Journey Through The Scriptures

In these early studies of David, we have seen his courage, compassion, and nobility — qualities he developed as a shepherd that would serve him well as king. It is certainly noble for an innocent fugitive to spare the life of his evil pursuer, especially when the latter is at his mercy. But David’s determination not to kill Saul was motivated by more than human goodness. David was a spiritual person, “a man after [God’s] own heart,” and so to him Saul was “the LORD’s anointed” whom David felt he had no right to harm.

It took two occasions of David sparing Saul’s life to finally persuade Saul to break off his pursuit. Saul’s troubled conscience is evident in his cries of remorse over his attempts to kill David, whom Saul evidently loved like a son. Chapter 25 gives us a glimpse into how David was able to survive his years on the run with so many people to provide for. Armed men would often protect a wealthy person’s flocks in those days, and receive something for it. David did this for Nabal in Maon, but Nabal insulted David and sent his men away empty-handed. Abigail wisely kept David from taking revenge, and affirmed that he would surely be king of Israel someday. After Nabal’s death, Abigail became David’s wife.