I SAMUEL 24 Lesson # 24
LIVING IN A CAVE, BUT ACTING IN THE LIGHT
TAKING NO SHORT CUTS
I. Introduction:
Q Has someone ever falsely accused you or falsely hurt your reputation?
Q How did you feel?
Q Did you ever get a chance at “revenge”?
Q How easy is it to pass up such a chance?
Note: Today we will look at a man who had a chance at revenge with someone who did more than hurt his reputation, but had actually repeatedly tried to kill him.
II. In the Cave, But Acting in the Light. I Samuel 24:1-7.
A. Setting the Scene to a Two part Episode: I Samuel 24:1-7.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 24:1-3.
Q Is David given much relief from his narrow escape in chapter 23?
An = No, it seems the author wants us to get the impression that this hounding by Saul was relentless. Little or no attention was paid to the Philistine battle or information as to who won. All concern is placed on the hunt of David (Davis, p. 104).
Q Why Is Saul in the cave?
An = These caves are huge and can be still seen today. This one was big enough to hide David and his men. Saul goes in to relieve himself and then probably to take a nap. The scene is set for a reversal of roles. David gets the upper hand over Saul.
B. Taking No Short Cuts. I Samuel 24:4-7.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 24:4-7.
Q How do David’s men see the situation?
An = As the providence of God. As Davis says (p. 104), it does not take a degree from a Bible school to figure out that this is God’s will.
Q Why does David forego this opportunity to end his plight as a hunted fugitive?
An = It would be to harm one of the Lord’s anointed. God’s hand had rested on Saul and he was used of God to deliver the people and so David respected God’s choice and did not lift up a hand against God’s anointed.
Q Why was David’s conscience smitten for even cutting the piece of his robe?
An = Remember the tearing of Samuel’s robe in 15:27, and the giving of the royal garments of Jonathan to David in 18:4, and the disrobing of Saul’s royal robe in 19:24. All of these symbolize the “kingship”. David is symbolically marring Saul’s reign. He is disfiguring “in secret” the symbols of Saul’s authority. Is this not a lot like “gossiping” about a religious leader that has harmed us. We secretly “stain” or “disfigure” their reputation.
Q Do you know of someone (even yourself) who has been hurt by a powerfully placed religious person?
Q How strong is the desire for some type of justice?
Note: To be able to not take revenge is a tough thing. In the Hebrew of 24:7 the word behind “rebuke” in NIV or “persuaded” in the NASB is the word for “cut”. Literally it means David “cleft with words” his men to stop their desired revenge on Saul (Gordon, p. 180). David had to forcefully and violently stop his men from hurting Saul. David’s men had almost been killed by this King Saul, and they had no patience with his attempted murder of them.
>>> Have someone read I Samuel 15:24.
Q What is the difference between David and Saul in leading men?
An = David is aggressively doing what he thinks is right and bringing others with him. David does not do what is politically correct, but what is “truly correct”. Contrast I Samuel 22:6-8.
Q What is at issue here? What is David doing in this situation that is so important?
An = Perhaps it could be summed up in a few words: “taking no short-cuts”. David is anointed to be king, to take Saul’s place. In addition, David has been abused by Saul, and has a right to have justice. However, David does not do evil to accomplish good. Turn to Matthew 4:8-10.
>>>> Have someone read Matthew 4:8-10.
Q What “short-cut” was Jesus tempted to take?
An = To obtain the souls of men by serving the devil. Satan said Jesus could avoid pain, avoid fighting with the Pharisees, avoid humiliation, avoid the cross, and obtain His desired goal with a short-cut. Do a little evil (worship Satan) and gain a lot of good (the kingdoms of this world).
Q How are we tempted to take “short-cuts” to God’s will today?
An = I am an extremely impatient man and when I see someone ruining their lives, I often speak harshly and terribly to them. I do not want to see them hurt themselves and to avoid pain in me I will often want them to “do what I want for their good now”. It is so hard for me to stay calm and be patient and wait: to suffer in pain and trust that God will take care of the situation if I respect His rules.
Q Is God in control?
Q Will David, did Jesus, avoid further pain and suffering when they refused to sin and worship the devil?
An = No. There will be costs to following the Lord. The costs are only temporary though, the gains are eternal. David will become king. Jesus is the rightful king of all time, of all places, of all reality. Even today, in this sinful world, Jesus Christ is the most widely respected person in history.
III. Outside the Cave: Two Major Speeches. I Samuel 24:8-22.
A. David Confronts Saul. I Samuel 24:8-15.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 24:8-11.
Q What does David’s body language say to Saul?
An = It shows that David is willing to acknowledge Saul as king. It shows humility. David has submitted to God’s will by continuing to respect God’s anointed. This frees him to be respectful to human authorities. David still recognizes Saul’s right to the kingship and willingly shows him respect. Notice the title that David uses to refer to Saul: “my lord the king”. Saul probably does not understand David’s attitude.
Note: David opens his speech with a rhetorical question asking Saul not listen to those men who tell him that David is lying in wait to ambush the king. What David does not know is that it is Saul himself who has started these rumors (22:8). David assumes Saul is mislead by others and does not understand the real reason Saul wants to take his life. David shows this lack of understanding Saul’s motives in 24:14 as well. He does not understand the threat he is to Saul.
Q Is it possible you might not know the real reason why certain people have hurt you?
Note: David is presenting a case to Saul in verses 10-11. He first shows Saul he had opportunity to kill him (10a), that David restrained himself (10b) and then he shows him the proof of what he said (11) by holding up the piece of Saul’s robe.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 24:12-15.
Q What is David doing in these verses?
An = He is appealing to God for justice. David is appealing to God for justice twice: verses 12 and 15. Twice David is vowing this his hand will not be against Saul (12c and 13c). David has decided not to take a “short-cut”.
Q Why is David appealing to God and not to Saul (the king) for justice?
An = There will never be justice from “Saul’s”. It is wiser not to hope such people will change, it will only play with your head. Appeal to God and leave your case before God. God is fair and David confidently asks for an investigation. However, hoping for the Saul’s in this world to be fair is not to live in reality and therefore is constant frustration. David does not understand what motivates Saul, but he now knows Saul cannot be trusted.
Q Do you know someone who is constantly looking for the Saul in their life to be fair? What has it done to them?
B. Saul Responds to David. I Samuel 24:16-21.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 24:16.
Q What does Saul call David and what is his body language saying?
An = He calls him “my son”. Notice 24:11 where David calls Saul “my father”. There was a real bond between these two men, a deep and strong bond. Saul’s body language is the language of repentance and reconciliation.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 24:17-19.
Q What does Saul admit to David?
An = That David is indeed righteous. David’s righteousness was not in religious actions but in practical obedience to God’s will. In David’s action of restraint, his forgiveness of Saul he proved that he really did trust God. This type of religion, not taking the short-cuts in life, even impresses Saul. It amazes Saul (see 24:19).
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 24:20-21.
Q What does Saul now publicly and openly recognize?
An = That the kingship belongs to David. Saul now sees reality for the second time (see chapter 19:24). He not only recognizes David will be king but wants David not to wipe out his house like most new kings would in such a situation. In the ancient world, if there was any discontent then they would seize a member of the “former king’s house” and use them as the rallying point for a coop. Therefore most kings just eliminated the entire family tree of their rivals.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 24:22.
Q Did Saul honor his word?
An = Yes, he did go home.
Q Did David trust Saul and go back to the court?
An = No. Saul did not invite him back, and David is wise not to trust Saul. David has done the right thing. He has not taken a short-cut and so he remains a fugitive and an outcast. But we know he has done the right thing. We know how the story ends and we know the song of Hannah, the foundation song of Samuel.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 2:6-10.