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Glory · The Land & the Throne
Twice, while Saul hunted him through the wilderness, David held the king's life in his hand and let him walk away, because Saul was Yahweh's anointed and judgment belonged to God alone. David would not seize by force the throne God had promised by anointing oil. His refusal shows how faith waits: it trusts God's timing, refuses self-serving violence, and leaves vengeance with Him.
https://glorystudy.com/questions/why-did-david-spare-saul · Scripture quoted from the World English Bible
1 Samuel 24
As you read: The perfect opportunity at Engedi, why David's own conscience strikes him over a mere cut robe, and what he says about touching Yahweh's anointed.
1When Saul was returned from following the Philistines, it was told him, saying, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi.”
2Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the rocks of the wild goats.
3He came to the sheep pens by the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were abiding in the innermost parts of the cave.
4The men of David said to him, “Behold, the day of which Yahweh said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe secretly.
5Afterward, David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.
6He said to his men, “Yahweh forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, Yahweh’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is Yahweh’s anointed.”
7So David checked his men with these words, and didn’t allow them to rise against Saul. Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
8David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and showed respect.
9David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to men’s words, saying, ‘Behold, David seeks your hurt?’
10Behold, this day your eyes have seen how that Yahweh had delivered you today into my hand in the cave. Some urged me to kill you; but I spared you; and I said, I will not stretch out my hand against my lord; for he is Yahweh’s anointed.
11Moreover, my father, behold, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and didn’t kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor disobedience in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, though you hunt for my life to take it.
12May Yahweh judge between me and you, and may Yahweh avenge me of you; but my hand shall not be on you.
13As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness;’ but my hand shall not be on you.
14Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea?
15May Yahweh therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.”
16It came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
17He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you.
18You have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, because when Yahweh had delivered me up into your hand, you didn’t kill me.
19For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? Therefore may Yahweh reward you good for that which you have done to me this day.
20Now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.
21Swear now therefore to me by Yahweh, that you will not cut off my seed after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.”
22David swore to Saul. Saul went home; but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
1 Samuel 26
As you read: A second delivered enemy, Abishai's offer to finish Saul in one stroke, and where David says his vindication must come from.
1The Ziphites came to Saul to Gibeah, saying, “Doesn’t David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert?”
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.
3Saul encamped in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert, by the way. But David stayed in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.
4David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul had certainly come.
5David arose, and came to the place where Saul had encamped; and David saw the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his army: and Saul lay within the place of the wagons, and the people were encamped around him.
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?” Abishai said, “I will go down with you.”
7So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the place of the wagons, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people lay around him.
8Then Abishai said to David, “God has delivered up your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore please let me strike him with the spear to the earth at one stroke, and I will not strike him the second time.”
9David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against Yahweh’s anointed, and be guiltless?”
10David said, “As Yahweh lives, Yahweh will strike him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall go down into battle and perish.
11Yahweh forbid that I should stretch out my hand against Yahweh’s anointed; but now please take the spear that is at his head, and the jar of water, and let us go.”
12So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul’s head; and they went away: and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither did any awake; for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from Yahweh was fallen on them.
13Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of the mountain afar off; a great space being between them;
14and David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Don’t you answer, Abner?” Then Abner answered, “Who are you who cries to the king?”
15David said to Abner, “Aren’t you a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord, the king? For one of the people came in to destroy the king your lord.
16This thing isn’t good that you have done. As Yahweh lives, you are worthy to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, Yahweh’s anointed. Now see where the king’s spear is, and the jar of water that was at his head.”
17Saul knew David’s voice, and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.”
18He said, “Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hand?
19Now therefore, please let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is so that Yahweh has stirred you up against me, let him accept an offering. But if it is the children of men, they are cursed before Yahweh; for they have driven me out this day that I shouldn’t cling to Yahweh’s inheritance, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods!’
20Now therefore, don’t let my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of Yahweh; for the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea, as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”
21Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David; for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.”
22David answered, “Behold the spear, O king! Then let one of the young men come over and get it.
23Yahweh will render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; because Yahweh delivered you into my hand today, and I wouldn’t stretch out my hand against Yahweh’s anointed.
24Behold, as your life was respected this day in my eyes, so let my life be respected in the eyes of Yahweh, and let him deliver me out of all oppression.”
25Then Saul said to David, “You are blessed, my son David. You shall both do mightily, and shall surely prevail.” So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.
Romans 12:14-21
As you read: Paul's commands toward enemies and persecutors, his quotation about vengeance, and how good overcomes evil.
14Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse.
15Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep.
16Be of the same mind one toward another. Don’t set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Don’t be wise in your own conceits.
17Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men.
18If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men.
19Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.”
20Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
21Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
In both cave and camp, David's men saw the same opening and drew the same conclusion. At Engedi they even dressed it in promise language: 'Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.' Later Abishai volunteered to pin Saul to the earth with one stroke. The logic looked airtight both times. Yet David shows that an open door is not always God's invitation, and that faith sometimes refuses an opportunity that appears heaven-sent.
“The men of David said to him, “Behold, the day of which Yahweh said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe secretly.”1 Samuel 24:4
“Then Abishai said to David, “God has delivered up your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore please let me strike him with the spear to the earth at one stroke, and I will not strike him the second time.””1 Samuel 26:8
David's reason was theological, not tactical. Saul was still Yahweh's anointed king, so striking him meant striking what God had consecrated: 'Yahweh forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, Yahweh's anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is Yahweh's anointed.' A chapter later the principle holds even with the spear at hand, for 'who can stretch out his hand against Yahweh's anointed, and be guiltless?' God's gifts come through God's appointments, never through desecrating them.
“He said to his men, “Yahweh forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, Yahweh’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is Yahweh’s anointed.””1 Samuel 24:6
“David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against Yahweh’s anointed, and be guiltless?””1 Samuel 26:9
“Yahweh forbid that I should stretch out my hand against Yahweh’s anointed; but now please take the spear that is at his head, and the jar of water, and let us go.””1 Samuel 26:11
Merely trimming Saul's robe wounded David more than it wounded Saul: 'David's heart struck him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.' He treats even that small act as too near the line, and later pleads with the evidence in hand, 'there is neither evil nor disobedience in my hand, and I have not sinned against you.' Holiness for David was not a floor beneath which he managed his worst, but a ceiling he refused to approach, starting with his own heart's protests.
“Afterward, David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.”1 Samuel 24:5
“Moreover, my father, behold, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and didn’t kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor disobedience in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, though you hunt for my life to take it.”1 Samuel 24:11
David had been anointed years before he wore the crown, and he would wait for God to make the difference: 'As Yahweh lives, Yahweh will strike him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall go down into battle and perish.' He names three doors God could use and walks away from none of them being his own hand. His confidence rests on God's justice, that 'Yahweh will render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness,' and history vindicates the waiting.
“David said, “As Yahweh lives, Yahweh will strike him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall go down into battle and perish.”1 Samuel 26:10
“Yahweh will render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; because Yahweh delivered you into my hand today, and I wouldn’t stretch out my hand against Yahweh’s anointed.”1 Samuel 26:23
Before Saul left the cave, David had already stated Paul's doctrine: 'May Yahweh judge between me and you, and may Yahweh avenge me of you; but my hand shall not be on you.' Paul universalizes it for every believer: 'Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.' Because judgment is God's office, ours is blessing enemies and feeding them, until 'overcome evil with good' becomes the strategy. Peter saw the same shape in Jesus, who committed himself to him who judges righteously.
“May Yahweh judge between me and you, and may Yahweh avenge me of you; but my hand shall not be on you.”1 Samuel 24:12
“Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.””Romans 12:19
“Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”Romans 12:21
“Who, when he was cursed, didn’t curse back. When he suffered, didn’t threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously;”1 Peter 2:23