An Obedient Heart

No matter how many times Saul pursued David with intent to kill him, David never turned his hand against the Lord's anointed King. What gave David the strength to obey God amidst such adversity? And what can give us strength when we face difficulty in our own lives? In this message from 1 Samuel 26, we see four times when it is difficult to obey God and the one thing that that makes all the difference!

Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding himself on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the east of Jeshimon?”  

So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph with three thousand chosen men of Israel (3,000 soldiers!) to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul encamped on the hill of Hachilah, which is beside the road on the east of Jeshimon. But David remained in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness, David sent out spies and learned that Saul had indeed come.  

So David and Abishai went to the army (Saul’s Army) by night. And there lay Saul sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the army lay around him. Then Abishai said to David, “God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear I will not need to strike him twice.”

Then Abishai said to David, “God has given your enemy into your hand this day.”

No man saw it or knew it, (they didn’t know they were in camp) nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen upon them.

But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?” And David said, “As the LORD lives, the LORD will strike him: his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish. The LORD forbid that I should put out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.”

Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” 

Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake.” 

And David answered and said, “Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and take it. The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the LORD gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the LORD, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation.”

As the LORD lives, the LORD will strike him. Either his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish.

The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the LORD gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the LORD, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation.”

- 1 Samuel 26