Bible Study - Relationships Collide - It's Not about Me - 1 Samuel 24:1-22 - October 20, 2013

Bible Study - Relationships Collide – It’s Not About Me – October 20, 2013

This is lesson two in our series entitled “When Relationships Collide: Thriving in the Midst of Conflict.”

Our scripture is 1 Samuel 24:1-15.

When relationships collide, it is about me or is it? There is no doubt about it we are living in a “me” world. We see it now and we saw it just a few years ago when inept, greedy leaders of companies led many companies into bankruptcy or poor conditions while they lived lavish life styles at the expense of the company. I know a person who was in a high position in a large company. He told me that his boss told him, if the CEO asked him to get a box of chocolates for him and he (the person telling me) was working on something critical for the company, he should drop what he was doing and get the box of chocolates. That went against his work ethic and mine.

Conflicts can arise between family members, friends, co-workers and the list goes on. David had been anointed by the Prophet Samuel to succeed King Saul as King of Israel. King Saul knew that David had been anointed to succeed him as king. David had built a good relationship with the Israelites and that made Saul jealous and he was out to kill him. David was a mighty warrior and had a loyal group of men who stood with him. David was a leader and he trusted GOD. David and his men were in the wilderness fleeing from Saul. Saul and 3,000 troops were trying to find him and kill him when opportunity came knocking. David had to make a hard decision to make. GOD gave him an opportunity to get up close and personal with Saul. Was it an opportunity to kill Saul or to show Saul that David would not take advantage of the opportunity? David trusted GOD to use the opportunity to reveal to Saul that David was loyal to King Saul and to GOD. Who do we trust when opportunity comes knocking? Is it opportunity or a trap?

Our true hearts direct our response. Our response reflects our Spiritual relationship with GOD through CHRIST. If we had been David, what would we have done?

Let’s explore.

Let’s read 1 Samuel 24:1-2:

1 WHEN SAUL returned from following the Philistines, he was told, Behold, David is in the Wilderness of En-gedi. 2 Then Saul took 3,000 chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men among the Rocks of the Wild Goats.

There is conflict and there is conflict with those in power. King Saul wanted to kill David and had been pursuing David until an uprising occurred with the Philistines. King Saul stopped his pursuit of David to take care of the Philistines but apparently left a scout in the area where they thought David and his men had been traveling. After King Saul took care of the Philistine uprising, as stated in verse 1, King Saul returned to his pursuit of David.

The scout told King Saul that David was in the Wilderness of En-gedi, which was west of the Dead Sea. King Saul had 3,000 crack Israeli warriors searching for David and his men. His objective was to kill David. They went into an area called the Rocks of the Wild Goats, which was a rugged and rocky area with many caves. It was an area with many wild goats which could provide food for those who did not want to be found and evading someone pursuing them. The area provided cover and food.

King Saul was obsessed with killing David because he knew that David would replace him as king. Kings thought they were eternal and it was likely that Saul thought if he killed or had killed his successor it would ensure his permanence as king. Power has a way of making those in power to think of themselves as god.  

Let’s read 1 Samuel 24:3-7:

3 He came to the sheepfolds on the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the cave's innermost recesses. 4 David's men said to him, Behold the day of which the Lord said to you, Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hands and you shall do to him as seems good to you. Then David arose [in the darkness] and stealthily cut off the skirt of Saul's robe. 5 Afterward, David's heart smote him because he had cut off Saul's skirt. 6 He said to his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this to my master, the Lord's anointed, to put my hand out against him, when he is the anointed of the Lord. 7 So David checked his men with these words and did not let them rise against Saul. But Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.

As King Saul and his troops were searching for David and his men, they came across sheepfolds. These were manmade creations usually located near or at the entrance to a cave. They were usually surrounded by rocks and thorny bushes to keep the sheep in and the predators out. Often, they were located near the entrance to a cave where those caring for the sheep would be protected from the elements and predators.

It so happened that this very cave was where David and his men were located. They were far back in the cave hiding when King Saul entered the cave to relieve himself. We see GOD’S hand at work.

Talk about GOD delivering the person who was out to kill you, to you, this was a wow moment. There are several interpretations of what Saul was doing in the cave. The scripture stated that he was relieving himself but some Bible scholars think he was resting. I think he was relieving himself. David saw it as a GOD given opportunity. The question was, “What would David do with this opportunity?”  Opportunities generally require a decision.

It was likely that David did not know what he was going to do at that moment but the opportunity was there for him to choose. David’s men wanted David to kill Saul. You can almost hear the conversation, “David, man GOD has delivered your enemy to you. Now is your opportunity to kill Saul and to be king, after all you know that is your destiny.” We have the opportunity to see the heart of David. David respected and honored GOD and as a result, he honored authority. David knew that GOD had anointed Saul and placed him as king. The Prophet Samuel had anointed Saul as king and the Prophet Samuel had also anointed David to be king when GOD provided the opportunity for him to succeed Saul.

David was a skilled warrior and he stealthily slipped down to where Saul was and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe with a very sharp knife. The knife was so sharp that it did not make a sound as it cut the skirt. GOD gave David the peace of mind to cut off the skirt but after he did it, he felt guilty. I think that was GOD’S way of staying David’s hand not to do more. Yet, by him not killing Saul it would be a powerful message to King Saul. It would show David’s loyalty to both King Saul and to GOD. The opportunity was there but Davis chose not to take Saul’s life. Sparing a person’s life usually meant the person spared would be loyal to the person who spared his/her life.  

David could have concluded that GOD delivered Saul to him to kill him. If they had been engaged in a battle then that was one thing but that was not the case. It was likely that Saul had taken off his weapon or weapons. David had a very sharp knife which cut the skirt of Saul’s robe without Saul even knowing that it had been done. It would have been easy to have slit Saul’s throat. If David had killed Saul, would he have been king or a hunted man? If David had killed Saul, he would have taken the matter out of GOD’S hands and placed it into his hands. If David was defending himself from Saul, it would be a no brainer. A person has the right to defend himself or herself.

Not taking action, when the opportunity presents itself, takes more courage than taking the action. God knew David’s heart and this was an opportunity for David to choose who he would place his trust in – himself or GOD. He chose GOD. David had to hold his men back from doing what he had chosen not to do. David had to consider his image as a warrior and leader among his men but it was also a testimony to them of his faithfulness and trust in GOD to provide what HE had promised according to HIS schedule and plan. That reveals the heart of a mature Spiritual person.

Christians need discernment when facing matters in their lives which mimic David’s situation. The working of GOD in the lives of those involved in the events as recorded in the Bible reveal the power, purpose and provisions of GOD but other than encouraging a person to trust GOD, does it apply to you in your situation? That is where the person needs discernment and the leadership and guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Christians must be careful not to grab GOD’S solution for a Bible character and apply it to their situation without being led by the Holy Spirit. How do I know that? Been there and done that. But if you do, it will likely be discouraging for a season but will be for you to learn and contribute to your Spiritual growth. Walking with CHRIST is not easy but continuous learning because you are walking with the teacher. That is why Christians must have and maintain a dynamic relationship with CHRIST through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

David allowed King Saul to finish relieving himself and King Saul left the cave. David could have let him go without saying a word but King Saul needed to know that David had spared his life.

Let’s read 1 Samuel 24:8-15:

8 David also arose afterward and went out of the cave and called after Saul, saying, My lord the king! And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and did obeisance. 9 And David said to Saul, Why do you listen to the words of men who say, David seeks to do you harm? 10 Behold, your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hands in the cave. Some told me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord's anointed. 11 See, my father, see the skirt of your robe in my hand! Since I cut off the skirt of your robe and did not kill you, you know and see that there is no evil or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, yet you hunt my life to take it. 12 May the Lord judge between me and you, and may the Lord avenge me upon you, but my hand shall not be upon you. 13 As the proverb of the ancients says, Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness; but my hand shall not be against you. 14 After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog? After a flea? 15 May the Lord be judge and judge between me and you, and see and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hands.

When King Saul left the cave David followed behind him and called his name. Even though David could have killed Saul, he treated King Saul with respect by addressing him “My lord the king!” HE called him “father.” King Saul was David’s father-in-law. When King Saul turned around, David bowed before him.

David had an opportunity to speak to King Saul, show his loyalty to him as his king and reveal that Saul’s life had been in his hands. He told King Saul that GOD had delivered him to him and he had the opportunity to take his life. Some of his men had even encouraged him to kill him but he chose not to do so. In case Saul thought David was just bumping his gums, David held up the skirt to his robe and let him know how close he had been to him when he was in the dark cave. 

He wanted King Saul to know that he could trust David. David reconfirmed that GOD had anointed Saul as king and that he would honor GOD’S anointed. When Saul was replaced as king, it would be GOD who would do the replacing, not him. He was loyal to GOD and as a result he was loyal to King Saul.

We live in a world where the mantra is that a person must take charge of his/her destiny – “You lead, follow or get left behind.” It is very difficult to discern what to do when life brings opportunities our way because GOD does open up opportunities. It each situation, the Holy Spirit needs to lead and guide us in our choices. Our relationship with GOD during such times is critical and determines our choice.

David quoted an ancient proverb, “Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness” with a promise to King Saul “but my hand shall not be against you.” David was trying to get Saul to see truth. David had the opportunity to kill  him but the fact that he did not revealed that there was no wickedness in his heart toward King Saul.

In essence, David was saying, “King Saul, please pause and ponder the facts of what has just taken place. You had no idea that I was so close to you in that cave but you know that I was so close that I cut the skirt off of your robe. I confirmed it by showing you the missing piece of your skirt. You were alone and all I had to do was reach up and slit your throat. I could have left the cave with my men and your men would have found you dead with no idea that it was me that had done the deed. When I heard of your death then I would have reappeared and been crowned king of Israel.” David then posed questions to King Saul.  

Why do you spend time and resources coming after someone who is not against you? Would you take time and make such an effort to kill a dead dog or a flea?

David was giving the matter of their conflict over to GOD because he was not going to raise a hand against King Saul. This sent a powerful message to King Saul which I think the essence of which, although in the New Testament, was captured in Hebrew 10:31:

31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God!  

David had a clear conscience and trusted GOD to do what was necessary to do to elevate him to be king. GOD is sovereign.

Let’s read 1 Samuel 24:16-22:

16 When David had said this to Saul, Saul said, Is this your voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17 He said to David, You are more upright in God's eyes than I, for you have repaid me good, but I have rewarded you evil. 18 You have declared today how you have dealt well with me; for when the Lord gave me into your hand, you did not kill me. 19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? Therefore may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done for me this day. 20 And now, behold, I well know that you shall surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hands. 21 Swear now therefore to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house. 22 David gave Saul his oath; and Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

When David spoke to Saul, Saul asked if he was hearing the voice of my “son” David. Saul likely looked down at his skirt the instant David informed him that he had cut the skirt off of his robe. David held up the missing skirt to let him see it. When it dawned on him what had happened and David had not killed him, Saul wept. Saul’s heart was touched as he expressed in this scripture.

David could have been all about David, his ego and vindication. But instead he chose to depend upon GOD and not take matters into his own hands. David trusted GOD then and for his future.

This scripture revealed the impact David’s decision had upon Saul. It confirmed to David that he had made the right decision.

Saul knew that GOD had chosen David to succeed him and he made a request of David when he became king:

21 Swear now therefore to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house. 22 David gave Saul his oath; and Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

David honored Saul’s request when David became king. It was the custom for a new king to utterly annihilate the defeated king’s family and descendants because it was likely that the defeated king’s family and descendants would attempt to rebuild the kingdom and demand loyalty to them or create chaos. David honored King Saul’s request when he became king. But later, when there was a famine in the land, GOD revealed to David an issue that needed to be resolved. David handed over seven members of Saul’s family to the Gibeonites to be hung because Saul had killed the Gibeonites as recorded in 2 Samuel 21:1-6:

1 During David’s reign there was a famine for three successive years, so David inquired of the Lord. The Lord answered, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family when he killed the Gibeonites.” 2 The Gibeonites were not Israelites but rather a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had taken an oath concerning them, but Saul had tried to kill them in his zeal for the Israelites and Judah. So David summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. 3 He asked the Gibeonites, “What should I do for you? How can I make atonement so that you will bring a blessing on the Lord’s inheritance?” 4 The Gibeonites said to him, “We are not asking for money from Saul or his family, and we cannot put anyone to death in Israel.” “Whatever you say, I will do for you,” he said. 5 They replied to the king, “As for the man who annihilated us and plotted to destroy us so we would not exist within the whole territory of Israel, 6 let seven of his male descendants be handed over to us so we may hang them in the presence of the Lord at Gibeah of Saul, the Lord’s chosen.” 

Conflicts can test our character and relationship with GOD. Who do we trust in difficult times GOD or ourselves? How we choose depends upon our Spiritual maturity and whether or not we listen and obey the leadership of the Holy Spirit or our flesh. We as Christians need discernment and an intimate relationship with GOD through CHRIST and the indwelling Holy Spirit. Blessings!!!