1 Samuel 24
Warren Wiersbe · Citado em PreceptAustin
1 Samuel 24
Wiersbe - David and his men were hiding in a large cave, of which there were many in that area, and Saul chose to use that very cave as a place where he could relieve himself. The Law of Moses was very strict when it came to matters of sanitation, especially in the army camp (Deut. 23:12–14). Each soldier was required to leave the camp to relieve himself, and he had to carry a small shovel or trowel among his weapons so he could dig a hole and cover his excrement. This meant that Saul was away from the camp and therefore quite vulnerable. He naturally wanted privacy and he felt that he was not in danger. The fact that he walked right into David’s hiding place not only proved that his spies were incompetent but also that the Lord was still in control. (Borrow Be Successful)
1 Samuel 24
Wiersbe quips that "Saul was sure that the Lord had delivered David into his hands (1Sa 23:7), and David’s men were sure the Lord had delivered Saul into David’s hands! It all depends on your point of view!" (Borrow Be Successful) William Blaikie makes an excellent point - Nothing is more critical than a sudden opportunity of indulging an ardent passion; with scarcely a moment for deliberation, one is apt to be hurried blindly along, and at once to commit the deed.” (1 Samuel 24) Anderson - Here David has a tremendous victory in SELF-CONTROL. The men are making wrong assumptions and giving wrong counsel. David had been learning that reason alone was not sufficient. He decided to wait on God. If David took matters into his own hands now, it would be at the expense of a thousand precious experiences of God's care, provision, guidance and tenderness. No, reasoned David, even a throne at that price is too dear. Faith will always wait upon God. He waited eight years under Saul before being crowned king of Judea, then he had to wait seven more years before he gained the allegiance of all the tribes of Israel. Faith will wait. We need to be exceedingly cautious how we interpret the events of providence.... -- A W Pink
1 Samuel 24
Wiersbe - To David’s men, it seemed providential that Saul was at their mercy (24:4; Ex. 21:13), and both David and Saul agreed with them (1 Sam. 24:10, 18). But that wasn’t the issue. The major question was, “How does the Lord want us to use this occasion?” David’s men saw it as an opportunity for revenge, while David saw it as an opportunity to show mercy and prove that his heart was right. God was giving him an opportunity to answer his own prayer for vindication (Ps. 54:1). (Borrow Be Successful) Gordon: “the tearing of a robe, and especially the hem of a robe, could be a highly symbolic act in the near east. We have already had an instance in 1Sa 15:27f., where the loss of a kingdom is portended (cf. 1 Ki 11:30f.). In certain circumstances the grasping or releasing of a hem could indicate submission or rebellion on the part of the person responsible.” (Borrow 1 & 2 Samuel) V. H. Matthews: “The rather elaborate hems with suspended tassels found on most garments in the ancient Near East symbolized the ranks of kings and their advisers as well as the military” (Borrow Manners and Customs in the Bible). Recall that in 1Sa 18:4+ "Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David" so that the robe was symbol of Saul's authority which is very likely why David soon had "second thoughts" about cutting a piece off.
1 Samuel 24
Wiersbe - David was too wise in the truth of God’s word to interpret this event as a signal for him to kill Saul, for the law says, “You shall not murder” (Ex. 20:13NIV). Slaying an enemy on the battlefield or an attacker in self-defense was one thing, but to assassinate an unsuspecting king was quite something else. David reminded his men that Saul was the anointed of the Lord, and that no Jew had the right to attack him. The Jews were not even to curse their rulers, let alone kill them, for cursing a ruler was in the same category as blaspheming the name of the Lord (1Sa 22:28). However, David’s conscience bothered him because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. His action sent out three messages. First, it was an insolent act of disrespect that humiliated Saul, but it was also a symbolic gesture not unlike what Saul did to Samuel’s robe after the Amalekite fiasco (1 Sam. 15:27–28). By cutting off a part of the royal robe, David was declaring that the kingdom had been transferred to him. Finally, the piece of cloth was proof that David did not intend to kill the king and that the flatterers in the court were all liars. David’s men would have killed Saul in a moment, but their wise captain restrained them. Leaders must know how to interpret events and respond in the right way. (Borrow Be Successful) Matthew
1 Samuel 24
Wiersbe - Even if you can’t respect the man or woman in office, you must show respect to the office (Rom. 13:1–7; 1 Peter 2:13–17). David showed his respect by calling Saul “my master” (1 Sam. 24:6), “the Lord’s anointed” (1Sa 24:6, 10), “my lord” (1Sa 24:8, 10), “the king” (1Sa 24:8, 14) and “my father” (1Sa 24:14). David’s bold public appearance also let Saul and his army know that their official spy system was most ineffective. (Borrow Be Successful) Apple - Expression of Honor – I will show respect even to an unjust king who is out to kill me.
1 Samuel 24
Wiersbe has an interesting note on proverb - David used a familiar proverb that is now a part of Scripture, but that doesn’t mean that folksy proverbs carry the same authority as the inspired Word of God. There is practical wisdom in some proverbs, but they have a tendency to contradict one another. “Look before you leap” is balanced by “He who hesitates is lost,” and “Absence makes the heart grow fonder” by “Out of sight, out of mind.” (Borrow Be Successful) Matthew