David Spares Saul’s Life

1 Samuel 24

            There are a couple of notable things here. First, David’s men see an opportunity. “Let’s end this thing,” is their attitude. David, on the other hand, recognizes Saul as his master and as the Lord’s anointed. Some commentators think that David is thinking about precedent: David himself is also the Lord’s anointed; does David really want to start his reign with the idea that you can just assassinate the Lord’s anointed? Those commentators argue that David is acting out of self-interest. To be sure, because of our sinful natures, humans always have mixed motives. But I do think in this instance we’re supposed to think of David as having an extraordinary respect for Saul because of Saul’s calling, and I do think that we’re supposed to think of David as being extraordinarily patient, trusting that the Lord will do for David what the Lord promised in the Lord’s own time.

            David’s good intentions are shown in his promise to Saul that he would not kill Saul’s family. Purging any threat to one’s reign by killing one’s predecessor’s family has been pretty standard through human history. We saw that in Judges 9, when Abimelek killed all of Gideon’s sons. We’ll see it often in the books of 1 and 2 Kings. We even see it today wherever despots and tyrants rule. Remember David’s oath. He keeps it in 2 Samuel 9.