Using Occultic Practices To try to Obtain God’s Blessing

The Amalekite and Geshurite communities along Israel’s border were constantly raiding the Philistines then retreating to Israel’s territory when pursued.  The Philistines blamed the raids on Israel, and when David’s attacks stopped the raids, Achish didn’t question his claims about attacking Israel.  Sixteen months after  David had gone to Gath for protection from Saul, the Philistines Decided to make a major attack on Israel, and Achish asked David to fight for him, in I Samuel 28:1-2.  “And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.

And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do.

And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.”  Achish selected David and his men to be his personal security force. 

Samuel had died three or four years before.  During Saul’s reign, he had made an effort to eliminate the various forms of occult practices in Israel.  When he saw the Philistine forces invading, He responded the same way he had reacted in the past, trying to get God’s direction, as we see in I Samuel 28:3-6.  “Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.  And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.  And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.  And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.”

Saul’s sin had cut off his communication with God, as Isaiah 59:1-2 describes.  “Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”  Not trusting God to do what was right, Saul felt he had to do something himself to ensure victory just as he had when he threatened to kill the people’s oxen if they didn’t help, when he offered the sacrifice because Samuel was late, and when he threatened to kill anyone who ate anything in an effort to motivate the people. 

With Samuel dead, and having killed the priests, like many today, Saul was too proud to confess his sin and ask forgiveness.   He decided to use occult practices to get God’s direction, as we see in I Samuel 28:7-10.  “Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her.

And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.

And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.

And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?

And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.”

For years, Saul had had had those who dabbled in the occult killed.  The woman was sure she was being set up, but Saul invoked the Lord’s name to convince her it was okay.  She was accustomed to having a false spirit pretend to be the person, and was horrified, knowing there was something more Going on when Samuel himself appeared, in I Samuel 28:11-12.  “Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee?

And he said, Bring me up Samuel.

And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.”

One mistake many make is thinking that because a psychic can tell them things about their past, he can tell them about the future.  Satan knows the past, and can bring out things no one else knows, just like you do, but like you, he has no way of knowing the future and can only make an educated guess based on what has happened in the past.  Saul asked additional Questions, to make sure it was really Samuel, in I Samuel 28:13-14.  “And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.  And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.”

David Goes To Gath Again

In John 8:44, Jesus said, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”  Satan has no qualms about lying, and thus, those who allow him to influence or control them don’t hesitate to lie and Saul was under the influence or control of a demonic spirit. 

Though he had promised not to harm him, David didn’t dare trust him.   As much as David believed God, even he became discouraged over the constant attacks by Saul, and concluded he would be safer in Philistine country, where Saul would not dare to come.  The first time he had gone to Gath, he had tried to go in secretly, in hopes he would not be recognized.  This time, he knows the philistines are aware of the conflict between himself and Saul, and went openly, in hopes they would welcome him as the enemy of their enemy, in I Samuel 27:1-3.  “And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.  And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath.  And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife.” 

To invade the Philistine lands in an effort to capture David might well precipitate a war, so Saul stopped chasing him, in I Samuel 27:4. “And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him.”  It was the first time in several years David and his men had been able to let down their guard.  David requested permission to live in some small town where they wouldn’t be causing conflict, and was given the village of Ziklag, where they would remain for the next sixteen months, according to I Samuel 27:5-7.  “And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?  Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.  And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.”

Israel had never completely eliminated the original inhabitants of the land, and there were still Gesurite and Amalekite communities in Israel’s territory, along the southern border of Judah.  When other groups attacked Israel, these would often side with them and attack Israel internally.  David took advantage of his Location in Ziklag to attack and destroy these pockets of enemy forces, as I Samuel 27:8-9 describes.  “And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.  And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish.” 

When king Achish asked where they had been raiding, David told him it had been in southern Judah, but he didn’t tell him that it was against those enemy settlements.  Since David had left no survivors to tell them different, Achish assumed he was raiding Jewish settlements, which would weaken Israel, and guarantee David would be viewed as a traitor, according to I Samuel 27:10-12.  “And Achish said, Whither have ye made a road to day? And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.  And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David, and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines.  And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.” 

It is important to note that David had received no special sign or revelation from God to go to the Philistines for help.  Instead, he had made a decision based on the wisdom God had given him.   God gives us the freedom to make choices, and we do not need to fear he will be angry about what we choose if he has not given specific instructions.   In fact, God blessed David’s choice, giving him the title to the city of Ziklag for a permanent possession.   God gave us a brain, and the Holy Spirit to guide us, so that we do not need a special sign for most things.   

David Spares Saul A Second Time

In I Samuel 24, Saul had admitted his efforts to kill David were not justifiable and had withdrawn, but based on past experience, David didn’t trust him.  Sure enough, a short time later, once he though people might forget, Saul yielded to the evil spirit once again, in I Samuel 26:1-3.  “And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?  Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.  And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way.”

Learning that Saul was in the area, David sent spies to find out if he had come after David or for some other reason.  Learning that the he was intending to catch Him, David decided to see what he could do to stop him, in I Samuel 26:4b-6.  “…But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.  David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.  And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him.  Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp?”

Abishai, David’s cousin accompanied him, and when he saw Saul and his guards asleep, viewed it as
God giving them an opportunity to wipe out their enemy.  David refused his offer to kill Saul, choosing to trust God to destroy him at the proper time, in I Samuel 26b-11.  “…And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.  So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.  Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.

And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless?  David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.  The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.”

When David had shown how easily he could have killed Saul in I Samuel 24, Saul had admitted he was wrong and withdrawn for a time.  David decided to try again, in hopes Saul would be embarrassed in front of his men and hesitate to come back.  With that in mind, he Spoke to Saul’s general, Abner, rather than Saul himself, in I Samuel 26:12-16.  “So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.  Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them: And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner?

Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king?

And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.  This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the LORD'S anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.”

David proved that if he had wanted to kill Saul, his guards could not have stopped him.  Hopefully it would make them question Saul’s reasons.  Saul overheard and recognized David’s voice, and David publicly pointed out how irrational Saul’s pursuit was, in I Samuel 26:17-20.  “And Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David?

And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.  And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?  Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the LORD; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods.  Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.”

Saul yielded to David’s reasoning, admitting he was wrong, and promising not to try to kill him anymore.  David requested that Saul show as much respect for his life, as David had shown for Saul’s, In I Samuel 26:21-25.  “Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.  The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed.  And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.

Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.”

To continue to attack David at that point would have reflected badly on Saul, and he admitted he knew God was blessing him, so once again he withdrew from the field, allowing David to go free, but David did not trust him. 

Vengeance Belongs To God

David had contacted Nabal, requesting food for his men, rather than just taking it as most groups would have done.  Nabal had a selfish, surly and rude attitude, constantly losing his temper and telling people off, described in I Samuel 25:3 as “…churlish and evil in his doings…”  David was emotionally stressed, and when Nabal lashed out at his men, he lost his self-control, setting out to kill him.  Nabal’s workers had experienced of his hateful attitude, and knowing how they felt, were afraid David would respond exactly as he did. 

Knowing Nabal wouldn’t listen to anyone, they sent one of the servants to Abigail in hopes she could do something to prevent David killing them all, in I Samuel 25:14-17.  “But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them.  But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields: They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.  Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him.”   To be talked to the way Nabal talked to David’s men after they had gone out of their way to help would make almost anyone angry, but Nabal would never apologize or admit he was wrong, because he had such an evil attitude. 

Knowing it would only take too long to even try to get Nabal to change his mind, Abigail acted immediately, not taking the time to tell Nabal what she was doing, in I Samuel 25:18-20.  “Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.  And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.  And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert on the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them.”  It was well Abigail didn’t waste time trying to talk to Nabal, and had hurried as much as she had.    

David was extremely angry at having been accused of theft after doing everything he could to help Nabal’s servants, as I Sanuel 25:21-22 tells us.   “Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good.  So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.”  He intended to wipe out the whole bunch, and had Abigail not caught him before they got close enough for Nabal to try to defend himself, she would have been unable to prevent the fight.   While a wife ought to talk things over with her husband, there are situations where she can’t afford to take the time. 

When Abigail met David, she apologized for not being there to prevent his men being insulted, acknowledging Nabal’s behavior was and inexcusable, in I Samuel 25:23-25.  “And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.  Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.”  She told David he was such a selfish fool even his parents named him Nabal, meaning ‘dolt’ or ‘blockhead’.  She had no illusions as to what he was really like. 

Instead of trying to excuse Nabal, she pointed out that God would not be pleased by David murdering Nabal’s family, and asked that he accept what she had brought and not follow through with his plans.   He had done nothing to wrong, but if he killed Nabal he would carry the guilt for the rest of his life, as she explained in I Samuel 25:26-31.   “Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.  And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord.

I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days.  Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling.  And it shall come to pass, when the LORD shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel; That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid.”

David realized she had stopped him from doing a terrible thing, accepting the food and agreeing not to carry out his plan, in I Samuel 25:32-35.  “And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me: And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.   For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.  So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.”

Like many self-centered people, Nabal was proud of his power to cut other people down and hurting their feelings.   He threw a big party and got drunk to celebrate his success in putting down David.  As a result, Abigail couldn’t talk to him until the next morning when he was no longer feeling so proud and powerful, according to I Samuel 25:36-38.  “And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.  But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.  And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died.”

When Nabal sobered up and learned what David had intended to do he had a heart attack or stroke, and about ten days later he died.  Learning of his death, David was relieved that God had punished him and he hadn’t killed him himself.  Appreciating what Abigail had done, David asked her to marry him and she agreed, in I Samuel 25:39-42.  “And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.  And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife.

And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.  And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.”

With David in hiding for several years, Saul had declared his marriage to Michal invalid and had married her off to one of his supporters, effectively leaving David divorced.  During this time David also married Ahinoam, as I Samuel 25:43-44 tells us.  “David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives.  But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim.”  That Saul had no qualms about using his daughters for his own political gain or ignoring the fact that Michal was married to David accentuates how far he had moved from godly principles. 

Pushed Too Far

Samuel had served God his entire life, beginning as a little child, and assuming the leadership of Israel as soon as he reached the proper age,  When he got old, the people demanded a king and Saul was selected.  Some twenty five or thirty years later, Samuel anointed David to be the next king.  Severl years after that, Samuel died, in I Samuel 25:1.  “And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.”

Samuel’s death left Israel without a strong prophet or religious leader to restrain Saul.  As a result David David moved into a more remote wilderness area known as Paran, meaning ornamental or beautiful.  While he was there he sent some men back to Maon ask for food for his men, in I Samuel 25:2-8.  “And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.  Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.  And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep.

And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name: And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.  And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.  Ask thy young men, and they will show thee. Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David.”

It seems unlikely that the wilderness of Paran is the same as that referred to in Numbers and Deuteronomy, because of the distances involved.  Descriptive names frequently get applied to more than one location, and it seems far more likely David simply went to another wilderness area nearby, where he would be apt to hear about Nabal going to shear his sheep.  Carmel lay in an area surrounded by undeveloped wilderness areas, including Ziph, Maon, and Engedi, and his sheep may well have ranged in all three areas, where they had come in contact with David and his men>  David suggested Nabal ask his sheep herders for recommendations. 

Nabal was a selfish and greedy man, and instead of simply saying no, became quite insulting and abusive in hies response, in I Samuel 25:9-11.  “And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.  And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.  Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?”

After years of protecting the Israelites from the Philistines and other enemies, both while he was in the army, and after Saul turned against him, David was insulted at being accused of just being a petty thief and lazy bum, as I Samuel 25:12-13 tells us.  “So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings.  And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.”

After years of living under the threat of death when he had committed no crime, Nabal’s words were the final straw that broke the camel’s back.  He was not easily offended, but there limits to anyone’s patience, and David had had enough.  He set out to kill Nabal and his family, leaving two hundred men to guard their camp.  Satan constantly uses other people to try to push us too far in hopes we will do something we shouldn’t.  A more easily offended person would have struck back at Saul the first time he tried to kill him.  

Saul Acknowledges He Was Wrong

After allowing Saul to leave, David called out to him pointing out that if he had wished to kill him, he could easily have done it while he was asleep.  It was clear Saul’s attempts to kill him were based on false claims and were not justified, as I Samuel 24:8-15 describes.  “David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.

And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?  Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD'S anointed.  Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.

The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.  As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.  After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.  The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.”

David had been very respectful, while still making Saul aware of his sin and was content to allow God to judge, even though Saul was clearly in the wrong.  Saul was forced to admit David was right, and would have had every right to kill him.  He admitted he knew That God was going to give him the kingdom, and asked for assurance that David would not kill his family when he became king, in I Samuel 24:16-21.  “And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.  And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.  And thou hast showed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not.  For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.

And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.  Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.”

David had no interest in killing Saul’s family so he quickly agreed.  Saul and the army went home, but David didn’t trust him, going deeper into the wilderness, as I Samuel 24:22 tells us.  “And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.”  David remembered how quickly Saul had changed his mind and attacked him unexpectedly before.  He had no assurance it would not happen again.  While we hope people who have repeatedly proven untrustworthy will keep their promise, it is foolish to assume they will without solid evidence of a change in attitude.   It is easy for some people to make apologies they don’t mean when they are publicly embarrassed.   Saul had to worry about what his men would think knowing David had refused to kill him. 

Trusting God Rather Than Human Ideas

Saul and the army were constantly chasing David around the wilderness of Ziph, disturbing herds of livestock, trampling down the grasses, and driving away game.  Hoping to end the disruptions and curry favor with Saul, the local people offered to help capture David, in I Samuel 23:19-23.  “Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?  Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand.”

And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me.  Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtly.  See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.”

Learning of the Ziphites offerto help Saul, David moved further south, to the wilderness of Maon, just south of Carmel.  Thanks to the Ziphites help, Saul almost captured David, according to I Samuel 23:24-26.   And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.   Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.  And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.”

The Philistines were still looking for the opportunity to invade Israel, and took advantage of Saul’s hunt for David.  Saul had David surrounded, and was just about to capture him when he learned the Philistines had invaded.  It was such a serious threat he didn’t dare wait to make the capture, according to I Samuel 23:27-28.  “But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.  Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth.”  God caused Saul to learn of the invasion just at the right time.

Realizing how close he had come, when Saul went to fight the Philistines, David moved east to the limestone cliffs along the western coast of the Dead Sea in the area known as Engedi.  Upon his return, Saul learned of the move and pursued him with a large group of special forces, according to I Samuel 23:29-24:2.  “And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.  And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.  Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.”

The rocky cliffs made the area popular for herds of sheep and goats, and there were a number of corrals for holding flocks overnight.  There were also a number of caves in the area where the shepherds stayed.   David and his men had hidden one of the large caves, and Saul came into the cave alone to take a nap.  David’s men believed God was giving him the chance to get rid of his enemy, according to I Samuel 24:3-4.   “And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.  And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee…”

David refused to murder Saul, but he did want him to know he could have killed him, so he cut off a piece of hi robe.  Later, he felt guilty about even doing that, as I Samuel 24:4b-7 tells us.  “Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.  And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.  And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.  So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.”

While David knew God intended him to be the next king, he also recognized God had chosen Saul.  He refused to try to accelerate his taking control by doing something that was wrong himself, preferring to wait and trust God to remove him at the proper time.  He allowed Saul to go unharmed.