1 Samuel 26 Devotional
by Pastor Lawrence
This is now the second time that the Ziphites have given away David’s location to King Saul, but after this information is given, they are never heard from again in Scripture. And, once again, King Saul gathers three thousand of his chosen men to try to capture and kill David. For some reason, Saul is still trusting in numbers rather than in the name of the Lord, perhaps because he knows that the Lord would not bless his endeavors. Certainly, David sees the irony in the matter that the king has sent out this great army with their many weapons of war to seek out “a single flea like one who hunts partridge in the mountains,” and then, somehow, this flea, is given the opportunity to infiltrate their camp and kill their king.
When the spies inform David of Saul’s location, he and Abishai, one of David’s mighty men who would later act as the commander of his army, went down into Saul’s camp and tiptoed past hundreds of men while they were sleeping to get to the center of the camp where Saul was lying down. When Abishai sees Saul’s spear standing next to the head of the king, he assures David that God had given his enemy into his hands and asks permission to take his life. But once again, David refuses saying, “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless?”
Thankfully, most of us have never been tempted or even had the opportunity to literally commit regicide, but, surely, this was no insignificant matter. David’s actions at this moment could change the whole course of history in Israel and set a pattern for future transitions of power. It is not that King Saul is above scrutiny as king, but David has not been granted the power or authority to bring judgment against the king. That is always a necessary distinction between righteous killing and murder. The only reason that soldiers and, at times, police officers, can take the life of another man is when they have been given authority to do so by God and by the state, but only when it is necessary. David had received no word from God giving him such authority, nor had the state of Israel granted him that power, thus for David and his companion, Abishai, it would be an act of murder to kill Saul.
Instead, David says, “As the Lord lives, the Lord will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish.” Clearly, David is looking to the Lord to render his judgment upon King Saul and is waiting for the Lord to choose the place and time of his demise, but he himself will not put out his hand against the Lord’s anointed.
Throughout history, there have been times in which ordinary people have sought to take the life of the king or other important leaders in government. Certainly Marcus Brutus and his compatriots come to mind with the assassination of Julius Caesar for the greater good of Rome. Dietrich Bonhoeffer is another man, who professed Christianity but who also believed that Hitler ought to die for the greater good. He was unsuccessful in his attempt and was executed by hanging just two weeks before the United States liberated his prison camp. However, the trial and execution of King Charles I of England is the most controversial example in history. Although some still see it as the martyrdom of an innocent man whom God placed upon the throne, others view it as an important step in democracy by putting a check upon all tyrants and tyranny. The very reason that we have presidents instead of kings in the United States is founded upon this principle that no man is above reproach.
The one factor that sets this third example apart from the others is that it was led by men who held positions of authority in England and felt that that they had a right to put the king on trial. Whether or not we agree with them, we as individual citizens never have the right to try and execute another person, and especially a king, for we have not been granted that authority by God and by the state instituted by God. Of course, both God and the state still allow individuals the right to defend themselves when attacked, but, certainly, not when an individual is asleep in their bed. Like David, we must leave vengeance unto God, for he will choose the time and the place for trial.
Again, David said, “As the Lord lives, the Lord will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish.” With the benefit of fuller revelation, we might add that although our enemy may live a full and prosperous life here on earth, there will come a day of judgment in which the Lord will settle all these matters, justifying and rewarding the righteous for their faithfulness and bringing recompense to all those who would not repent of their wickedness. In the meantime, we are called to love our enemies, to even pray for their salvation and repentance, but, if it is the Lord’s will, then, to finally bring his just judgment against them at the proper time and place.