King James Version
The Book of 1 Samuel
Chapter 24
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Commentary
by G. Neil Armstrong
Even though the Spriit of the Lord had departed from Saul, he did have moments of compassion. Even though evil spirits torments him sometimes, he didn’t always behave with malice. Even though Saul knew he would lose the kingdom because or the Word of the Lord by Samuel the Prophet, he did sometimes remember his love for David. Nobody told Saul that he’d someday lose his kingdom to David, but Saul figured it out. The People love David. David has only known victory in battle. David is a man after God’s own heart.
David made a covenant with Jonathan that the Lord would be between the two and their seed forever. Sometimes we are in situations that cause us to forget our promises and still our heart will lead us to do the right thing. This was such a time. David could have used his sword against Saul but instead he only cut the skirt of Sauls robe. This had shown that David could have smote Saul and did not. This shows that his heart is not against Saul and that he will not raise a hand against Saul.
Saul was moved by what David had done. He remembered for a moment that he did love David as his own son. Perhaps he sees in himself the jealousy that drives him, even if for only a brief time. No matter, Saul made a covenant with David that day and then he returned home without harming David.
There are times in my life when I wish I hadn’t made a promise in haste, that I wish I had kept my mouth shut. When situations arise and I want to do something adverse to a promise I had made, I am moved with compassion, just as Saul was. I am able to remember the way I felt when I made that promise and then I am repented of the adverse emotion. I am sustained by the initial love. This is what God wants to show us in our heart. Don’t be hasty to make a promise to anyone and don’t be hasty to brake that promise. Remember the love that inspired the promise and keep the promise. Not only is our integrity at stake, but so is the well being of the one who is owed the promise. It is better to not make a vow than to make one and then break it.
David and Saul parted ways that day without one killing the other. Saul being king and master humbled David. Saul was humbled by David’s integrity.
