← Back to sermon library

1 Samuel chapter 26. The last few chapters we've seen 
various confrontations. David confronts Saul in chapter 
24 in En-Gedi, and in chapter 25 he dealt with Nabal, and again 
in chapter 26 he is with Saul. So I want to read beginning in 
chapter 26 at verse 1. We'll read to the end of the 
chapter and then go through the text. Now the Ziphites came to 
Saul at Gibeah, saying, Is David not hiding in the hill of Haculah, 
opposite Jeshamon? Then Saul arose and went down 
to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of 
Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. And 
Saul encamped in the hill of Haculah, which is opposite Jeshamon, 
by the road. But David stayed in the wilderness, 
and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness. David 
therefore sent out spies and understood that Saul had indeed 
come. So David arose and came to the 
place where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place where 
Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. 
Now Saul lay within the camp with the people encamped all 
around him. Then David answered and said 
to Ahimelech, the Hittite, and to Abishai, the son of Zariah, 
brother of Joab, saying, who will go down with me to Saul 
in the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down 
with you. So David and Abishai came to 
the people by night. And there Saul lay sleeping within 
the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And 
Abner and the people lay all around him. Then Abishai said 
to David, God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. 
Now therefore, please let me strike him at once with the spear 
right to the earth, and I will not have to strike him a second 
time. But David said to Abishai, do not destroy him, for who can 
stretch out his hand against the Lord's anointed and be guiltless? 
David said, furthermore, as the Lord lives, the Lord shall strike 
him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall go out to battle 
and perish. The Lord forbid that I should 
stretch out my hand against the Lord's anointed. But please take 
now the spear and the jug of water that are by his head and 
let us go." So David took the spear and the jug of water by 
Saul's head and they got away. And no man saw or knew it or 
awoke for they were all asleep because a deep sleep from the 
Lord had fallen on them. Now David went over to the other 
side and stood on the top of a hill afar off. a great distance 
being between them. And David called out to the people 
and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Do you not answer, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, 
Who are you calling out to the king? So David said to Abner, 
Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? 
Why then have you not guarded your lord the king? For one of 
the people came in to destroy your lord the king. This thing 
that you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, you deserve 
to die, because you have not guarded your master, the Lord's 
anointed. And now you see where the king's 
spear is and the jug of water that was by his head." Then Saul 
knew David's voice and said, "'Is that your voice, my son 
David?' David said, it is my voice, my Lord, O King. And he 
said, why does my Lord thus pursue his servant? For what have I 
done, or what evil is in my hand? Now therefore, please let my 
Lord, the King, hear the words of his servant. If the Lord has 
stirred you up against me, let him accept an offering. But if 
it is the children of men, may they be cursed before the Lord. 
For they have driven me out this day from sharing in the inheritance 
of the Lord, saying, go, serve other gods. So now do not let 
my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lord. For the 
King of Israel has come out to seek a flea, as when one hunts 
a partridge in the mountains. Then Saul said, I have sinned, 
returned my son David, for I will harm you no more because my life 
was precious in your eyes this day. Indeed, I have played the 
fool and erred exceedingly. David answered and said, here 
is the king's spear. Let one of the young men come 
over and get it. May the Lord repay every man 
for his righteousness and his faithfulness. For the Lord delivered 
you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against 
the Lord's anointed. And indeed, as your life was 
valued much this day in my eyes, so let my life be valued much 
in the eyes of the Lord. And let him deliver me out of 
all tribulation. Then Saul said to David, may 
you be blessed, my son David. You shall both do great things 
and also still prevail. So David went on his way and 
Saul returned to his place. Amen. Well, as I said, various 
confrontations with various persons. This one is similar to what we 
see in En-Gedi in chapter 24. We'll notice that in just a moment. But one thing that David Samora 
comments concerning with reference to this chapter, this is the 
last encounter between David and Saul. After this incident, 
David will leave the territory of Israel and serve the Philistines 
and return only after Saul is dead. So this is the last time 
when these two are together. The story of Saul and David begins 
in chapter 16. We have seen it in various forms, 
various shades of detail, and it's come to an end tonight. 
Well, two things we want to mention by way of a broad outline, and 
the first, the pursuit of David by Saul in verses 1 to 5. This 
specifically deals with the setting. And then in the second place, 
the confrontation at Hekelah between David and Saul. And that's 
the bulk of the chapter, verses 6 to 25. But note in the first 
place, with reference to the pursuit of David by Saul, the 
treachery of Zeph. Verse 1 in chapter 26, Now the 
Zephites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, Is David not hiding in 
the hill of Hekulah opposite Jeshamon? We've already met the 
Zephites in chapter 23, and there they showed their treachery in 
handing or seeking to hand David over to Saul. It was what prepared 
the way for that encounter at En Gedi. So the Zephites had 
a prejudice, an animosity, a hatred for David, either that or they 
were simply trying to stay in the favor of Saul. But regardless, 
this is the same sort of thing that we saw in 23. The Ziphites 
hand David over or tip Saul off to his location so that Saul 
can now seek to get him again. And in the second place, the 
pursuit by Saul. Note in verse 2, then Saul arose 
and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand 
chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness 
of Ziph. Now, it isn't mentioned specifically, 
but if we know what's going on in the rest of the section, Saul 
is seeking David in the wilderness of Ziph so he can kill him. This 
is the reason why he has the 3,000 men. Remember, back in 
chapter 24, at the end of the encounter at En Gedi, when David 
had said his piece, Saul then responds, In verse 16 of chapter 
24, the end of verse 16, it says, and Saul lifted up his voice 
and wept. Then he said to David, you are 
more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, whereas 
I have rewarded you with evil. And you have shown this day how 
you have dealt well with me. For when the Lord delivered me 
into your hand, you did not kill me. For if a man finds his enemy, 
will he let him get away safely? Therefore may the Lord reward 
you with good for what you have done to me this day. And now 
I know indeed that you shall surely be king and that the kingdom 
of Israel shall be established in your hand. therefore swear 
now to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants 
after me and that you will not destroy my name from my father's 
house." So David swore to Saul and Saul went home, but David 
and his men went up to the stronghold. So this is something we would 
come to expect from Saul at this particular point. Remember, he's 
in the state of spiritual apostasy. He has defected from the living 
God. It begins not long after the 
time that he starts his reign as king. He has an initial couple 
of chapters wherein he is good and decent, and then there's 
this gradual decline that ends in full-blown apostasy. And here 
we see him flat-out lie. The falsity of his statement 
is obvious when we come here to Hecula in chapter 26, because 
now Saul once again gives pursuit in order to try and liquidate 
David. And we see in this the continual 
rage against David and the desire to murder him. And it's probably 
helpful for us To recall why that is, was David a bad guy? David was not a bad guy. David 
was the national hero. David was the one who defeated 
Goliath in the battle at the Valley of Elah. It is for that 
reason that Saul despised him because Saul was an envious man. Saul wanted praise for himself. 
Saul wanted all of the accolades. Saul wanted all of the glory. 
And now that David has come along, he has stolen Saul's thunder 
and Saul cannot bear with this particular situation. Pride in 
the heart of man will lead to these sorts of things. This is 
one of the reasons why we ought to be about killing pride. It 
may not degenerate to the point of a soul, but never is it a 
good thing to let pride fester in the heart. It started with 
envy, which is a sister. or a sinful twin to pride and 
it's evolved from there to the point where he makes these falsehoods, 
he makes these promises and he does so with tears. I mean anybody 
watching at the end of chapter 24 when Saul lifted up his eyes 
or when he lifted up his a voice and he wept and he had plenty 
of tears. Persons were probably saying, 
well look at how affected he is, look at how genuine he is, 
look at how serious he is. Brethren, tears are not a telltale 
sign of repentance in the heart. A lot of men, a lot of women, 
a lot of boys and a lot of girls can cry. Crying, tearing is not 
a telltale sign of repentance in the heart. Repentance in the 
heart is manifested by fruit and it is first and foremost 
a change of mind with reference to God and our place beforehand. Saul is a wretch He is a brutal 
tyrant. Instead of using these 3,000 
men to fight Philistines, he takes these 3,000 men first to 
En-Gedi in chapter 24 and now to Hacula. in chapter 26, because 
the Ziphites, who have whatever axe to grind they have against 
David, have once again dimed out David to Saul, and instead 
of administering his kingdom, he's got this vendetta against 
a man who has become a national hero and who is destined for 
the throne under the blessing of God Most High. Truly Saul 
is a picture of what sin ultimately will reduce a man to. We see 
the movement in verse 3, they encamp in the hill of Hecula. 
David stayed in the wilderness toward the end of verse 3. He 
saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness. He saw this, 
there was a visual, now he confirms it according to verse 4. David 
therefore sent out spies and understood that Saul had indeed 
come. Now he surveys the scene. This 
is a wise military commander. This is a wise military leader. Notice what David does in verse 
5. David arose and came to the place 
where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place where 
Saul lay. and Abner the son of Ner, the 
commander of his army. Now Saul lay within the camp 
with the people and camped all around him. Now it was a formidable 
scene. I mean you have Saul in the midst 
and you have these 3,000 men surrounding him and you have 
Abner, the general of his army. So David has surveyed this. David 
understands the situation. David knows what's what, and 
that leads us now to the confrontation at Hacula between David and Saul. And I want to consider three 
things here. First, the execution of the mission. This is David and Abishai. The 
narrative is carried along basically by dialogue between two parties. In the first place, verses 6 
to 12, the execution of the mission, David and Abishai. Secondly, 
the report concerning the mission, David and Abner, verses 13 to 
16. And then finally, the explanation 
of the mission, David and Saul, in verses 17 to 25. Notice in 
verse 6, David asks, or he says to Himalak, the Hittite, and 
to Abishai, the son of Zariah. Now, Zariah was a sister of David. Abishai Joab and Asahel were 
all brothers and they were the sons of Zariah. So this was David's 
nephew. Abishai says, I will go down 
with you. Now note the specific mission. The men were able to bypass these 
troops. Now verse 12 is going to describe 
how this is the case. We've already read the text, 
it's good to remind ourselves. They were all asleep because 
a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them. Again, an indicator, 
a token, a sign, a symbol of God's providence in the life 
of David. God is about the protection of 
his servant that is purposed for the throne. Now, in this 
instance, David, however, didn't know this. David didn't know 
that they were going to be in a deep sleep from Yahweh. David 
says to Abishai, let's go down and let's visit the camp. This 
is a bold and gutsy and courageous and very audacious move, certainly 
a man driven by his faith in the living and true God. Now 
notice, they bypass the guards and they actually have access 
to Saul. There Saul lay sleeping within 
the camp, verse 7, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head, 
and Abner and the people lay all around him. This would be 
a good posture for a king at rest, to have the spear nearby. 
In case there was a need for him to arise from sleep and take 
that spear, that token of his royal authority, and rule his 
troops or actually spear people, this was a convenient location. 
Now notice in verse 8, then Abishai said to David, I suppose that 
Abishai and David had their indoor voices. David and Abishai had 
their quiet voices. I doubt that they were talking 
in the tone or in the manner that I am currently talking. 
They are standing before Saul. They are surrounded by 3,000 
soldiers. Note what Abishai says to David. God has delivered your enemy 
into your hand this day. As far as Abishai was concerned, 
it was a situation similar to that cave in Ein Gedi. Remember 
when David and his men are in the rear of the cave and then 
Saul comes in to relieve himself and take a bit of a nap. What 
do the men say? They say, this is a gift from 
God. This is grace. This is mercy. This is kindness. You want to divest yourself of 
your enemy? Well, there he is having a bit 
of a siesta after having relieved himself. His men said to David, 
we need to take Saul out. Same thing with Abishai in this 
instance. God has delivered your enemy 
into your hand this day. Now therefore, please let me 
strike him at once with the spear right to the earth, and I will 
not have to strike him a second time. Abishai knows it's going 
to take one shot and that will be the end of all our problems 
named Saul. It's very intriguing as well 
because the same verb is employed that was used in 1811 and 1910 
when Saul took the spear and he sought to pin David to the 
wall. One man says the irony, if Abishai 
would have in fact carried this out, the irony would then be 
superb that Saul should be killed by David's man with Saul's own 
spear, the symbol of his authority and in the manner in which he 
for his part had sought to kill David. It would have truly been 
ironic if Abishai would have taken that spear and put it right 
in Saul's head. But that's not what takes place. As in chapter 24, as in the cave 
at En-Gedi, David stays the hand of Abishai. David says, according 
to verse 9, this is interchange now between David and Abishai, 
do not destroy him, for who can stretch out his hand against 
the Lord's anointed and be guiltless? The same argument that he employed 
with those men in the cave at En-Gedi. David was a respecter 
of the law. David was not going to be a lawless 
man like Saul. David was going to be a man who 
governed himself accordingly. He was going to conduct himself 
as God the Lord had commanded. And presently and currently, 
in this situation at Hackelah, Saul was the reigning king of 
Israel. And for David to say to Abishai, 
go ahead and take that spear and drive it through his head, 
it would have been to betray the living and true God. You 
see, this was about God's glory and God's honor and God's name. 
And that is why David says, or David maintains what he does 
here. Who can stretch out his hand against the Lord's anointed 
and be guiltless? Again, us as readers all along 
this narrative of Saul and David see conspicuously that David 
is not a usurper. David is not trying to destroy 
Saul. David is not trying to wriggle 
his way upon the throne. David is a faithful man who fears 
the Lord God Almighty. He truly is, as was described 
in 1 Samuel 16, that he would be a man after my own heart. This is the King of Israel that 
will reign according to righteousness and not with brutal tyranny, 
not with arbitrary or capricious wickedness, but he is a man of 
principle and a man of honor. So he stays the hand of Abishai. Now notice, He acknowledges the 
Lord's providence, verse 10. David said furthermore, as the 
Lord lives, the Lord shall strike him or his day shall come to 
die or he shall go out to battle and perish. You see, This is 
David's report. It isn't to take the spear and 
drive it into Saul's head. It is to seek his refuge in God. It's the providence of God that 
sustains David. David had lived and conducted 
himself as a man who had tried and proven his God. And he is 
certainly content at this particular vantage point. When he's in Hacula, 
when he's got the opportunity to destroy Saul, nevertheless, 
he casts himself upon the mercy and the kindness of God. And 
look at the three ways that David specifies the Lord might be pleased 
to take, or one of the three ways the Lord might be pleased 
to take Saul out. Notice, verse 10, as the Lord 
lives, the Lord shall strike him. Remember back in En-Gedi 
in chapter 24 and verse 12, when David had stayed as man, David 
said that God the Lord will avenge our enemy or give a vengeance 
to our enemy. In chapter 25, what grand lesson 
does Nabal demonstrate? Well, specifically in verse 38, 
that the Lord struck him and killed him. So David now has 
seen with his own eyes what he said in 2412, it has been applied 
in the case of Nabal in 2538. And so now when they're standing 
before Saul, David says it may be that the Lord will strike 
him. And it is the same verb as used 
by the narrator in chapter 25 verse 38. Davis says, the use 
of the same verb may indicate that David has learned that Yahweh 
can be trusted to handle both fools and oppressors when such 
matters are left in his hands. You see what David is doing here. In the second place, or his day 
shall come to die. This takes great faith, brethren. 
Doesn't it? What's David saying here? In 
the providence of God, Saul may get old, Saul may have a whole 
host of grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and possibly great-great-grandchildren. When we cast ourselves into the 
lap of sovereign providence, we typically look for our answers 
right away, don't we? God, we're trusting in you, but 
we really hope we'll see something by tomorrow. David here shows 
what faith looks like in the providence of God. It may be 
the case that the Lord shall strike him or his day shall come 
to die. I don't know about you, but if 
I was David, I'd really want Saul to meet his death the way 
that Nabal did. I would really want the Lord 
to strike him. And do it right now, thank you 
very much. This is faith in the living and 
true God. This is an actual living in light 
of God's providence. It may be the case that God will 
preserve him until he shall come to die. Or, in the third place, 
he shall go out to battle and perish. Now that is the way that 
God ultimately takes care of the Saul problem. Do you see 
what David is doing here? The providence of God is not, 
this is what we want and we're going to make sure that you perform 
in this particular regard. David has options. David thinks 
there's a whole plentitude of ways that the Lord God will possibly 
take care of this Saul problem. He's not boxing God in, he's 
not giving God mandates, he's not describing to God the way 
things must be. He simply acknowledges that God 
the Lord is over all these things, Abishai, so we are not going 
to drive the spear through the head of Saul. The way that God 
has purposed to take out Saul, we will rest in that, we will 
trust in the Lord, and we will operate accordingly. Now notice 
very specifically what happens in verse 11. The Lord forbid 
that I should stretch out my hand against the Lord's anointed. 
Isn't this a beautiful thing? David acknowledges God's providence. David understands God's providence 
in verse 10. David still operates according 
to God's word. I think there's a lesson here 
for us as God's people. The role of the believer. We 
trust in the God of sovereign providence. We do not know what 
a day may bring. We don't know if our enemies 
are going to be struck. We don't know if they're going to die 
of old age. We don't know if they're going to die on the field 
of battle. That's God's business. Do you know what our current 
responsibility is? To obey God. Verse 11. However, the Lord determines 
to deal with Saul, that does not change the responsibility 
that David has, according to verse 11, to respect the Lord's 
anointed, to honor the God who has ordained him to honor the 
word of the living God who has commanded that subjects do not 
harm the Lord's anointed. We are to trust in the providence 
of God and obey the precepts of God. There is a tendency, 
or at least a temptation, for persons to sort of be in this 
stagnant state. I really don't know what God's 
going to do in this particular situation. So I'm just going 
to wait on the Lord. Well, while you're waiting on 
the Lord, do what you know He has commanded you to do. Does 
everybody understand this? The providence of God does not 
put us into a holding pattern. The providence of God is always 
operative, and we function in light of that reality, but it 
never changes our present responsibility to obey God the Lord. When we 
are faced with a situation demanding patience regarding what God will 
do, We are to presently do what he has said. And I think this 
is combined, and David's response here, it may be the case that 
the Lord takes him out that way. Abishai, perhaps, or one of us 
might have said, well, let's see to it that he dies in battle. Right into his head. But David 
says, no, we cannot touch the Lord's anointing. David is a 
model in this regard. Now notice in verse 11, at the 
end, please take now the spear and the jug of water that are 
by his head and let us go. Some have said that 24 and 26 
are one account that are somehow given in two different chapters. 
They're two accounts. There's a lot of similarities 
between 24 and 26. I will certainly grant that, 
but there's a lot of dissimilarities. In 24, Saul comes to where David 
is hiding. In 26, David initiates this whole 
particular situation. In 24, David simply cuts off 
a piece of Saul's robe, a symbol of his royal authority. But here 
in 26, he takes his spear, that major symbol or token of his 
authority. In chapter 26, we have a direct 
act of God's providence. I'm not suggesting God's providence 
was absent in 24. but here in 2612 we are told 
very specifically a deep sleep from Yahweh had fallen on them. This was the direct interposition 
of God upon this particular situation. As well when we get to 26 we 
see that David continues to exhibit this greater confidence in God 
the Lord. Every step that he takes under 
the sovereignty of God, the more he's strengthened in that God. 
It's truly a blessed thing to behold. But notice, they take 
the spear, the jug of water, they go, or they got away, and 
then at the end of verse 12, no man saw or knew it or awoke. 
I mean, again, if we were studying this from a military strategy 
standpoint, we'd say, no one of the 3,000 men woke up? You 
know, David and Abishai were that stealthy? David and Abishai 
were that quiet? Well, the narrator tells us that 
David and Abishai were under the controlling hand of God Most 
High. For they were all asleep because 
a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them. A deep sleep 
such as overcame Adam. a deep sleep such as overcame 
Abraham. God the Lord is able to control 
the sleep patterns of men and to stay 3,000 and their commander 
and their general to keep them in a state of sleep. Now notice, 
secondly, the report concerning the mission, David and Abner. 
One man suggests that there might be a bit of David here laying 
down for Abner something to the effect of, choose ye this day 
whom you will serve. I mean, Abner was deficient in 
his duties here and David calls him on it. Notice in the first 
place, he addresses Abner. Do you not answer, Abner? Abner 
answers and says, who are you calling out to the king? So David 
said to Abner, are you not a man? The New Living Translation says, 
you're a great man, aren't you? The implication is something 
to the effect that you should have this under control. Abner 
is Saul's military commander. And David just went and took 
the spear and jug of water away from Saul. Abner messed up. Now we know, according to verse 
12, God messed him up by keeping him in this deep sleep. But notice 
that David taunts Abner. Are you not a man? And who is 
like you in Israel? Why then have you not guarded 
your Lord the King? For one of the people came in 
to destroy your Lord the King. If you were Abner, you were not 
happy right now. unless you thought he was lying, 
but the moment you saw the spear, you would say, oh no, he's not 
lying. He was right there over Saul. He's got Saul's spear and he's 
got his jug. Notice the implication is that 
Abner should have guarded Saul. Who is Saul's number one enemy? David. Certainly, wouldn't Abner 
take that memo to heart and stand guard, especially when the Ziphites 
say, you can find him here. Abner knows that David is in 
the region. Abner knows that David is present. Again, we know that God caused 
this deep sleep to fall upon him. But when we come to this 
passage, we have to understand what David is saying in this 
instance. David is upbraiding and reproving 
this man. And notice in verse 16, this 
thing that you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, you 
deserve to die because you have not guarded your master, the 
Lord's anointed. and now see where the king's 
spear is in the jug of water that was by his head." I guarantee 
you, if you were Abner, then and there, you were probably 
starting to hold your neck because you were afraid that Saul was 
going to cut your head off. This was treachery on the part 
of Abner. Now that moves us to the explanation 
of the mission, David and Saul, in verses 17 to 25. Note Saul's 
tone. Is that your voice, my son, David? It's never my son, David, when 
he's at odds with David or when he's got the position of advantage 
over the son of Jesse. In this instance, however, is 
that your voice, my son, David? Notice David's response first 
in verses 17 to 20. He asserts his innocence. Verse 
18, he said, why does my Lord thus pursue his servant? For 
what have I done, or what evil is in my hand? This has been 
David's constant refrain with Jonathan and with Saul. What 
have I done? Why are you pursuing me? What 
cause, what reason, what justification do you possibly have in order 
to bring this to bear on my behalf now notice in verse 19 now therefore 
please let my lord the king hear the words of his servant David's 
a bit of a diplomat here David is evidencing skills in this 
section that will benefit him when he's on the throne notice 
in verse 19 Now therefore, please let my Lord the King hear the 
words of his servant. If the Lord has stirred you up 
against me, let him accept an offering. But if it is the children 
of men, may they be cursed before the Lord." David doesn't even 
suggest that this wretchedness has come from Saul's heart. He 
is simply probing Saul. He's trying to get Saul to examine 
the situation. First by asserting his innocence, 
and then by suggesting, or by asking, is this from the Lord? Has the Lord stirred you up in 
this regard? If it is from the Lord, perhaps 
He'll accept an offering, so I can be finished with this whole 
situation. He says, if it is the children 
of men, may they be cursed before the Lord. May they be cursed 
before God. If others, Saul, have come to 
you, perhaps Doeg, the Edomite, perhaps your servants, perhaps 
others that are envious of the success of David. If they have 
come along and they have stirred you up, then may they be cursed 
of the Lord. Notice how he goes on to describe 
these children of men. If it was in fact the case that 
they were the ones responsible, if they had indeed made Way upon 
Saul's heart this would be the end result for David the end 
of verse 19 for They have driven me out this day from sharing 
in the inheritance of the Lord saying go serve other gods You 
see what David is saying here is not that if he leaves the 
confines of Israel He's going to become an idolater What he 
is acknowledging is that the inheritance, the land, Israel, 
is God's special dwelling place. David is acknowledging the necessity, 
the privilege, and the blessing of corporate worship, public 
worship. If David is driven out of Israel, 
if it is, as it were, the children of men saying, go serve other 
gods, go join the Canaanites, what would David be sorely lacking? David would be lacking the public 
place where God is found and where God is worshipped. Robert 
Vannoy says David was not suggesting that he had no responsibility 
to remain faithful to the Lord outside of Israel. Rather, he 
was pointing out Saul's responsibility as king. What is the king of 
Israel supposed to ensure? A place where Israelites can 
worship Yahweh. And if Saul is on the hot pursuit 
of David, such that David is going to have to flee Israel, 
almost as if persons are saying, go and serve other gods, David 
sees this as a great loss and as great pain. Vannoy goes on 
to say the role of the king of Israel was to protect God's people 
in the land he had given them. So David warned Saul how far 
his regime had fallen from its divinely sanctioned purpose. If Saul, in his murderous rage, 
sends David away, he is depriving something that is most cherished 
and most special to David. It is the place where God dwells. You wouldn't imagine it, but 
there is a sermon in 1 Samuel chapter 26 on the blessed privilege 
of public worship. David doesn't want to leave the 
confines of Israel. David wants to be where the people 
of God are. David wants to be where the tabernacle 
is. David wants to be where the priesthood 
is. David wants to be where the feast 
days are. David wants to be where the sacrifices 
are presented. For David to leave Israel It 
would certainly mean the loss of family, the loss of comfort, 
the loss of privilege. But for David, the biggest loss 
of all would be leaving that place where Yahweh especially 
dwells. It truly is the mark of a godly 
man. Now notice his petition in verse 
20. So now do not let my blood fall 
to the earth before the face of the Lord, for the king of 
Israel has come out to seek a flea as when one hunts a partridge 
in the mountains. That brings us to the repentance 
of verse 21. In my notes, I have repentance 
with quotes on it there. I mean, come on, we're not really 
expected to believe that Saul is serious. David didn't believe 
it. Did he? No, David didn't believe 
it. David said, send someone over 
here to get your spear and your jug. David's not going to trot 
over near Saul. David is not going to test the 
waters once again. David has heard this song and 
dance. This is not David's first rodeo. He's already heard it in chapter 
24. Saul's already had tears. Saul's already promised that 
he wouldn't hunt him and kill him. David isn't buying it, neither 
should we. This is again a sinful, wretched 
man who is seeking to protect himself. Verse 21, then Saul 
said, I have sinned. Return my son David, for I will 
harm you no more, because my life was precious in your eyes 
this day. Indeed, I have played the fool 
and erred exceedingly. I have played the nabal. There 
was a nabal in chapter 25. There's a nabal in chapter 26. 
In many ways, the nabal in chapter 25 was typical of this supreme 
nabal, which is named Saul, who is showing himself here. Indeed, 
I have played the fool and erred exceedingly. David again responds. He doesn't trust Saul. David answered and said, here 
is the Kingspear, let one of the young men come over and get 
it. May the Lord repay every man for his righteousness and 
his faithfulness, for the Lord delivered you into my hand today, 
but I would not stretch out my hand against the Lord's anointed. David commits justice to God. And then even more importantly, 
well not more importantly, but another observation. Notice in 
verse 24, and indeed as your life was valued much this day 
in my eyes, so let my life be valued much in the eyes of the 
Lord. Saul, I've heard what you have 
to say. You have told me to return to you. I don't trust you. I 
don't hope in you. My hope and my trust are in Yahweh. So let my life be valued much 
in the eyes of the Lord." It's not Saul's favor that David is 
courting. It's not Saul's approbation. 
It is God's approval. It is God's deliverance. It is 
God's protection that David is desirous of. And at the end of 
verse 24, "...and let him deliver me." out of all tribulation. And then the final words by Saul 
to David, Saul said to David, may you be blessed my son, David, 
you shall both do great things and also still prevail. Now there's 
an instance in the New Testament where Caiaphas makes a prophecy 
concerning the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. He spoke better 
than he knew. Saul's doing the exact same thing 
here, isn't he? Saul has just made a most blessed 
pronouncement. May you be blessed, my son David. You shall both do great things 
and also still prevail. Now, we don't typically believe 
that he was sincere in what the sentiment was, but whether he 
liked it or not, that is essentially what would happen. as far as 
David is concerned. David would be blessed, David 
would do great things, and David would in fact prevail. So David 
went on his way and Saul returned to his place. Now in conclusion, 
a few lessons and then we'll close. In the first place, as 
1 Samuel does throughout, it certainly does in chapter 26, 
it sets before us the providence of God. recognized by David, 
verse 10. It is demonstrated by God in 
verse 12. It is the means by which God 
preserves his servants. And it is the means by which 
God governs all his creatures and all their actions. Someone 
prayed tonight, Steve prayed, that God knows the very hairs 
on our head. He doesn't count them, he doesn't 
have to number them, he doesn't say, uh-oh, he hasn't had a haircut 
lately, it's going to make it more difficult to determine just 
what I'm dealing with. That's not the way our God operates. 
He is absolutely and comprehensively sovereign. All things are under 
his control. All things are at his disposal. And guess what? He loves his 
children. He loves his elect. He loves 
those for whom Jesus died. This is the basis upon which 
the believer takes great comfort in texts like Romans 8.28. The 
believer rejoices in the reality that our sovereign God does cause 
all things to work for good. David saw it. David was a man 
who had a life full of trials, a life full of afflictions, a 
life full of issues and troubles and difficulties. Later on in 
his career, he can say, and the Lord has delivered me from it 
all. Brethren, this is not confined 
to David, king of Israel. We are not David, king of Israel. 
We do not have the same sort of prestige in terms of redemptive 
history that David does, but this providence of God extends 
to all of his elect, to each and every one of us in every 
trial or difficulty. In whatever mysterious way he 
performs his wonders and every frowning providence, he hides 
a smiling face for his people. Remember that the providence 
of God is never an excuse or us rather waiting on the providence 
of God is never an excuse for us to suspend obedience to God. I'm just waiting on the Lord. 
Well, do what God says while you're waiting. It's almost like, 
you know, I'm gonna lay something before the Lord and I'm gonna 
go check out. I'm just gonna wait till I get 
this answer. That's not what David did. Abishai's probably 
got an itch. He didn't have an itchy trigger 
finger because it wasn't a gun. But he had an itchy hand. I mean, 
he's got the spirit in his hand, and Saul's melon is right there. 
Abishai's ready to go. Abishai says, one shot. I don't 
have to poke him several times. I am going to make sure he is 
done. And David says, no. We gotta 
do what God says. I cannot touch the Lord's anointed. Brethren, I really believe that 
sometimes, as believers, we find the wrong comfort in the providence 
of God. Certainly find comfort in the 
providence of God, but when that providence or our understanding 
of that providence keeps us from doing what we know the will of 
the Lord is, then we have messed up and we need to repent. We 
always obey the will of God. In the second place we see in 
1st Samuel 26 the progress of the kingdom. Remember at the 
end of chapter 19 when the Spirit rushed upon Saul and he prophesied. And then he took off his clothes 
and he was naked. Again, not completely naked, 
but he divested himself of his royal robes. That was symbolic. That was emblematic. That was 
a token of what's going to happen. When we get to En-Gedi, what 
does David do? He cuts off the corner of Saul's 
robe. Remember back in chapter 15, 
that was an indicator or a sign that the kingdom was being stripped 
from Saul. David knew this in chapter 24. Now David goes after the spear. The seizure of the spear demonstrates 
the transfer of kingly authority. This is all emblem, symbol, token 
for us, the reader, to see God's purposes unfolding in the decline 
of Saul and in the rise of David. And then the final words of Saul 
do the very same thing. We know what manner of wretch 
Saul has been, but we know as well that what Saul speaks at 
the end of the chapter is accurate. It is true. Vannoy says that 
Saul's words at the end of the chapter are, in effect, his concession 
speech to David and his acknowledgment that his attempt to prevent David 
from acceding to the throne of Israel has failed. Now, he didn't 
see it that way, most likely. He didn't voice it out of that 
concern, most likely. But we see it that way. We know 
what God's doing. Saul will be removed, and it's 
in one of the three ways that David specifies in verse 10. In the third place, I've alluded 
to this, the longing for corporate worship. David doesn't want to 
leave the inheritance of the Lord. Notice in verse 19, the 
language that is used. He says, for they have driven 
me out this day from sharing in the inheritance of the Lord, 
saying, go serve other gods. Again, what's the implication? 
Israel is the inheritance of the Lord, and that is the place 
where you serve the Lord. To leave Israel means to serve 
Chemosh, to serve Baal, to serve Asherah, to serve Mammon. Now 
notice in verse 20, so now do not let my blood fall on the 
earth before the face of the Lord. What's the implication 
there? Israel, this inheritance, this 
land, this place is before the face of the Lord. This is where 
God's special presence dwells. John Gill comments, for they 
have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of 
the Lord, meaning not from his own house and family, nor from 
the palace of Saul, but from the land of Canaan the Lord had 
given to his people Israel for an inheritance, and from the 
worship of God in it, which made it dear and precious to him. This is what David is saying 
in verses 19 and 20. Don't kick me out of the church. 
Don't drive me from the people of God. Don't drive me from the 
altar. Don't remove me from the priesthood. Don't keep me from the sacrificial 
system. Davis, this is a lengthy comment 
or a lengthy quote, but he makes the point. He says, didn't David 
know what every enlightened Christian knows? That you can pray and 
commune with God anywhere? In other words, David, if Saul 
is effectual in driving you out into another land, Don't you 
know you can have private communion there? Don't you know you can 
pray there? God's not confined to Israel. God the Lord can hear you over 
here. He says apparently the writer 
of Psalm 63, 139 and 142 was well aware of that. David knew that wherever he was, 
he had the voice, or he had the ear, rather, of God. He says, 
but David was more enlightened than many enlightened Christians. 
He knew that to be cut off from Yahweh's inheritance, verse 19, 
was to be cut off from Yahweh's face, verse 20, that when one 
had left Israel, there was no possibility of public worship. That's beautiful. He says, this 
is not the place to sketch a biblical theology of worship. Suffice 
it to say that David would have made a poor space-age evangelical. He would have never been content 
with his study Bible prayer list in a quiet cave. Yahweh's face 
or presence was especially seen in the sanctuary. Psalm 63, 2. 
Yet David was being driven away and cut off from tabernacle and 
sacrifice, from priest and festival. He was being shot out of the 
land and sanctuary where Yahweh met with his people. To be cut 
off from the ordinances of public worship is David's most severe 
grief. He says, would that cause me 
anguish? Christians have surpassed David 
in privileges, but few have approached him in appetite. He's right. I think he's 100% right. David longed for the sanctuary. David longed for the place where 
God's people are. David wrote that God loves the 
gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob. God 
the Lord delights in his corporate people gathering together. God 
the Lord delights when Zion is convened and when the people 
are worshiping and praising collectively and in the church setting. David did not want to lose that 
blessed, glorious privilege. And then in the final place, 
the typological significance of David. We have seen constantly 
that David is a type of David's greater son. David did not retaliate 
when pursued by godless men, did he? I mean, there's no way 
you can, I mean, obviously when we see the situation in Nabal 
in chapter 25, we thank God the Lord for his providence in sending 
a savior in skirts, specifically Abigail, who spoke to him, and 
by God's grace, he was restrained. But here in chapter 26, David 
is a man that is not going to retaliate, just like Jesus. When 
he was reviled, what happened? He reviled not. He didn't pay 
back. He didn't go tit for tat. He 
would not do well. I'm not saying he wouldn't do 
well, but he wouldn't be the guy on the blog comment section 
that would continue to banter back and forth with everybody. 
That was just not the way Jesus conducted himself. When he was 
reviled, he reviled not. As well, David did not seek his 
deliverance from Saul, but he entrusted himself to God. Isn't that precisely what Jesus 
does in His earthly ministry? From cradle to grave, He is submissive 
to the will of His Father, and He trusts in the power of God 
the Father to keep Him, to deliver Him, to see Him through the various 
things that He must go through. Well, let us pray. Our Father, 
we thank You for the Word of God, we thank You for these lessons 
that we learn in 1 Samuel, I pray that you would give us grace 
to receive these things with thanksgiving, to acknowledge 
your providence, to live in light of your providence, to live in 
obedience to the Word of God. When you say to do something, 
help us, Lord, to be obedient and compliant. As well, Father, 
may we value and prize and treasure the public worship of God. the 
way that we know that David did, the way that he wrote about in 
the Psalms, the way that the church practiced in the early 
chapters in the book of Acts. Give us grace, Lord God, to have 
that spiritual appetite and that yearning and that longing. And 
we pray that as we gather as a church on the Lord's Day, that 
you would be in our midst, that we would know your nearness and 
your presence, that our worship wouldn't be external and formal, 
but it would be in spirit and in truth, that God would be worshiped 
and glorified, that God would be present with his people. We 
ask that you would go with us now, watch over us in the remainder 
of this week, and we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.