16 22. Saul’s momentary remorse<\/p>\n
16<\/strong>. my son David<\/em> ] The old fatherly feeling revived. The generous loving heart of the old days had not yet utterly perished.<\/p>\n 1Sa 24:16<\/span><\/p>\n And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n A triple victory<\/strong><\/p>\n Those who form the most careful plans for the defeat of others are often defeated themselves. Pharaoh persecuted and pursued the children of Israel, but he perished through his own folly–Haman and Mordecai–Judas mad Christ. Saul hunted for David like a thirsty bloodhound, but imperilled his own life lay entering the cave in which David and his men had concealed themselves. How did David treat his enemy in the hour of his weakness?<\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>That it is the duty of Christian men to forgive their enemies.<\/p>\n 2. <\/strong>Christian men are benefited by forgiving their enemies. Forgiveness improves both the heart of the offended and the offender. Life is ennobled by little acts of forbearance, and the heart made bright and glad. A desire for revenge is a sure sign of weakness. Revenge is its own torment.<\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>Saul was convinced of sin. The hardest heart is sometimes softened. The iceberg melts before the sun. Awakened, ashamed, but not reclaimed.<\/p>\n 2. <\/strong>Saul confessed his sin. Thou art more righteous than I, for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. Bad men must confess their sin. They may conceal their true character for a time, but truth will out. The secret diary of the heart will be opened and read.<\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>He conquered by constant vigilance.<\/p>\n 2. <\/strong>He conquered by earnest prayer. (J. T. Woodhouse.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The reconciliation of Saul<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>In the worst men there is something that may be touched.<\/p>\n 2. <\/strong>In every life there is at least one opportunity of showing the real quality of the heart. David seized it! This is the sublime appeal of the Gospel! God does not crush us by mere power. Love, truth, persuasion–these are the weapons of Gods warfare! (J. Parker, D. D.<\/em>)<\/p>\n .<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Verse 16<\/span>. My son David?<\/B><\/I>] David had called Saul his master, lord<\/I>, and king<\/I>. Saul accosts him here as his son<\/I>, to show that he felt perfectly reconciled to him, and wished to receive him as formerly into his family.<\/P> <\/p>\n Is this thy voice, my son David?<\/B> he knew his voice though being at a great distance from him, he could not discern his face. <\/P> And wept; <\/B>partly from the sense of his sin against God, and of his wicked and base carriage to David; (for there are some such temporary passions oft-times in hypocrites and ungodly men;) and principally from the remembrance of so great and so late a danger as he had now escaped; which commonly produceth grief and tears; as 2Sa 13:36<\/span>. Yet these may be tears of affection or tenderness (upon the sense of Davids kindness) rather than of grief. <\/P> <\/p>\n And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul<\/strong>,…. And wonderful it is that Saul, so full of wrath and fury, and so eager of David’s life, should stand still and hear him out, and not fall upon him; this must be owing to the restraining providence of God, and to the surprise Saul was in at the sight of David coming out of the cave, whom he expected not; and especially what awed and quieted him was the sight of the skirt of his robe in his hand, which was a sure token he had his life in his hand, and spared it, which made him listen attentively to all he said:<\/p>\n that Saul said, [is] this thy voice, my son David<\/strong>? he changes his language; before, when he spoke of David, it was only the so of Jesse now my son David, as he was by marriage to his daughter, and as appeared by his filial affection to him; and though he was at such a distance from him, that he was not able to discern his countenance, yet he knew his voice, at least supposed it to be his, as his question implies, and which he might conclude fro in the whole of his discourse:<\/p>\n and Saul lifted up his voice and wept<\/strong>; being affected with the kindness of David to him, and with his deliverance from the danger he was in, and yet without true repentance of his sins; for there may be many tears shed where there is no real repentance, as in the case of Esau.<\/p>\n These words made an impression upon Saul. David’s conduct went to his heart, so that he wept aloud, and confessed to him: “ Thou art more righteous than I, for thou hast shown me good, and I<\/em> (have shown) thee evil; and thou hast given me a proof of this to-day<\/em>.”<\/p>\n Saul Relents at David’s Reproof.<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/I><\/span><\/P> <\/TD> B. C.<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> 1057.<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/P> <\/TD> <\/TR> <\/TABLE> 16 And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is<\/I> this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. 17 And he said to David, Thou art<\/I> more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. 18 And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD<\/B> had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not. 19 For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD<\/B> reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day. 20 And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand. 21 Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD<\/B>, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father’s house. 22 And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.<\/P> Here we have,<\/P> I. Saul’s penitent reply to David’s speech. It was strange that he had patience to hear him out, considering how outrageous he was against him, and how cutting David’s discourse was. But God restrained him and his men; and we may suppose Saul struck with amazement at the singularity of the event, and much more when he found how much he had lain at David’s mercy. His heart must have been harder than a stone if this had not affected him. 1. He melted into tears, and we will not suppose them to have been counterfeit but real expressions of his present concern at the sight of his own iniquity, so plainly proved upon him. He speaks as one quite overcome with David’s kindness: Is this thy voice, my son David?<\/I> And, as one that relented at the thought of his own folly and ingratitude, he lifted up his voice and wept,<\/I> v.<\/span> 16<\/span><\/U><\/I><\/span>. Many mourn for their sins that do not truly repent of them, weep bitterly for them, and yet continue in love and league with them. 2. He ingenuously acknowledges David’s integrity and his own iniquity (v.<\/I><\/span> 17<\/span>): Thou art more righteous than I.<\/I> Now God made good to David that word on which he had caused him to hope, that he would bring forth his righteousness as the light,<\/I> Ps. xxxvii. 6<\/I><\/span>. Those who take care to keep a good conscience may leave it to God to secure them the credit of it. This fair confession was enough to prove David innocent (even his enemy himself being judge), but not enough to prove Saul himself a true penitent. He should have said, Thou are righteous, but I am wicked;<\/I> but the utmost he will own is this: Thou art more righteous than I.<\/I> Bad men will commonly go no further than this in their confessions; they will own they are not so good as some others are; there are those that are better than they, and more righteous. He now owns himself under a mistake concerning David (v.<\/I><\/span> 18<\/span>): “Thou hast shown this day<\/I> that thou art so far from seeking my hurt that thou hast dealt well with me.<\/I>” We are too apt to suspect others to be worse affected towards us then really they are, and than perhaps they are proved to be; and when, afterwards, our mistake is discovered, we should be forward to recall our suspicions, as Saul does here. 3. He prays God to recompense David for this his generous kindness to him. He owns that David’s sparing him, when he had him in his power, was an uncommon and unparalleled instance of tenderness to an enemy; no man would have done the like; and therefore, either because he thought himself not able to give him a full recompence for so great a favour, or because he found himself not inclined to give him any recompence at all, he turns him over to God for his pay: The Lord reward thee good,<\/I> v.<\/span> 19<\/span><\/U><\/I><\/span>. Poor beggars can do no less than pray for their benefactors, and Saul did no more. 4. He prophesies his advancement to the throne (v.<\/I><\/span> 20<\/span>): I know well that thou shalt surely be king.<\/I> He knew it before, by the promise Samuel had made him of it compared with the excellent spirit that appeared in David, which highly aggravated his sin and folly in persecuting him as he did; he had as much reason to say concerning David as David concerning him, How can I put forth my hand against the Lord’s anointed?<\/I> But now he knew it by the interest he found David had in the people, the special providence of God in protecting him, and the generous kingly spirit he had now given a proof of in sparing his enemy. Now he knew it, that is, now that he was in a good temper he was willing to own that he knew it and to submit to the conviction of it. Note, Sooner or later, God will force even those that are of the synagogue of Satan to know and own those that he has loved, and to worship before their feet; for so is the promise, Rev. iii. 9<\/span>. This acknowledgement which Saul made of David’s incontestable title to the crown was a great encouragement to David himself and a support to his faith and hope. 5. He binds David with an oath hereafter to show the same tenderness of his seed and of his name as he had now shown of his person, v.<\/I><\/span> 21<\/span>. David had more reason to oblige Saul by an oath that he would not destroy him, yet he insists not on that (if the laws of justice and honour would not bind him, an oath would not), but Saul knew David to be a conscientious man, and would think his interests safe if he could get them secured by his oath. Saul by his disobedience had ruined his own soul, and never took care by repentance to prevent that ruin, and yet is very solicitous that his name might not be destroyed nor his seed cut off. However, David swore unto him,<\/I> v.<\/span> 22<\/span><\/U><\/I><\/span>. Though he might be tempted, not only in revenge, but in prudence, to extirpate Saul’s family, yet he binds himself not to do it, knowing that God could and would establish the kingdom to him and his, without the use of such bloody methods. This oath he afterwards religiously observed; he supported Mephibosheth, and executed those as traitors that slew Ishbosheth. The hanging up of seven of Saul’s posterity, to atone for the destruction of the Gibeonites, was God’s appointment, not David’s act, and therefore not the violation of this oath.<\/P> II. Their parting in peace. 1. Saul, for the present, desisted from the persecution. He went home convinced, but not converted; ashamed of his envy of David, yet retaining in his breast that root of bitterness; vexed that, when at last he had found David, he could not at that time find in his heart to destroy him, as he had designed. God has many ways to tie the hands of persecutors, when he does not turn their hearts. 2. David continued to shift for his own safety. He knew Saul too well to trust him, and therefore got him up into the hold.<\/I> It is dangerous venturing upon the mercy of a reconciled enemy. We read of those who believed in Christ, and yet he did not commit himself to them because he knew all men.<\/I> Those that like David are innocent as doves must thus like him be wise as serpents.<\/I><\/P><\/p>\n CRITICAL AND EXPOSITORY NOTES<\/strong><\/p>\n 1Sa. 24:16<\/span>. And Saul lifted up his voice<\/strong>. There is no hypocrisy or pretence here. Saul, tossed powerless hither and thither by fierce passions and without harmony of soul-life, is here laid hold of in a hidden corner of his heart, where he was still accessible to the power of truth, and involuntarily yields to this nobler arousing of his soul, though it is not destined to be permanent. (Erdmann<\/em>.)<\/p>\n 1Sa. 24:20<\/span>. How did Saul come to this knowledge<\/em> which he here expresses, and which Jonathan had already affirmed that his father had? (1Sa. 23:17<\/span>.) Not through direct Divine revelation, but by the observation that all his undertakings against David were unsuccessful, and that David, in respect to his persecutions, was under special Divine protection, coupled with the recollection of what Samuel had once said to him in the name of God respecting his rejection for disobedience. (Erdmann<\/em>.)<\/p>\n 1Sa. 24:21<\/span>. My name<\/strong>, etc. A name is exterminated when the whole of the descendants are destroyeda thing of frequent occurrence in the East in connection with a change of dynasties, and one which occurred again and again even in the kingdom of the ten tribes. See 1Ki. 15:28<\/span> sqq.; 1Ki. 16:11<\/span> sqq.; 2 Kings 10<\/span> (Keil<\/em>.)<\/p>\n 1Sa. 24:22<\/span>. The hold<\/strong>. The word here so translated is used to denote the mountainous part of the desert of Judah. It is different in 1Sa. 22:5<\/span>. (Keil<\/em>.)<\/p>\n MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.<\/em>1Sa. 24:16-22<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n THE EFFECT OF DAVIDS CONDUCT UPON SAUL<\/p>\n I. Here is a righteous emotion and a sincere confession of sin produced by godlike conduct.<\/strong> The ice upon the lake may be very strong and thick, but there is a strength of sunlight that will dissolve it; and the iron may be very hard and cold, but there is an intensity of heat that will make it glow and even melt it. So the conscience may be as it were frozen over by indulgence in some evil passion, and all the soul hardened by a long course of sin; but there are manifestations of goodness that will melt the stubborn will, and awaken into life the better part of the man although it may be only for a season. Circumstances sometimes bring such a man into such contact with a godly character that he cannot avoid seeing the contrast between what he is and what he might and ought to be; and the effect of the vision is to awaken a feeling of contrition, and it may be to extort from him a confession of his guilt. Such a time now came to Saul. The feeling of jealousy against David had gained such an ascendancy in his soul as to stifle all his better feelings, and even the voices of reason and conscience; but this meeting, and Davids godlike behaviour, caused him for a moment to see himself in a true light, and to discern how great a gulf of character there was between him and the man whom he was hating even unto blood. For a short season the magnanimity of David asserted its power over his pitiless foe, and melted him into contrition and confession.<\/p>\n II. But this righteous emotion and sincere confession failed to produce true repentance.<\/strong> Where there is beautiful blossom we may hope in due time to see the fruit, and whenever we rejoice over the ripened fruit we know it began with the blossom, but the blossom is not the fruit, and we know that, alas, many a fair blossom fails to bring forth that which it seems to promise. So is it with contrition for sin and sincere repentance, the one must precede the other, and when we see the first we hope it may prove to be that godly sorrow which worketh repentance<\/em> (2Co. 7:10<\/span>). But we know that it is not always so, and Sauls conduct here and on a subsequent occasion shows how even strong and sincere emotion may be felt and yet not pass into life and action, and so fail to benefit the character and even make repentance more difficult. Every conviction of sin which leaves the man no better than before does not leave him as it found him, but in a worse condition, even as the bar of iron which has been in the furnace is harder than one which has never yet been heated.<\/p>\n OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS<\/em><\/p>\n 1Sa. 24:16<\/span>. What change is this that takes place all at once? He who but lately could not bring himself to mention Davids name (1Sa. 22:7<\/span>)who hated even his namemakes him one of his family by calling him his son! What more happy fortune than that which now befel David, who transforms his would-be murderer into his father, who changes the wolf into the lamb, who is able to extinguish this angry conflagration, to make a calm succeed the tempest, and to heal this fever of passion in the soul? Davids words had brought about this revolution. Saul says not, It is thou who speakest, my son David, but It is thy voice, my son David<\/em>, for the mere sound of his voice was enough to soften him. And as a father, who, after a long absence, hears the voice of his child, needs not to see him to be awakened to emotion, so Saul, after the words of David penetrating his heart, chased away his hatred, recognised in David the man of God, and, cured of his evil passion, felt himself possessed by another emotion; his malice had disappeared, and joy and affection had taken its place. Just as in the darkness of night we do not perceive the presence of our friend, but when the daylight comes we recognise him even afar off, so while we are evilly disposed towards each other, we listen to each others words, and look upon one another in the spirit of prejudice, but when we are cured of our malice, the voice which before sounded harsh and angry becomes soft and pleasant to our ears, and the countenance which seemed repulsive and unwelcome is now lovely and attractive.A bridged from Chrysostom<\/em>.<\/p>\n 1Sa. 24:17<\/span>. He should have said, Thou art righteous<\/em>, but I am wicked; but the utmost he will own is this, Thou art more righteous than I<\/em>. Bad men will commonly go no further than this in their confessions; they will own they are not so good as some others are; there are those that are better than they and more righteous.Henry<\/em>.<\/p>\n 1Sa. 24:18<\/span>. Saul for the present spake as he thought. But good thoughts make but a thoroughfare of wicked hearts: they stay not there, as those that like not their lodging.Trapp<\/em>.<\/p>\n Sauls sense of Davids generosity must be very strong when he beseeches God to reward it. Indeed, Saul had no equivalent to give David for the kindness shown him, and therefore he refers him to God for retribution. For if, after this, he should even save Davids life, yet still he could only save the life of his best benefactor, whereas David both spared and saved the life of his most mortal enemy.Delany<\/em>.<\/p>\n Saul Accepts Davids Plea. 1Sa. 24:16-22<\/span><\/p>\n 16 And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.<\/p>\n 17 And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.<\/p>\n 18 And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the Lord had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not. 11.<\/p>\n Why did Saul weep? 1Sa. 24:16<\/span><\/p>\n Saul was ashamed of himself. He could hardly believe that it was David speaking to him. He had to ask him if it were really his voice that he was hearing. Saul admitted that David was more righteous than himself. He realized that David had rewarded good for evil. Davids judgment of the situation was correct. He really did not need to wait for a further indication from God of His judgment in the matter. Saul knew what the judgment would be.<\/p>\n 12.<\/p>\n Why did Saul conclude that David would be king? 1Sa. 24:20<\/span><\/p>\n As events were transpiring, it was quite evident that Saul could not prevail over David. It was therefore evident to Saul as well as to many others that David was destined to be the sole leader of the people of Israel. It is doubtful that Saul knew that Samuel had anointed David to be king. Jonathan had reached the conclusion earlier (1Sa. 23:16<\/span>). Even the Philistines had greeted David with a reference to their belief that he was king of Israel. The servants of Achish asked him, Is not this David, the king of the land? (1Sa. 21:11<\/span>). These people surely would have no knowledge of the anointing at Bethlehem at the hands of Samuel the prophet. They must have reached this conclusion from the song that they had heard the people singing one to another in their dances as they said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands (1Sa. 21:11<\/span> b).<\/p>\n 13.<\/p>\n What favor did Saul ask of David? 1Sa. 24:21<\/span><\/p>\n Saul asked David to enter into a covenant with him that was similar to the covenant existing between Jonathan and David. He asked David to swear to him that he would not kill his heirs. He prayed that David would not blot his name out of the national records of Israel and from his fathers line. The Gibeonites asked for such vengeance to be reeked upon the house of Saul because Saul had tried to exterminate them. Their vengeance was only a partial extermination, but they did ask that seven of Sauls sons be delivered to them in order that they might hang them up in Gibeon (2Sa. 21:6<\/span>). Egyptian kings quite often treated their successors in this way. They defaced the monuments so that there would be no permanent record left of their predecessors, and killed all the family of the former king to prevent any future glory from accruing to the house. David entered into this agreement with Saul. He had no evil intentions towards him.<\/p>\n 14.<\/p>\n Where was the hold? 1Sa. 24:22<\/span><\/p>\n David must have returned to the mountain heights. A different Hebrew word is used in 1Sa. 22:5<\/span> to signify a stronghold. At that time David was seeking refuge in Mizpeh of Moab. Since Moab was outside the borders of Israel, Gad brought Gods directive to David and told him to spend his time in the land of Israel. By staying inside the borders of the country, he would not only demonstrate to his people that he was upright in his actions, but he would also be afforded what protection they could give him. Davids returning to the stronghold in Judah is indicative of the fact that he did not think that Sauls good intentions towards him would be long-lasting. Had he thought that Saul would be favorably inclined towards him over a long period of time, he might have returned with him to Gibeah.<\/p>\n 15.<\/p>\n On what two occasions did David spare Sauls life? 24:26<\/p>\n Saul was called from his pursuit of David to drive the Philistines from the border of Israel. When Saul returned from this expedition, he again hunted for David, this time in the wilderness of En-gedi. It so happened that David and his men were hiding in a cave. Saul entered the mouth of that cave, and slept there. Davids men were elated, because it appeared that Jehovah had delivered Davids enemy into his hand. All David would do, however, was to cut the skirt from Sauls robe, privily. Even this small act weighed upon Davids conscience. When Saul arose and left the cave, David kept his men from harming him, and asserted that he was loyal to the king, Jehovahs anointed. This touched even Sauls heart; and he repented over the evil that he had plotted against David, swearing that he would not do so any more. Saul then returned to his capital, but David and his men went up into a stronghold. (16) These words.<\/strong>L. Philippson (in the Israelitish Bible, Leipzig) sums up strikingly the general effect of Davids moving but natural words to Saul. This appeal possesses so much natural eloquence, such warmth, such true earnestness, that no one who has any love for the simple beauties of the Bible can read it unmoved. There is a striking grandeur, too, in the whole scene. We see David standing on some peak in this wilderness of rocks, holding up the trophy of his romantic generosity, gazing at and addressing the melancholy Saul, whom he loved as a father, paid homage to as a king, and reverenced as the Lords Anointed, but who, for his part, hated him without a cause, and hunted him down with a restless, murderous zeal; and (as David stood there and gazed on Saul) he seized the opportunity, and tried to touch his royal enemys heart with words, hurried, indeed, and quickly spoken, but breathing the intense earnestness of his inward feeling. He was overwhelmed with the consciousness of a sorrow too deep for words, yet he spoke as one inspired with the knowledge of a noble deed just done.<\/p>\n And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.<\/strong>And for a time the words, but still more the forbearance, of David in the cave touched Saul to the quick. He not only spoke kindly to the hated David, but even wept. There is nothing strange in this sudden change of feeling in one so nervous and excitable as was Saul. It is clear that for the moment Saul meant to alter his conduct to David, but the sad sequel shows that the impression made was only transitory; and David, by his conduct, clearly saw this, for he madeas the last verse of the chapter shows usno effort to return to his old home and position with Saul, but maintained his independent, though precarious, position as an outlaw.<\/p>\n 16<\/strong>. <\/strong> Saul lifted up his voice, and wept <\/strong> “Behold,” says Kitto, “how that stern heart is melted! The hard wintry frosts thaw fast before the kindly warmth of David’s generous nature.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/strong> Saul Acknowledges his Fault<\/p>\n v. 16. And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David?<\/strong> Saul was deeply affected by the fervor of David, by the justice of his plea, by the pious reverence shown by him. And Saul lifted up his voice and wept,<\/strong> momentarily overcome by emotion. <\/p>\n v. 17. And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I; for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. <\/strong> The evidence before his eyes forced Saul to make at least this acknowledgment. <\/p>\n v. 18. And thou hast showed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me, forasmuch as when the Lord had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not,<\/strong> David had not taken the opportunity offered by God’s providence. <\/p>\n v. 19. For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away?<\/strong> It was a most unusual way of dealing with an enemy, to let him go scot-free when such a fine chance to dispose of him offered. Wherefore the Lord reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day. <\/strong> For the time being, Saul permitted the nobler sentiments to come into his heart, but there was no true conversion. <\/p>\n v. 20. And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand. <\/strong> This conclusion was forced upon Saul by the evident protection of the Lord which David enjoyed, and he still remembered what Samuel had told him regarding his own rejection. <\/p>\n v. 21. Swear now, therefore, unto me by the Lord that thou wilt not cut off my seed,<\/strong> his children, after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father’s house. <\/strong> It was not unusual in the Orient for the king of anew dynasty to exterminate the entire family of the former king, down to the most remote relatives, and this Saul wanted to avoid. <\/p>\n v. 22. And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home,<\/strong> returned to his royal residence; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold,<\/strong> for they knew better than to expect Saul to retain the kind disposition and bearing which he had last shown. Saul’s emotion was no true repentance, his heart had not been changed. Such a person is and remains a child of wrath, whether he rages and raves against the Lord or whether he is more quiet. <\/p>\n 1Sa 24:16<\/span><\/em><\/strong>. <\/strong>Saul lifted up his voice, and wept<\/em><\/strong><\/strong> Saul himself, with all his malice, could not withstand this instance of David’s generosity. He melted, and sunk under it; and instead of defaming it, or lessening the merit of it with an unrelenting heart, he lift up his voice and wept, <\/em>and with tears acknowledged David’s innocence and his own guilt, and even prayed God to reward him, whom, but the moment before, he was pursuing to destruction. <\/p>\n (16) And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. (17) And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. (18) And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not. (19) For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day. (20) And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand. (21) Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father’s house. (22) And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Is it not matter of astonishment, that after such a palpable act of mercy as David had shown Saul, that his mind should still retain hatred to the person of David, as we find in the sequel of the history it did? And is it not yet more astonishing that Saul should even weep, confess his baseness, and yet soon dry up the tears and hate more than ever. Reader! I beg it of you as a favour, though your welfare, not mine, is concerned in the request, look inward, search that depth of corruption lodged in your own heart! depend upon it, the Lord did not ask that question by the prophet, without full cause, when pronouncing the heart deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, he added who can know it? meaning no doubt that none can thoroughly know it, but the Lord. See Jer 17:9-10<\/span> . No man hath ever yet penetrated to the bottom of the wickedness and deceit of his own heart; neither have all the foldings in which foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, been laid open to any man’s view. Pro 22:15<\/span> . But wherefore have I adverted to this subject; or requested the Reader to look so narrowly within? Believe me, it is not that any pleasure can be derived to him that writes, more than to him that reads, from ripping open the bosom of either, when both are alike unclean. But it is to endear Jesus; it is to render him yet more sweet and more precious. It is, to convince, by an evidence so decided, and palpable as a man’s own bosom, that there is salvation in no other. The tears of Saul, the tears of Esau; nay, all the tears which have been shed from the days of Adam to this hour, have no efficacy to change the heart, or wash away sin. And though I make a wide difference between these tears of Saul, in the same unregenerated state, and the tears of Peter, when the Lord had renewed him to repentance; yet the tears of Peter, were only precious evidences of his being renewed, and his heart changed; not the means of his acceptance. Neither those tears, nor that repentance, became the cause of his recovery, or of the Lord’s favour. This mercy wholly sprung from the fountain of mercy, God’s grace in Jesus Christ. Oh! for testimonies in my soul that I am become a new creature in Christ Jesus, by the sweet fruits of faith, repentance, and a new life. But with all these precious gifts in full exercise in my soul, I pray God that I may lay no stress upon either, but wholly seek to be accepted in the person and complete redemption-work of Jesus Christ. As Paul counted all things but dross to win Christ, and be found in him; so would I pray to be found, living and dying to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made poor sinners accepted in the Beloved. See Phi 3:7-9<\/span> ; Eph 1:6-7<\/span> .<\/p>\n 1Sa 24:16 And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, [Is] this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.<\/p>\n Ver. 16. And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.<\/strong> ] As overcome with David’s kindness, whose innocency now triumphed in Saul’s conscience, and produced a velleity, an imperfect motion of the will: but not voluntatem,<\/em> a direct and complete will against his sin.<\/p>\n Kindness Wakens a Better Spirit <\/p>\n 1Sa 24:16-22; 1Sa 25:1<\/p>\n Davids noble self-restraint, followed as it was by no less noble words, awoke the best side of Sauls nature. Chords began to vibrate that had long been silent. The memory of happier days, before their intercourse had become clouded by jealousy and hatred, came trooping back, and Saul was himself again. Indeed, Davids appeal called forth from Saul a confession of his sin; and he went so far as to ask David to spare his house in the coming days, when David would assuredly be king. But, as the sequel proved, this better spirit was but temporary. It was a change of mood, not of will. Let us not form the habit of trusting in our emotional life. Nothing is permanent save the will that is energized by the will of God. Psa 142:1-7 throws a light on Davids state of heart at this period.<\/p>\n The death of a good man is a serious loss at any time, but to Israel, governed by a cruel, wayward king, Samuels death was cause for special lamentation. His holy life, his fearless denunciation of wrong, his self-sacrifice for the peoples welfare, and especially his power in intercessory prayer, made him one of the most important national assets. Let us so live that we may be missed when we go home!<\/p>\n Is this: 1Sa 26:17, Job 6:25, Pro 15:1, Pro 25:11, Luk 21:15, Act 6:10 <\/p>\n Saul lifted: Gen 33:4 <\/p>\n Reciprocal: Gen 21:16 – lift Rom 12:20 – if thine<\/p>\n 1Sa 24:16. Is this thy voice, my son David? He knew his voice, though, being at a great distance from him, he could not discern his face. Saul lifted up his voice and wept Being overcome with Davids kindness, in sparing his life when he could have taken it away, and conscious of his base carriage toward him. He speaks as one that relented at the sight of his own folly and ingratitude. Davids kindness, says Samuel Clark, drew tears from hard-hearted Saul, as Moses fetched water out of the flinty rock, Deu 8:15. Perhaps, however, he was also affected with a sense of his sins against God. But it does not appear from his future conduct that he was a true penitent, for he did not bring forth fruits meet for repentance.<\/p>\n 24:16 And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, {f} [Is] this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.<\/p>\n (f) Though he was a cruel enemy to David, yet by his great gentleness his conscience compelled him to yield.<\/p>\n David’s promise not to cut off Saul’s descendants and name 24:16-22<\/span><\/p>\n David’s words and actions convicted Saul of his actions (1Sa 24:17), and the king wept tears of remorse (1Sa 24:16). He referred to David as his "son" (1Sa 24:16), as David had earlier called Saul his "father" (1Sa 24:11). Saul confessed David’s superior righteousness (1Sa 24:17) and goodness (1Sa 24:18). There is no more powerful tribute than one that comes from an adversary. Saul even called on the Lord to reward David with blessing for his treatment of the king (1Sa 24:19). Saul then confessed that he realized that David’s ultimate succession to the throne of Israel was inevitable (1Sa 24:20; cf. 1Sa 23:17).<\/p>\n Finally Saul asked David not to cut off his descendants when he came to power (1Sa 24:21). As noted earlier, it was customary in the ancient Near East for a new king to kill all the descendants of the ruler whom he replaced. This prevented them from rising up and reestablishing the dead king’s dynasty. David had already promised Jonathan that he would not kill his descendants (1Sa 20:14-17), and he now made the same promise to Saul (1Sa 24:22). To cut off someone’s name meant to obliterate the memory of him. David even agreed to spare Saul’s reputation in Israel (cf. 2Sa 1:17-27).<\/p>\n Saul’s remorse was evidently genuine, but David had learned that it would probably be only temporary. Consequently when Saul departed and returned to Gibeah, David again sought protection in "the stronghold," probably one of the refuges near Engedi (perhaps the site of Masada; 1Sa 24:22; cf. 1Sa 23:29).<\/p>\n This chapter helps us deal with the common temptation to get even, by showing us David’s example of trusting God and not retaliating. It also deals with how we should view securing what God has promised us. David let God determine how and when he would become king. He refused the temptation to take matters into his own hands and thereby determine his destiny (cf. 2Ki 8:14-15). We see David growing in this chapter. He began by threatening the king, but then he backed off and declined to kill Saul. Finally he determined even to trust God to control Saul’s descendants, as well as Saul himself, and to preserve Saul’s memory in Israel. God rewarded David for his trust and obedience by giving him a peaceful conscience immediately, and safety when his own son, Absalom, rose up against him.<\/p>\n And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, [Is] this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. 16 22. Saul’s momentary remorse 16. my son David ] The old fatherly feeling revived. The generous loving heart of … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 24:16”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7867","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7867","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7867"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7867\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7867"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7867"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7867"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
I. <\/strong>David showed the most gracious treatment to an inveterate enemy. We may learn two things from this gracious forbearance.<\/p>\n
II. <\/strong>David gained a most decisive victory over an inveterate enemy. Kindness conquered. Love won. Saul lifted up his voice and wept.<\/p>\n
III. <\/strong>How did David obtain this three-fold victory?<\/p>\n
I.<\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>Whilst the good man sees his own perils, let him also see the restraints which are put upon the wicked. Saul is mighty; Saul has servants; Saul is accustomed to dip his sword in human blood; yet he cannot hit David!<\/p>\n
II. <\/strong>Let the sad man put to himself some serious questions respecting the restraints which limit his power. Saul should have learned a good deal from the failures which followed each other in rapid succession. Why do the heathen so furiously rage? Evil is a gigantic failure: is there not a cause?<\/p>\n
III. <\/strong>Though mediation may fail is carrying out its purposes, yet let no wise mediator suppose that his work is in vain. Jonathan was mediator between Saul and David. Looking at it on one side, he might well have abandoned his work as a failure. What of its influence upon David? How it cheered him like a light! Be some mans true friend. No word of love is lost. No true ministry is a failure, though it may have aspects which are discouraging.<\/p>\n
IV. <\/strong>Observe the infinite superiority of power that is moral, as compared with power that is physical. Saul went to seek David upon the rocks of the wild goats. In his pursuit he came to the sheepcotes where there was a cave, and into that cave he entered, little knowing who was there! Said lifted up his voice and wept! What a difference between this and a mere fight of hostile weapons!<\/p>\n
<\/strong><\/p>\nFuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
19 For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the Lord reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.
20 And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.
21 Swear now therefore unto me by the Lord, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my fathers house.
22 And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.<\/p>\n
On another occasion, David sent spies and found out Sauls camp. This was after Saul had promised not to pursue David. David found the camp sleeping. He asked who would go over into Sauls camp. Abishai wanted to kill Saul while he was sleeping, saying that he would not need the second thrust of his spear. David again spared Sauls life, however, and took only his spear and a cruse of water, both of which were at the head of the sleeping Saul. Then, David went to a high hill a little distance off and shouted to the sleeping pursuers. He chided Abner for not having kept more careful watch over Saul, Jehovahs anointed. Saul recognized Davids loyalty to the king and promised the second time not to pursue David any longer. Each of the two men then went his way.<\/p>\nFuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: F.B. Meyer’s Through the Bible Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"