The Disaster of Impulse
Featured photo courtesy of Aaron Carley.
1 Samuel 24 & 25
Here is an audio link for today’s post.
Believers are not often called upon to display the level of self-control that David had to deal with in 1 Samuel 24 and 25.
Today, Seed Basket will publish two parts to this story.
Part One – Saul in the Cave of Wild Goats’ Rocks
Part Two – Nabal, the Foolish Man
These stories are not related to one another contextually, but they both teach the valuable lesson of self-control. Without that character quality, disaster is never far away.
Part One begins with King Saul, who is still menacing David. But David has not had to deal with Saul face to face in a while. That changes in today’s story.
David and his men have been staying at Engedi. Here, David and his men are hidden away in a cave called Wild Goats’ Rocks. Saul has gone into the cave not realizing that David and his men are a whisper away from him.
David’s men have urged him to seize the opportunity to finally be rid of this deadly enemy. “…Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, ” … do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” 1 Samuel 24:4
David stealthily walks up behind Saul and cuts off a corner of his robe.
He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord’s anointed.” So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.
1 Samuel 24: 6 & 7
What many people fail to realize is that if David had been compelled by his own heart instead of by the Spirit of God, he would have killed Saul.
But David loved God even more than himself. He reasoned that to kill God’s first anointed king would have been a slap at God. It was God’s mercy and grace that prevented David from committing this sin.
David called out to Saul as he walked away from the cave.
David shows Saul the piece of cloth that he had cut from his robe. God opens Saul’s heart to feel great remorse over his persecution of David.
As soon as David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. He said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the Lord put me into your hands.
1 Samuel 24:16-18
And with that we will close part one of today’s story. Part Two can be accessed by the link, or you can find it on Bing, Google or social media.
God’s plan for David continues to unfold. Chapter 25 opens with one single mention about the death of the beloved prophet, Samuel. Then we will quickly meet David’s newest adversary, Nabal.
Be sure to read 1 Samuel 24 before moving on to Part Two.
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English Standard Version (ESV)
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
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