Game of Thrones – Saul Hunts David

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Category: Personal Study

Thread: Game of Thrones

Post Topic: Saul Hunts David

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Next: David’s mighty men

Scripture: I Samuel 24:1-22; I Samuel 26:1-25

Key Verses:
¹⁶When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” And he wept aloud. ¹⁷“You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. ¹⁸You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me.
I Samuel 24:16-18

Observations

Context

King Saul, threatened by the warrior David, wants to destroy the man named as his successor.
He’s already attempted and failed to kill David on several occasions.
When Saul is distracted by a skirmish with Philistine raiders, David and his men hide out in the caves of En Gedi.

David Spares Saul Once (I Samuel 24:1-22)

Saul is told David is hiding in the Oasis of En Gedi
While relieving himself outside a cave, Saul doesn’t realize that David is there.
David’s men urge him to kill Saul, but he only cuts off a corner of his robe.
After Saul leaves, David emerges with the cloth.
David calls out to Saul: ““Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’? This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’”
Saul feels instant remorse. After David pledges loyalty to Saul’s descendants, Saul returns home.

David Spares Saul Again! (I Samuel 26:1-25)

Again, Saul pursues David!
David’s scouts told him that Saul had camped nearby.
David and a trusted man snuck down under the cover of night and found Saul and his men sleeping.
Saul’s sword was stuck in the ground next to him. David’s man begged for permission to kill Saul with his own sword.
David refused to take the life of God’s anointed king.
They stole away with the spear and a water jug.
From a distance, David called to Abner, Saul’s right-hand man. “Look what I’ve got! Your king’s spear and water jug! Again, I could have taken his life, but refused.”
Yet again, Saul repented and returned home.
David, knowing he could never trust the moody Saul, ended up joining the hated Philistines until Saul’s eventual death.

Interpretation

Setting

The first of theses stories takes place in the rugged landscape of En Gedi, a natural oasis of cliffs, caves, waterfalls, and springs in the middle of the Judean desert, overlooking the Dead Sea in the distance. See item 13 on the map below.

Genre

Narrative description.

Author

The author is unknown, but they had access to the records of the kings and possessed a thorough knowledge of the life and times of Samuel and the events surrounding the first kings of Israel.

Takeaways

These passages show such a contrast between David and Saul. Both were anointed kings of Israel.
- Saul’s passion was to hunt down David and kill him, in direct defiance to the will of God.
- David, on the other hand, respected that Saul had been the first anointed king of Israel, and refused to even allow one of his men to kill the king, even when the perfect opportunity presented itself.
Saul’s repentance never lasted. Numerous times throughout his life, events such as these encounters with David caused Saul to regret his actions. But he always hardened his heart and returned to his rebellious ways.

Imagine

Abishai crawled into the heart of King Saul’s camp with his friend and hero David. Thick cloud cover blocked most of the moonlight, but it didn’t matter. Saul and his right-hand man Abner snored soundly. They must have had too much to drink. Nobody seemed to be standing guard. Abishai wrinkled his nose in disdain for their negligence. He’d never allow David to be put at such risk.

The king’s spear angled out of the ground, its point buried a hand’s length deep. What poetic justice this could be – Saul, killed by his own spear, right under the sleeping noses of his protectors! Abishai pried the spear out of the ground and lifted it.

I know David won’t take Saul’s life himself. But if not now, when? Perhaps he’ll allow me to do him this favor.

He dared not glance at David as he positioned the spear above Saul’s head. But David’s sudden firm grasp on his elbow told Abishai all he needed to know. In hushed tones, he pleaded tones for the opportunity, but David remained resolute.

No use arguing. Abishai knew David wouldn’t bend. He lowered the weapon. David’s crowning would have to wait even longer.

When, Lord?

Correlation

Psalm 37:7 – This Psalm was written by David himself. It says to wait on the Lord’s timing. It teaches not to worry as others carry out their evil schemes, even when they are successful. Verse 13 in the same chapter says that God laughs at the wicked, for he knows that their day is coming.

Do you think David was thinking about Saul when he wrote this Psalm?

Application

Generic Applications

David knew that it was God’s plan for him to become the next king. Twice he was presented with a golden opportunity to nudge God’s plan forward. But instead, he decided to wait on God’s timing.
King Saul had attempted to kill David on numerous occasions. Yet David refused to respond in kind. How hard must it have been to not even allow one of his men to kill Saul when the opportunity presented itself? He could have simply turned his back…

Personalize it

Like David waiting to be crowned, are you waiting on a promise from God to come to fruition? Does God want you to do anything to make it happen, or are you supposed to wait on the Lord? This type of wisdom only comes from prayer and time with God.
How can we wait patiently for God’s plan to emerge while evil people seem to prosper?

Bible study methodology adapted from Searching the Scriptures with permission from Tyndale House:

Swindoll, Charles, Searching the Scriptures. Tyndale House Publishers, 2016.

Daniel P Warner