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DAVID’S FLIGHT CONTINUES AND SAUL PURSUES:

David Spares Saul at a Cave in En-gedi

I Samuel 24:1-12

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.       Outline

 

i.                    SAUL SEARCHES FOR DAVID IN EN-GEDI (I Sam. 24:1-3)

ii.                  DAVID SERVED AN OPPORTUNITY IN A CAVE (I SAM. 24:4)

iii.                DAVID STAYS SAUL’S EXECUTION (I Sam. 24:5-7a)

iv.                SAUL SPARED AND EXITS THE CAVE (I Sam. 24:7b)

v.                  DAVID SPEAKS TO THE KING (I Sam. 24:8-12)

 

2.      What was told to Saul after his battle with the Philistines? (I Sam. 24:1)

 

And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.

 

A.    He was told that David was in the wilderness of En-gedi.

 

B.      Even while Saul was engaged in battle, he did not forget David.  He had individuals who were watching David and keeping track of his movements.

 

3.      How many men did Saul take with him to seek David? (I Sam. 24:2).

 

Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel…

 

A.    3,000 men

 

4.      Where did they seek David? (I Sam. 24:2)

 

…and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.

 

A.    Upon the rocks of the wild goats

 

B.      K&D:  “The soil of the neighbourhood consists entirely of limestone; but the rocks contain a considerable admixture of chalk and flint. Round about there rise bare conical mountains, and even ridges of from two to four hundred feet in height, which mostly run down to the sea. The steep mountains are intersected by wadys running down in deep ravines to the sea. “On all sides the country is full of caverns, which might then serve as lurking-places for David and his men, as they do for outlaws at the present day” (Rob. Pal. p. 203)” (e-sword.com).

 

C.     It was a difficult place for man to traverse, but it was perfect for wild goats.

 

5.      Why did Saul enter into a caved? (I Sam. 24:3)

 

And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet…

 

A.    He went in to cover his feet.  He went in to get some sleep.

 

 

B.      Sheepcotes:

1.      Strong (1448):  inclosure (esp. for flocks)

2.      BDB:  wall, hedge

 

6.      Who was in the cave also? (I Sam. 24:3)

 

…and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.

 

A.    David and his men

 

B.      David and his men had gone into the cave first.  They could have gone into the cave from another entrance (Ex., the Arkansas Cave in the Ozark Mountains).

 

7.      Who said to David:  “Behold the day of which the Lord said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand…”? (I Sam. 24:4).

 

And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the Lord said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee.

 

A.    The men of David

 

B.      David never received an official revelation from God telling him these words.  David’s men surmised this to be the message from God when Saul was providentially brought near unto David without Saul’s knowledge.

 

8.      What did David do to Saul? (I Sam. 24:4)

 

Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe privily.

 

A.    He cut off a piece of Saul’s skirt privately.

 

B.      Rather than wearing the robe, he could have covered himself or his feet with it.  The extremities of the robe would have been on the ground and could have been cut without being felt. 

 

9.      What happened to David after he had cut off Saul’s skirt? (I Sam. 24:5)

 

And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe privily.

 

A.    David’s heart smote him.  In other words, his conscience convicted him.

1.      Conscience:  a feeling produced in the mind that either approves or condemns our actions based upon the teaching and training that we have received.

2.      Somewhere David was taught a healthy respect for those in authority.  The least act that seem to be in retaliation to the king brought pain to David’s conscience.

 

B.      LESSON:  The conscience can be a valuable instrument if it has beentrained properly.  It can keep us from doing evil things if we will listen to it.  NOTE:  The conscience is not a reliable spiritual guide if it has been trained wrong (See Acts 23:1).

 

 

 

10.  Why did David think it was wrong to commit the act that he did? (I Sam. 24:6)

 

And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should to this thing unto my master, the Lord’s anointed to stretch forth mind hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.

 

A.    He should not have done it because Saul was “the Lord’s anointed.”  If God put Saul into this position, then the Lord should remove him.

 

11.  “So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul” (I Sam. 24:7).

 

A.    David could have easily killed his enemy and stopped his affliction, but he chose not to.

 

B.      David could have immediately stepped into the position of king over Israel, but he chose not to do so.

 

C.     David left the demise of Saul in the hands of God. 

1.      He respected the king.

2.      He trusted God.

 

12.  After he slept, what did Saul do? (I Sam. 24:7)

 

…But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.

 

A.    He left the cave and continued this search for David.

 

13.  When David left the cave, what were his first words to Saul? (I Sam. 24:8)

 

David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king.

 

A.    “My lord the king.”

 

B.      The word “lord” means “master.”  Too, he notes Saul’s position as king.

 

C.     These are words of respect and honor.

 

14.  What action did David perform when Saul turned to see who was behind him? (I Sam. 24:8)

 

And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.

 

A.    Not only was there a verbal expression of respect, David honored the king by bowing in his presence.

 

B.      Remember, this is a man who hates David.  This is a man who is seeking David’s life.  This is a man who has attempted to kill David with a javelin twice.  Yet, David shows his respect to the Lord’s anointed, the one who was put in power by God.

 

15.  Who did David say Saul had been listening to concerning David’s wanting to hurt Saul? (I Sam. 24:9)

 

And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?

 

A.    David said that Saul was listening to “men’s words.”

 

B.      Saul was getting his information from the wrong sources about David. 

 

C.     LESSON:  Wrong information and misinformation can cause us to engage in evil behavior.

 

16.  In the first half of I Samuel 24:10, David mentions three people who were involved in the previous night’s activities (I Sam. 24:10a).  What did each one do?

 

Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered thee today into mine hand in the cave:  and some bade me kill thee:  but mine eye spared thee…

 

A.    The Lord:  delivered thee today into mine hand

 

B.      Some:  bade me kill thee

 

C.     David:  mine eye spared thee

 

17.  “…and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the Lord’s anointed” (I Sam. 24:10).

 

18.  What did David ask Saul to see in his hand? (I Sam. 24:11)

 

Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand…

 

A.    The skirt of Saul’s robe

 

B.      It is interesting that David also refers to Saul as “my father.”  This is a term of close relationship like that between a father and son.

 

19.  What could David have done to Saul? (I Sam. 24:11)

 

…for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not…

 

A.    If he had been close enough to cut the skirt of his robe, David was close enough to have killed the king.

 

B.      Can you imagine how Saul must have felt to see the skirt in David’s hand and to have looked down and know it was his?

 

20.  What two things were not in David’s hand? (I Sam. 24:11)

 

…know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand…

 

A.    Evil

1.      Strong (7451):  bad, evil

2.      BDB:  bad, evil, wicked

 

B.      Transgression

1.      Strong (6588):  a revolt

2.      BDB:  rebellion

 

21.  “…and I have not sinned against thee” (I Sam. 24:11).

 

22.  Even though David had nothing against Saul, what was Saul doing to David? (I Sam. 24:11)

 

…yet thou huntest my soul to take it.

 

A.    Saul was hunting David’s soul to take it.

 

23.  What two things did David say the Lord would do between Saul and David? (I Sam. 24:12)

 

The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee…

 

A.    Judge

1.      Strong (8199):  to judge, to pronounce sentence (for or against), by implication to vindicate or punish

2.      BDB:  to judge, to decide a controversy, vindicate, condemn or punish.

 

B.      Avenge

1.      Strong (5358):  to avenge or punish

2.      BDB:  to avenge, take vengeance, revenge, punish

 

24.  T- F      David pledged that the next time they met, he would kill Saul. (I Sam. 24:12)

 

… but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

 

A.    False

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DAVID’S FLIGHT CONTINUES AND SAUL PURSUES:

David Spares Saul at a Cave in En-gedi (2)

I Samuel 24:13-22

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.      Outline

 

i.                    I SAMUEL 24:13-15

ii.                  I SAMUEL 24:16-22a

iii.                I SAMUEL 24:22b

 

2.      What did David quote to Saul? (I Sam. 24:13)

 

3.      Define:  proverb (I Sam. 24:13)

 

4.      What did the proverb say? (I Sam. 24:13)

 

5.      What two questions did David ask Saul? (I Sam. 24:14)

 

A.

 

B.

 

6.      What two things did David use to describe himself? (I Sam. 24:14)

 

A.

 

B.

 

7.      What four things did David want God to do between himself and Saul? (I Sam. 24:15

A.

 

B.

 

C.

 

D.

 

8.      How did Saul address David after David finished speaking? (I Sam. 24:16)

 

9.      T – F    Saul wept when he knew this was the voice of David. (I Sam. 24:16)

 

10.  “And he said to David, Thou at more ___________________ than I…” (I Sam. 24:17)

 

11.  Define:  righteous (I Sam. 24;17).

 

12.  Why was David more righteous than Saul? (I Sam. 24:170

 

13.  T – F    Saul felt that David had dealt wickedly with him (I Sam. 24:18)

 

14.  Why did he feel David had “dealt well” with him? (I Sam. 24:19).

15.  T – F    When a man finds his enemy, he allows him to escape (I Sam. 24:19).

 

16.  “…wherefore the Lord _______________ thee ____________ for that thou hast done unto me this day” (I Sam. 24:19).

 

17.  What two things did Saul know that would come to pass for David? (I Sam. 24:20)

 

A.

 

B.

 

18.  What did Saul ask David to swear to? (I Sam. 24:21)

 

19.  T – F    David refused to sware these things to Saul. (I Sam. 24:22).

 

20.  Where did Saul go after this encounter with David? (I Sam. 24:22)

 

21.  Where did David go after this conversation with Saul? (I Sam. 24:22)