1 Samuel 26
Shawn Bumpers / General
1 Samuel
Introduction:
In our last chapter, the prophet Samuel had died and was buried at his home in Ramah.
David was with his men, still hiding out from Saul and they were hungry.
But perhaps more pertinent to tonight’s study are events that took place back in chapter 24 when David spared Saul’s life in a cave in En Gedi.
That’s because what we are about to study in chapter 26 sounds a lot like the events of chapter 24.
v1-4
The Ziphites, had already betrayed David’s whereabouts to Saul a couple of times already.
One time was back in Chapter 23 when David was almost captured by Saul at a place called “The Rock.”
1 Chronicles 2:42 NKJV
The descendants of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel were Mesha, his firstborn, who was the father of Ziph, and the sons of Mareshah the father of Hebron.
John 11:49–50 NKJV
And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.”
John 11:48 NKJV
If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.”
But, there is another similarity we should mention.
And this is something that we see in Psalm 54.
Psalm 54:3 NKJV
For strangers have risen up against me, And oppressors have sought after my life; They have not set God before them. Selah
Back to our text, Saul had learned to appreciate David’s skill as a tactician, so he took his 3,000 soldiers to search for David in the wilderness.
So, Saul went after David with 3,000 men.
But David was already far ahead of Saul.
Psalm 18:17 NKJV
He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me, For they were too strong for me.
v5-12
Verse 12 says that they were able to accomplish this “sneaking into Saul’s camp” because the Lord had sent a deep sleep upon Saul and his men.
The text doesn’t say it, but I think we can deduce from this that the LORD had instructed David to go to Saul’s camp.
The last time that David and Saul had met, Saul had unknowingly happened upon the cave in which David and his men were hiding.
This time, David went to where Saul was.
In verse 6, it says that David “answered.”
What was he responding to?
2 Samuel 23:18–19 NKJV
Now Abishai the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of another three. He lifted his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name among these three. Was he not the most honored of three? Therefore he became their captain. However, he did not attain to the first three.
Saul and Abner, who was Saul’s captain and cousin, were sleeping at the heart of the camp.
They felt quite secure inside the circle of guards.
v13-16
David and his nephew made their way to the hill opposite Saul’s camp where they were safe and from which they could be heard.
There David called back to the soldiers in the camp.
v17-20
Saul recognized David’s voice and responded by calling him “my son.”
But David didn’t call him “my father” as he had before (24:11).
But Saul had given his daughter Michal to another man and she was no longer David’s wife (25:44).
Once again, David tried to reason with Saul and show him how wrong he was in his thinking and acting.
David wanted to know what his crime was that Saul had to pursue him and seek to kill him.
Jeremiah 17:9 NKJV
“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
Romans 3:11 NKJV
There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.
John 6:44 NKJV
No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
Romans 7:19–20 NKJV
For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
David says in verse 19 that Saul and those whose lies about David he is believing are essentially driving him out of Israel and to the lands of the ungodly.
But if David wasn’t guilty of any crime or sin, why should Saul invest so much time and energy in pursuing him?
v21
Once again, Saul lapsed into one of his sentimental moods and confessed that he was a fool and a sinner.
The last time Saul was in this situation, he was overcome with emotion.
His repentance was merely an outward show and not an inward change.
v22-25
David’s reply was to display the spear and say, “Behold the king’s spear! Let one of the young men come over and fetch it.”
When David cut Saul’s robe in the cave, he reminded him that his kingdom would be severed from him, but in taking the spear, he took the king’s symbol of authority.
The last recorded words of Saul to David are in verse 25.
Considering the circumstance and coming from Saul it is an odd statement.
Psalm 23:6 NKJV
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.
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