1 Samuel 24
F.B. Meyer · Citado em PreceptAustin
1 Samuel 24
Meyer - 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. It is very needful to learn this lesion of silence, patience, resignation. Surely it was out of such experiences as these that David wrote Ps 37. The exhortations of this exquisite psalm to trust in the Lord, to delight in the Lord, to roll the way of life on the Lord, to rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him, and especially the repeated injunction not to fret, are all bathed in new meaning when read in the light of these memorable incidents in David's life. Getz points out, "There are two stories in the life of David that demonstrate dramatically his sensitivity toward both God and man. Both incidents involved encounters with Saul and both provided David with an unusual opportunity to take Saul's life. But in each instance David did what was right, even though he faced unusual temptation. With his actions he showed love to the man who hated him." (Borrow David: God's man in faith and failure This book corresponds for the most part to his book "Men of Character: David") "Wait for the day is breaking, Though the dull night be long, Wait, God is not forsaking, Thy heart be strong, be strong. Wait, 'tis the key to pleasure And to the place of God. O tarry thou his leisure Thy soul shall bear no load." 1 Samuel 24:5 It came about afterward that David's conscience bothered him because he had cut off the edge of Saul's robe. BGT 1 Samuel 24:6 (Number in Hebrew Bible) καὶ ἐγενήθη μετὰ ταῦτα καὶ ἐπάταξεν καρδία Δαυιδ αὐτόν ὅτι ἀφεῖλεν τὸ πτερύγιον τῆς διπλοΐδος αὐτοῦ LXE 1 Samuel 24:5 And it came to pass after this that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off the skirt of his garment. KJV 1 Samuel 24:5 And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. NET 1 Samuel 24:5 Afterward David's conscience bothered him because he had cut off an edge of Saul's robe. CSB 1 Samuel 24:5 Afterward, David's conscience bothered him because he had cut off the corner of Saul's robe. ESV 1 Samuel 24:5 And afterward David's heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul's robe. NIV 1 Samuel 24:5 Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. NLT 1 Samuel 24:5 But then David's conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul's robe. NRS 1 Samuel 24:5 Afterward David was stricken to the heart because he had cut off a corner of Saul's cloak. NJB 1 Samuel 24:6 (Number in Hebrew Bible)Afterwards David reproached himself for having cut off the border of Saul's cloak. NAB 1 Samuel 24:6 (Number in Hebrew Bible) Afterward, however, David regretted that he had cut off an end of Saul's mantle. YLT 1 Samuel 24:5 And it cometh to pass afterwards that the heart of David smiteth him, because that he hath cut off the skirt which is on Saul, GWN 1 Samuel 24:5 But afterward, David's conscience bothered him because he had cut off the border of Saul's robe. David's conscience: 2Sa 12:9 24:10 2Ki 22:19 1Jn 3:20,21 1 Samuel 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DAVID'S SENSITIVE CONSCIENCE IS SMITTEN It came about afterward that David's conscience (leb literally = heart) bothered him because he had cut off the edge of Saul's robe - The Hebrew more literally reads "the heart of David struck him.” NIV = "conscience-stricken" ESV = "heart struck." A man after God's own heart has a heart sensitive to even the possibility of sin! (O, to be such a man or woman!) While it was not a sin to cut Saul's robe, it would humiliate Saul. Think about using the restroom and someone cuts off a portion of your shirt or trousers! Also the last time Saul had dealt with a torn robe was when he tore Samuel's robe which was a picture of God tearing the kingdom from him. As we see it was not David's intention to give Saul that impression. Revenge may be sweet, but it sours the soul. -- Chuck Swindoll
1 Samuel 24
Meyer - “It was a trifling matter, and yet it seemed dishonouring 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?” Brian Bell - A sensitive conscience is a great treasure & a valuable guide. Don’t lose it! John Davis - “This act brought no great joy to David, for his heart ‘smote him’ in that he had mistreated God’s anointed (cf. v. 5). David recognized that this deed was of his own bidding and not that which was commanded by God. In addition to that fact, David was very sensitive to the sanctity of the throne. As far as David was concerned, Saul was still God’s anointed. Nowhere had the Lord indicated that it was his time to assume the throne. In the light of these facts, David considered his act most inappropriate.” (Borrow The Birth of a Kingdom : Studies in I-II Samuel and I Kings 1-11) Bergen has an interesting explanation of David's smitten conscience - Furthermore, by removing the corner of the robe, David made Saul’s robe to be in a state of noncompliance with Torah requirements (cf. Num 15:38–39; Deut 22:12); thus, Saul’s most obvious symbol of kingship was made unwearable. In essence, David had symbolically invalidated Saul’s claim to kingship. David immediately recognized the powerful implications of his act and was conscience stricken (v. 5; Hb. v. 6). By voiding Saul’s claim to kingship, he was at some level lifting his hand against “the anointed of the Lord” (v. 6; Hb. v. 7). This was more than an act against the king; it was rebellion against the Lord, who had commanded Israelites not to curse their rulers (Exod 22:28), and had previously punished Israelites who had expressed a rebellious attitude against constituted authority (cf. Num 12:2–15; 16:1–35). (Borrow NAC - 1,2 Samuel) Matthew Henry make a great point writing "David cut off the skirt of his robe, but soon repented that he had done this: His heart smote him for it (v. 5); though it did Saul no real hurt, and served David for a proof that it was in his power to have killed him (v. 11), yet, because it was an affront to Saul's royal dignity, he wished he had not done it. Note, It is a good thing to have a heart within us smiting us for sins that seem little; it is a sign that conscience is awake and tender, and will be the means of preventing greater sins. THOUGHT - Are you quickly convicted by "little sins," remembering that for a holy God, no sin is "little" (eating a bite of apple was such a "little" sin but led to Ro 5:12+, cf James 2:10+)? Practically speaking, "little sins" are just as effective as "big sins" in short circuiting the flow of supernatural power of the Holy Spirit! (Eph 4:30+, 1Th 5:19+). We all sin, so it behooves us to imitate David and seek to maintain a sensitive conscience which quickly convicts us so that we can quickly confess and restore the flow of power from the Spirit (1Jn 1:9+, Pr 28:13+). How quick are you to confess sin, especially if it is a "little sin?" A good "preventative prayer" to pray is Ps 139:23,24. When God wants to drill a man, And thrill a man, And skill a man; When God wants to mold a man To play the noblest part, When he yearns with all his heart To create so great and bold a man That all the world shall be amazed, Watch his methods, watch his ways -- How he ruthlessly perfects Whom he royally elects. How he hammers him and hurts him, And with mighty blows, converts him Into trial shapes of clay Which only God understands, While his tortured heart is crying, And he lifts beseeching hands. How he bends but never breaks When his good he undertakes. How he uses Whom he chooses, And with every purpose, fuses him, By every act, induces him To try his splendor out. God knows what he's about. -- Anonymous F B Meyer - 1 Samuel 24:5 And David’s heart smote him. It is well to have a tender conscience, and to obey its least monitions, even when men and things militate against it. Here was an opportunity for David and his band to end their wanderings and hardships by one thrust of the spear but though it was a very small thing that he had done, David was struck with remorse for having taken advantage of Saul’s retirement in the precincts of the cave, where his men and he were hiding, and cut off a piece of his robe. 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 or reparation? Circumstances seemed to favor it.— Of all the scores of caves in the neighborhood, the king had happened to choose the very one, in the dark recesses of which David and his men were sheltering. What more natural than to obtain some token to convince the king how absolutely he had been in his young rival’s power? But favoring circumstances do not justify an act which is not perfectly healthy and right. Opportunity does not make a wrong thing right. His men unanimously approved the act, nay, they wanted him to go further. Their standard was a very low one, not only in this case, but in others. How wonderful that David kept such a high ideal amid such comrades! We shall not be judged hereafter by the standard which obtained among our. comrades. 1 Samuel 24:6 So he said to his men, "Far be it from me because of the LORD that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the LORD'S anointed." BGT 1 Samuel 24:7 (Numbering in the Hebrew Bible) καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς τοὺς ἄνδρας αὐτοῦ μηδαμῶς μοι παρὰ κυρίου εἰ ποιήσω τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο τῷ κυρίῳ μου τῷ χριστῷ κυρίου ἐπενέγκαι χεῖρά μου ἐπ᾽ αὐτόν ὅτι χριστὸς κυρίου ἐστὶν οὗτος LXE 1 Samuel 24:6 And David said to his men, The Lord forbid it me, that I should do this thing to my lord the anointed of the Lord, to lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the Lord. KJV 1 Samuel 24:6 And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD. NET 1 Samuel 24:6 He said to his men, "May the LORD keep me far away from doing such a thing to my lord, who is the LORD's chosen one, by extending my hand against him. After all, he is the LORD's chosen one." CSB 1 Samuel 24:6 He said to his men, "I swear before the LORD: I would never do such a thing to my lord, the LORD's anointed. I will never lift my hand against him, since he is the LORD's anointed." ESV 1 Samuel 24:6 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." NIV 1 Samuel 24:6 He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD's anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD." NLT 1 Samuel 24:6 "The LORD knows I shouldn't have done that to my lord the king," he said to his men. "The LORD forbid that I should do this to my lord the king and attack the LORD's anointed one, for the LORD himself has chosen him." NRS 1 Samuel 24:6 He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD's anointed, to raise my hand against him; for he is the LORD's anointed." NJB 1 Samuel 24:7 (Numbering in the Hebrew Bible) He said to his men, 'Yahweh preserve me from doing such a thing to my lord as to raise my hand against him, since he is Yahweh's anointed.' NAB 1 Samuel 24:7 (Numbering in the Hebrew Bible) He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD'S anointed, as to lay a hand on him, for he is the Lord's anointed." YLT 1 Samuel 24:6 and he saith to his men, 'Far be it from me, by Jehovah; I do not do this thing to my lord -- to the anointed of Jehovah -- to put forth my hand against him, for the anointed of Jehovah he is.' GWN 1 Samuel 24:6 He said to his men, "It would be unthinkable for me to raise my hand against His Majesty, the LORD's anointed king, since he is the LORD's anointed." Far be it from me: 1Sa 26:9-11 2Sa 1:14 1Ki 21:3 Job 31:29,30 Mt 5:44 Ro 12:14-21 Ro 13:1,2 1Th 5:15 1 Samuel 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: 1 Samuel 26:9-11 But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD’S anointed and be without guilt?” 10 David also said, “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. 11 “The LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD’S anointed; but now please take the spear that is at his head and the jug of water, and let us go.” DAVID'S RATIONALE FOR RESTRAINT So - Means for this reason which begs the question "What reason?" Clearly the reason is his smitten conscience. he said to his men - Remember David is their leader and their teacher and the best leader teaches by his own example. David is training his motley crew (1Sa 22:2+), molding them into mighty men of God. Don Anderson - I think there is a greater miracle than the fact that David did not kill Saul when he had a chance and that is the fact that he restrained 600 men that were ready and smelling blood. That is a tremendous demonstration of leadership. Those guys respected his authority. "Far be it from me because of the LORD that I should do this thing to my lord ('adon; Lxx = kurios), the LORD'S anointed (mashiach ;Lxx = Christos), to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the LORD'S anointed (mashiach ;Lxx = Christos) - Notice that David calls Saul his lord, showing his respect for the king even though the king was seeking to kill him! He continues to show this submissive attitude toward Saul calling him the Lord’s anointed (1Sa 24:6,10); my lord two more times (1Sa 24:8,10); the king (1Sa 24:8,14) and my father (1Sa 24:14). Since the LORD is the one Who anointed and placed Saul in this position, David would wait on the LORD to remove him from the throne. David's patience, trust and willingness to wait on the LORD is another characteristic indicating why David was called a man after God's own heart. THOUGHT - Are you willing to wait on the LORD? This requires patience and trust in the LORD's perfect will and timing. But it is another aspect of the life long process of becoming a man or woman after God's own heart. It is part of God's progressive sanctification. Warren