1 Samuel 24:1-7

Relax, Read and Reflect

Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

1 Samuel 24

David Spares Saul's Life

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 ^a]'>[a] 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.

We are skipping along here. David is on the run from Saul. Each take time out to fight other tribes, but David is hiding in the wilderness. Saul is chasing him but does not know how close he is to David. He goes into a cave to relieve himself not knowing this is where David and his men are hiding. David cuts off a piece of Saul's cloak, but feels remorse and does not let his men kill the king.

Questions:

1. Why didn't David kill Saul? Saul is constantly trying to kill David.

2. Why did he become heart stricken in verse 5?

3. How tough would it be for David's men not to go ahead and take care of the king?