With these words David restrained his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way. Sermons
1 Samuel 24:1-7. (ENGEDI.) Would it not be manly to resent it? said one, on receiving an affront. "Yes," was the reply, "but it would be Godlike to forgive it." In the spirit of this answer David acted when he spared Saul in the cave at Engedi, and thereby proved that he was guiltless of the design which the latter in his delusion attributed to him - of aiming at his throne and his life (1 Samuel 22:8). Saul himself had shown generosity toward enemies in the earlier part of his career (1 Samuel 11:12); but his character had fearfully deteriorated since that time, and his generosity toward others was far surpassed by that of David toward him. "Generosity toward his enemies was a part of David's very being. And he alone is the true hero who, like David, forces involuntary recognition and friendship even from his bitterest foe" (Ewald). Observe that - I. HE WAS STRONGLY TEMPTED TO AVENGE HIMSELF. He had been bitterly hated and grievously wronged; "was a man of like passions with ourselves;" and the temptation came to him, as it comes to others, in - 1. A favourable opportunity to take revenge. His enemy was entirely in his power, and his life might be taken away at a stroke. "O, Opportunity, thy guilt is great; 2. A plausible argument used by others. David's men not only desired to see the deed done and sought permission to do it (vers. 7, 10), but also said," See, this is the day of which Jehovah hath said to thee, Behold, I give thine enemy into thine hand," etc. "The speakers regarded the leadings of Providence by which Saul had been brought into David's power as a Divine intimation to David himself to take this opportunity of slaying his deadly enemy, and called the intimation a word of Jehovah" (Keil). Men are apt to interpret the Divine purpose of events according to their own interests and inclinations (1 Samuel 23:7), and it is often the exact reverse of what they imagine it to be. It was not that David should slay Saul, but (among other things) that he should be tried, and by sparing him vindicated, blessed and made a blessing. What is meant for good is by a deceived heart turned to evil. "And those temptations are most powerful which fetch their force from the pretence of a religious obedience" (Hall). 3. A sudden thought tending in the direction of revenge (ver. 10, Vulgate: "And I thought to kill thee"). He did not cherish it or form a distinct purpose to carry it into effect, but came perilously near doing so in the indignity he offered to the king. "He does not seem to have been quite free from the temptation to kill Saul. The words (ver. 5) are only intelligible on the supposition that, on cutting off Saul's skirt, his thoughts were not directed only to the use which he afterwards made of it, at least in the beginning, but that his object was rather to prove the goodness of his thoughts at the first weak beginning he made to carry them into effect. But his better self soon awoke; all impure thoughts fled; his eye became clear; with horror he put the temptation from him" (Hengstenberg). "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation," etc. (James 1:12). II. HE COMPLETELY OVERCAME THE TEMPTATION. By - 1. The possession of a tender conscience, which enabled him to perceive the will of God, shrank from sin, and smote him for his "thought of foolishness" (Proverbs 24:9) and irreverent act. "It is a good thing to have a heart within us smiting us for sins that seem little; it is a sign conscience is awake and tender, and will be a means to prevent greater sins" (M. Henry). 2. Regard to the Divine will, which directed him not to avenge himself, but to leave vengeance with the Lord; to honour the king, and love his neighbour as himself. His regard for it was lowly, reverent, and supreme. The purpose of providential events must be interpreted in harmony with conscience and the moral law. How often do the Scriptures enjoin forbearance and forgiveness toward enemies! (Proverbs 20:22; Proverbs 25:21, 22; Matthew 5:44; Romans 12:19-21; Colossians 3:13). 3. Repression of evil thought and impulse; immediate, firm, and entire. "The better to know how to guard against the wiles of the enemy, take it for a certain rule that every thought which discourages and removes thee from growing in love and trust towards God is a messenger of hell; and, as such, thou must drive him away, and neither admit him nor give him a hearing" (Scupoli). David repressed such a thought in himself and in his men, became the protector of Saul, was not overcome of evil, but overcame evil with good, and was made by means of temptation stronger and more illustrious. "Temptation is the greatest occasioner of a Christian's honour; indeed, like an enemy, it threatens and endeavours to ruin him, but in conquest of it consists his crown and triumph" (Hales, 'Golden Remains'). As aids to the practice of forbearance - 1. Consider the "goodness, forbearance, and long suffering of Gad." 2. Contemplate the example of Christ. 3. Watch against the first thought of evil. 4. Pray for the spirit of patience, forgiveness, and love. - D.
Where was a cave and Saul went in...and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave. Saul's animosity is a fire that finds constant fuel. No sooner are the Philistines repulsed than he resumes his hunt for his prey. That Saul should know so well where to look for David seems to imply that traitors were among the wanderer's followers. Misinterpreted providence refused in wisdom. Saul's unexpected appearance thus unguarded would appear to David's men as decidedly a providence. Calling to mind the meaning of the Divine anointing and the promise that David should come to the throne of Israel, they whisper, "Behold the day of which the Lord said unto thee" (ver. 4). If Psalm 7 belongs to this period, we see how great the conflict with self before this temptation. The history furnishes us with much light concerning David.1. His tenderness of conscience is noticeable. His heart smote him for thus doubting God and stooping to dishonour His anointed king (ver. 5). 2. His conscious integrity adds force to his words. How tenderly he pleads with Saul (ver. 9). How tremulous with righteousness are his words (ver. 11). 3. What dignity there is in truth l and withal his humility must be noticed. (ver. 14). It was as if he had said, "I shall not antedate the promise. God has said He will bring me to the throne. I shall wait." (ver. 15). Such a time was filled with tests — a sudden opportunity to reach the desire of the heart, and an appeal to passion in the name of religion. He stood the strain. He lost not his self-command. Nearly all our falls come from trying to go before God! (H. E. Stone.) 1. The cave. In all limestone countries such caves are common, and many of them are large enough to conceal armies. The Mammoth Cave in Kentucky and Weyer's Cave in Virginia are large enough to shelter a hundred thousand men. Bruce's Cave in Scotland is still shown to tourists, and history tells how Mohammed once saved his life by running into one of these mountain caves. But in this cave at Engedi we have the marvellous escape of Saul as an act of gracious forbearance on the part of David. 2. The meeting. In the solitude, of that cave, by the mysterious providence of God, are these two men, Saul and David. Saul hated David as Haman hated Mordecai, or as Herod hated Jesus when the wise men told him that a King was born in Bethlehem. 3. David restrained. It must have been a great provocation to stand there and see his inveterate enemy ungird his mantle and compose himself to sleep. But David was a man of war, brave as the lion. He was made of nobler stuff than assassins are made of. He was too much of a man to kill a king when asleep, as Richard hired men to kill the princes of England that he might ascend the throne. 4. The final appeal. "But I say unto you, love your enemies." We would hardly expect to find a fulfilment of such a sentiment in that rude age of the world.Lessons: — 1. Sin hardens. Sin puts a man in antagonism to God, makes him hate the rule of God, and makes him ignore and despise the mercy of God, and at last brings him to confront the unmitigated vengeance of God. 2. The subduing and restraining power of God's grace. (T. W. Hooper, D. D.) Monday Club Sermons. David illustrates the peacemaker.I. IN HIS FORBEARANCE. Those were times of quick and savage deed. Human life was cheap. Tender sensibilities had slight leave among a people, every one of whom wore his sword on thigh, ready, on occasion, to pierce with it the heart of an offender. The spirit of the age demanded speedy redress of injury or insult. And here was one who, above all others, had, signalized himself as gifted with courage and strength in conflict. The wrongs we have suffered do rankle mightily, till an unearthly nature has been created within us. To "forgive, but not forget," is the veriest empty form of words. Philip of Burgundy, being entreated to punish a prelate who had injured him, may seem to have given a holy rule in his reply, "It is a fine thing to have revenge in one's power, but it is a finer thing not to use it." And a finer yet, is it not, to have no spirit of resentment burning within, however it may be reprised? Another characteristic of the peacemaker which gave David a right to the title was: II. HIS CONSCIENTIOUSNESS. Though he would not harm his foe in the least, yet he did think best to obtain proof that he could have slain him if he would. We commend his prudence. But no sooner had the rent been made in the royal mantle than "his heart smote him." He had lifted his hand against his fellow; if not to cut off his head, at least somewhat his dignity. The Rabbis declare that he expiated this sin in his old age, by finding no warmth in the clothes wherewith he wrapped himself. He opened his inmost heart to his murmuring associates, and we are surprised that this bronzed soldier betrays the finer sentiments of humanity. The beating of a reverent, loving heart, seeking over to he cleansed from secret faults, is felt through all this story of trial. As the string of the piano vibrates when its kindred note is sounded by other instrument or voice, so does this brief protest of a conscience, ages since, stir the reader's in quick unison, as we learn that the standards of right and wrong are eternal. The peacemaker like David is — III. LOYAL TO RULERS. Saul had been sought out by the aged prophet, and the vial of oil had been poured upon his head. Henceforth he was a representative of Jehovah. Affront, disobedience, disrespect shown to him, was dishonour to God as well. Let him betray his trust; let him, like the stork in the fable, eat up his subjects; let him be a Herod, a Nero, a Charles, an Ashantee chief, an Alexander IV; still, the authority of his office, when once he holds it, is sacred, and must be maintained. So David reasoned, and would not for a moment think of retaliation. What a lesson of self-control and chivalrous devotion was that to the impatient, hating victims of oppression in every age! God's time and God's way may best be waited for. The chief attribute at the peacemaker David was — IV. SIMPLE TRUST IN GOD. In this instance, as before and afterwards, we find him, in full view of danger, committing his ease to the Lord, whom he prayed to "judge between me and thee, and plead my cause and deliver me out of thine hand." Such confidence is a sublime reality. (Monday Club Sermons.) People David, SaulPlaces Engedi, Wildgoats' RocksTopics Allow, Attack, Cave, Checked, David, Didn't, Got, Kept, Permit, Permitted, Persuaded, Rebuked, Restrained, Rise, Risen, Rose, Saul, Servants, Stayed, Subdueth, SufferedOutline 1. David, in a cave at En Gedi, spares his life8. He shows thereby his innocence, 16. Saul, acknowledging his fault, takes an oath of David, and departs. Dictionary of Bible Themes 1 Samuel 24:7 5088 David, character 8410 decision-making, examples Library Love for Hate, the True Quid Pro Quo'And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the Lord said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily. 5. And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had out off Saul's skirt. 6. And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The Exile --Continued. How Subjects and Prelates are to be Admonished. The Exile --Continued. The Hebrew Sages and their Proverbs How those are to be Admonished with whom Everything Succeeds According to their Wish, and those with whom Nothing Does. Samuel Links 1 Samuel 24:7 NIV1 Samuel 24:7 NLT 1 Samuel 24:7 ESV 1 Samuel 24:7 NASB 1 Samuel 24:7 KJV 1 Samuel 24:7 Bible Apps 1 Samuel 24:7 Parallel 1 Samuel 24:7 Biblia Paralela 1 Samuel 24:7 Chinese Bible 1 Samuel 24:7 French Bible 1 Samuel 24:7 German Bible 1 Samuel 24:7 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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