What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 24:6? So he said to his men • David and about six hundred followers are hiding in the cave at En-gedi when Saul steps in, unaware (1 Samuel 24:2–4). • His men whisper, “This is the day the LORD spoke of…” urging him to strike Saul (24:4). • Instead of reacting to peer pressure, David turns and addresses them. Leadership means guiding others toward righteousness, not merely going along with majority opinion (cf. 2 Samuel 23:14-17, where David likewise restrains reckless zeal). The LORD forbid • David instantly frames the issue in God-centered terms. “The LORD forbid” is a solemn vow that places divine authority above personal desire (cf. Genesis 39:9; 1 Samuel 26:11). • He recognizes that sin is first and foremost against God, echoing Joseph’s words in Egypt and foreshadowing Romans 12:19: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” That I should do such a thing to my master • Although Saul is hunting David, David still calls him “my master.” Obedience to God includes honoring flawed human authorities (Exodus 20:12; Romans 13:1-2). • Personal mistreatment never cancels God’s command to respect the offices He ordains (1 Peter 2:17). The LORD’s anointed • Saul was anointed with oil by Samuel at God’s command (1 Samuel 10:1), marking him as Israel’s king. • David himself had been anointed (16:13), yet he refuses to seize the throne prematurely. He trusts God’s timing rather than human opportunity (2 Samuel 1:14-16). • To lay a hand on God’s anointed without divine sanction would be rebellion against God Himself. May I never lift my hand against him • David deliberately restrains physical action. He had already cut off the corner of Saul’s robe and immediately felt convicted (24:5). • True faith often shows itself more in what we refuse to do than in what we accomplish (Proverbs 20:22; Matthew 5:44). • By withholding violence, David foreshadows Christ, “When He was reviled, He did not retaliate” (1 Peter 2:23). Since he is the LORD’s anointed • David repeats the title to drive home the point: the issue is not Saul’s behavior but God’s appointment. • He entrusts vindication to the Lord: “The LORD will judge between you and me” (1 Samuel 24:15; cf. Psalm 57, composed in a cave). • Romans 12:17-21 echoes the same principle—overcome evil with good, leaving judgment to God. summary David’s words in 1 Samuel 24:6 reveal a heart that fears God more than circumstances. He refuses to assert his rights or shortcut God’s plan, choosing reverence over revenge. Recognizing Saul as “the LORD’s anointed,” he models submission to divine authority, patient trust in God’s timing, and the restraint that characterizes true faith. |
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