1Sa 26:9-11 | KingComments | STEP | When David and Abishai are with Saul, Abishai speaks to David that it is God’s guidance to deal with his enemy now. Last time, when Saul came into the cave with David and his men, his men made the same proposal and with the same motivation ( ). There they said David could do whatever he wanted with Saul. It seems that Abishai learned from last time that David himself will not do it and that he therefore offers to do it. He would do it with Saul’s own spear, with the certainty that one stroke is sufficient. With great self-confidence he says that a second time will not be necessary. Would it not be a just retribution to kill Saul with the weapon with which he himself wanted to kill David several times? Would this not fulfill the Word of God that whoever digs a pit for another, falls into it himself ( )? As for Abishai’s remark that it is God’s guidance that David has Saul in his hands, there is still a lesson to be learned. In some faith communities, it is common for someone to say to another what God wants that other person to do. This can even be introduced with the words ‘thus says the Lord’, a way of saying we do not find anywhere in the New Testament regarding the church. Such a use of words can sound impressive, but it is usually manipulation and, in any case, arrogant. Someone may say that we must do something and appeal to the will of the Lord, but we must first be convinced ourselves that something is the will of the Lord. Others cannot determine for us the will of the Lord. God makes His will known to each of His own personally through His Word. By reading it ourselves, or by testing what someone else has said about it, we can get to know His will for our lives. David resists the temptation with the same argument as last time. Saul is still for him “the LORD’s anointed”. Here again we see that beautiful character trait in David that he recognizes the authority established by God. He does not look at the character of the dignitary, but at the position of the dignitary. This is an important lesson for us in our attitude toward government, to which the same applies ( ). In 1 Samuel 24 David gave the matter into the hands of the LORD. He does the same here, but he also says how Saul will come to an end. David knows that the LORD will deal with Saul. The LORD can deal with him by striking him that he dies, as He did to Nabal ( ). He can also let him die in battle, which indeed happens later. Faith waits for God’s actions and does not act in anticipation of it by taking the matter into its own hands. David does something else. He takes Saul’s spear and jug with him. With this he deprives Saul of his defense or royal dignity and his refreshment. The spear is still the symbol of Saul’s power. He is a weak person without a spear.

‏ 1 Samuel 26:9-11

The Spear and the Jug

When David and Abishai are with Saul, Abishai speaks to David that it is God’s guidance to deal with his enemy now. Last time, when Saul came into the cave with David and his men, his men made the same proposal and with the same motivation (1Sam 24:5). There they said David could do whatever he wanted with Saul. It seems that Abishai learned from last time that David himself will not do it and that he therefore offers to do it. He would do it with Saul’s own spear, with the certainty that one stroke is sufficient. With great self-confidence he says that a second time will not be necessary.

Would it not be a just retribution to kill Saul with the weapon with which he himself wanted to kill David several times? Would this not fulfill the Word of God that whoever digs a pit for another, falls into it himself (Pro 26:27)?

As for Abishai’s remark that it is God’s guidance that David has Saul in his hands, there is still a lesson to be learned. In some faith communities, it is common for someone to say to another what God wants that other person to do. This can even be introduced with the words ‘thus says the Lord’, a way of saying we do not find anywhere in the New Testament regarding the church. Such a use of words can sound impressive, but it is usually manipulation and, in any case, arrogant.

Someone may say that we must do something and appeal to the will of the Lord, but we must first be convinced ourselves that something is the will of the Lord. Others cannot determine for us the will of the Lord. God makes His will known to each of His own personally through His Word. By reading it ourselves, or by testing what someone else has said about it, we can get to know His will for our lives.

David resists the temptation with the same argument as last time. Saul is still for him “the LORD’s anointed”. Here again we see that beautiful character trait in David that he recognizes the authority established by God. He does not look at the character of the dignitary, but at the position of the dignitary. This is an important lesson for us in our attitude toward government, to which the same applies (Rom 13:1-2).

In 1 Samuel 24 David gave the matter into the hands of the LORD. He does the same here, but he also says how Saul will come to an end. David knows that the LORD will deal with Saul. The LORD can deal with him by striking him that he dies, as He did to Nabal (1Sam 25:38). He can also let him die in battle, which indeed happens later. Faith waits for God’s actions and does not act in anticipation of it by taking the matter into its own hands.

David does something else. He takes Saul’s spear and jug with him. With this he deprives Saul of his defense or royal dignity and his refreshment. The spear is still the symbol of Saul’s power. He is a weak person without a spear.