Falaite Tisema 31, 2021 

pea tutu‘u ‘a e kau to‘a kotoa pē

all the valiant men arose and travelled

 

1 Samiuela 31 (1 Samuel 31)

(v. 11-13) Pea ‘i he fanongo ki ai ‘e he nofo Siepesikiliati, ki he me‘a kuo fai ‘e he kakai Filisitia kia Saula, pea tutu‘u ‘a e kau to‘a kotoa pē, pea nau to‘o ‘a e ‘anga‘anga ‘o Saula, mo e ngaahi ‘anga‘anga ‘o ‘ene fānau, mei he ‘ā ‘o Petesani; pea nau ha‘u mo kinautolu ki Siepesi, ‘o tanu ai. Pea nau to‘o honau ngaahi hui, ‘o tanu ‘i he lolo tamalisi ‘oku ‘i Siepesi, ‘o nau ‘aukai ‘o ‘aho fitu.

(v. 11-13) Now when the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, all the valiant men arose and traveled all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth Shan; and they came to Jabesh and burned them there. Then they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

This closing chapter in the first Book of Samuel is draped in sackcloth and ashes. It gives the account of the end of the career of one of the most disastrous failures on record in Biblical history.

Defeat at the hands of the Philistines drove Saul to tragic desperation. Wounded in the final fight, and fearing that the last blow might come to him by the hand of an enemy, he called upon his armor-bearer to slay him.

When the armor-bearer refused to do so, Saul died by his own hand physically, as he had already slain himself morally by his own sin and folly.

Tragically terrible, and ghastly beyond compare, is the account of the Philistines carrying Saul's head about in token of their triumph and his defeat.

The chief spiritual value of this whole Book consists in the solemn lessons it teaches by the life and failure and death of this man. The story proclaims forevermore that advantages and remarkable opportunities are no guarantees of success unless the heart be firm and steady in allegiance to principle and loyalty to God.

 

David Guzik :: Study Guide for 1 Samuel 31

All the valiant men arose: In a time of disgrace, loss, and tragedy like this, God still had valiant men to do His work. The men of Jabesh Gilead took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from their place of humiliation and gave them a proper burial.

Glory to God, He always has His valiant men! When one servant passes the scene, another arises to take his place. If Saul is gone, God raises up a David. If the army of Israel is utterly routed, God still has His valiant men. God’s work is bigger than any man or any group of people.

The inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead: These valiant men are also recognized for their gratitude. Many years before Saul delivered their city from the Ammonites (1 Samuel 11:1-11), and they repaid the kindness God showed them from the hand of Saul. Upon taking the throne David rightly thanked these valiant men for their kindness to the memory of Saul, Jonathan and Saul’s other sons (2 Samuel 2:4-7).

When David heard of Saul’s death, he did not rejoice. In fact, he mourned and composed a song in honor of Saul and Jonathan (The Song of the Bow, 2 Samuel 1:11-27). In spite of all that Saul did against David, David spoke well of Saul after his death.

Choosing this kind of heart showed David to be a true “Man after God’s Own Heart.” It showed that the years in the wilderness escaping Saul really were years when God trained him to be a king after God’s own heart. Despite his sin, David never followed in the same tragic footsteps as King Saul.

Tu‘apulelulu Tisema 30, 2021 

pea a‘u ‘a Tēvita mo ‘ene kau tangata ki Sikilaki

David and his men came to Ziklag

1 Samiuela 30 (1 Samuel 30)

(v. 1-2) PEA ‘i he faifai pea a‘u ‘a Tēvita mo ‘ene kau tangata ki Sikilaki ‘i hono tolu ‘o e ‘aho, tā kuo ‘ohofia ‘e ha‘a ‘Amaleki ‘a e feitu‘u ko Tonga, mo Sikilaki, pea kuo nau taa‘i ‘a Sikilaki, mo tutu ia: pea kuo nau taki pōpula ‘a e kau fefine na‘e ‘i ai, ‘a e si‘i mo e lahi; na‘e ‘ikai te nau tāmate‘i ha taha, ka nau ‘ave pē, ‘o fai atu ‘enau fononga.

(v. 1-2) Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way.

 

Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

Being thus delivered, David returned to Ziklag. In his absence it had been sacked by the Amalekites. Immediately the true spirit of patriotic heroism was stirred within him, and he moved with rapid determination to avenge the wrong.

He was absolutely successful, inflicting punishment on his foes and rescuing from them all who were his own.

It is from this story that the history moves forward into the next Book. Having gathered spoils from his enemies, David sent presents to all the elders of Judah, and by this act undoubtedly prepared the way for establishing himself among them.

We have no warrant for thinking that this was merely an act of policy on David's part to obtain the throne. It would be far nearer the truth to say that recognizing his position as the anointed of God he was burning determination with him to rid his people of their foes, and to enlarge his army by enlisting the sympathy of the leaders of the tribe.

 

David Guzik :: Study Guide for 1 Samuel 30

a. Now it happened: It certainly happened, but it didn’t happen by accident. God had a purpose for all of this in David’s life.

“On the third day indicates that David and his men covered about twenty-five miles a day on the march south from Aphek to Ziklag, where they would have arrived tired, hungry and expecting all the comforts for a welcome home.” (Baldwin)

The Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it to the ground: While David and his men were to the north trying to join the Philistine army, their own city of Ziklag was unguarded. The opportunistic Amalekites took advantage of the defenseless city, attacked it and burned it to the ground.

Taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great: Not only was the city burned, but all their women and children were taken away. There is a touch of the Lord’s poetic justice in all this. David brought this exact calamity on other cities. 1 Samuel 27:8-11 says during his time among the Philistines, David made his living as a bandit, robbing cities and whenever David attacked the land, he left neither man nor woman alive. The Amalekites were more merciful than David was.

i. God, who is great in mercy, does not discipline us as much as we deserve. Like a compassionate father He tempers the stroke of His hand with kindness and love.

 Pulelulu Tisema 29, 2021 

Ko e hā ‘a e kau Hepelū na?

“What are these Hebrews doing here?”

 

1 Samiuela 29 (1 Samuel 29)

(v. 1-3) PEA tānaki ‘e he kau Filisitia ‘enau ngaahi kongakau ki ‘Ēfeki: ka na‘e ‘apitanga ‘a e kau ‘Isileli ‘i he fauniteni ‘oku ‘i Sisilili. Pea laka atu ‘a e ngaahi ‘ulu ‘o e kau Filisitia, ‘o fakateau mo fakaafe, pea ko Tēvita mo ‘ene kau tangata na‘e ‘alu ‘i he tukutau mo ‘Ākisi. Pea pehē ‘e he hou‘eiki Filisitia, Ko e hā ‘a e kau Hepelū na? Pea tali ‘e ‘Ākisi ki he hou‘eiki Filisitia, ‘Ikai ko Tēvita ia ko e tamaio‘eiki ‘a Saula ko e Tu‘i ‘Isileli, ‘a ia kuo ne nofo kiate au fuoloa, ‘o lau ta‘u, ‘o ‘ikai te u ‘ilo ha me‘a ‘i ai talu e ‘aho na‘a ne tō mai ai.

(v. 1-3) Then the Philistines gathered together all their armies at Aphek, and the Israelites encamped by a fountain which is in Jezreel. And the lords of the Philistines passed in review by hundreds and by thousands, but David and his men passed in review at the rear with Achish. Then the princes of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” And Achish said to the princes of the Philistines, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul king of Israel, who has been with me these days, or these years? And to this day I have found no fault in him since he defected to me.”

 

David Guzik :: Study Guide for 1 Samuel 29

Then the Philistines gathered together all their armies: The battle lines were drawn in the previous chapter when the Philistines made a deep incursion into Israelite territory. The Philistines intented to deliver a death-blow to Israel and the two armies squared off in anticipation of battle.

The lords of the Philistines passed in review... David and his men passed in review at the rear: David is among the Philistines because when he was discouraged, he left the people of God and the land of Israel, and cast his lot with the Philistines instead (1 Samuel 27). David now finds himself in a place he thought he would never be: among the ungodly, ready to fight against God’s people.

What are these Hebrews doing here: Leaders among the Philistines looked at David and his men and said, “They aren’t one of us. They are Hebrews. They worship another God. We don’t belong together!”

i. The Philistine leaders could see what David was blind to. David started to think and act like a Philistine, and was ready to fight with them against the people of God. But the Philistine leaders could see that this wasn’t right, even when David couldn’t.

ii. The Philistine leaders knew who David really was – that is, a Hebrew, part of God’s people. David seems to have forgotten this but the Philistine leaders knew. David would have never slipped into this sinful place if he remembered who he really was and what his destiny was.

iii. F.B. Meyer made this observation based on the King James wording of these verses: “It is very terrible when the children of the world have a higher sense of Christian propriety and fitness than Christians themselves, and say to one another, ‘What do these Hebrews here?’ “

Is this not David... who has been with me these days, or these years? And to this day I have found no fault in him since he defected to me: It is a sad thing that a Philistine ruler defended David so confidently. David identified himself so much with the ungodly that Achish knew he had David in his pocket.

i. Hearing these words from Achish should have grieved David. To hear an ungodly ruler say, “David has been with me” and “I have found no fault in him” and “he defected to me” should have been a great wake-up call to David. It is as if an ungodly coworker insisted to others that you really weren’t a Christian after all, because they saw how you lived.

ii. It is also important to see that Achish wasn’t just making this up. David said as much in 1 Samuel 28:1-2 and Achish had reason to believe that David would fight with him.

Tusite Tisema 28, 2021

 Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him

Pea kuo huhū ‘a Saula ki he ‘Eiki, ka na‘e ‘ikai te ne tali

 

1 Samiuela 28 (1 Samuel 28)

 (v. 6) . Pea kuo huhū ‘a Saula ki he ‘Eiki, ka na‘e ‘ikai te ne tali ‘i ha misi, pe ‘i he ‘Ūlimi, pe ‘i ha palōfita.

(v. 6) And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by the prophets.

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

It is strange how this story has been made to serve in defense of things occult, which, as a matter of fact, it condemns. Let it be carefully read, and it becomes perfectly patent that this woman had nothing to do with bringing up Samuel. Still practicing her black art, and that in secret, because of the king's edict against all of her class, she commenced, on the occasion of Saul's visit, to practice the deceptions with which she was familiar. When in response to her incantations, as it seemed, Samuel actually appeared, she was startled beyond measure.

That Samuel actually did appear to Saul there can be no doubt. However, he was sent of God for the express purpose of delivering the terrible message to Saul, to which the king listened in amazement. It was the pronouncement of his doom, and the call from the other side to the spirit of the man who had so utterly and disastrously failed to fulfil his opportunity.

David Guzik :: Study Guide for 1 Samuel 28:6

When Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him: Saul was in a terrible place. The Philistines threatened, Saul’s courage failed, and now God was silent when Saul sought Him. Saul hoped God would speak to him through dreams, but God was silent. He hoped God would speak to him through the Urim, but God was silent. He wanted to hear from God through the prophets, but God would not talk to Saul.

The Lord did not answer him: This silence demonstrates that God will not always answer everyone who seeks Him; not when a man is in a place of judgment as Saul is. King Saul has rejected and is currently rejecting God’s previously revealed will. Since Saul didn’t care to obey God in what he already knew, God will not give him more to know.

At the very least, Saul knew that God did not want him hunting David, hoping to kill him. Saul said as much in passages such as 1 Samuel 24:16-20 and 1Sa 26:21. Yet Saul disregarded what he knew to be God’s will in this matter. If we want God to guide us, we must follow what guidance we already have from Him.

When we reject the word of the Lord we can still be comforted by the fact that He speaks to us. As we continue to reject His word He may stop speaking to us – and we will lose even that comfort.

Monite Tisema 27, 2021

I should speedily escape to the land of the Philistines

ke u mātu‘aki hola ki he fonua ‘o e kau Filisitia

1 Samiuela 27 (1 Samuel 27)

 (v. 1) And David said in his heart, “Now I shall perish someday by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape to the land of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me, to seek me anymore in any part of Israel. So I shall escape out of his hand.”

(v. 1) PEA pehē ‘e Tēvita ‘i hono loto, Tokaange ha ‘aho te u mole ‘i he fai ‘a Saula: ko e me‘a pē taha ‘oku toe kiate au ke u mātu‘aki hola ki he fonua ‘o e kau Filisitia; pea ‘e tuku ‘e Saula ‘ene kei kumi au ‘i he ngaahi feitu‘u ‘o ‘Isileli: ko ia te u hao mei hono nima.

 

David Guzik :: Study Guide for 1 Samuel 27:1

David said in his heart: The sad story of 1 Samuel 27 begins with something David said in his heart. He may have never said it out loud; he may have never said it to anyone else; he may have never said it to God. But David said it in his heart. What we say in our heart has a tremendous power to shape our thinking, our actions, even our whole destiny.

Now I shall perish someday by the hand of Saul: This is what David said in his heart. That was a word of discouragement coming from a heart tired of trusting God for His continued deliverance. In his discouragement David forgot God’s past deliverance.

“I remember on one occasion, to my shame, being sad and doubtful of heart, and a kind friend took out a paper and read to me a short extract from a discourse upon faith. I very soon detected the author of the extract; my friend was reading to me from one of my own sermons. Without saying a word he just left it to my own conscience, for he had convicted me of committing the very fault against which I had so earnestly declaimed.” (Spurgeon)

There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape to the land of the Philistines: David decided to leave Israel and live among the idol worshipping Philistines. David was so discouraged that he thought there was nothing better for him in Israel and among God’s people.

Saul will despair of me, to seek me anymore in any part of Israel. So I shall escape out of his hand. Before David trusted in the Lord to protect him from the hand of Saul. Now, David gave up trusting in the Lord and instead left the land of promise, left the people of God, and found “protection” among the Philistines.

Saul will despair: Saul will not despair if David leaves the land of promise. Saul will not despair if David forsakes the people of God and joins the ungodly. It is David who is in despair, not Saul.

Saul could never drive David to the Philistines. If Saul told David, “You must leave the people of God and go live among the Philistines,” David would never bow to it. But discouragement and despair are more powerful enemies than Saul. Discouragement and despair will drive David to do something that Saul could never make him do.

Sapate Tisema 26, 2021

Ko ho le‘o koā ena, tama Tēvita?

“Is that your voice, my son David?”

1 Samiuela 26 (1 Samuel 26) 

(v. 17-20) Then Saul knew David’s voice, and said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.” And he said, “Why does my lord thus pursue his servant? For what have I done, or what evil is in my hand? Now therefore, please, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If the Lord has stirred you up against me, let Him accept an offering. But if it is the children of men, may they be cursed before the Lord, for they have driven me out this day from sharing in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ So now, do not let my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lord. For the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea, as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”

(v. 17-20) Pea na‘e ‘ilo ‘e Saula ‘a e le‘o ‘o Tēvita, ‘o ne pehē, Ko ho le‘o koā ena, tama Tēvita? Pea tali ‘e Tēvita, ‘Ēī ‘a e ‘afiona, ko hoku le‘o pē. Pea ne fai atu, Ko e hā ‘oku tuli pehē ai ‘a e ‘afiona ko ho‘o tamaio‘eiki ko au? He ko e hā kuo u fai? Pe ko e hā ha kovi ‘iate au? Pea ko eni, ke me‘a mai mu‘a ‘a e ‘afiona ko e tu‘i ki he ngaahi lea ‘a ho‘o tamaio‘eiki, Kapau ko e ‘Eiki kuo ne ue‘i koe kiate au, pea ke ne tali ha holo; ka ‘o kapau ko e Maama, ‘ofa ke nau mala‘ia meia Sihova; he kuo nau kapusi au he ‘aho ni mei he kau ki he tofi‘a ‘o Sihova, hangē ‘oku nau pehē, ‘alu ‘o tauhi ‘otua kehe. Pea ko eni, ‘ofa ke ‘oua na‘a tō kelekele hoku toto ‘i ha potu mama‘o mo Sihova: he kuo hā‘ele atu ‘a e Tu‘i ‘Isileli ke kumi ha momo‘i kutufisi, ‘o hangē ko e tuli ha patelisi ‘i he ngaahi mo‘unga.

 

David Guzik :: Study Guide for Romans 12

My lord, O king... my lord... please let my lord... his servant: This phrasing shows that David spoke to Saul with genuine humility. Since David was so right and Saul was so wrong, it was easy for David to project a superior attitude towards Saul, but he didn’t.

What have I done, or what evil is in my hand? David first asked Saul to consider the facts and to clearly think about what David did.

If the Lord has stirred you up against me... if it is the children of men: David made it easier for Saul to repent. David knew very well that the Lord or other men had not stirred up Saul but that it came from Saul’s own bitterness, carnality, and jealousy. But he offered these suggestions to Saul to give him an easier way to repent. He could admit that his actions against David were wrong without admitting that they originated with himself.

They have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, “Go, serve other gods.” David revealed his own heart’s struggle under the pressure from Saul’s relentless persecution. What hurt David the most was that he couldn’t go to the house of God and openly be with the people of God, living his life after the Lord as he longed to. The pressure of all this tempted David to consider leaving Israel altogether and to go among those who worshipped other gods.

Now therefore, do not let my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lord: David concluded his appeal to Saul with a simple request. “Saul, please don’t kill me!”

“There is a vast deal of dignity in this speech of David, arising from a consciousness of his own innocence. He neither begs his life from Saul, nor offers one argument to prevail upon him to desist [stop] from his felonious attempts, but refers the whole matter to God, as the judge and vindicator of oppressed innocence.” (Clarke)

when one hunts a partridge in the mountains: “It is worthy of remark that the Arabs, observing that partridges, being put up several times, soon become so weary as not to be able to fly; they in this manner hunt them upon the mountains, till at last they can knock them down with their clubs. It was in this manner that Saul hunted David, coming hastily upon him, and putting him up from time to time, in hopes that he should at length, by frequent repetitions of it, be able to destroy him.” (Clarke)

Tokonaki Tisema 25, 2021 

KILISIMASI FIEFIA ‘I HE ‘EIKI

 

1 Samiuela 25 (1 Samuel 25)

(v. 2-3) Pea na‘e ai ha tangata ‘i Maoni na‘e tu‘u ‘i Kāmeli ‘ene potu ngāue, pea ko e tangata lahi ‘aupito he na‘e toko tolu afe ‘ene fanga sipi, pea afe ‘ene fanga kosi: pea na‘e fai ‘ene kosi sipi ‘i Kāmeli. Pea ko Nāpale ‘a e hingoa ‘o e matāpule; pea ko hono uaifi ko ‘Apikale: pea ko e fefine loto matala ia, pea hōihoifua: ka ko e tangata na‘e faingata‘a, pea kovi ‘ene ngaahi tō‘onga; pea ne kau ki he fale ‘o Kēlepi.

(v. 2-3) Now there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel, and the man was very rich. He had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. And he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. The name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. And she was a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance; but the man was harsh and evil in his doings. He was of the house of Caleb.

 

David Guzik :: Study Guide for 1 Samuel 25

Now there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel, and the man was very rich. He had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. And he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. The name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. And she was a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance; but the man was harsh and evil in his doings. And he was of the house of Caleb.

And the man was very rich: The first thing we learn about this man is where he lived (Maon, with his business in Carmel), and that he was a very rich man (three thousand sheep and a thousand goats).

There are four kinds of riches. There are riches in what you have, riches in what you do, riches in what you know, and riches in what you are – riches of character. Nabal was a very rich man, but only rich in what he had. He had the lowest kind of riches.

And he was shearing his sheep in Carmel: This was the “harvest time” for a sheep rancher. Because it was like “harvest time” sheep shearing was a time of lavish hospitality towards others. “Sheep-shearing was traditionally celebrated by feasting, with enough and to spare.” (Baldwin)

The name of the man was Nabal: This is another indication of his character, because the name Nabal means fool. In ancient Israel names were often connected with a person’s character. We don’t know if Nabal was given this name or he earned it but he certainly lived up to it.

The fact that he was of the house of Caleb may also be a bad description of Nabal, because Caleb means dog, and to be of the house of a dog was no compliment. “As the word caleb signifies a dog, the Septuagint have understood it as implying a man of a canine disposition, and translate it thus... he was a doggish man. It is understood in the same way by the Syriac and Arabic.” (Clarke)

Abigail... a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance: Nabal’s wife was both beautiful and wise, in contrast to Nabal himself. The Bible gives Abigail great praise when it says she was of beautiful appearance, because the only other women who have this Hebrew phrase applied to them are Rachel (Genesis 29:17) and Esther (Esther 2:7).

How did a woman like this ever get matched up with a man like Nabal? We can understand it in that day of arranged marriages. But there are many Abigails today who are in that place not because the marriage was arranged but because they chose it. “It is remarkable how many Abigails get married to Nabals. God-fearing women, tender and gentle in the sensibilities, high-minded and noble in their ideals, become tied in an indissoluble union with men for whom they can have no true affinity, even if they have not an unconquerable repugnance.” (Meyer)

“May I say to you lovingly, but firmly, if such a circumstance has befallen you, that is no reason for you to invoke the law of the country to get out of the entanglement. Perhaps God knew that you needed the fiery trial to humble you and make you a testimony to your partner. The Bible says you must stay as you are. Maybe there will come to you one day, as there came to Abigail, a new opportunity; but until then, it is for you to prove the grace and power of the Lord in your heart to strengthen you and keep you pure.” (Redpath)

 Falaite Tisema 24, 2021

The Lord forbid that I should do this thing

Ko Sihova ē ha‘aku ofi ke fai pehē ki hoku ‘eiki

 

1 Samiuela 24 (1 Samuel 24)

(v. 4-7) Pea lea ‘a e kau tangata ‘a Tēvita kiate ia; Vakai, ko e ‘aho ē na‘e folofola ai ‘a e ‘Eiki kiate koe, ‘o pehē, Ko eni, te u tuku ho fili ki ho nima, ke ke fa‘iteliha kiate ia, Pea tu‘u ‘a Tēvita, ‘o tu‘usi fufū ‘a e kapa ‘o e kofu tōtōlofa na‘e ‘ia Saula. Pea hili ‘ene fai pehē na‘e tautea ‘a Tēvita ‘e hono loto, koe‘uhi kuo ne tu‘usi ‘a e kapa‘i kofu ‘o Saula. Pea ne pehē ki he‘ene kau tangata, Ko Sihova ē ha‘aku ofi ke fai pehē ki hoku ‘eiki ko e pani ‘a Sihova, ke ala hoku nima ki ai, he ko e pani ia ‘a Sihova. Ko ia na‘e ta‘ofi ‘e Tēvita ‘ene kau tangata ‘aki ‘a e ngaahi lea ko ē, ‘o ‘ikai te ne tuku ke nau tu‘u kia Saula. Pea tu‘u atu ‘a Saula mei he ‘ana, ‘o ne fai hono fononga.

(v. 4-7) Then the men of David said to him, “This is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.’ ” And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe. And he said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.” So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way.

David Guzik :: Study Guide for 1 Samuel 24

The men of David said to him: David’s men were excited at the opportunity and believed it was a gift from God. They knew it was no coincidence that Saul came alone into that cave at that moment. They thought this was an opportunity from God to kill Saul.

Apparently, on some previous occasion God promised David, “Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.” They believed that this was the fulfillment of the promise and that David needed to seize the promise by faith and by the sword.

David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe: We can imagine David listening to this counsel from his men and with his sword creeping quickly towards Saul, covered by the darkness of the cave. David’s men are excited; their lives as fugitives are about to end, and they will soon be installed as friends and associates of the new King of Israel. But as David came close to Saul and put forth his sword he didn’t bring it crashing down on Saul’s neck or thrust it through his back. Instead he secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

Some wonder how David could have done this without being detected. Saul may have laid his robe down in one part of the cave, and attended to his needs in another part, so David did not have to get right next to Saul to cut off a corner of his robe. Or, it may also be that there was enough noise and commotion from the thousands of men outside of the cave along with their horses that David was simply undetectable.

David decided to spare Saul because he knew that God’s promise said, “You will inherit the throne of Israel.” He knew that Saul was in the way of that promise. But he also knew it was disobedient of him to kill Saul, because God put Saul in a position of authority and it was God’s job to take care of Saul not David’s. David wanted the promise to be fulfilled but he refused to try and fulfill God’s promise through his own disobedience.

Sometimes when we have a promise from God we think we are justified in sinning to pursue that promise. This is always wrong. God will fulfill His promises, but He will do it His way, and do it righteously. Instead, we need to be like Abraham, who obeyed God even when it seemed to be at the expense of God’s promise, willing to sacrifice the son of promise (Genesis 22). Even more, we need to be like Jesus, who didn’t take Satan’s offer to “win back the world” at the expense of obedience (Luke 4:5-8).

In all this, we see that David knew not only how to wait on the Lord, but he also knew how to wait for the Lord. “We wait on the Lord by prayer and supplication, looking for the indication of his will; we wait for the Lord by patience and submission, looking for the interposition of his hand.” (Meyer) David was determined that when he sat on the throne of Israel it wouldn’t be because he got Saul out of the way but because God got Saul out of the way. He wanted God’s fingerprints on that work, not his own, and he wanted the clean conscience that comes from knowing it was God’s work.

We also see that David’s heart didn’t store up bitterness and anger towards Saul. Even as Saul made David’s life completely miserable, David kept taking it to the Lord, and he received the cleansing from the hurt and the bitterness and the anger that the Lord can give. If David stored up bitterness and anger towards Saul he probably wouldn’t have been able to resist the temptation to kill him at what seemed to be a “risk free” opportunity.

David’s heart troubled him: This is a remarkably tender conscience in David. Many would only be troubled that they did not take the opportunity to kill Saul. David only cut off the corner of Saul’s robe, yet his heart troubled him. Why? Because the robe was a symbol of Saul’s royal authority, and David felt bad – rightly so, according to the heart of God – that he had done anything against Saul’s God appointed authority.

David expresses this when he said, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed... seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.” David knew better than anyone that Saul was a troubled and corrupt leader, yet it was in God’s power to take him away and David wouldn’t do what was only the Lord’s to do.

“It was a trifling matter, and yet it seemed dishonoring to God’s anointed king; and as such it hurt David to have done it. We sometimes in conversation and criticism cut off a piece of a man’s character, or influence for good, or standing in the esteem of others. Ought not our heart to smite us for such thoughtless conduct? Ought we not to make confession and reparation?” (Meyer)

So David restrained his servants with these words: David not only kept himself from taking vengeance upon Saul, he also restrained his servants. Many men in the same situation, would say, “Well, I won’t kill Saul now, but if one of my servants does, what can I do?” and therefore leave the door wide open for Saul to be killed. But David wouldn’t do that, and he restrained his servants.

With these words: These were the words of a humble, tender conscience before God. They were the words of a man who was convicted at merely cutting off a corner of Saul’s robe. When David’s servants saw his godliness and how he wanted to please God in everything, their hearts were restrained from doing any evil against Saul.

 Tu‘apulelulu Tisema 23, 2021

Arise, go down to Keilah…

Tu‘u, ‘alu hifo ki Kī‘ila…

 

1 Samiuela 23 (1 Samuel 23)

(v. 1-4) PEA na‘e fakahā kia Tēvita, ‘o pehē, Tokua ‘oku tau‘i ‘a Kī‘ila ‘e he kau Filisitia, ‘o nau pāpani foki mei he ngaahi haha‘anga. Pea huhū ‘e Tēvita ki he ‘Eiki, ‘o pehē, Ka u ‘alu, ‘o taa‘i ‘a e kau Filisitia ni? Pea folofola ‘a e ‘Eiki kia Tēvita, ‘alu, ‘o taa‘i ‘a e kau Filisitia, ‘o fakahaofi ‘a Kī‘ila. Pea lea kia Tēvita ‘ene kau tangata; Vakai, ‘oku. tau nofo manavahē eni ‘i Siuta, kae huanoa ‘oka tau ka ‘alu ki Kī‘ila, ke fai mo e ngaahi matatau Filisitia. Ko ia na‘e toe huhū ‘e Tēvita ki he ‘eiki. Pea tali ‘e he ‘Afio, ‘o pehē, Tu‘u, ‘alu hifo ki Kī‘ila, he te u tuku ‘a e kau Filisitia ki ho nima. 

(v. 1-4) Then they told David, saying, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and they are robbing the threshing floors.” Therefore David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the Lord said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines, and save Keilah.” But David’s men said to him, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” Then David inquired of the Lord once again. And the Lord answered him and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah. For I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

The series of happenings recorded in this chapter reveals most vividly the appalling condition of affairs in the kingdom.

Saul, still nominally king, filled with hatred for David, was devoting all his strength to persecuting David; while the affairs of the nation were becoming more and more involved in hopeless confusion.

While David in exile was almost certainly the popular idol of the people, their fickleness was manifested in the mean treachery of both the Keilites and the Ziphites, who were prepared to maintain favor with Saul by delivering up David to him.

David, with the spirit of true patriotism burning in his heart, waged war successfully against the Philistines, the enemies of the nation. It is evident, however, that his exile and persecution were telling on him, and nervous fear was growing in his heart. Nevertheless, his trust in God remained unshaken, and he appealed to God in his hour of trouble.

The most beautiful incident of this period is the meeting of David and Jonathan in the wood. It was their last meeting, and it manifested that Jonathan's love for David was as strong as ever. Jonathan was firmly convinced that David must eventually become king; and, looking forward to when this should be, he attested his willingness to take second place in the kingdom.

David Guzik :: Study Guide for 1 Samuel 23

The Philistines are fighting against Keliah, and they are robbing the threshing floors: They brought this plea for help to David and not to King Saul because Saul was not fulfilling his role as king over Israel. It was Saul’s job to protect Keliah and it was Saul’s job to fight the Philistines but Saul wasn’t doing his job and the Lord called David to do it.

God loved His people too much to let them suffer with an unfaithful king. If Saul wasn’t up to the task, God would raise up a man who was, and David was the one. God directed David to act like a king even if he was not the king yet.

Therefore David inquired of the Lord: This showed David’s wisdom and godliness. Some might have immediately said, “This isn’t my responsibility, let Saul deal with it.” Others might have immediately said, “Let’s go! I can fix this problem!” Either course was foolish, but David was wise because he inquired of the Lord.

Go, and attack the Philistines, and save Keliah: By all outward appearance, this was a crazy thing to do. First, David had 400 men with thin resumes and bad credit reports (1 Samuel 22:2) – not exactly a regular army. Second, David had enough trouble with Saul and he didn’t need to add trouble from the Philistines – one enemy is usually enough. Third, this would bring David wide open out before King Saul. This was a dangerous course of action.

David did this for two reasons. He had the command of God, and the need of the people. David was willing to endanger himself to obey the command of God and to meet the need of the people.

But David’s men said to him, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah.” David’s men counseled him to not go to Keliah. We can understand their counsel; but we should not agree with it. It was good that David became captain over them (1 Samuel 22:2) and that this wasn’t a democracy.

David inquired of the Lord once again: Wisely, David took the words from his men into great account. He wrestled with their advice and saw that in many ways it made a lot of sense. At the same time he knew this was an issue that had to be decided before the Lord.

Arise, go down to Keiliah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand: God likes to confirm His word, especially when He directs us to do something hard or unusual. This time the Lord not only confirmed His previous command but He also gave a promise with the confirmation: “I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.”