1 Samuel 24:3-22 And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet… This scene is an episode in the life of David, whom God had chosen to succeed Saul as the king of Israel. 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.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave. |
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