1 Samuel Chapter 26 Verse 1

 Recall David had camped in the wilderness of Ziph in Chapter 23 after

protecting the people of Israel against the Philistines and they had

already gone to Saul once to tell him where David was so that Saul

could take him. Now they come a second time to sell out David and

his men. And David just takes it…

 He hasn’t done anything to them but rather he has done for them and

they continue to fear Saul over respecting and caring for David. But

David being a man that loves the Lord doesn’t retaliate. In fact, given

the chance, he would defend and protect the Ziphites again…

1 Samuel Chapter 26 Verses 2 – 4

 Saul also, I mean the more you empathize with David the more

saddened you become for him, how unfair this is and yet how noble

his responses. Saul had stood in repentance outside of the cave of En

Gedi. He had an emotional and sincere moment of being greatly

moved by David’s love for him, but being a man that is stuck on

serving himself, it didn’t last…

 He goes after David with the full contingent of his choice men, just as

he had done before. And what we will see David do is just as David

did before. This challenges me and makes me take a good hard look at

myself because I consider myself, underneath all of it, all that I and we

all deal with mentally, all my mistakes and sinful, fleshly struggles,

after all of it I consider myself to be a good man… A man that loves

the Lord and consistently tries to do what is right…

 BUT, here I am actually observing a good man. And he is being

harmed and disrespected and rejected and incredible offense and

unfairness is being shown to him… All the while he is in the

wilderness, without comfort, unable to go home…, And he just takes

it… Moreso than just absorbing the offense, he seeks to serve his

offenders! I question my own accounting of myself… This challenges

me! And yet I am reminded, where does David get this strength?

Remember, he is the anointed of the Lord. He has the Holy Spirit upon

him! That’s the ticket!!!!!

 And notice we are told that David sent out spies. Here’s an interesting

thought. David knows where Saul is while Saul does not know

where David is… David is the force of good in this story, Saul is the

force of evil… So, here’s the thought. Is the enemy pursuing you,

spying on you, watching you, or is it the other way around?

 Paul said in 2 Corinthians 2:11, “Lest Satan should take advantage of

us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.” Part of the mature

Christian walk, (or a season of maturity), is staying one step ahead of

the enemy and what he plots and schemes to do in your life. It’s not

terribly difficult to do so, simply walk in the Spirit and the wisdom of

God tips you off… Spy on him using the Word of God and the

leading of the Holy Spirit!

1 Samuel Chapter 26 Verses 5 – 9

 This entire scene is not an opportunity to kill Saul given by God but a

test of character sent by God. Did God deliver Saul into David’s hand?

Absolutely! Could David had killed Saul? Absolutely! Was the heart

of God for him to do so? On the authority of the text…, no! It’s an

intriguing scene!

 God brought this victory into David’s path. David’s trusted and loyal

and godly friend encourages David in this victory, and yet God further

refines and reveals the heart of a true king in that David passes the

test. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:31, “But earnestly desire the best

gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.” And that way is love.

That way is the cross, the Way, the Truth and the Life Himself, this

was His chosen path…

 Further than that…, this was God the Father’s chosen path as Jesus

prayed, “If there is any other way, remove this cup from Me…,

nevertheless, Your will be done!” Does David really have a heart like

God’s? Then even when faced with the immediate victory, provided by

God Himself, He still chooses the cross…!

 Watch this… It’s hidden in verse 9. Has God provided this victory?

Absolutely, obviously! Is it right there for him to take? Yes! Would

everyone around him either understand or celebrate his triumph? Yep.

AND, he would be at least 1% guilty of transgressing the heart of

God… So, nothing else matters. He won’t take that path… Good man,

indeed.

1 Samuel Chapter 26 Verses 10 – 12

 So, David spies out the enemy here. If God has delivered Saul into my

hand, which He obviously absolutely has done, then God will deliver

the victory to me devoid of sin. God will do it some other way and I

will not have blood on my hands in front of the Lord. This trust in the

Lord is observant. It is discerning. It is wise. It is to know where the

enemy is while the enemy does not know where David is! This is the

mind of a king!

1 Samuel Chapter 26 Verses 13 – 16

 David and Abner have some history. David was the commander of

Saul’s army for a very short time, and now it’s Abner… David is

implying that Abner does not protect Saul like he would…

1 Samuel Chapter 26 Verses 17 – 19

 David refers to himself as the servant and to Saul as lord. He doesn’t

have to. It’s not fair. Saul has basically been put into David’s hand

twice, and David still takes the route of humility. This is why he is the

true king! It would be easy to approach Saul with superiority. It’s

much more difficult for David to approach with humility.

 Almost always, the path of most resistance internally is the path that

leads to the most desired result! We say, “God what do you want me

to do?” Here’s the answer. Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter by the narrow

(obstacles standing close about) gate; for wide (flat and paved) is the

gate and broad (spacious) is the way that leads to destruction (loss),

and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and

difficult (suffering/affliction) is the way which leads to life (zoe), and

there are few who find it.”

1 Samuel Chapter 26 Verses 20 – 25

 You can hear David’s heart in this…, who knows what is in Saul’s

heart. It’s summarized in Saul’s own words, “Indeed I have played the

fool and erred exceedingly.” David loves Saul, he has valiantly kept

the value of Saul in his own heart even through all that Saul has done,

and with this plea, he says to Saul, I just wish you would value me

too… It’s sweet, it’s sad, it is what it is… this is life. David departs the

victor at a great cost as Saul never does value him the way David

values Saul…

 These are the last words of Saul to David and there is victory here.

“May you be blessed, my son David! You shall both do great things

and also still prevail.” This is the life at the end of the narrow path for

David’s story with Saul. Proverbs 16:7 says, “When a man’s ways

please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

This is the final outcome of David’s righteousness. I pray that mine is

similar as well…

 This was the final outcome of Jesus Christ in His earthly ministry. As

He took the cross for me, for you, those that were in enmity with Him,

and by giving Himself to us, He has brought us near… Wow, that

makes such great practical sense just saying that…

 One last thing to notice in this chapter. David loves Saul, but he

doesn’t trust him. Saul says to David, “Return, my son,” in verse

21… But David went on his way it tells us in verse 25. We are called

to be lovers of one another, giving preference to one another, but not

to be foolish and unwise. Jesus said in Matthew 10:16, “Behold, I send

you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be wise as serpents

and harmless as doves…”