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DAVID SPARED SAUL’S LIFE
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10
1 Samuel 24

Psalm 35:1-8

 

“Plead my cause, O LORD,
with them that strive with me:

fight against them that fight against me.”

 

DAVID SPARED SAUL’S LIFE
 
Saul fought the Philistines, and when he was assured of safety on that front, he returned to the wilderness to hunt for David. He had been informed that David was in the wilderness of Engedi.
 
Since Saul had secured the nation from the invading Philistines, the effort to capture David was foremost on his agenda. He went with an army of three thousand men to search the desert places for David. The large number of men that Saul mobilised to hunt for David showed his determination. The king himself left his palace to do what was foremost according to his priorities.
 
Saul failed to recall that the kingship he was trying to protect was actually given him of God. All that was in his mind was to eliminate David and hold on to his throne for as long as possible, before he handed it over to one of his sons. He failed to see that all promotion came from God. Saul was slow to learn the lessons that God was teaching him, and in this he disqualified himself as king. In the midst of his large army, he failed to give much thought to his own security. In his determination to get rid of David, Saul underestimated what David could do with God’s help.
 
In his pursuit, Saul happened to go into a cave (where David was hiding) to cool off from the heat and find some relief. The men of David saw that as an opportunity for them and urged David to kill Saul in the cave. But David submitted to the will of God, and spared Saul’s life, cutting only the skirt of Saul’s robe, because he knew that Saul was God’s anointed. He was cautious not to do any harm to the king. He even felt guilty about cutting the skirt of Saul’s robe as he knew that he was not supposed to do any harm to, or dishonour, the king. He repented of what he had done and recognised Saul as the Lord’s appointed king.
 
THOUGHT: The sovereign will of God overrules all human decisions, even my enemies’.
PRAYER: Father, as I see the evil around me, give me sincere love even for my enemies as I also see Thy sovereign hand at work.

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