless lifestyle and practices, but David was admired for God’s presence (1 Sam 23:14) and guidance (1 Sam 23:12). Saul was cold-hearted, bloodthirsty and hotheaded, but David was good-hearted, kindhearted and tenderhearted or softhearted.

Unfortunately, Saul’s bloodlust was due to his partial understanding of God’s will. He pursued David thinking his rival would take over his throne and replaced him in life, but David succeeded Saul only after the latter’s death – time was never stipulated when David was anointed (1 Sam 16:1, 13). He had hunted David out of a false premise, a big misunderstanding and a low self-esteem. David was Saul’s enemy according to Saul (1 Sam 18:29, 19:7, 24:19) and even to David’s men (1 Sam 24:4, 1 Sam 26:8), but not according to David. David was Saul’s enemy (v 19) but Saul was never David’s enemy. David reserved the word “enemy” only for Gentile invaders (1 Sam 30:26). David wanted to put their past behind, close ranks with Saul and fight the common enemy – the Philistines. He even called Saul “My master, the Lord’s anointed” (v 6), “My lord the king” (v 8) and “My Father” (v 11), showing Saul that the latter needed not fear, follow or fight him.

Conclusion: Do you let God be the judge (12, 15, 15) of all things and in all things? The Chinese say, “If people keep retaliating, when will things end冤冤相報，何時了?” Would you resolve not to keep score, get even, or harbor hate, but purpose to do good, right wrongs and seek peace? The Bible says, “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth (1 Cor 13:6). Do you save your energy and the fight for the real enemy, the devil (1 Peter 5:8)?