1 Samuel 26
F.B. Meyer · Citado em PreceptAustin
1 Samuel 26
Meyer - 1 Samuel 26:21 Then said Saul, I have sinned. The Apostle makes a great distinction, and rightly, between the sorrow of the world and the sorrow of a godly repentance which needeth not to be repented of. Certainly Saul’s confession of sin belonged to the former; whilst the cry of the latter comes out in Psalm 51, extorted from David by the crimes of after years. The difference between the two may be briefly summarized in this, that the one counts sin a folly and regrets its consequences; whilst the other regards sin as a crime done against the most Holy God, and regrets the pain given to Him. “Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight.” Obviously Saul’s confession was of the former description, “I have played the fool.” He recognized the unkingliness of his behavior, and the futility of his efforts against David. But he stayed there, stopping short of a faithful recognition of his position in the sight of God, as weighed in the balances of eternal justice. Many a time in Scripture do we meet with this confession. The Prodigal, Judas, Pharaoh, David, and Saul, uttered it; but in what differing tones, and with what differing motives! We need to winnow our words before God; not content with using the expressions of penitence, unless we are very sure that they bear the mint-mark of heaven, and deserve the Master’s Beatitude, “Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.” When sin is humbly confessed, the Savior assures us: “Thy sins, which are many, are forgiven thee; go in peace.” “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 Samuel 26:21 Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not harm you again because my life was precious in your sight this day. Behold, I have played the fool and have committed a serious error." BGT 1 Samuel 26:21 καὶ εἶπεν Σαουλ ἡμάρτηκα ἐπίστρεφε τέκνον Δαυιδ ὅτι οὐ κακοποιήσω σε ἀνθ᾽ ὧν ἔντιμος ψυχή μου ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου ἐν τῇ σήμερον μεματαίωμαι καὶ ἠγνόηκα πολλὰ σφόδρα LXE 1 Samuel 26:21 And Saul said, I have sinned: turn, son David, for I will not hurt thee, because my life was precious in thine eyes; and to-day I have been foolish and have erred exceedingly. KJV 1 Samuel 26:21 Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly. NET 1 Samuel 26:21 Saul replied, "I have sinned. Come back, my son David. I won't harm you, for you treated my life with value this day. I have behaved foolishly and have made a very terrible mistake!" CSB 1 Samuel 26:21 Saul responded, "I have sinned. Come back, my son David, I will never harm you again because today you considered my life precious. I have been a fool! I've committed a grave error." ESV 1 Samuel 26:21 Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake." NIV 1 Samuel 26:21 Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have erred greatly." NLT 1 Samuel 26:21 Then Saul confessed, "I have sinned. Come back home, my son, and I will no longer try to harm you, for you valued my life today. I have been a fool and very, very wrong." NRS 1 Samuel 26:21 Then Saul said, "I have done wrong; come back, my son David, for I will never harm you again, because my life was precious in your sight today; I have been a fool, and have made a great mistake." NJB 1 Samuel 26:21 Saul replied, 'I have done wrong! Come back, my son David; I shall never harm you again, since today you have shown respect for my life. Yes, I have behaved like a fool, I have been profoundly in the wrong.' NAB 1 Samuel 26:21 Then Saul said: "I have done wrong. Come back, my son David, I will not harm you again, because you have held my life precious today. Indeed, I have been a fool and have made a serious mistake." YLT 1 Samuel 26:21 And Saul saith, 'I have sinned; turn back, my son David, for I do evil to thee no more, because that my soul hath been precious in thine eyes this day; lo, I have acted foolishly, and do err very greatly.' GWN 1 Samuel 26:21 "My servant David," Saul said, "I have sinned. Come back. I will not harm you again, because you valued my life today. I've acted like a fool and made a terrible mistake." BBE 1 Samuel 26:21 Then Saul said, I have done wrong: come back to me, David my son: I will do you no more wrong, because my life was dear to you today truly, I have been foolish and my error is very great. I have sinned: 1Sa 15:24,30 24:17 Ex 9:27 Nu 22:34 Mt 27:4 I will not: 1Sa 27:4 my life: 1Sa 26:24 18:30 Ps 49:8 116:15 1 Samuel 26 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: 1 Samuel 24:16-21+ When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” Then Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17 He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have dealt well with me, while I have dealt wickedly with you. 18 “You have declared today that you have done good to me, that the LORD delivered me into your hand and yet you did not kill me. 19 “For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safely? May the LORD therefore reward you with good in return for what you have done to me this day. 20 “Now, behold, I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. 21 “So now swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants after me and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s household.” SAUL IS CONVICTED BY DAVID'S DEFENSE Then Saul said - Saul makes several proclamations that reflect his worldly sorrow and not his genuine repentance.
1 Samuel 26
Meyer - “The Apostle (see note) makes a great distinction, and rightly, between the sorrow of the world and the sorrow of a godly repentance which needeth not to be repented of. Certainly Saul’s confession of sin belonged to the former; while the cry of the latter comes out in Psalm 51, extorted from David by the crimes of after years.” Return, my son David, for I will not harm you again because my life was precious in your sight this day - Heb “my life was valuable in your eyes.” Saul pleads for restoration and promises future security. Then in a roundabout way Saul acknowledges David's righteousness. Alan Redpath, speaking on this speech of Saul’s says, “But what a miserable picture Saul is. This man let passion and sin drive him right over the precipice until he seems almost beyond hope. What is the use of saying ‘I have played the fool,’ if he goes on playing the fool? What use are his tears and confession before David if he doesn’t act upon his remorse? We sometimes see people streaming down the aisle in an evangelistic meeting with tear-stained faces. But what difference does emotion make if it does not lead to obedience? What profit is it that a heart has been stirred, unless from that moment the man lives in submission to the will of God. Indeed, it does make a difference, for if a man is emotionally upset as Saul was and awakens to his condition, but only weeps about it and still doesn’t obey God, his second state is a thousand times worse than the first. Emotion that does not lead to action only leads deeper into sin and rebellion.” (The Making of a Man of God Life of David) Behold (hinneh; Lxx = idou), I have played the fool (sakal; mataioo- become worthless or foolish, unable to think clearly or correctly) and have committed a serious error (shagah) - GWN - "made a terrible mistake" The English word "serious" is actually two Hebrew words (rabah = to be much, great + meod = adverb - exceedingly) to emphasize the magnitude of his error! Saul's correct self-diagnosis unfortunately leads to no corrective action on his part as subsequent chapters reveal! Indeed, Saul has played the fool in so many ways. He confesses the magnitude of his error. Robert Vannoy - I have acted like a fool. The epitaph for Saul’s life: He confesses that his behavior has been not only unwise but also ungodly (see notes on 1Sa 13:13; 25:2–44). Brian Bell - He was a fool in the way he treated Jonathan, David, Samuel, his army, his nation, & his God. He lived like a fool, & he died like a fool. Pr 26:11 says "Like a dog that returns to its vomit Is a fool who repeats his folly." As a dog eats its vomit, so a fool cannot learn from experience. He returns to his habits even though they are disgusting. I have played the fool - There are 2 Saul’s in the Bible, 1 in the OT, 1 in the NT. a) These 2 make a striking & instructive contrast: 1 2. 1 was the 1st king of Israel; the other became the apostle Paul. 3. 1 stood head & shoulders above others physically; the other stood head & shoulders above others spiritually. 4. 1 said at the end of his life, “I have played the fool”; the other died saying, “I have fought the good fight...finally there is laid up for me a crown of rt.” Morgan on played the fool - “In these words we have a perfect autobiography. In them the complete life-story of this man is told.” Gulston says, “Significant words, and the last he was ever to address to the person he had an obsession to destroy. Like Nabal, Saul’s days were now numbered. Like a king who would later rule in Babylon, ‘he was weighed in the balances and found wanting’ (Daniel 5:27). His kingdom too, like that of Belshazzar, would be given to another, who would, as he had prophesied, do great things.” Brian Bell - A man plays the fool when… 1. When, he neglects his godly friends (Samuel, David) 2. When, he goes on enterprises for God before God has sent him. 3. When, he disobeys God even in seemingly small matters (Amalekites). 4. When, he tries to cover up his disobedience to God by religious excuses (they kept the animals for sacrifices). 5. When, he tries to persuade himself he is doing God’s will when in his heart he knows otherwise. 6. When, he allows some jealousy or hatred to master & enslave & deprave him. 7. When, he knowingly fights against God, as Saul did in hunting David, to save his own face. 8. When, he turns from the God he has grieved, & seeks an alternative in traffic with spirits in the Beyond (ch.28) 9. He truly had, “played the fool!” The contrast between OT Saul and NT Saul 1. With Saul of the OT there is a progressive downgrade; with Saul of the NT there is a progressive upgrade (for the prize of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus). 2. With Saul of the OT “self” more & more gets the upper hand; with Saul of the NT there is a progressive displacement of self-ism in favor of monopoly by Christ. 3. Saul of the OT is egocentric; Saul of the NT is Christocentric. 4. Saul of the OT to live was “self”; Saul of the NT to live was “Christ”. 5. Saul of the OT to die was “shame & gloom”; Saul of the NT to die was “gain & glory”. 6. Saul’s heart-rending requiem was, “I have played the fool”; Paul’s martyrdom song was, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown!” 7. Saul of the OT threw his crown away; Saul of the NT, who lived for Christ, gained a crown which will never lose its luster through all the ages! a) I guess the bummer in all this is...how often I look more like Saul of the OT! :( John