1 Samuel 24

The end of chapter 23 has David and his men barely escaping encirclement by Saul’s forces in the wilderness  of Maon. Providentially, a message came to Saul that the Philistines were raiding again, so Saul turned and went after them. David’s group moved SE into the canyon refuge and springs of Engedi, just to the west of the Dead Sea.

Then Saul returns from driving off the Philistines, here in 24:1, he receives intelligence that David is in Engedi and he gathers 3,000 elite soldiers and resumes his unlawful pursuit of David.

Again, by providential arrangement, a turn of events comes where Saul’s life is placed in the hands of David. What we discover is that David’s men speak for the Devil and tempt him with what seems to be the obvious hand of God! David discerns and resists the greater temptation, but in doing that, he falls for a lesser one. There is a lesson here for us all: That a partial obedience, though it may appear heroic to other people and even to ourselves, is still not full obedience, And less than full obedience is still sin.  Be careful not to let providential circumstance presented as a test by the Lord to be the leading and guiding of the Lord! Don’t automatically let circumstance guide instead of principle!

David’s conscience and humility and ultimate trust in the justice of God comes to the fore here in this tension-filled scene. David’s  counter-cultural humility and self-restraint, the Holy Spirit repeats through the apostle Paul in  Romans 12:18, Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord..