Although Saul was determined to kill him, David recognised that Saul was the LORD’s anointed and Israel’s rightful king. Therefore he would do nothing to harm him. It is against human nature to be non-resistant to evil and to do good to those who persecute us, but Jesus requires us to “turn the other cheek” and to love our enemies, and David is a supreme example of one who did this - doing good in return for evil and blessing them that cursed him. In this chapter we read how he had the opportunity to kill Saul while he slept, and indeed his men urged him to do it.v.41 Samuel 24:4XWaiting for response It seemed to them that God had brought this opportunity to David to fulfil his promise,v.41 Samuel 24:4XWaiting for response but David would not harm the LORD’s anointed.v.61 Samuel 24:6XWaiting for response He did, however, show Saul how close he had come to death and how his life had been spared.vs.9-141 Samuel 24:9-14XWaiting for response This brought a confession from Saul that David was a righteous man.v.171 Samuel 24:17XWaiting for response He also expressed his recognition that David would sit upon the throne, even though he was pursuing David to prevent this,v.201 Samuel 24:20XWaiting for response and therefore sought David’s promise that when he became the king of Israel he would not harm any of his sons,v.211 Samuel 24:21XWaiting for response and David gave his word.v.221 Samuel 24:22XWaiting for response
Verses 16-17
1 Samuel 24:16-17XWaiting for response
In the following chapters we can read how Saul quickly resumed his pursuit of David, forcing him even to live in the land of the Philistines, Israel’s enemy, to escape. 1 Samuel 27:71 Samuel 27:7XWaiting for response
Although Saul was determined to kill him, David recognised that Saul was the LORD’s anointed and Israel’s rightful king. Therefore he would do nothing to harm him. It is against human nature to be non-resistant to evil and to do good to those who persecute us, but Jesus requires us to “turn the other cheek” and to love our enemies, and David is a supreme example of one who did this - doing good in return for evil and blessing them that cursed him. In this chapter we read how he had the opportunity to kill Saul while he slept, and indeed his men urged him to do it.v.41 Samuel 24:4XWaiting for response It seemed to them that God had brought this opportunity to David to fulfil his promise,v.41 Samuel 24:4XWaiting for response but David would not harm the LORD’s anointed.v.61 Samuel 24:6XWaiting for response He did, however, show Saul how close he had come to death and how his life had been spared.vs.9-141 Samuel 24:9-14XWaiting for response This brought a confession from Saul that David was a righteous man.v.171 Samuel 24:17XWaiting for response He also expressed his recognition that David would sit upon the throne, even though he was pursuing David to prevent this,v.201 Samuel 24:20XWaiting for response and therefore sought David’s promise that when he became the king of Israel he would not harm any of his sons,v.211 Samuel 24:21XWaiting for response and David gave his word.v.221 Samuel 24:22XWaiting for response