Mercy, honor and fear of the LORD

1 Samuel 24

The twenty-fourth chapter is about mercy, honor and fear of the LORD, for God had delivered King Saul into David’s hands.  It is all taking place in a cave near Wildgoats Rock, and Saul needed to relieve himself.  This is a special God moment for David and his men who are hiding in the innermost part of the cave while Saul is taking care of business.  Scripture gives this account; “And the men of David said to him, “Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul's robe. And afterward, David's heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul's robe. He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord's anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord's anointed.” So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.”

Have you ever wondered what class and honor look like?  Then read verses 8-15, “Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage. And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm’? Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord's anointed.’ See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it. May, the Lord judge between you and me, may the Lord avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you. As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness.’ But my hand shall not be against you. After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea! May the Lord, therefore, be judge and give sentence between me and you, and see to it and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand.”

Now there are other messages we can take from these verses, but none more significant than trust, David trusted the Lord to protect him, Saul is outside of the cave with three thousand of the best fighting men in all of Israel.  And once David has exposed his hiding place he and his 400 to 600 men are as good as dead, “But God.” 

What does a King whose life has been spared do; we find the answer in verses 16-22?  “As soon as David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. He said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the Lord put me into your hands. For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? So may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day? And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. Swear to me therefore by the Lord that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house.” And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.”

What an amazing lesson for you and me, it teaches us to fear the Lord, trusting in His grace and being grace givers, and allowing the Lord to fight our battles!

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice