1 Samuel 24

[webdog]

Some things I have questions on.

1. When David is in the cave in Engedi, and Saul is "relieving" himself, the men told David "Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, 'Behold I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you'". When did God say this to David, and under what circumstances was it said?

2. Why does David still refer to Saul as God's anointed when Samuel anointed David, and God removed His presence from Saul?

3. Why did David feel bad about cutting Saul's robe?

 

[Trotter]

1. You got me. Sounds more like the men urging David to move on Saul under the guise of God's will.

2. Because Saul was still God's annointed, same as David was. Saul was annointed king in the name of God. Even though God had removed His presence and him from being king (as David was technically king according to God), he was still the annointed of God. Saul remained God's annointed until his death and David honored this out of respect to God and Saul.

3. See #2. David dishonored God, Saul, and himself when he cut a piece from Saul's robe. While it was a piece of cloth, it was on Saul and therefore a part of Saul's person. David, being righteous, realized it was wrong of him to have done this. This is why he confesed to Saul and asked him to forgive him even while Saul was trying to hunt him down. Also, David was embarrassed for having done it while Saul was answering the call of nature (from what I can see).

Hope that helps and not hinders.

 

[Deacon]

Good answers Trotter,

I composed my answer without looking at yours and was surprised that they were so similar (even in style).

Chapter 24 is similar to the account in chapter 26

1. 'Behold I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you'".

When did God say this to David, and under what circumstances was it said?

Not recorded, perhaps it was the bravado of David’s warriors, sort of like when someone on the Baptist Board claims, “the holy Spirit told me…”

2. Why does David still refer to Saul as God's anointed when Samuel anointed David, and God removed His presence from Saul?

David answers this question in 26:10: “As the LORD lives, surely the LORD will strike him, or his day will come that he dies, or he will go down into battle and perish”.
In other words, David considered Saul the LORD’s anointed up until the time that the LORD would remove him. It was in God’s hand not David’s hand.

3. Why did David feel bad about cutting Saul's robe?

Ditto the above answer, to show disrespect for God’s anointed would be abhorrent to David, since he too was the LORD’s anointed.

Rob

 

[Jerome]

1. Perhaps they were referencing David's speech to Goliath (and urging David to take a similar action against Saul):

"This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand" I Sam. 17:46

 

[Jedi Knight]

Do you think Saul was saved?

 

[Allan]

I'll second (or third) posts 2-4.

I agree with Jerome though that Davids men were most likely referencing David's statement to Goliath, which was actaully God's statement to David.

Now, whether they misused God's saying to David purposefully or not is another thread

 

[webdog]

Thanks guys. I was confused because later in the chapter it mentions ancient writings or something of that nature, and didn't know if this was in relation to God's statement.

 

[EdSutton]

Do you think Saul was saved?

Yes.

But this, too, is for another thread.

Ed