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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>F I R S T S A M U E L</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXIV.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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We have hitherto had Saul seeking an opportunity to destroy David, and,
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to his shame, he could never find it. In this chapter David had a fair
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opportunity to destroy Saul, and, to his honour, he did not make use of
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it; and his sparing Saul's life was as great an instance of God's grace
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in him as the preserving of his own life was of God's providence over
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him. Observe,
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I. How maliciously Saul sought David's life,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:1,2">ver. 1, 2</A>.
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II. How generously David saved Saul's life (when he had him at an
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advantage) and only cut off the skirt of his robe,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:3-8">ver. 3-8</A>.
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III. How pathetically he reasoned with Saul, upon this to bring him to
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a better temper towards him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:9-15">ver. 9-15</A>.
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IV. The good impression this made upon Saul for the present,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:16-22">ver. 16-22</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="1Sa24_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa24_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa24_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa24_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa24_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa24_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa24_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa24_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>David Spares Saul in the Cave.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1057.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following
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the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David <I>is</I>
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in the wilderness of Engedi.
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2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel,
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and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild
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goats.
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3 And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where <I>was</I> a cave;
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and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men
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remained in the sides of the cave.
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4 And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into
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thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto
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thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe
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privily.
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5 And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him,
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because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
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6 And he said unto his men, The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> forbid that I should do
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this thing unto my master, the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>'s anointed, to stretch forth
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mine hand against him, seeing he <I>is</I> the anointed of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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7 So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered
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them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave,
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and went on <I>his</I> way.
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8 David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and
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cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked
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behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed
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himself.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here,
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I. Saul renews his pursuit of David,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:1,2"><I>v.</I> 1, 2</A>.
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No sooner had he come home safely from chasing the Philistines, in
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which it should seem he had good success, than he enquired after David
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to do him a mischief, and resolved to have another thrust at him, <I>as
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if he had been delivered to do all these abominations,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+7:10">Jer. vii. 10</A>.
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By the frequent incursions of the Philistines, he might have seen how
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necessary it was to recall David from his banishment and restore him to
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his place in the army again; but so far is he from doing this that now
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more than ever he is exasperated against him, and, hearing that he is
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<I>in the wilderness of En-gedi,</I> he draws out 3000 choice men, and
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goes with them at his feet in pursuit of him <I>upon the rocks of the
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wild goats,</I> where, one would think, David should not have been
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envied a habitation nor Saul desirous of disturbing him; for what harm
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could he fear from one who was no better accommodated? But it is not
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enough for Saul that David is thus cooped up; he cannot be easy while
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he is alive.</P>
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<P>
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II. Providence brings Saul alone into the same cave wherein David and
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his men had hidden themselves,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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In those countries there were very large caves in the sides of the
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rocks or mountains, partly natural, but probably much enlarged by art
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for the sheltering of sheep from the heat of the sun; hence we read of
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places where the flocks did rest at noon
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+1:7">Cant. i. 7</A>),
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and this cave seems to be spoken of as one of the sheep-cotes. In the
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sides of this cave David and his men remained, perhaps not all his men,
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the whole 600, but only some few of his particular friends, the rest
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being disposed of in similar retirements. Saul, passing by, turned in
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himself alone, not in search of David (for, supposing him to be an
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aspiring ambitious man, he thought to find him rather climbing with the
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wild goats upon the rocks than retiring with the sheep into a cave),
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but thither he turned aside to <I>cover his feet,</I> that is, to sleep
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awhile, it being a cool and quiet place, and very refreshing in the
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heat of the day; probably he ordered his attendants to march before,
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reserving only a very few to wait for him at the mouth of the cave.
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Some by the covering of the feet understand the easing of nature, and
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think that this was Saul's errand into the cave: but the former
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interpretation is more probable.</P>
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<P>
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III. David's servants stir him up to kill Saul now that he has so fair
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an opportunity to do it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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They reminded him that this was the day which he had long looked for,
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and of which God had spoken to him in general when he was anointed to
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the kingdom, which should put a period to his troubles and open the
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passage to his advancement. Saul now lay at his mercy, and it was easy
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to imagine how little mercy he would find with Saul and therefore what
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little reason he had to show mercy to him. "By all means" (say his
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servants) "give him the fatal blow now." See how apt we are to
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misunderstand,
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1. The promises of God. God had assured David that he would deliver him
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from Saul, and his men interpret this as a warrant to destroy Saul.
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2. The providences of God. Because it was now in his power to kill
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him, they concluded he might lawfully do it.</P>
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<P>
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IV. David <I>cut off the skirt of his robe,</I> but soon repented that
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he had done this: <I>His heart smote him</I> for it
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>);
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though it did Saul no real hurt, and served David for a proof that it
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was in his power to have killed him
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>),
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yet, because it was an affront to Saul's royal dignity, he wished he
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had not done it. Note, It is a good thing to have a heart within us
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smiting us for sins that seem little; it is a sign that conscience is
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awake and tender, and will be the means of preventing greater sins.</P>
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<P>
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V. He reasons strongly both with himself and with his servants against
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doing Saul any hurt.
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1. He reasons with himself
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
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<I>The Lord forbid that I should do this thing.</I> Note, Sin is a
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thing which it becomes us to startle at, and to resist the temptations
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to, not only with resolution, but with a holy indignation. He
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considered Saul now, not as his enemy, and the only person that stood
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in the way of his preferment (for then he would be induced to hearken
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to the temptation), but as God's anointed (that is, the person whom God
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had appointed to reign as long as he lived, and who, as such, was under
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the particular protection of the divine law), and as his master, to
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whom he was obliged to be faithful. Let servants and subjects learn
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hence to be dutiful and loyal, whatever hardships are put upon them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+2:18">1 Pet. ii. 18</A>.
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2. He reasons with his servants: <I>He suffered them not to rise
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against Saul,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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He would not only not do this evil thing himself, but he would not
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suffer those about him to do it. Thus did he render good for evil to
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him from whom he had received evil for good, and was herein both a type
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of Christ, who saved his persecutors, and an example to all Christians
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not to be <I>overcome of evil, but to overcome evil with good.</I></P>
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<P>
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VI. He followed Saul out of the cave, and, though he would not take the
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opportunity to slay him, yet he wisely took the opportunity, if
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possible, to slay his enmity, by convincing him that he was not such a
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man as he took him for.
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1. Even in showing his head now he testified that he had an honourable
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opinion of Saul. He had too much reason to believe that, let him say
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what he would, Saul would immediately be the death of him as soon as he
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saw him, and yet he bravely lays aside that jealousy, and thinks Saul
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so much a man of sense as to hear his reasoning when he had so much to
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say in his own vindication and such fresh and sensible proofs to give
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of his own integrity.
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2. His behaviour was very respectful: He <I>stooped with his face to
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the earth, and bowed himself,</I> giving honour to whom honour was due,
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and teaching us to order ourselves lowly and reverently to all our
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superiors, even to those that have been most injurious to us.</P>
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<A NAME="1Sa24_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa24_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa24_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa24_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa24_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa24_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa24_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>David Expostulates with Saul.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1057.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>9 And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words,
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saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?
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10 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> had
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delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and <I>some</I> bade
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<I>me</I> kill thee: but <I>mine eye</I> spared thee; and I said, I will
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not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he <I>is</I> the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>'s
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anointed.
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11 Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in
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my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed
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thee not, know thou and see that <I>there is</I> neither evil nor
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transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee;
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yet thou huntest my soul to take it.
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12 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> judge between me and thee, and the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> avenge me
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of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
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13 As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth
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from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
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14 After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost
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thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
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15 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee,
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and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here David's warm and pathetic speech to Saul, wherein he
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endeavours to convince him that he did him a great deal of wrong in
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persecuting him thus and to persuade him therefore to be
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reconciled.</P>
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<P>
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I. He calls him <I>father</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>),
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for he was not only, as king, the father of his country, but he was, in
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particular, his father-in-law. From a father one may expect compassion
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and a favourable opinion. For a prince to seek the ruin of any of his
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good subjects is as unnatural as for a father to seek the ruin of his
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own children.</P>
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<P>
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II. He lays the blame of his rage against him upon his evil
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counsellors: <I>Wherefore hearest thou men's words?</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
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It is a piece of respect due to crowned heads, if they do amiss, to
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charge it upon those about them, who either advised them to it or
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should have advised them against it. David had reason enough to think
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that Saul persecuted him purely from his own envy and malice, yet he
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courteously supposes that others put him on to do it, and made him
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believe that David was his enemy and sought his hurt. Satan, the great
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accuser of the brethren, has his agents in all places, and particularly
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in the courts of those princes that encourage them and give ear to
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them, who make it their business to represent the people of God as
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enemies to Caesar and hurtful to kings and provinces, that, being thus
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dressed up in bear-skins, they may "be baited."</P>
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<P>
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III. He solemnly protests his own innocence, and that he is far from
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designing any hurt or mischief to Saul: "<I>There is neither evil nor
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transgression in my hand,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
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I am not chargeable with any crime, nor conscious of any guilt, and,
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had I a window in my breast, thou mightest through it see the sincerity
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of my heart in this protestation: <I>I have not sinned against thee</I>
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(however I have sinned against God), <I>yet thou huntest my soul,</I>"
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that is, "my life." Perhaps it was about this time that David penned
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the seventh psalm, concerning the affair of Cush the Benjamite (that
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is, Saul, as some think), wherein he thus appeals to God
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:3-5"><I>v.</I> 3-5</A>):
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<I>If there be iniquity in my hands, then let the enemy persecute my
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soul and take it,</I> putting in a parenthesis, with reference to the
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story of this chapter, <I>Yea, I have delivered him that without cause
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is my enemy.</I></P>
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<P>
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IV. He produces undeniable evidence to prove the falsehood of the
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suggestion upon which Saul's malice against him was grounded. David was
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charged with seeking Saul's hurt: "<I>See,</I>" says he, "<I>yea, see
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the skirt of thy robe,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
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Let this be a witness for me, and an unexceptionable witness it is; had
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that been true of which I am accused, I should now have had thy head in
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my hand and not the skirt of thy robe, for I could as easily have cut
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off that as this." To corroborate this evidence he shows him,
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1. That God's providence had given him opportunity to do it: <I>The
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lord delivered thee,</I> very surprisingly, <I>to day into my hand,</I>
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whence many a one would have gathered an intimation that it was the
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will of God he should now give the determining blow to him whose neck
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lay so fair for it. When Saul had but a very small advantage against
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David he cried out, <I>God has delivered him into my hand</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:7"><I>ch.</I> xxiii. 7</A>),
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and resolved to make the best of that advantage; but David did not so.
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2. That his counsellors and those about him had earnestly besought him
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to do it: <I>Some bade me kill thee.</I> He had blamed Saul for
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hearkening to men's words and justly; "for," says he, "if I had done
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so, thou wouldest not have been alive now."
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3. That it was upon a good principle that he refused to do it; not
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because Saul's attendants were at hand, who, it may be, would have
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avenged his death; no, it was not by the fear of them, but by the fear
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|
of God, that he was restrained from it. "He is my lord, and the Lord's
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anointed, whom I ought to protect, and to whom I owe faith and
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allegiance, and therefore I said, I will not touch a hair of his head."
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Such a happy command he had of himself that his nature, in the midst of
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the greatest provocation, was not suffered to rebel against his
|
|
principles.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
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|
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V. He declares it to be his fixed resolution never to be his own
|
|
avenger: "<I>The Lord avenge me of thee,</I> that is, deliver me out of
|
|
thy hand; but, whatever comes of it, <I>my hand shall not be upon
|
|
thee</I>"
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
and again
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>),
|
|
|
|
for <I>saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from
|
|
the wicked.</I> The wisdom of the ancients is transmitted to posterity
|
|
by their proverbial sayings. Many such we receive by tradition from our
|
|
fathers; and the counsels of common persons are very much directed by
|
|
this, "As the old saying is." Here is one that was in use in David's
|
|
time: <I>Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked,</I> that is,
|
|
|
|
1. Men's own iniquity will ruin them at last, so some understand it.
|
|
Forward furious men will cut their own throats with their own knives.
|
|
Give them rope enough, and they will hang themselves. In this sense it
|
|
comes in very fitly as a reason why <I>his hand should not be upon
|
|
him.</I>
|
|
|
|
2. Bad men will do bad things; according as men's principles and
|
|
dispositions are, so will their actions be. This also agrees very well
|
|
with the connexion. If David had been a wicked man, as he was
|
|
represented, he would have done this wicked thing; but he durst not,
|
|
because of the fear of God. Or thus: Whatever injuries bad men do us
|
|
(which we are not to wonder at; he that lies among thorns must expect
|
|
to be scratched), yet we must not return them; never render railing for
|
|
railing. Though <I>wickedness proceed from the wicked,</I> yet let it
|
|
not therefore proceed from us by way of retaliation. Though the dog
|
|
bark at the sheep, the sheep does not bark at the dog. See
|
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+32:6-8">Isa. xxxii. 6-8</A>.</P>
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|
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|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VI. He endeavours to convince Saul that as it was a bad thing, so it
|
|
was a mean thing, for him to give chase to such an inconsiderable
|
|
person as he was
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Whom does the king of Israel pursue</I> with all this care and
|
|
force? <I>A dead dog; a flea; one flea,</I> so it is in the Hebrew. It
|
|
is below so great a king to enter the lists with one that is so unequal
|
|
a match for him, one of his own servants, bred a poor shepherd, now an
|
|
exile, neither able nor willing to make any resistance. To conquer him
|
|
would not be to his honour, to attempt it was his disparagement. If
|
|
Saul would consult his own reputation, he would slight such an enemy
|
|
(supposing he were really his enemy) and would think himself in no
|
|
danger from him. David was so far from aspiring that he was, in his own
|
|
account, as a dead dog. Mephibosheth thus calls himself,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+9:8">2 Sam. ix. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
This humble language would have wrought upon Saul if he had had any
|
|
spark of generosity in him. <I>Satis est prostrasse leoni--Enough for
|
|
the lion that he has laid his victim low.</I> What credit would it be
|
|
to Saul to trample upon a dead dog? What pleasure could it be to him
|
|
to hunt a flea, a single flea, which (as some have observed), if it be
|
|
sought, is not easily found, if it be found, is not easily caught, and,
|
|
if it be caught, is a poor prize, especially for a prince. <I>Aquila
|
|
non captat muscas--The eagle does not dart upon flies.</I> David thinks
|
|
Saul had no more reason to fear him than to fear a flea-bite.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VII. He once and again appeals to God as the righteous Judge
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:12,15"><I>v.</I> 12 and <I>v.</I> 15</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>The Lord judge between me and thee.</I> Note, The justice of God is
|
|
the refuge and comfort of oppressed innocence. If men wrong us, God
|
|
will right us, at furthest, in the judgment of the great day. With him
|
|
David leaves his cause, and so rests satisfied, waiting his time to
|
|
appear for him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa24_16"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa24_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa24_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa24_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa24_20"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa24_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa24_22"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Saul Relents at David's Reproof.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1057.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>16 And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking
|
|
these words unto Saul, that Saul said, <I>Is</I> this thy voice, my
|
|
son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
|
|
17 And he said to David, Thou <I>art</I> more righteous than I: for
|
|
thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.
|
|
18 And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well
|
|
with me: forasmuch as when the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> had delivered me into thine
|
|
hand, thou killedst me not.
|
|
19 For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away?
|
|
wherefore the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> reward thee good for that thou hast done unto
|
|
me this day.
|
|
20 And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king,
|
|
and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine
|
|
hand.
|
|
21 Swear now therefore unto me by the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, that thou wilt not
|
|
cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name
|
|
out of my father's house.
|
|
22 And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and
|
|
his men gat them up unto the hold.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here we have,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. Saul's penitent reply to David's speech. It was strange that he had
|
|
patience to hear him out, considering how outrageous he was against
|
|
him, and how cutting David's discourse was. But God restrained him and
|
|
his men; and we may suppose Saul struck with amazement at the
|
|
singularity of the event, and much more when he found how much he had
|
|
lain at David's mercy. His heart must have been harder than a stone if
|
|
this had not affected him.
|
|
|
|
1. He melted into tears, and we will not suppose them to have been
|
|
counterfeit but real expressions of his present concern at the sight of
|
|
his own iniquity, so plainly proved upon him. He speaks as one quite
|
|
overcome with David's kindness: <I>Is this thy voice, my son David?</I>
|
|
And, as one that relented at the thought of his own folly and
|
|
ingratitude, he <I>lifted up his voice and wept,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
Many mourn for their sins that do not truly repent of them, weep
|
|
bitterly for them, and yet continue in love and league with them.
|
|
|
|
2. He ingenuously acknowledges David's integrity and his own iniquity
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Thou art more righteous than I.</I> Now God made good to David that
|
|
word on which he had caused him to hope, that he would <I>bring forth
|
|
his righteousness as the light,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+37:6">Ps. xxxvii. 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
Those who take care to keep a good conscience may leave it to God to
|
|
secure them the credit of it. This fair confession was enough to prove
|
|
David innocent (even his enemy himself being judge), but not enough to
|
|
prove Saul himself a true penitent. He should have said, <I>Thou are
|
|
righteous, but I am wicked;</I> but the utmost he will own is this:
|
|
<I>Thou art more righteous than I.</I> Bad men will commonly go no
|
|
further than this in their confessions; they will own they are not so
|
|
good as some others are; there are those that are better than they, and
|
|
more righteous. He now owns himself under a mistake concerning David
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>Thou hast shown this day</I> that thou art so far from seeking my
|
|
hurt <I>that thou hast dealt well with me.</I>" We are too apt to
|
|
suspect others to be worse affected towards us then really they are,
|
|
and than perhaps they are proved to be; and when, afterwards, our
|
|
mistake is discovered, we should be forward to recall our suspicions,
|
|
as Saul does here.
|
|
|
|
3. He prays God to recompense David for this his generous kindness to
|
|
him. He owns that David's sparing him, when he had him in his power,
|
|
was an uncommon and unparalleled instance of tenderness to an enemy; no
|
|
man would have done the like; and therefore, either because he thought
|
|
himself not able to give him a full recompence for so great a favour,
|
|
or because he found himself not inclined to give him any recompence at
|
|
all, he turns him over to God for his pay: <I>The Lord reward thee
|
|
good,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
Poor beggars can do no less than pray for their benefactors, and Saul
|
|
did no more.
|
|
|
|
4. He prophesies his advancement to the throne
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>):
|
|
|
|
I <I>know well that thou shalt surely be king.</I> He knew it before,
|
|
by the promise Samuel had made him of it compared with the excellent
|
|
spirit that appeared in David, which highly aggravated his sin and
|
|
folly in persecuting him as he did; he had as much reason to say
|
|
concerning David as David concerning him, <I>How can I put forth my
|
|
hand against the Lord's anointed?</I> But now he knew it by the
|
|
interest he found David had in the people, the special providence of
|
|
God in protecting him, and the generous kingly spirit he had now given
|
|
a proof of in sparing his enemy. Now he knew it, that is, now that he
|
|
was in a good temper he was willing to own that he knew it and to
|
|
submit to the conviction of it. Note, Sooner or later, God will force
|
|
even those that are of the synagogue of Satan to know and own those
|
|
that he has loved, and to worship before their feet; for so is the
|
|
promise,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:9">Rev. iii. 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
This acknowledgement which Saul made of David's incontestable title to
|
|
the crown was a great encouragement to David himself and a support to
|
|
his faith and hope.
|
|
|
|
5. He binds David with an oath hereafter to show the same tenderness of
|
|
his seed and of his name as he had now shown of his person,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
David had more reason to oblige Saul by an oath that he would not
|
|
destroy him, yet he insists not on that (if the laws of justice and
|
|
honour would not bind him, an oath would not), but Saul knew David to
|
|
be a conscientious man, and would think his interests safe if he could
|
|
get them secured by his oath. Saul by his disobedience had ruined his
|
|
own soul, and never took care by repentance to prevent that ruin, and
|
|
yet is very solicitous that his name might not be destroyed nor his
|
|
seed cut off. However, <I>David swore unto him,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
Though he might be tempted, not only in revenge, but in prudence, to
|
|
extirpate Saul's family, yet he binds himself not to do it, knowing
|
|
that God could and would establish the kingdom to him and his, without
|
|
the use of such bloody methods. This oath he afterwards religiously
|
|
observed; he supported Mephibosheth, and executed those as traitors
|
|
that slew Ishbosheth. The hanging up of seven of Saul's posterity, to
|
|
atone for the destruction of the Gibeonites, was God's appointment, not
|
|
David's act, and therefore not the violation of this oath.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Their parting in peace.
|
|
|
|
1. Saul, for the present, desisted from the persecution. He went home
|
|
convinced, but not converted; ashamed of his envy of David, yet
|
|
retaining in his breast that root of bitterness; vexed that, when at
|
|
last he had found David, he could not at that time find in his heart to
|
|
destroy him, as he had designed. God has many ways to tie the hands of
|
|
persecutors, when he does not turn their hearts.
|
|
|
|
2. David continued to shift for his own safety. He knew Saul too well
|
|
to trust him, and therefore <I>got him up into the hold.</I> It is
|
|
dangerous venturing upon the mercy of a reconciled enemy. We read of
|
|
those who believed in Christ, and yet he <I>did not commit himself to
|
|
them because he knew all men.</I> Those that like David are innocent as
|
|
doves must thus like him be <I>wise as serpents.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
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