Topical Bible: Saul: King of Israel: His Life Spared by David

◄ Saul: King of Israel: His Life Spared by David ►

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Saul, the first king of Israel, was anointed by the prophet Samuel as chosen by God to lead His people (1 Samuel 10:1). Saul's reign began with promise, but his disobedience to God's commands led to his rejection as king (1 Samuel 15:26). Despite this, Saul continued to rule, and his relationship with David, the future king, became a central narrative in his life.

David, a young shepherd, gained favor in Saul's court after defeating Goliath, the Philistine giant (1 Samuel 17). Saul initially loved David and made him a commander in his army (1 Samuel 18:5). However, as David's popularity grew, Saul became increasingly jealous and fearful of losing his throne. This jealousy turned into a relentless pursuit to kill David, who had become his perceived rival (1 Samuel 18:8-9).

Despite Saul's attempts on his life, David remained loyal to the king, respecting Saul as God's anointed. This loyalty is most profoundly demonstrated in two significant events where David spared Saul's life. The first occurred in the wilderness of En Gedi. Saul, in pursuit of David, entered a cave to relieve himself, unaware that David and his men were hiding deeper inside. David's men saw this as an opportunity to kill Saul, but David refused, saying, "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 LORD’s anointed" (1 Samuel 24:6). Instead, David secretly cut off a corner of Saul's robe to prove he had the chance to kill him but chose not to. After Saul left the cave, David revealed himself and demonstrated his loyalty and respect, leading Saul to momentarily repent and acknowledge David's righteousness (1 Samuel 24:16-20).

The second instance occurred in the Desert of Ziph. Saul was again pursuing David, and one night, David and Abishai, one of his men, infiltrated Saul's camp. They found Saul asleep, with his spear stuck in the ground beside his head. Abishai urged David to kill Saul, but David again refused, saying, "Do not destroy him, for who can lift a hand against the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?" (1 Samuel 26:9). Instead, David took Saul's spear and water jug as evidence of his presence and his decision to spare Saul's life. The next morning, David called out to Saul's camp, revealing what he had done and again demonstrating his loyalty and righteousness. Saul acknowledged his sin and blessed David, recognizing that David would indeed become king (1 Samuel 26:21-25).

These acts of mercy highlight David's respect for God's anointed and his trust in God's timing for his own ascension to the throne. David's restraint and respect for Saul, despite Saul's relentless pursuit, underscore the biblical themes of mercy, respect for God's authority, and the importance of leaving vengeance to the Lord. Saul's life, marked by initial promise and subsequent disobedience, serves as a cautionary tale of the consequences of straying from God's commands, while David's actions exemplify faithfulness and integrity.

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1 Samuel 24:5-8
And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
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Library

The Kingdom of all Israel.
... because Ishbosheth refused to give him one of Saul's widows to ... with anxious heed
to the will of his true King. ... and was the first to win for Israel her great ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson vi the kingdom of.htm

Love for Hate, the True Quid Pro Quo
... After whom is the king of Israel come out ... down quietly to the place where the
unconscious king was crouching ... the cave's mouth, was not buried in Saul's great back ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/love for hate the true.htm

Love and Remorse
... And Saul answered, I ... having fallen away from God and wrecked their lives, perhaps
there is none so impressive as the giant form of the first king of Israel. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/love and remorse.htm

Saul Rejected
... message committed to every prophet in Israel, and which ... in secret, so Samuel consented
to honour Saul before the ... to say, he ceased to be God's king, and became ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/saul rejected.htm

The History of Saul
... Thus endeth the life of Saul which was first king upon Israel, and for disobedience
of God's commandment was slain, and his heirs never reigned long ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the history of saul.htm

Cheating and Dishonest Ways of Making Money are Utterly Unfit for ...
... Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet ... Therefore the
elements themselves paid the penalty for witnessing the king's death. 63. ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter ix cheating and dishonest.htm

On the Righteousness and Efficacy of the Providence of God ...
... Acts 5:41; John 21:19.) God permitted Saul, whom "in ... had given to the Israelites
as their king" (Hosea 13 ... Balaam from cursing the children of Israel, and caused ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 9 on the righteousness.htm

The Nations of the South-East
... annals of the country. It seems to be brought down to the time when Saul
was elected king over Israel. The chronicles of Edom ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter iii the nations of.htm

Two Ancient Proverbs
... God had chosen Saul to be head over his people, but when ... How nobly did he say to
the king of Sodom, "I ... The fear of man had brought down Israel's future monarch ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/two ancient proverbs.htm

Who Can Tell?
... I think, the greatest confidence which the king of Nineveh ... ye backsliding children
of men." "Oh Israel, return unto me ... the thief on the cross to Saul of Tarsus ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/who can tell.htm