#434 Why Persecutest Thou Me?

After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.” 2 So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.

3 He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave.4 The men said, “This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said[b] to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

5 Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. 6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” 7 With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.

8 Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. 9 He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’? 10 This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 11 See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. 12 May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. 13 As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you.

14 “Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? 15 May the Lord be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand.”

16 When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” And he wept aloud. 17 “You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. 18 You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. 19 When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the Lord reward you well for the way you treated me today. 20 I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. 21 Now swear to me by the Lord that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.”

22 So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold. 1 Samuel 24 NIV

A cool place of rest, and for some reason Saul does not thoroughly inspect it. It is like an ant falling into the ant lion's pit or a goat seeking shelter in the cave of the mountain lion. This is it, this is your chance, you are innocent, have done him no wrong, cut off the ear, call down angels, you are blameless in this. This is God's deliverance of you, take it. Jesus corrects Peter for the ear, He doesn't call down angels at the request of His mockers. Are you chicken? What is wrong with you? You can't be the chosen, the anointed, look at the man standing in front of you, your enemy, you don't have what it takes if you can't take him. They will even twist the scriptures that you respect, like God's anointing on David and His words regarding his enemies. Sometimes He will take away the storm, but other times he will keep you in the storm. It is those that wait upon the Lord that mount up on wings like eagles, not those that knee jerk or ambush. David resists the urging of the mob, the voice of the quick, the wailing of the dead. He cuts off a corner of Saul's robe and then repents for he has so much more in the way of conscience. It bothers him, that this is God's anointed and so he again gives an opportunity to Saul for repentance. He offers up the situation that Saul has possibly acted upon bad Intel, but those that would say David is after you would be wrong. Look here is the proof, I was in the cave, within reach of your neck, but your head is still upon your shoulders. Is God good? You were an easy prey unto me, but I chose to rebuke those that talked ill of you and wished to see your end. I have respected your position more than you yourself have. Why do you chase a dog, a flea, this is beneath you? What reward is there in going after one who is not after you, who has fought for you? The Lord deal between us; I refuse to cause you harm. Saul calls him his son and weeps, as many can feel emotions that do not turn in the end to the path that is narrow. Their hearts wonder back to the exclamations of their pride, and it is too difficult a fight, it is much easier to break the mirror of the righteous, to outlaw the Words of God, to lift themselves up upon the praise of vultures and jackals. Flesh and blood is an easier fight. All he can do is prophesy again, "I know that you will surely be king." God, let it be far from me to desire the ruin of others. Let my heart be more dissatisfied with my own wickedness, a wretched and sinful man that I am.

  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6: 12

And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,

40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,

42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.

43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. Matthew 27: 39-44