How to grow in understanding and faithfulness to God (1 Samuel 26)

A friend complained to me that the guys she attracted and went out with seemed to have a phobia about commitment and only wanted a good time with her. Another friend had an outburst once about why all her friends were so unreliable, and she was always the one working hard to keep the relationship going. All of us may observe patterns in our lives that keep repeating themselves whether in relationships or in jobs or other situations. When we catch ourselves in a déjà-vu moment, it is worth asking why we landed in the same situation as before and what God might be teaching us about ourselves and His will. Thus, in 1 Samuel 24-25, David was faced with the issue of using violence, once to further God’s will for him and once to bring about justice. Now, for the third time, David has a chance to meet Saul under similar circumstances as before. What has he learnt from these previous incidents? How will he act?

David learns from past incidents

Once again, the Ziphites report David’s whereabouts to Saul (1 Sam 26:1; 23:19) who sets out to capture his rival (1 Sam 26:2). This time, David seeks out the encounter with Saul, though providence plays a part in the camp’s deep sleep, so he and Abishai are not detected (1 Sam 26:6, 12). Once again, the temptation to see this opportunity as providence and get rid of the king is present, but David refuses even to contemplate the idea this time (1 Sam 24:4; 26:8-9). Neither will he delegate the killing and hope to escape responsibility (v.9), a lesson later tragically forgotten when he sends Uriah to his death (2 Sam 11:15). His confidence that the Lord will deal with Saul is surely the result of his experience with Nabal whom God has judged (1 Sam 25:38-39). David can stand back knowing that the Lord will vindicate him. Thus, the future king only takes evidence with him to prove later that he has been in the camp and then confronts Saul (1 Sam 26:12, 18).

Saul remains unchanged

In contrast to David, Saul repeats the same pattern as before. His earlier tears and moment of insight (1 Sam 24:16-20) did not translate into a long-term change of heart. His tone here is measured as he admits his sin and pronounces blessing on David (1 Sam 26:21, 25). Yet how can he say so calmly that David will prevail when it will be at his (Saul’s) expense? Surely such a statement, if genuinely meant should have given Saul some heartburnings! Is he speaking in resignation or is this just pious talk as so often before? Admittedly, Saul and David speak across a divide spatially (David on the opposite hill) and this may make the kind of intimate scene depicted in chapter 24 impossible. However, this gap between them also translates into a theological distance and different paths pursued.[1] Revealingly as the conversation is concluded, David goes his own way despite Saul’s invitation to ‘return’ (1 Sam 26:21, 25). What follows will confirm that Saul, despite all his talk, is set on a course and will not change.

The difference to these two ways of living

What enables David to develop in his understanding as he repeatedly faces the same question about violence? I believe it is that dynamic, intimate relationship with God that makes him alert to the lessons inherent in the events that he encounters. It is evident as he speaks of God in connection with not killing Saul and his conviction that the Lord will vindicate him. It is also plain from the way he finds the most painful aspect of his exile to be cut off from God’s inheritance (i.e. His people; 1 Sam 26:19). It effectively means that he cannot worship the Lord in fellowship with God’s people in the land, so his pursuers might as well be saying, ‘worship other gods!’.  In comparison, Saul rarely mentions God in these chapters and when he does, it is merely for rubber-stamping his own perceptions and plans. What becomes clear through Scripture is that there is no other way to true spiritual growth but in nurturing the relationship with the Lord, listening to Him and obeying what we understand as His will.

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[1] Robert P. Gordon, I-II Samuel: A Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1986), 188.

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