1 Samuel 26

1 Samuel 26

David’s interaction with Saul in 1 Samuel 26 is almost a mirror image of 1 Samuel 24, only a different setting. When the two men were together at the end of 1 Samuel 24, they went away in peace. David spared Saul’s life and understood that God would be the one to take care of Saul’s actions when He was ready to do so. Saul went away regretting that he had attempted to kill David (the many times he had attempted or thought about it). He understood that God had indeed chosen David, and he saw David as a very godly man. It seemed as if the war between the two men was over, but at the beginning of 1 Samuel 26, it all started up again.


When Saul received word from the Ziphites as to David’s whereabouts, he put together another crew of 3,000 men to go after David. He got close to the wilderness where David was hiding, and then he took a break for the night. Meanwhile, David received word that Saul was back at it again. So David found out where Saul was camping, grabbed one of his men, and they went after Saul. However, once they got to Saul’s camp, David was reminded of his previous encounter. Just like the first time he had a chance to kill Saul, David realized that it was not his job to kill Saul (nor his assistant’s job). So instead of killing Saul that night, David took Saul’s sword and a jar of water that Saul had beside his bed.

Saul’s main man, the one who was supposed to be keeping watch over Saul was Abner. But on the night when David went into to Saul’s tent, no one noticed. There was no one there to keep guard to protect the king, and that responsibility fell to Abner. So when David was a safe distance away from the camp, he called out to Abner, calling him out on his mistake. Then, when Saul realized what was going on, he asked David what he was doing. David replied by condemning Saul’s actions. The two men had already settled this dispute, but now Saul had gone back on his word and pursued David again. So David asked Saul if this was something God had called him to do or something other men had asked. David was prepared to take heed to God’s commands, if it was truly something that God wanted done, but David also knew that God had not commanded Saul to kill him. Saul once again realized his mistake, and in the end the two men went away with the situation resolved.

Although I initially thought that David had forgotten what he had learned from their previous encounter in 1 Samuel 24 (about allowing God to work it out in His own timing), I do not think that is the case. I do not believe David went into Saul’s tent with the intent on killing Saul. I believe he remembered well what had gone on before. So instead of trying to kill Saul, I think he was trying to teach Saul a lesson. Saul was the one who had forgotten what he had learned from 1 Samuel 24. He went away remorseful, repenting of his sin, and now, just two chapters later, he was at it again. David exposed Saul’s sins again and not only did David save his own life, but he also helped Saul recognize his sin so that he could begin to grow in God again.

It is safe to say that Saul was one of David’s enemies, and yet David had compassion on Saul. Twice now he had the opportunity to get rid of the one man who hated him more than anyone else on earth. Yet on both occasions, David passed on that opportunity and instead attempted to reconcile things with Saul. David did not hold Saul’s actions against him, and he helped Saul see the error of his way. It will never be easy to forgive or try to help our enemies either, but like David, we should be willing to forgive them and move on. We should show them God’s love, and help them to see that He loves them and wants to help. Who knows, we might be the only person who ever shares the Gospel with them. It does not matter who they are or what they have done, God can still forgive them, and they still need Him.

Matt