Resource Detail

I Would Not Lay a Hand on the Lord’s Anointed

1 Samuel 26:1-25

Key Verse 26:23

“The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed.”

1. Read 26:1-5. Who reports to Saul about the hiding place of David? (1) What does Saul do when he hears this report? (2) Where does Saul make his camp, and where does David stay? (3a) What does David do when he finds out Saul has arrived? (3b, 4-5)

2. Read 26:6-12. Who does David ask to go with him to Saul’s camp? (6) When David and Abishai goes to Saul’s camp by night, what do they see? (7) What does Abishai say to David when they have an opportunity to kill Saul? (8) What is David’s response? (9-11, 1Sa 24:6-7) How does David leave Saul’s camp? (12)

3. Read 26:13-20. Who does David call out to? (13-14) What does David rebuke Abner for? (15-16) Who recognizes David’s voice? (17) What does David ask Saul? (18) How does David plead his innocence to Saul and make Saul appeal to his conscience? (19-20)

4. Read 26:21-25. How does Saul respond to David? (21) What does David return to Saul? (22) What does David know about God? (23a) What does David say to Saul? (23b-24) What does Saul say? (25)

But the Lord Forbid that I Should Lay a Hand on the Lord’s Anointed

1 Samuel 26:21-25

Key Verse 26:11b

“But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed.”

There is one man that I know. His story is pretty moving to me. He is one of UBF directors. Sometime ago he was praying to pioneer one campus in a different state leaving his then present campus he was pioneering. When he was pioneering his previous campus God told him that he would really bless him. But when he was praying to go to other campus in a different state the Lord also blessed him with so many blessings that the man felt that the Lord welcomed him with red carpet. He could see the hands of the Lord’s blessings in many ways while he was preparing to go to a different state. So one day while he was praying he asked the Lord? “Lord, you told me you will really bless me with the campus that I am pioneering now. But when I prayed to go to a different campus in a different state he also laid down red carpet for me with so many blessings. Did you change your mind?” Then the Lord shocked him with the answer, “I did not change but you changed.” Then the man cried a lot. He confessed to me that his real motive to go to different campus in a different state was to meet one his friends there and live a comfortable and easy life. No one knew it. But when the Lord said, “I did not change. You changed” he repented his sinful desire and cried a lot. That night he made a decision to stay in his present campus at any cost. The cost was to be misunderstood by others and had to leave UBF ministry even though he did not want to. By God’s grace he is still in UBF ministry and arguably he is the most fruitful director.

The man did not take the road which the Lord prepared for him with red carpet. In the same way in today’s passage David did not lay his hands on Saul although the Lord delivered Saul into his hands. Why didn’t David to so? So today we want to think about two questions. The first question is “why didn’t David lay a hand on Saul?” The second question is “what does David’s obedience produce?” My message has three parts. Part I. Don’t destroy him! (v.1-11). Part II. Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the Lord (v.12-20). Part III. The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness (v.22-25). Part I answers the question, ‘why didn’t David lay his hands on Saul?”. Part II and III answers the question, ‘what does David’s obedience produce?’

Part I. Don’t destroy him (v.1-11)

Now in today’s passage the Lord delivered Saul into David’s hands again. Look at verses 1-7. “The Ziphites went to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which faces Jeshimon?” 2 So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph, with his three thousand select Israelite troops, to search there for David. 3 Saul made his camp beside the road on the hill of Hakilah facing Jeshimon, but David stayed in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul had followed him there, 4 he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived. 5 Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of the army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the camp, with the army encamped around him. 6 David then asked Ahimelek the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?” “I’ll go with you,” said Abishai. 7 So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.”

In chapter 24, David learned the will of the Lord after he cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. He was conscience-stricken after he did it and he learned the will of God. God does not want him to lay his hands on Saul because Saul is the Lord’s anointed. So David sharply rebuked his companions who tried to harm Saul. So David learned the Lord’s will after he took an action in chapter 24. 

In chapter 24, Saul was advancing toward David. But in today’s passage it was David who approached Saul. It shows that David was not afraid of Saul anymore. When David learned that Saul came to catch him he set out and went to Saul’s place and saw how Saul had lain down. Then David came back and asked Ahimelech and Abishai if they wanted to go down to the camp with him to Saul. David asked them because it was a dangerous mission. Abishai volunteered. So both of them went to Saul and found Saul lying asleep inside of the camp with his spear struck in the ground near his head and Abner and his soldiers were lying around him. It was a miracle that David and Abishai could approach Saul so closely when 3000 special forces of Israel like Navy Seals were guarding Saul.

Then Abishai said to David in verse 8. “8 Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t strike him twice.” Abishai was one of David’s famous commanders. Therefore to pin Saul who was in deep sleep to the ground was a piece of cake to him. But David said to Abishai in verses 9-11, “9 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? 10 As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.”

David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him!” David did not allow Abishai to kill Saul because he remembered what he learned in chapter 24, and he obeyed the Lord’s will. 

Now, for David to obey the Lord’s will means extended pain and suffering. It means that he would not know when his suffering would end. Because his life of fugitive was painful he also thought about when Saul would die and his suffering would end. Then he realized there are three possibilities. He said in verse 10 “10 As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish.” The fourth option was for David to kill him. But he said, “But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed.” The word ‘but’ shows that the Lord did not allow David to take fourth option. And David obeyed the Lord’s will although it means extended sufferings and pain. 

What David did here reminds us what Jesus did. Hebrews 5:7-9 reads, “7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”

Jesus also learned obedience from what he suffered although he was Son. Although he was Son the obedience did not come naturally. He had to learn it and the way he learned is through suffering. But after he completed his obedience Jesus became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

Part II. Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the Lord (v.12-20). 

Let’s read verses 12-16. “12 So David took the spear and water jug near Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep. 13 Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them. 14 He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, “Aren’t you going to answer me, Abner?” Abner replied, “Who are you who calls to the king?” 15 David said, “You’re a man, aren’t you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn’t you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. 16 What you have done is not good. As surely as the Lord lives, you and your men must die, because you did not guard your master, the Lord’s anointed. Look around you. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were near his head?”

Now verse 12 shows that it was the Lord who put Saul and all of his 3,000 special forces into deep sleep. How deep was it? Almost to the point of performing surgery. Here the word ‘deep sleep’ in Hebrew is almost the same word ‘deep sleep’ in Hebrew used in Genesis 2:21 “So the Lord God caused the man to fall into deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh.” Surely the Lord performed a miracle to protect David when he obeyed the Lord. They were all like patients in surgery table right before surgeon starts his operation.

Now David called out to the army and Abner, the commander of the army rather than Saul. He could have called Saul but he did not do so probably out of his respect toward Saul. David challenged him saying that he did not guard his lord the king. Then Saul recognized David’s voice first. 

Look at verses 17-21. “17 Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is that your voice, David my son?” David replied, “Yes it is, my lord the king.” 18 And he added, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of? 19 Now let my lord the king listen to his servant’s words. If the Lord has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. If, however, people have done it, may they be cursed before the Lord! They have driven me today from my share in the Lord’s inheritance and have said, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 20 Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the Lord. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea—as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.” 21 Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have been terribly wrong.”

Here we can see David’s appeal to Saul. It shows what kind of suffering David had to go through because Saul chased after him. David did not accuse Saul. He pretended the cause of Saul’s action comes from either God or people. If ‘incitement’ against David comes from God David would repent and offer a sin offering. But if people had done it they would be caused. Why? Because what they did was a terrible sin before the Lord. What they do against David would be to force him to serve other idols and it will make him to die far from the presence of the Lord. ‘The presence of the Lord’ is the place where God’s tabernacle was and they were driving David out of the presence of the Lord. Saul did not know but he was committing such a terrible sin against the Lord when he tried to kill David. It was not just a personal matter between David and himself. Compared to king Saul David was like a flee. Saul was the king of Israel and David was just one mere fugitive. Saul had all the armies of Israel and David had only 600 people. But still David’s had to run away like a partridge on a mountain. Partridge is a small bird. When a man hunts a partridge he can catch the bird by just annoying the bird to fly again. Then he can keep on doing until the bird becomes tired and just sit down. Saul kept chasing after David as if a man chasing after partridge. And it was very painful life for David. It was unbearable suffering on David’s side physically and spiritually. So David wanted to finish his suffering by killing him. But David did not do so. He did not lay his hands on Saul in obedience to the Lord.

So here we can see the answer for ‘what does David’s obedience produce?” David’s obedience made his suffering as the suffering for doing good. When David obeyed the Lord his suffering became the suffering for doing good and it was like the suffering of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:18-21

18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

Jesus was the best example for suffering for doing good.

1 Peter 2:24

24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

Figuratively speaking we can say, ‘David bore Saul’s sin in his body through suffering so that Saul might die to sin and live for righteousness.” When David obeyed the Lord his suffering became the suffering for doing good like the suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Do you have anyone who gives you hard time unjustly? Praise God because God considers you worthy of suffering for doing good like Jesus Christ. Praise God because the Lord wants to mold you into to be like Christ who bore our sins in his own body on the cross so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness. Praise God because the Lord is blessing you to follow the example of Jesus Christ.

After Saul heard David’s speech Saul came back to his senses and realized what he was doing. So the first time in his life he publicly confessed that he had sinned against David. He said in verse 21. ““I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have been terribly wrong.”

Part III. The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. (v.12-25)

Now look at verses 22-25. “Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of your young men come over and get it. 23 The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. 24 As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble.” 25 Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, David my son; you will do great things and surely triumph.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.”

David’s obedience opened his spiritual eyes toward the Lord’s reward. This is another answer for the question, “what does David’s obedience produce?” Surely when David obeyed the Lord poured out into the heart of David the assurance of his reward. 

David said, “As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble.” What David learned from his obedience about the Lord’s reward is true because Jesus said the same truth. Jesus said the same thing David said in Matthew 7:1-2 and Luke 6:27-31.

Matthew 7:1-2 ““Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Luke 6:27-31 “27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

Surely we will be treated in the same way we treat others. Others cannot treat us with the same measure. But there is one who will do for us in the place of others. That is Jesus Christ. He will do to us. He will make sure that ‘with the measure we use for others it will be measured to us.’ He will make sure that he would do to us as we do to others. So what David said, ““As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble.” Indeed the Lord valued David’s life preciously and delivered him from all trouble. 

When we read the last part of today’s passage we feel sad because Saul and David could not be together despite all of David’s hard effort and suffering for Saul. Why couldn’t they come together and Saul would help David to be king after him and he could live happily ever after? It is because Saul did not learn obedience. Despite having two opportunities to learn that David was innocent and therefore it was the Lord’s will for him not to persecute David he could not learn the obedience. When we compare chapter 24 and today’s chapter we can find a clue for Saul’s relationship with the Lord.

The word “Lord” or “Lord’s” used by Saul and David in chapters 24 and 26.

Obviously the chart shows that Saul’s relationship with the Lord became thinner and thinner. So he could not learn obedience from the Lord. But David’s relationship with the Lord increased all the more.

In conclusion, we have two key questions. The first question is “why didn’t David lay a hand on Saul?” The second question is “what does David’s obedience produce?”

The answer for “why didn’t David lay a hand on Saul?”: Because David learned that he should not do it and he did not make the same mistake again although it means extended suffering for him. Jesus also learned obedience from what he suffered.

The answer for “what does David’s obedience produce?” A) His obedience made his suffering as the suffering for doing good. Jesus’ suffering was also the suffering for doing good. Jesus bore our sins in his own body on the cross so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness. B) David’s obedience also opened his spiritual eyes toward the Lord’s reward.

One word: But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed

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