David Spares Saul’s Life

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 1 Samuel 26:1-12. The Ziphites came to Gibeah and asked Saul about David. They asked if he was hiding in the hill of Hachilah, close to Jeshimon.

I thought Saul and David made peace a while back, but they’re at it again. Saul gathered three thousand men and went down to Ziph to look for David in the wilderness.

Saul pitched his camp in the hill of Hachilah, close to Jeshimon. David and his men were close by in the wilderness of Ziph. David saw Saul and his men coming and thought they may be searching for him.

David sent out spies to verify where Saul and his men were camped. David planned to go to the camp where Saul and his men were sleeping. David asked which of his men would go with him to Saul’s camp. Abishai volunteered to go with David.

When they got there all the men including Saul were sound asleep. Abishai told David that God had delivered Saul into his hand. Saul was laying there sleeping in a trench with his sword stuck in the ground by his side. His men were laying around him to protect him.

Abishai wanted to steal Saul’s sword and kill him with it. But, David forbid Abishai from harming Saul. He didn’t want the responsibility of harming the anointed of the LORD to be on his hands.

David told Abishai that instead they would take Saul’s sword and his cruse of water. So they were able to steal Saul’s sword and water without anyone noticing. God had caused Saul and his men to be in a deep sleep.

David lets us know that just because we have the opportunity to get revenge on someone, it may not be God’s will for us. Sometimes it is better to let God handle the situation.

Daily Bible Reading:

1 Samuel 26:1-12

1 And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?
2 Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.
3 And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.
4 David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.
5 And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him.
6 Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.
7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.
8 Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.
9 And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD’S anointed, and be guiltless?
10 David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.
11 The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD’S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.
12 So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul’s bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.

Things to think about:

• Who came to Saul asking about David?

• What was Saul’s response?

• What did David do when he found out where Saul was?

• Why didn’t David take advantage of the situation and kill Saul?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we read this Scripture we see that David had every opportunity to do away with Saul, but he respected Saul as Your anointed. Help us to have respect for those You have appointed to do Your work. Forgive us of the times we’ve taken opportunity to get revenge on those who have wronged us. Help us to respond in ways that are pleasing to You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

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PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Come back again tomorrow. Please invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study. We will continue with the study of The Book of 1 Samuel.

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Deborah H. Bateman

Deborah H. Bateman encourages other believers in their walk with Jesus Christ through Bible study. She is a Christian Author, Blogger, Website Designer, and Book Publishing Coach. She is the Founder of Christian Daily Resources a Christian online ministry dedicated to "Sharing God's Word". Deborah is the author of more than thirty books in the Daily Bible Reading Series and one book about self-publishing called: Self-Publishing Simplified: How to Publish a Book on Kindle. Deborah shares Daily Bible Reading lessons here on her blog at http://DeborahHBateman.com/blog Her website: Christian Daily Resources is at http://ChristianDailyResources.com She shares a Daily Bible Verse on her blog Bible Verse Tweet at http://www.bibleversetweet.com/. Deborah has a family favorite recipe blog called Recipe for Life at http://deborah-bateman.blogspot.com. She invites you to check them out and subscribe to the ones you like.