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26. David Again Spares Saul's Life

David Spares Saul’s Life a Second Time

26

Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “David is in hiding on the hill of Hachilah, which is opposite Jeshimon.”²So Saul rose and went down to the Wilderness of Ziph, with three thousand chosen men of Israel, to seek David in the Wilderness of Ziph.³Saul encamped on the hill of Hachilah, which is opposite Jeshimon beside the road. But David remained in the wilderness. When he learned that Saul had come after him into the wilderness,⁴David sent out spies, and learned that Saul had indeed arrived.⁵Then David set out and came to the place where Saul had encamped; and David saw the place where Saul lay, with Abner son of Ner, the commander of his army. Saul was lying within the encampment, while the army was encamped around him.

⁶ Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, “Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?” Abishai said, “I will go down with you.”⁷So David and Abishai went to the army by night; there Saul lay sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the army lay around him.⁸Abishai said to David, “God has given your enemy into your hand today; now therefore let me pin him to the ground with one stroke of the spear; I will not strike him twice.”⁹But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him; for who can raise his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?”¹⁰David said, “As the Lord lives, the Lord will strike him down; or his day will come to die; or he will go down into battle and perish.¹¹The Lord forbid that I should raise my hand against the Lord’s anointed; but now take the spear that is at his head, and the water jar, and let us go.”¹²So David took the spear that was at Saul’s head and the water jar, and they went away. No one saw it, or knew it, nor did anyone awake; for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them.

¹³ Then David went over to the other side, and stood on top of a hill far away, with a great distance between them.¹⁴David called to the army and to Abner son of Ner, saying, “Abner! Will you not answer?” Then Abner replied, “Who are you that calls to the king?”¹⁵David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy your lord the king.¹⁶This thing that you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the Lord’s anointed. See now, where is the king’s spear, or the water jar that was at his head?”

¹⁷ Saul recognized David’s voice, and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.”¹⁸And he added, “Why does my lord pursue his servant? For what have I done? What guilt is on my hands?¹⁹Now therefore let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is the Lord who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering; but if it is mortals, may they be cursed before the Lord, for they have driven me out today from my share in the heritage of the Lord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’²⁰Now therefore, do not let my blood fall to the ground, away from the presence of the Lord; for the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea, like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains.”

²¹ Then Saul said, “I have done wrong; come back, my son David, for I will never harm you again, because my life was precious in your sight today; I have been a fool, and have made a great mistake.”²²David replied, “Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and get it.²³The Lord rewards everyone for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the Lord gave you into my hand today, but I would not raise my hand against the Lord’s anointed.²⁴As your life was precious today in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the Lord, and may he rescue me from all tribulation.”²⁵Then Saul said to David, “Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them.” So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.

1. Thanksgiving and Prayer

¹⁵ Some proclaim Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill.¹⁶These proclaim Christ out of love, knowing that I have been put here for the defense of the gospel;¹⁷the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but intending to increase my suffering in my imprisonment.¹⁸What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true; and in that I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,

86. Psalm 86

Psalm 86

Supplication for Help against Enemies

A Prayer of David.

1

Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me,

for I am poor and needy.

2

Preserve my life, for I am devoted to you;

save your servant who trusts in you.

You are my God;³be gracious to me, O Lord,

for to you do I cry all day long.

4

Gladden the soul of your servant,

for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

5

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,

abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you.

6

Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;

listen to my cry of supplication.

7

In the day of my trouble I call on you,

for you will answer me.

8

There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,

nor are there any works like yours.

9

All the nations you have made shall come

and bow down before you, O Lord,

and shall glorify your name.

10

For you are great and do wondrous things;

you alone are God.

11

Teach me your way, O Lord,

that I may walk in your truth;

give me an undivided heart to revere your name.

12

I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,

and I will glorify your name forever.

13

For great is your steadfast love toward me;

you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

14

O God, the insolent rise up against me;

a band of ruffians seeks my life,

and they do not set you before them.

15

But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

16

Turn to me and be gracious to me;

give your strength to your servant;

save the child of your serving girl.

17

Show me a sign of your favor,

so that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame,

because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.