David and Saul

I Samuel 23:7-24:22


Observation:

David is on the run with 600 men because Saul is seeking David’s life. Saul’s son Jonathan is David’s friend and offers his support to David. As Saul gets close to capturing David, the Philistines attack Israel and Saul must abandon his pursuit of David in order to defend Israel.

When Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he resumed pursuit of David. During this time, David had opportunity to kill Saul, but chose not to do so because Saul was the anointed King of Israel, and David was leaving the timing of the end of Saul’s reign in God’s hands. When David called to Saul to say he (David) was not a threat to Saul, Saul realized that David could have killed him. After that realization, Saul acknowledged that David was the Lord’s choice to succeed Saul, and Saul went home.


Interpretation:

Saul’s jealousy had come to a head, and between his jealousy and his fear of losing the throne, his solution was to destroy David. Saul was unwilling to accept what the Lord had said. Saul’s son, Jonathan, DID accept what the Lord had said, and fully supported David as the next King of Israel.

God’s hand of protection was on David. The time spent running for his life would have been a time of training David, preparing him for aspects of being a king.

David refused to lift his hand against the Lord’s anointed (Saul), trusting God to remove Saul from the throne in God’s timing. David trusted God and waited for His timing in the unfolding of the plan God had revealed to David (putting David on the throne as king).


Application:

We must trust God’s plan and God’s timing, even when circumstances look like He is not going to do as He said. Trials lead to maturity (Romans 5:3-4, James 1:2-4). God is faithful even when we are faithless (II Timothy 2:13)!