David’s Learning Curve

Once again Saul is in David’s power. And once again David is getting bad advice. Just as David’s men urged him to kill Saul when the king fell under their leader’s power in the cave, so now Abishai pleads with David to strike Saul and end his persecution. Young and impetuous, he is certain that God has allowed this situation to develop so that David might have his revenge. In fact, he wants to have the privilege of taking Saul’s life. He is filled with murderous rage against this man who has unfairly hunted his uncle and master, the anointed successor to the throne, for so long. One blow, he assures David, is all it will take. He will put all his strength into a spear thrust that will pin Saul’s body to the ground.

But David has a different view of the situation. He doesn’t deny God’s role in allowing him to get close to Saul. Who could? The weariness that grips Saul’s camp is clearly supernatural. But he is equally sure that it is not God’s will for him to kill Saul. And so he orders Abishai not to strike, reasoning just as he did in the cave—God put Saul on the throne, so it is for God, not any man, to determine when he shall be removed from power. But David’s words show that he has been learning during his sojourn in the wilderness as Saul’s quarry. He tells Abishai that God surely will deal with Saul in His good time. How does David know this? Because he has seen God do it. When Nabal insulted David and sparked a murderous rage in him, David almost took his own vengeance, but God graciously restrained him through the humble words of Nabal’s wife, Abigail. Then God Himself took care of Nabal. And so David knows that God will act against those who transgress His ways. He might ” ‘strike’ ” Saul down, just as he “struck” Nabal (25:38). He might cause Saul to perish through old age or natural causes. Or He might bring His wrath on Saul through the military might of an enemy. David has learned that he can withhold his hand and allow God to carry out perfect justice when and how He sees fit.

Still, David is willing to take advantage of God’s favor in bringing him safely into Saul’s camp by taking the king’s spear and water jug in order that he might once again confront Saul and demonstrate his lack of enmity.