Motive, Means, and Opportunity

1 Samuel 24:1-22

Man?s way of gaining power and authority vs. God?s way.

1. David did not try to accomplish God?s promises by himself, though he had the means (vs 1-4)
2. David repented from behavior that made him more like the world than the Lord (vs 5)
3. David recognized the authority of another, though not deserved (vs 6-8)
4. David was honest in questioning Saul?s actions (vs 9-11)
5. David left it up to God to judge, rather than human arbitration (vs 12-15)
6. David heard the words of repentance but trusted only in God (vs 16-22)

1 ? 3

Remember from last time that Saul was about to get David but at the last minute a messenger came and told Saul that the Philistines were attacking. Saul had to go attend to that state business, though the desire of his heart was still to kill David. Somehow Saul?s intelligence network gives up David, who is hiding in the caves of Engedi, between the Dead Sea and the Judean desert.

Saul?s 3,000 outnumber David?s men five to one. The fact that they are ?chosen? means these are warriors, not just soldiers. The ?Wildgoats? Rocks? could be the area of Engedi where waterfalls cascade down and there a lots of caves in the rocks. Is David afraid? Probably, yet he also trusts in the Lord. He writes both Psalms 57 and 142 here. In Psalm 57 he declares that God is his real refuge, not the cave.

I don?t think it?s any coincidence that David happens to be hiding deep in the very cave that Saul decides to use as a men?s room. The sheepfold was a small rock fence that Saul would have had to go through before entering the cave. This is, by the way, familiar territory for David. As a shepherd near Bethlehem, this kind of arrangement would have been commonplace.

4 ? 7

Interesting how this temptation comes. The men tell David that this is an answer from God, that God led Saul there for David to kill. After all, they knew David was to be king, so isn?t this God?s provision? David doesn?t really buy into it totally based on his actions, but he does grab the robe and cut off a corner. One scholar suggests that this was a way of transferring authority from Saul to David.

Never the less, David is struck by the sin of what he has just done. Evil or not, Saul is still king and should not be treated this way. David is tempted to act like the world. In the nations around Israel a king that left himself vulnerable to attack was killed and others took over. It was commonplace. David doesn?t go that far but it is like toying with it. It is a ?little? rebellion. But David is a man after God?s own heart and though it would mean years still of hiding and running, David will not use man?s means to accomplish God?s goals.

Galatians 3:1-4 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? ESV

It?s amazing to me that all this takes place and Saul knows nothing of it. So David come out of the cave and calls out after Saul.

8 ? 15

1. David shows the king great respect (bowing before him)

2. He doesn?t directly accuse Saul (though it was only Saul who was saying David was out to get him)

3. My behavior should serve as a sign that I mean you no harm

4. There is a hint that David feels a great wrong here, but is restraining himself and leaving it up to God to bring out justice (Romans 12:19 ?Vengeance is mine, I will repay?)

5. David is clear that not only is he innocent and that what Saul is doing is greatly wrong, but God is in charge here

Psalm 142 gives us some insight into David?s words here. Let?s read it. I want to focus on one verse: 2 I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him.?

16 ? 22

It?s almost like Saul comes to from his evil-induced stupor. He recognizes David as his son. It?s like he is weeping for his own condition or something. He recognizes the real righteousness here, recognizes that David really will be king (not something he was willing to do before), and then pleads for mercy on his kids (something David had already done).

David agrees to that, but notice that he doesn?t go out arm in arm with Saul back to the palace. David knows that this is only temporary sanity on Saul?s part. So David is innocent, honest, and realistic.

Lessons

This was a difficult dilemma for David. He could easily have justified his actions. Was he to be king? Yes. What Saul evil? Yes. Did Saul deserve to die? Arguably. It could be self defense on the part of David. So why didn?t David move forward?

Two things: timing and agency. The when and the who. The crucial questions for David were: is it God?s timing for me to assume this position and is it to be by my hand? These are crucial questions for us to ask as well.

1. Opportunity does not mean permission
2. Good motives does make something right
3. ?Respect the rank, not the man?
4. Respectful honesty wins over passive aggressive
5. Respect those over you, but don?t look to them for praise, validation, or deliverance.
6. Respect God more than man