Wilderness Discoveries

Trinity Presbyterian Church

1 Samuel 24:1-22
When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the
wilderness of Engedi.” 2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and
went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats' Rocks. 3 And he came to the
sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now
David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. 4 And the men of David
said to him, “Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your ene-
my into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David
arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul's robe. 5 And afterward David's heart struck
him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul's robe. 6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid
that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord's anointed, to put out my hand against
him, seeing he is the Lord's anointed.” 7 So David persuaded his men with these words
and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on
his way.
8 Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, “My lord the
king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid
homage. 9 And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say,
‘Behold, David seeks your harm’? 10 Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord
gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I
said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord's anointed.’ 11 See, my
father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of
your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in
my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it. 12 May the
Lord judge between me and you, may the Lord avenge me against you, but my hand shall
not be against you. 13 As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wick-
edness.’ But my hand shall not be against you. 14 After whom has the king of Israel come
out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea! 15 May the Lord therefore
be judge and give sentence between me and you, and see to it and plead my cause and de-
liver me from your hand.”
16 As soon as David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your
voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17 He said to David, “You are
more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. 18 And
you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me
when the Lord put me into your hands. 19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go
away safe? So may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day.
11
20 And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel
shall be established in your hand. 21 Swear to me therefore by the Lord that you will not
cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's
house.” 22 And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men
went up to the stronghold.