I Samuel 24 · The Lantern

David Spares Saul

And it was, when Saul returned from following the Philistines, that they told him, saying, “Look — David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.”

And Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the face of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.

And he came to the sheepfolds along the way, and there was a cave there; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave.

Saul, unaware of David's hiding place, also entered the cave in order to take care of his needs, I presume.… Accordingly, this psalm of David is accepted for certain in the name of the Lord; Saul appears as the devil, and the cave becomes this world. The devil, furthermore, does not discharge any good into this world, but only dung and corruption.

David, as we have said, took on the character of the Lord Savior, and so what was to take place at the Lord's passion is now recounted of him. David was not to be effaced from the kingdom allotted to him, just as the inscription of the Lord's title could not be changed.

And he also came to the sheepfolds, etc. In persecuting the great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus Christ, he also dragged the wicked investigation to the gatherings of his faithful disciples, who offered themselves as sheep to the raging wolves, to see if they could find any reason within them to criticize their master.

And David’s men said to him, “Look — the day of which the LORD said to you: ‘Look, I am giving your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as is good in your eyes.’” And David rose and cut off the corner of the robe that was Saul’s, in secret.

When, therefore, he was alone and had removed his robe and laid it down somewhere beside him, the light from the mouth of the cave made him visible to those hidden within the darkness.

And David's servants said to him: Behold the day, etc. Christ's carnal disciples, still of a servile spirit, said to him when they saw the power of the crucified and the madness of those who crucified: Behold, the time is at hand, of which God the Father spoke to you through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that he would make all your enemies a footstool for your fee…

The exercise of the gift of piety consists in the abundance of interior compassion. Of this it is said in Ecclesiasticus: "These are men of mercy, whose acts of piety have not failed." Of how great piety was David, king of Israel!

And it was afterward that David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off the corner that was Saul’s.

And he said to his men, “Far be it from me, by the LORD, that I should do this thing to my lord, the anointed of the LORD — to stretch out my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD.”

HOW CAN DAVID STILL CALL SAUL THE ANOINTED OF THE LORD, AND DO HIM HONOR IN THIS EXCELLENCE AFTER THE LORD HAD DEPARTED FROM HIM? — David is not unaware that there is a divine institution in the office of the royal order; therefore he honors Saul, who is still placed within that same institution, lest he seem to do injury to God, who has decreed honor for these orders.

It was not without God's influence, you see, that he [David] succeeded in prevailing over those frenzied men [his soldiers who wished to kill Saul]: the grace of God was found on the inspired man's lips, adding a sort of inducement to those words.

And he said to his men, "May the Lord be merciful to me," etc. David is shown to have refrained from killing Saul, despite Saul's most hostile pursuit of him, for two main reasons: first, he remembered him as his lord and as having been anointed with royal chrism.

And David restrained his men with the words, and did not let them rise against Saul. And Saul rose from the cave and went on the way.

And David rose afterward and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And Saul looked behind him; and David bowed with his face to the ground, and prostrated himself.

Saul, therefore, came out of the cave unaware of what had happened, wearing the little garment which had been trimmed all around. David came out behind him in self-assurance, and having seized the hill lying above the cave in advance, held out the end [of Saul's robe] in his hand. This was nothing other than a bloodless trophy against his enemies.

So what did David reply? "Your servant, my lord the king." A contest and rivalry then developed as to which one would pay greater respect to the other: one admitted the other to kinship, the other called him lord. What he means is something like this: I am interested in one thing only, your welfare and the progress of virtue.

And bowing himself, David prostrated on the ground and worshiped. The Savior, with his compassionate heart, bowed down to help and aid earthly and weak hearts, showing through the ministers of His word, He Himself first presented examples of worship and reconciliation with God to those who had already offended Him long ago.

And David said to Saul: “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Look — David is seeking your harm’?

Look — this day your eyes have seen that the LORD gave you today into my hand in the cave; and one said to kill you, but I spared you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the anointed of the LORD.’

And my father, see — yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For in my cutting off the corner of your robe, I did not kill you. Know and see that there is no evil or rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you — yet you are hunting my life, to take it.

May the LORD judge between me and you, and may the LORD avenge me on you — but my hand will not be against you.

As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘From the wicked comes wickedness’ — but my hand will not be against you.

After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom are you pursuing? After a dead dog? After a single flea?

May the LORD be judge, and judge between me and you; and may he see, and plead my case, and vindicate me out of your hand.”

David’s Oath to Saul

And it was, when David finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.

What then did Saul say? Having heard David saying, "See, here is the corner of your cloak in my hand," and everything else by which he mounted his defense along with this, he said, "Is this your voice, my child David?" O, what a great change had suddenly taken place: the one who could never bear even to call him by name, and instead hated the very mention of it, even admitted h…

And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept, etc. And as the Lord taught through the apostles, the people of the Jews, among those who were predestined to eternal life, lifted up their voice in the confession of faith, which they had long sunk low by denying, and washed away the stains of ancient guilt with worthy tears of repentance, confessing both the justice and goodness of the…

And he said to David: “You are more righteous than I — for you have repaid me the good, and I have repaid you the evil.

And you have declared today how you have done good with me — how the LORD shut me up into your hand, and you did not kill me.

For if a man finds his enemy, does he send him away on a good way? May the LORD repay you with good for this day, for what you have done for me.

And now — look, I know that you shall surely reign, and the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.

Now then, swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my seed after me, and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s house.”

And David swore to Saul. And Saul went to his house; and David and his men went up to the stronghold.

I Samuel24

David Spares Saul

David’s Oath to Saul