David Spares Saul's Life

Introduction: As David’s fame among the people grew King Saul became jealous and wanted to kill David. Here is the story from God’s word. Saul took three thousand chosen men from and set out to look for David and his men in the wilderness. Saul came to a cave and went in to relieve himself not knowing that David and his men were far back in the cave. David’s men said, "This is the day the LORD has given your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.'" Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe. David said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should lift my hand against Saul for he is the Lord’s anointed." With these words David rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way. Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked behind him,

David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. He said to Saul, "Why do you listen to men who say, `David is trying to harm you'? This day you see with your own eyes how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some men urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my master, because he is the LORD's anointed.' See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. Now understand and recognize that I am not guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. When David finished saying this, Saul asked, "Is that your voice, David my son?" And Saul wept aloud. "You are more righteous than I," he said. "You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. You

have just now told me of the good you did to me; the LORD delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. May the LORD reward you well for the way you treated me today. I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. Now swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father's family." So David gave his oath to Saul and Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.