Context No. 3477 of 4322 · 1 Samuel

1 Samuel 26:12-16: in context

12So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul’s head, and they went away. No man saw it, or knew it, nor did any awake; for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them. 13Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of the mountain far away, a great space being between them; 14and David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Don’t you answer, Abner?” Then Abner answered, “Who are you who calls to the king?” 15David said to Abner, “Aren’t you a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy your lord the king. 16This thing isn’t good that you have done. As the LORD lives, you are worthy to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the LORD’s anointed. Now see where the king’s spear is, and the jar of water that was at his head.”

With Saul asleep and defenseless in the camp, David again refuses to harm the LORD's anointed, though his men urge him to strike. He takes only Saul's spear and water jar as proof that he had been there, and then calls out from a safe distance to rebuke Abner for failing to guard the king.

Twice now David has had Saul's life in his hands, and twice he has spared it, refusing to seize by violence the throne God had promised him. He will not do evil to grasp what God has said will one day be his; he leaves the timing and the means entirely to God. There is remarkable restraint and faith in this. David trusts God to give him the kingdom in God's own way and time, rather than taking a bloody shortcut to hurry the promise along. He would rather wait on God, however long, than force God's hand by his own. The promise was sure; David refused to secure it by sin.

When I could seize by wrong means something God has promised, do I restrain myself and wait on him, trusting his timing rather than forcing the outcome by my own hand?

Sources

1 Samuel 26:12: "So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul's head, and they went away. No man saw it."
1 Samuel 26:9: "Don't destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD's anointed, and be guiltless?"
1 Samuel 26:23: "The LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I wouldn't stretch out my hand against the LORD's anointed."