Cutting Saul's Robe

INTRO

As a reminder, our word for Jesus in 1 Samuel is Anointed One. The book started out with Saul being the anointed one, but then it moved from King Saul to David. Although David knew what was to come, he kept telling people not to say anything

because it wasn’t his time yet. That’s the theme for chapters 23 through 24—it was not yet David’s time. It shows an incredible picture of David as the precursor to Christ.

In chapter 23, David fought the Philistines (vv. 1–6). In verses 7–8, Saul took his army to Keilah to trap David there, but David used Abiathar’s ephod to determine what Saul was up to. Based on what the Lord told David, he left Keilah and moved from place to place (vv. 9–14). In verses 15–18, David and Jonathan renewed their covenant again, and Jonathan assumed the position as David’s second-in-command. However, some Ziphites told Saul where David was hiding. Saul chased David until the Philistines attacked. David escaped again (vv. 19–29).

TEACHING

Wiersbe shares four experiences David had in chapter 24.¹

First, David’s Temptation(vv. 1–4). David’s army of 600 men was being chased by Saul’s army of 3,000 (that’s a ratio of one to five) in the wilderness of Engedi (vv. 1–2). In the middle of the journey, Saul went to relieve himself in a cave. It happened that David and his men were hiding in the back of the same cave (v. 3). Saul’s need to relieve himself created a situation in which David’s maturity was seen.

The law of Moses was strict about what to do when someone had to relieve himself. The person was required to go outside the camp, dig a hole, take care of business, and then cover up the hole again (Deuteronomy 23:12–13). The reason was that “the Lord your God walks throughout your camp to protect you and deliver your enemies to you; so your encampments must be holy” (Deuteronomy 23:14). Wiersbe points out that Saul became extremely vulnerable while he was outside the camp and on his own.²Either Saul’s spies were incompetent or this encounter was under God’s control. The word “relieve” meant to cover the feet, because a person in a robe had to crouch above the ground with the outer garment around his feet.³While Saul was relieving himself, David and his leaders were having a conversation about the possibility that this was the day God had given Saul to him.

Nowhere in Scripture was this promise recorded. In verse 4, David snuck over to where Saul was and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe (Psalm 26:1.)

Second, David’s Conviction(vv. 5–7). David felt guilty for having humiliated Saul by cutting off part of his robe while Saul was in such a vulnerable position (v. 5). Wiersbe states that, “by cutting off a piece of the robe, David was declaring that the kingdom had been transferred to him,” and that “David did not intend to kill the king”⁴(1 Samuel 15:27–28). Dale Ralph Davis questions whether David’s actions were based on “providence or temptation.”⁵David’s conscience bothered him because he knew about the incident in 1 Samuel 15, when Saul tore Samuel’s robe, and that he had shown disrespect to God’s anointed one (Exodus 22:28). On some level, David had given in to temptation to take advantage of Saul, and from that temptation, David had to deal with the guilt of what he did to God’s king presently on the throne. We know temptation does not come from God (James 1:13–15). David knew he crossed the line and would not let his men kill Saul (v. 7).

Third, David’s Vindication(vv. 8–15). David got up and went out of the cave. He called out to Saul, “My Lord the king!” and bowed to the ground in respect (v. 8). In 1 Samuel, David used a variety of terms for Saul, all of which were used in respect: father (24:11), anointed (24:6, 10), my lord (24:6, 10), and king (24:8, 14). David explained that he had no plans to harm Saul (vv. 9–15). David had two more opportunities to kill Saul that he didn’t take (1 Samuel 26:2, 7–12; Romans 13:1–2). How do we know David was doing what he needed to do? Because of the character he displayed (Matthew 7:16–20). David verbalized his vindication in Psalm 54:1.

Fourth, David’s Affirmation(vv. 16–24). After David finished speaking, Saul wept. Wiersbe points out that Saul “manifested temporary emotional reactions like that before, but they never brought about repentance or a change of heart.”⁶Saul even admits he recognized God’s call on David (v. 20). David swore he would not hurt Saul and Saul went back home, while David went up to the stronghold (v. 21-22).

CLOSING

Here's the big picture. First Peter 2:23: "when He was reviled, He did not revile in return: when He was suffering, He did not threaten but entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly." David as the anointed one served as a type of the Anointed One. 

Isaiah 53:7: "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, He did not open His mouth." This is the same mentality of David's lifestyle pointing to the Anointed One to come. The only difference is that Jesus never gave in to temptation and that should be our model.