"So David took the spear and water jug near Saul's head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep. Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them." (1 Samuel 26:12-13) We were told in verse 3 of our chapter that Saul's camp was by the side of the road, so after David takes the spear and water jug he goes back across the road and climbs a hill from which he can face the camp while still being at a distance from it.
"He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, 'Aren't you going to answer me, Abner?' Abner replied, 'Who are you who calls to the king?'" (1 Samuel 26:14) The supernatural slumber the Lord sent upon the men dissipated as soon as David got away from the camp. Now Abner, the commander of Saul's army, and the other men immediately wake up at the sound of David's voice. It's still dark out and they can't see him but they can hear him. Abner is not as familiar with David's voice as Saul is and he does not recognize it. He says, "Who is this? What do you mean by disturbing the king's sleep?"
David knows it was because of the Lord that no one woke up while he and Abishai were in the camp but he takes this opportunity to taunt the army commander for not protecting the king. "David said, 'You're a man, aren't you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn't you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy the lord your king. What you have done is not good. As surely as the Lord lives, you and your men must die, because you did not guard your master, the Lord's anointed. Look around you. Where are the king's spear and water jug that were near his head?'" (1 Samuel 26:15-16)
There appears to be some animosity between the two men, perhaps because Abner has taken Saul's side in the absence of any proof that David has conspired against the king. Or perhaps, as an army general, Abner was jealous of David's victories on the battlefield and the fame that came along with such victories. If that's the case then Abner was likely quite pleased when Saul accused David of a treasonous plot and declared him worthy of the death penalty. Abner may have been enjoying the fact that David is on the run and can no longer lead any of Saul's troops in battle. David calls out to him and asks, "What kind of man are you? What kind of general are you? If you're supposed to be the best of the best, why didn't you protect your master? He'd be dead right now if I'd wanted him dead. The fact that he's still alive is no thanks to you. It's due only to my integrity that the king still lives."
Saul is awake enough now to have his wits about him. He knows David's voice. This is the voice of the man who vowed to kill Goliath in the name of the Lord. This is the voice of the man who commanded Saul's troops on many successful mission. This is the voice of the man who sang songs to the king when he was in his melancholy moods. This is the voice of the man who spoke wedding vows to the king's daughter. This is the voice of the man who used to dine at the king's table. "Saul recognized David's voice and said, 'Is that your voice, David my son?'" (1 Samuel 26:17a) David is no longer Saul's son-in-law, Saul having unlawfully dissolved the marriage between David and Michal while David has been forced to live in exile. But he calls David "my son", either in honor of their previous familial relationship or in the fatherly tone an older man might use when addressing a younger man.
David appeals to Saul to stop the madness. Surely he can see by now that David has no designs on his life. "David replied, 'Yes it is, my lord the king.' And he added, 'Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of? Now let my lord the king listen to his servant's words. If the Lord has incited you against me, then may He accept an offering. If, however, people have done it, may they be cursed before the Lord! They have driven me today from my share in the Lord's inheritance and have said, 'Go, serve other gods.' Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the Lord. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea---as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.'" (1 Samuel 26:17b-20) He tells Saul, "If I sin against the Lord, He accepts repentance and offerings for atonement. He would not command you to hunt me down and kill me, so if you think you've received such a command, it's an invention of your own mind. And if our fellow man has been claiming to you that I'm plotting to kill you, it's a lie and you must not believe it. You know me to be a better man than that! I'm not guilty of doing you any harm and yet I've been driven from my home, from my family, from my work, and from being able to worship at the Lord's house in Israel. I'm the one who has been wronged! May the Lord judge my enemies."
As on the other occasion when David could have taken Saul's life and didn't, Saul is able in this moment to clearly see how much he has wronged David. "Then Saul said, 'I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have been terribly wrong.'" (1 Samuel 26:21) Is this a sincere and lasting repentance? I am not sure we can come to a definite conclusion because the Bible never mentions Saul and David having any further contact with each other. David will refuse to return with Saul to Gibeah, and who can blame him for that? David will move even further away from Saul in the coming days, living among Israel's enemies the Philistines. Saul will be so busy trying to repel repeated invasions by the Philistines that he won't have time to track David down. If David had been more easily within Saul's grasp, and if Saul had not been otherwise occupied, we would have been able to tell by Saul's actions whether or not he has truly and permanently stopped trying to harm David. I hope Saul's apology was sincere and that he never would have tried to lift a finger against David again, and I hope Saul got his heart right with the Lord sometime between Chapter 26 and the end of his life, but until we too have gone on to meet our Maker we will probably never know for sure.
David, like us, doesn't know whether Saul's repentance in this matter is permanent. But he knows the Lord knows and so he is going to leave Saul---and any judgment of Saul---in His hands. "'Here is the king's spear,' David answered. 'Let one of your young men come over and get it. The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord's anointed. As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord deliver my life and deliver me from all trouble.' Then Saul said to David, 'May you be blessed, David my son; you will do great things and surely triumph.' So David went on his way, and Saul returned home." (1 Samuel 26:22-25)
The Lord knows who loves Him and who does not. The Lord knows who wants to do right and who does not. We can trust Him to reward faithfulness and to judge wickedness. We aren't always in a position to vindicate ourselves and clear our good names, but the Lord is. The Lord will sort things out on our behalf, rewarding us for our faithfulness and love toward Him, disciplining those who have done us wrong.
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