1 Samuel 24:5 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

Navigator

1 Samuel 24:5

Comments

‘It came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul skirt.’ Now why should that happen? Why should he be conscience smitten about quietly going up and cutting off what may have been a sort of regal fringe or adornment on Saul’s outer robe? Well because it was an act of humiliation of the king. It was to debase him. It was as though David stole up and said, ‘Yes, he is king; I'm going to leave him with his life, but I'm not going to leave him with any symbolism of royalty’, and he cut this off and defaced the king’s garment. Even that moved his conscience. You shouldn't humiliate the king. ‘I'm not under any order from God to take his life, to humiliate him or debase him or dishonour him in any way.’ So David, godly David, was stricken by what he done. It turned out to be a very useful thing to do. It enabled him to establish before Saul that he could very easily have taken his life; he was so close to him. But nevertheless he regretted having done it. Certainly, it is very difficult to see how Saul would not have been aware of David's action, if he had been awake all the time.What was the difference between David and his men? His men thought, ‘This is the hour; this is the opportunity; this is the time to act, and it made good sense.’ Well, it was not a hundred percent good sense, because David would then have to explain to the country why he had murdered the king. That was not going to be the easiest thing to do. But in many ways it made sense; certainly, at the time. But David wouldn't do it, because God must do this. Saul was the Lord's anointed. So was David, but Saul first, and it was for the Lord to remove him and make way for David. David was going to honour that: that Saul was the Lord's anointed. Yet now he cuts off Saul’s ornamentation, and he is even concerned about that, because although he hasn't killed Saul, he has humiliated him. He is now being stripped of his royal indications, and he is going to look foolish after this whole episode; David regrets even that. ‘And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing’ – cutting off the hem of his outer garment – ‘unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.’ He regrets even that limited action. ‘So David stayed his servants’, prevented them from doing the job, as it were, for him. ‘But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.’ He was not the kind of leader who is flattered by his followers zeal for his cause, and persuaded to go along with them even though what they advocate is wrong. David always answered first of all to the Lord, and he was ready to face down his own supporters when what they advocated was wrong.

Application

What a difference we have got today. There are some Christians, and Christian leaders too, who really weigh in against presidents in America, prime ministers here, and people holding public office in general. You read their statements, because they deride what their leaders have done. They don't simply disagree, and point out why it might be morally or biblically wrong. They slate them, and insult them, and call them all sorts of names. But here is David, conscience smitten for simply cutting off the edge of the garment. Oh no, the way for God's people is never to insult, never to tear down and humiliate and belittle and deride. Speak the truth; state clearly what people have done, when it is wrong, when it is immoral, when it is unbiblical – like John the Baptist we may be beheaded – but don’t insult, and deliver tirades of terrible statements. Yet it is frequently done.

Questions

Outline

Purpose

Introduction

1 Samuel 24:5 Commentary and Bible Study